Adult Tricycles

[MondeoMan1981]

Looking for advice and recommendations.

I'm 37 and have never been able to ride a bike - I have a middle ear issue which affects some aspects of balance - only life impacts are can't ride a bike, swim or carry two cups of tea up stairs 😊.

I'm desperate to get out cycling - so have been looking at tricycles.

Can anyone recommend any brands/models?

I'm looking for something hybrid that I can use on road and light off road e.g. pathways etc.

Be keen to hear from any tricyclists as well on their experiences etc.

Thanks.

[AlexC1981]

I can't offer any advice, but the semi recumbent and low rider ones look much better than the old lady upright style. They would be more dangerous to use on road due to the low profile.

[UpTheIron]

Left field maybe, and might not be any good for you but have you looked at Elliptigo bikes?

[meehaja]

Bob Jackson, frame builder in Leeds used to make them and there’s a whole scene of tricycle time trialists! I always fancied one and my balance is fine... find the club and get in touch, there’s bound to be more modern alternatives?

[ClassicMercs]

AlexC1981 said:

I can't offer any advice, but the semi recumbent and low rider ones look much better than the old lady upright style. They would be more dangerous to use on road due to the low profile.

You might be surprised on that one actually.
We have an early Trice - what is now the ICE company - probably the third owners and we bought it off someone who didn't drive (thankfully) but it saved him falling off on his way back from the pub.
Can be hard work - on hills - and scary fun - downhill (two wheels and a rear end slide have been observed !!!).
But - its seems to scare other road users (rural / coastal North Yorkshire). Tend to find you get given a much wider berth and get a lot of thumbs up.

Have ridden some of the newer one's - with electric now as well. Easier and more comfortable. But with 10 bikes already don't need another.

Edited by ClassicMercs on Saturday 21st July 00:53

[ClassicMercs]

meehaja said:

Bob Jackson, frame builder in Leeds used to make them and there’s a whole scene of tricycle time trialists! I always fancied one and my balance is fine... find the club and get in touch, there’s bound to be more modern alternatives?

Yes - totally surprised the other weekend. Heading up the A19 past Thirsk (on our way to look at an ebike) and there was a time trial on - using the dual carriageway. There must have been best part of 10 riders on tricycle's - and a couple were tandem tricycles. Really cool in a geeky way and they were dead serious - and given a wide berth by drivers.
These bikes don't come cheap and sometimes come up on ebay - or elsewhere. I see a Condor listed at £400 at present.
We used to have an old bloke around here had a couple - obviously with age he possibly couldn't ride a standard bike anymore and this allowed him to get out every day and keep active.
As stated above - alternatives - cargo type bike - rickshaw style - endless. Check the Swallow electric tandem on ebay - very different. But prices can get silly and until you have tried things - ebay or similar could be a good source at reasonable price but you have to wait till the right thing comes up. (Part of me says to offer our under used Trice - especially when I see that they are still fetching what we paid <more than that Condor>)
Its good to be different.

[ClassicMercs]

One last shout - specialists on cycling for the disabled - and I use that very loosely - the word used is inclusive. Don't know where you are or what is around but check getcycling.org.uk in York. Started by my old german teacher who left teaching and has spent the last 30+ years encouraging cycling and in particular providing innovative solutions for all circumstances.
Also publishes magazines- check cyclorama.net - which publishes information about everything that is generally not mainstream high street. And its this that spawned the above solution provision side of the business.