Posted: 22 January 2010 at 2:33am | IP Logged

pfdavis wrote: Got my TT Cruiser the other day.  Yow!  I love it.  I still have to mount the fenders, but I've taken a couple of short test rides, and I'm absolutely thrilled. Unfortunately, in the Boston area, the streets are all slush and packed snow/ice at the moment, but I'm hoping that'll clear up over the next few days. Now my next challenge is to figure out how to fit this in an already crowded 1-car garage. -pd

Congratulations. You're doomed, doomed I tells ya.

The garage challenge is a simple one, park the trike inside and the car outside.

Happy triking,

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 12 February 2010 at 3:44am | IP Logged

jimbeau wrote: Hi PFDavis and Digitalmouse: I am located just west of Gardner, MA...central western massachusetts.  We did not get the big storm yesterday, so I will have my trike out today even though the temperatures may be cold.  I need to get to a few shops as Valentines Day is on Sunday!!! Denmark sounds so cold...brrrr....but you are brave to head out into the frigid cold.  I also dress the part, and wear sunglasses or googles to cut down the wind in my eyes.  Our temps. don't get quite as cold as yours, but we do get the winds. What lubricant do you both use for your chain and gears...I found that my chain is dry and do not want to use oil as I was told it is not the answer? My gears also have tightened up in the cold...so I am not sure what to do about that either? Any Help would be appreciated. Thanks! Jim

Hi Jim, oiling the chain isn't something not to do, at least for bicycle/trike derailleur chains as there are no seals as there are with motorbike chains nowadays. I usually oil the chain by removing it from the trike and soaking it in fresh, warmed oil, hang the chain and let the excess drip off before replacing. (getting things backwards) I clean the old oil off before oiling afresh. It's not so much lack of lubrication that kills chains as dirt/grit they collect in use. Cleaning and oiling gets rid of the grit.

Wipe the gear mechs clean and lightly oil the hinge points on the them. Keeps them working smoothly. Cables, I use light grease on the cable before putting then in their outer sheaths. The gears will tighten up in winter compared to summer as the cables shrink in the cold, some mechs have adjusters, just back them off a small bit until things line up right. (don't do what I did, forget to re-adjust in summer, couldn't figure what was wrong.   )

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 04 March 2010 at 2:16am | IP Logged

Hi newguy, I don't think a fairing is actually necessary as such, but could be very helpful in certain weathers. Good base layers, mid layers and wind/waterproof outers can let you trike in almost any weather, it depends on your tolerance for yuck.  I've triked in sub-zero C weather, particularly this winter, without a fairing, it just needs a bit of thinking. One thing I feel is vital in cold weather triking, eye protection. Cold wind on the eyeballs makes them leak.

Mudguards, front and rear are a good idea, it keeps the most of road yuck off.

One thing about trikes and fairings, you don't have to get a fairing right away, the trike will work perfectly without one and if you want one later, it's fairly easy to fit one.

Mike Savage

South West Cork