3 Reasons to NOT Buy a Recumbent Trike...

Buy no trike... until you've seen this video. (Watch until the end for a bonus reason) These are the three most common reasons that factor into people not getting a trike. Well, we're big believers in trikes, so we'll debunk those reasons and you can decide for yourself.

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Chapters:
00:00 Comfort
1:58 Safety
4:05 Transporting
5:55 Bonus

[UUpianoman]

I love recumbents. In 2007, after riding a conventional bike in RAGBRAI, I was impotent for nearly a month. But! on that ride I saw my first recumbents ridden by all types of people, old... young... thin... fat.... fast... slow... and I knew that was the solution to keep riding. When I got my trike in March of 2008, I stopped using my car to go shopping, to go to work, and equipped it with high power lights, etc.

The funny story... one night riding home a lady in a black suburban beeped at me and then stopped in front. She rolled down the window and told me "you need to get off the road... we can´t see you!". I looked her in the eye and asked... "are you talking to the person you can´t see?... or is there someone else you are talking with?". She rolled up the window and went on. 🤣

[pamcadd]

When I got my Catrike Villager, I didn't expect to be able to transport it (mostly riding from home on bike trails). However, I discovered that it fits in our Prius simply by folding the back forward. And it's light enough that I can load it myself, lifting one end at a time - I'm 76 and only 5 ft. tall. Love my Villager!

[rstewardson]

My favorite comment was ‘I didn’t see you down there’ to which I replied ‘Did you see the road?’ I also have two headlights, one aimed straight ahead and the other slightly to the right and up in strobe mode. I also remember you saying that you preferred ahead not down at the road in front of you.

[ianlindridge]

All good reasons for a trike. One it seems never mentioned is for folks with low vision. I'm functionally blind and 2 wheels carried a great deal of crash anxiety. I bought an ICE Trice T in 2018 and all that anxiety is gone. If I don't see an obstacle it's not to the E.R. for me (and my wife). I love to get out now and my collection has grown to 4 trikes!

[dgeorgaras]

For some reason, it is part of the bike culture that pain and discomfort must be part of cycling. Recumbents remove these issues.

[markmaul]

I ride custom Catrike Villager because I have a pinched nerve in my back that left me with a dropped right foot. I cannot walk very for but I can ride for as long as I like with no discomfort whatsoever. I use to ride a very modified mountain bike as a rode bike and do 40 miles on weekdays and a 60 mile route on Saturdays. Since switching to a tadpole recumbent bike I have no neck pain, shoulder pain or hand pain after my rides like I had with a two wheel bike. I’m one happy converted trike rider that loves his trike.

[shepatown]

Buy a trike because bikes are just two tired. And, trikes are so hot right now.

[SUB-WFR]

Did some work at ice when I was 17, awesome company and everyone there is so lovely.

[KielMartinCisco]

I will be getting my 2nd trike sometime soon. That trike made it so i could bike 2hrs a day. An hour before work and an hour after. And i lost 100lbs that year. I always have hurting wrist, legs, and back riding a regular bike after 10 minutes of riding, forcing me to ride back home and impossible to ride daily nor want to ride which always ended in not doing it. Trike for the WIN

[dougkalmbach]

Thank you Laid Back Cycles. Your video was the first video I watch regarding trikes it is great. Looking forward to watching more and investing this activity.

[leakaethler]

I love my trike, I got it a little less than a year ago. It is actually one of the big reasons for my happiness! Riding it is just exhilarating every goddamn time. 😀

[roberteltze]

Here's another reason for some people. I have a large frame, broad shoulders etc. My hips are too wide to comfortably fit on the trikes I've tried. The posts that hold the front wheels on a Catrike bruise my hips from getting in and out of the seat. An ICE trike kindof works because the handgrips have an adjustable width but when I widen them to a comfortable position it doesn't leave much space for steering.

It's probably a very small percentage of the population but they just don't make trikes to fit some of us.

[steintrikes]

Hahah, nice explanation why NOT to buy recumbent trike :) Good video Mickey, keep posting.

[robertlemoine]

I've been riding recumbents since 1989 and have an Tour Easy and a Rans V-Rex. I like them both although the longer wheel based Tour Easy is my ride of choice. I have tried numerous trikes and I cannot say that they stand up to scrutiny. When I was younger I found that my recumbents were about 10% faster than my very nice Bianchi road bike. The trikes that I have tried are all slower and I feel more awkward using them, but to be fair that might improve with more consistent use. My main beef though is that they are, in my opinion, too low to use in traffic. Not being visible is definitely a safety issue and I have commuted to work by bike for 46 years and would not feel comfortable driving on the roads on a consistent basis with a trike. Sure, buy a trike if you have a balance/health issue. I can certainly see them as being useful for a senior citizen with physical issues, but stick to the bike paths and avoid the roads if you can.

[go.trikes]

Very good mike! We are the only manufacturer of recumbent tricycles in Brazil, we have our channel, on you tube, my customers have many doubts and often ask the same questions that you addressed.
With your permission I will be commenting on your content on our channel (gotrikes).
Great quality, the next time I'm in the USA I'll visit your company.
Sincerely,
Ricardo Chede

[jenshaensel-jebu]

I'm riding aHP Streetmachine(two wheels) and have no Mode pain in my hands or neck.You can ride 70 Miles or more without pain. Use a flag when you ride to be seen.Go out and have fun.

[tinkeringinthailand]

I have just bought 2 cheap Chinese road bikes with a notion of building my 1st recumbent trike. I may even film it. Good info cheers.

[clinttalmadge]

Does Terratrike sell assist bars for the Cruiser which is not direct steer?

[classicamusementparks]

I'm surprised you didn't debunk the bonus with, "Go ahead and buy one even if you don't use it. Most of these trikes have been going up in value...just sell it at a profit if you don't ride it."

[crabtrap]

#1 TIP!!!! whether bike ot trike...take the time to get it fitted! either by a shop or learn yourself on youtube.
I have personally bought bikes for resell that were 5sz bigger then ythe person it came from. Guy tend to think bigger bike makes them look bigger....no, it just makes you look uncomfortable and you sell your bike to me for 95% off