Posted: 04 March 2010 at 2:30am | IP Logged

There are. It's sometime very quiet here, sometimes it gets busy. I did see your original post but being about 5,000 miles east of you I wouldn't have been much help with the used trike scene in Indiana.  

I hope you get the trike and enjoy it. Any problems, just post a question, someone will answer it. Might not be the best answer but... Some of the techier questions are likely already answered in past posts here, I still haven't read all this forum. I should really start at the first ever post and work forward from that but I've been dipping in here and there.

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 10 March 2010 at 2:37am | IP Logged

Hi Jamn, it's a bit like an extra Christmas day, isn't it. 

A little rain isn't too bad, better than snow and ice.  Oddly enough the forecast for the end of the week here is...rain. Take it easy the first few runs on the trike, with the more horizontal leg position you could get muscle cramps. I think that the return blood flow is more than for upright cycling, you hit anaerobic levels quicker at the start. Like most things, you adapt to the difference with practise.

"I stiil cant see how those things (DF) got so far in the market and the Recumbents haven't,go fiqure?" That's a biggie,  there's a long version and a short version. I'll give the short one. The Tour de France, etc.

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 11 March 2010 at 7:03pm | IP Logged

All right we have the tad in the house.Got it home and the weather was A little iffy but got in A quick ride.And when I say quick WOWMy legs were in pretty good shape as I rode recumbent excerise all winter.My evening exercise route is 7 miles in about 35-40 min on the moutain bike.That went down to A bit under 30 the 1st ride .So after first ride this thing is quick and when I fiqure out the gearing and pace it will make it even faster. Now for the trike every peice seems very good.I had read A thread in one of the forums that there was A steering issue .Well they advertise go kart like steering.They are correct it handles like A go kart and I would know as I raced go karts on the national level for about 15 years. Also there is alot of adjustment in the steering and I read that on some of the tads the chain tubes were noisy ,I didn't hear hardly any. As far as weight issue compared with A DF I didn't notice any I am right at 200 lbs so it might not B an issue with me as much as maybe someone thats under 135lbs or so?I would guess that there might B better drive train componets on the more expensive model out there but for my rides it all was more than acceptable.So I guess you can pay alot more and get A big name, but can get A pretty nice ride with A Sun and not pay A huge price .On A side note I ordred the fenders and they are back ordered and with the wet roadway  I got the tail stripe along with the arms of my shirt pepered LOL, but it was well worth it as i have this stuip looking grin on my face now

Posted: 12 March 2010 at 4:07am | IP Logged

Congrats. Another victim.  Be prepared for questions when you're out and about on the trike, younglings pointing and saying "cool bike", adults saying "nice machine, is it comfortable?, etc. Heck, even 'cool' teens react positively.

Drive components aren't really an issue, they're easily upgradable over time and preference. Steering issues often aren't issues, just variations on a theme, even bikes vary on how their steering feels.

Good thinking on the recumbent exercise over winter idea.

By the way, your face muscles will soon adapt to the grin mode.

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 14 March 2010 at 3:58am | IP Logged

Hi Jamn, Catrike, ICE and WizWheelz have headrests, they seem priced about the $100-$130. You could make one that works as well, twould be less expensive.

http://www.icetrikes.co.uk/explore-our-trikes/sprint/accesso ries#

http://stores.homestead.com/catrike/Detail.bok?no=23

http://www.utahtrikes.com/PRODINFO-Wizwheelz_Adjustable_Head rest.html

Traffic and respect. This is very "in general". Car drivers give more room to trikes than bikes, width on the road counts, they see trikes as more like another car. Bikers usually go around nicely, often slowing a bit to get a good look and a nod of approval. Cyclists who are serious about cycling (not racing as such, more riding well) interact well with trikes. The idiots who cycle contra-traffic need to be spoked.  Although, if the idiot you mentioned had hit you, he'd have been the one coming off worse. There's advantages to being low down and on three wheels. (it took me a few seconds to realise that you drive on the wrong side of the road)

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 17 March 2010 at 7:12am | IP Logged

Just from looking at pictures on the web, you could fit a single strut headrest that fastens to the horiziontal seat back frames. Either a short vertical that clamps on the top horizontal (like a DF steering stem but with a split clamp, and a pad on the part that goes into the steering head) or longer vertical that clamps on the top two horizontals.

The materials can be whatever you are most comfortable working with. I've seen pics of headrests made from rigid PVC piping, not the most pretty but effective, and cheap (inexpensive). Me, I'd likely go with timber but I don't use one because of the roughness of the roads I have to use, and I was used to hiking out sailing dinghies. (a bit of a neck, I have)   If you have plumbing skills, or know a friendly plumber, heavy guage copper piping could be shaped nicely, polished and lacquered that would look real nice.

Here's a quick side view of what could be done. Hope it makes sense.

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 18 March 2010 at 6:40am | IP Logged

Motorbike handlebar clamps. If they're not exactly the same size as the seat frames, use rubber stripping as a "filler"/ shim. Takes out vibrations as well. Some custom bikes use handlebar risers that are a split-clamp on a short stem with a bolting fastener at the end, those would be very easy to put things together. Less welding or bending.

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Some day, I will have to learn to think inside the box.

Posted: 25 March 2010 at 3:50am | IP Logged

Hi Jamn, Dunno about prestige and expensive, my Stein Trike tadpole cost me €1400 new.  Availability kicks in as well.

Have you got an online photo album account with anyone? I use Picasa and find it fairly easy to use to post pics. You can right click and select the picture properties (ending with .jepg/.jpg) and paste that into the Add Image function. It's also possible to right click and copy directly off the picture in the album and directly post it into the message.

Oh yeah, if you use the button above the Post Reply box, delete the http stuff first, otherwise you get a double http and it won't link.

Hope this helps,

Mike Savage

South West Cork

Posted: 24 April 2010 at 3:52pm | IP Logged

Got some riding in the 1 st of the week but somehow woke up with A cold on wensday and felt like crap ever since. But it started raining on friday and is supposed to continue till monday so I guess I'm not missin much. Hope every one else can get in A ride or two Seeya Tim