Straight trikes, or recumbent trikes?

(Love my bike. Often take the mailouts down to the PO on it.)

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Recumbent. I was impressed with the fact I did 4km and didn't feel the need to use my walking stick afterwards, nor did I struggle any more than I normally would through the rest of the day.

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Recumbents are Ace, and smoooth. My next ride may well be one.

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Cool!

Might be something to ponder for me sometime in the future. My last bike got stolen and I'd come a cropper on it not terribly much before that due to an unmarked speed bump, so something that makes me feel less high and vulnerable might be the go. I've also noticed at the gym that the bike machines that are more like recumbents are more comfortable for me.

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Found it to be a very comfy ride. Plus I don't have to balance. My balance has improved a lot this year, but can still vanish without warning, and is more variable when I'm tired.

I'm already sitting around thinking, 'A few years time when I'm not having to be home to change and feed the sprog... I might need to build myself up to a Nullarbor crossing by trike..."

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From west to east in August of course.

And you better invite me along for the ride or I'll never forgive you. :)

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I've been thinking about a recumbent for a while now, to take the pressure off my arms. You must let me know all the details. Also want photos.

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Here are Fuse Recumbents links to external reviews, including some medical stuff.

Don't know how you'd go with your hands, but worth a look. Michael from FR was fabulous. He met up with us at a lake with a good bike track and basically told us to take the bikes out to test for as long as we wanted. Half an hour, three hours, he was fine either way.

Should have it within a couple of days. Photos soon-ish, hopefully. I have about 158,786 photos to get up, but my computer's graphical side has been problematic.

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depends on the loads. I have flown a plane so don't seem to have that much problem in the pull push, as long as I can reach.

They are not cheap though.

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Cool :)

I think the starting prices are around $3K. Depends on what you want. Some fold up and cost more, and the various bells and whistles add to the cost.

I'm getting mine for $1800, including a new trailer, mirrors, new tire on the back, delivery, flag, etc. which is a bargain. It's a solid frame, and heavy, but that doesn't bother me. My first (and only) bike prior to this dated from the 1940's and was a steel frame. The Greenspeed is the first bike I've been on with gears!

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Gears are your friend!

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There are cheaper recumbents, mine is one of them from justbents (there's a link to my review below about it below in another post), WizWheels for $1990 Apoyo for $1690 and the ActionBent on the Flying Furniture website.

If you're in Perth Justbents' service is very good.

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Thank-you for that, I read the review, it only makes me want to investigate more. I'm in Ballarat, Vic however, so neither Canberra nor Perth shop recommendations are going to be useful, however appreciated.

Any Melbourne stores to recommend?

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Well you could pay Greenspeed a visit...

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Trisled are also based in VIC (Mornington Peninsula I think) and IIRC also handle Challenge bikes & Hase-Kettweisel trikes in addition to building their own.

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It will take the pressure off your arms as the seat will be taking all of your weight.

Because of this the handlebars on many recumbents are not load bearing so you can't use them to pick the bike/trike up.

After that it is a matter of personal preference as to whether or not you go with over (OSS) or under (USS) seat steering.

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Logically I can see that it should be easier, my only concern is lack of reach because of arthritis damaged elbows.

I will have to find a shop to let me try them.

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I will have to find a shop to let me try them.

Always a good idea. My first rule for buying any sort of bicycle in fact: try before you buy.

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Way to go dalekboy! Welcome to the club, and what a bargain!

I've had my recumbent trike for some months now and I'm very pleased. A cheap recumbent is better than an expensive upright. If you're in W.A and can't afford a Greenspeed, and are considering a recumbent, read my review here of the one I purchased. Primarily because the proprietor is really happy for you to test really thoroughly. http://leecetheartist.livejournal.com/131195.html Rob's about to buy the same model.

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Would you recommend a recumbent bike for a complete bike amateur?

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Well, if you've never ridden a bike then you wouldn't have to worry about the whole balance thing.

I think I would, yes. But I would definitely advise that the user have a really good try of it first, and ride in company with an experienced rider for the first few trips.

Another option, if you don't like being close to the ground and the lower viewpoint of a recumbent are those cool upright trikes you see about.

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Delta trikes also tend to have higher seats although I now feel nervous that far off the ground... :)

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But I would definitely advise that the user have a really good try of it first, and ride in company with an experienced rider for the first few trips.

Well put.

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Bike or Trike? :)

As Leece said trikes take care of the whole balance thing (unless you really like hammering into the corners at which point leaning into the corner is, ah, recommended).

Recumbent bikes are lighter and faster, but have balance issues.

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A trike.

Honestly, I've never ridden a bike successfully before. There was an abortive attempt at age 7 that involved the neighbour's ornamental pineapple plants and took two people to get me out. :P The concept of bike gears are going to take some getting used to...

You'd recommend a recumbent trike then?

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Certainly. But this still offers a vast range of choices of completely different experiences.

Leece has reviewed her tadpole (two wheels front) here: http://leecetheartist.livejournal.com/131195.html

I've reviewed a delta here: http://arcadiagt5.livejournal.com/115508.html

and another tadpole here: http://arcadiagt5.livejournal.com/79659.html

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Excellent reviews. Especially from a beginners point of view as both machines are likely to be in the mix for trying out.

Thank-you.

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You're welcome.

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Bwahahahaha! My work here is done. :)

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Yay bike! (Low-impact exercise good too).

I ride a road-bike, and have been considering trying out a recumbent - they look fun. However, the surrounding cars are scary, and I like having the extra visibility from being higher, so I can see cars more easily and hopefully they can see me better too. (I can see over the top of cars, but not over 4WDs).

How did find the traffic on your test-ride?

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