I myself, started riding recumbent bicycles because, I have severe hemophilia. Just after I graduated from high school in 1994. After an accident due to faulty road construction conditions, I wrecked, and ended up with a fractured femur. So, I switched to the tadpole trike, since I had a reduced sense of balance. Shortly after purchasing the tadpole trike, it sat in my shed for awhile, because of an epileptic seizure. That broke the ball joint on the same side that I fractured my femur. Due to the surgeries, and having severe hemophilia. I ended up having to get a full knee replacement. And, within the past four years, even with all the many safety additions. I was hit twice, on two different tadpole trikes. Because of individuals in automobiles not paying attention to their surroundings. I'm now waiting a year to get a quatrovelo, which is one of the many cycles within the recumbent family. Recumbents in general have, and continue to be my alternative physical therapy. That's the only reason why I'm still standing, and walking today. When the doctors have told me each time that I should have been paralyzed or have died. "Stay safe, and be seen". And, "Enjoy, and appreciate every ride that you take". Some individuals may find videos like these, boring....but at the same time if you're truly interested in finding something that will bring back what you enjoy the most....this video was great 👍.
I ride an atomic zombie tadpole trike that I completed several months ago. Don't ride any of my 2 wheelers anymore. Love the comfort and I am getting much more exercise. Your video is very good except for the wind noise. The text was helpful. Many thanks.
Looks good, but Catrike has come out with many more models and improvements of existing models since 2013. Be sure to project yourself with very bright flashing lights facing to the rear and double whips. The Scorpion Plus has you 22 1/2 inches off the ground and facing more forward.
Thanks for sharing this video. I also came to triking recently for the same reason as you. I now commute to work on my ICE Adventure each day rain or shine. Love the Catrike as well. Very nice.
Thank you for taking so much time to do a very lengthy explanation of the catrike road. I am in the market and have picked up so many tips from you ....I really appreciate you showing us....I was considering the 700 but like your thoughts about rough roads and your reasons for your choice....plus your observations and remarks were just great...kiddos...
Another informative video for those out there who have always wondered what that thing is....I ride the Catrike Trail as well as the Catrike Expedition, wonderful machines!
I'm 73 years old and wish the Catrike Dumont was around back in the 70s, I love my Catrike, no more neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain both upper back and lower ( lower has 2 pins and 6 screws), no more wrist pains, and no more balance issues. Also no more butt sores or heavy Bruising between the legs. I now can look up from the ground and enjoy the surroundings where on a bike I was always looking down, it hurt so bad to look up because of being bent over.
Thanks for your video. I'm thinking about getting a catrike and before I spend the $, I want to do as much research as i can. You cleared/answered a lot of my questions..Thx again, Bobby
I enjoy your video! I like to watch it while I ride my recumbent exercise bike. I have a 2010, Catrike Road. I wish it had the adjustable seat,and rear suspension.
Nice video. I enjoyed it. I have a 2015 Catrike Road that I have about 1700 miles on now. I also noticed the same problem with the low sun angle. I solved it by wearing a cycling cap. They are small enough that they should fit under your helmet, and even thought the bill is small, it can be positioned low close to the eyes and shades them well.
Nice informative video. I'm looking into getting one. Thanks for the video. This has helped me in my non company bias research. I have rode several models before only in a lot not on the road. So, it's hard to get the full long term feeling of the ride. Besides how comfortable they are. Thanks again!
I thought at first that I would just attach my MUVI mini camera to my helmet, but decided to use my Canon ELPH digital camera in its movie mode. I mostly held it in my right hand, resting my hand on my chest for stability, hence the low angle view. When necessary, I switched holding the camera from one hand to the other. In almost all cases, my camera hand was pretty much on the center of my chest, but sometimes I held it out at arm's length to get a different view. The lens was zoomed out.
Yeah, great video ! You touched a couple points I had a feeling about, like wearing shoes with clips; wind getting up your shorts... good during summer, not so good when it's too cold :-)
Allbbrz On any recumbent its a good idea to get some good bike shorts. Regular shorts without elastic to close the leg of the pants is a bad idea as I found out one time when a BEE flew up my shorts leg ;-)
My 2012 Catrike Road has been 'golden'. Absolutely nothing going wrong with it. Since I travel frequently in Wisconsin, I have managed to take it back to the Hostel Shoppe for annual tuneup, but it really does not need anything. I have added a loud horn that I can blast by pressing a button with my right thumb. This is to alert car drivers that I am present if they are not in a good position to see me.
Adventures with Noah No issues at all with my trike. I take it back to the Hostel Shoppe once a year, usually just before Christmas, when I am in that area to visit relatives. They give it a good cleaning and lube/adjustment and it is good for the next year. I would do all that myself, but it is so convenient to have them do it.
Thank you for this very detailed video. I don't have a local shop in Nashville TN so I am research as much as I can before make a choice. ICE< HP or Catrike. and how is transporting. There does not see to be flat road here
Very useful and entertaining video! I guess the only bad things about a trike are that they are slightly unhandy to put in your car or on your bike rack; if you can't go around something, one of the wheels will hit it for sure and certain close side clearance obstacles might be a problem. These are small prices to pay for not falling over ever! I think the rear wheel shock is the way to go also and worth the extra money! I like two wheel recumbents until I get old enough to start falling over.
The clipless pedel info was well worth watching your video.. I just never thought about that even though I have always riden clipless or harnessed on up right bikes...I don't only push I love to pul a crank...
Tim Reeves Why would you do that? Clips are so much more convenient, and safer since you can get out of them easier in an emergency. Straps are just for hardcore oldschoolers....
The camera was in one hand or the other, usually with the hand resting on my chest for stability. Sometimes I moved the camera from one hand to the other while shooting, but this is not very apparent as I did it smoothly. Sometimes I was riding 'no hands' while one hand was holding the camera and another hand was demonstrating something. The camera was never 'mounted' to anything.
We really enjoyed your video, watched it instead of the rubbish they call entertainment on NZTV. and it makes a big difference having a stabilizer on the camera unless you have a very steady hand. I have been sorting out a camera for my Tadpole, will be doing my best to copy your results. I'am not happy with the results on my helmet cam. I made a brake similar to yours but leave it attached to the brake leaver, looks a bit untidy flapping in the wind but easy to apply. Regards Bryan
Great video I am looking at the 559 now and am wondering if the suspension models are worth the money. I am going to test ride them this week hopefully this will answer my question. I liked the video because you gave a lot of detail throughout.
Do they have races for these trikes? I've seen recombinant bikes on the road a couple of times. On both occasions I saw him just in time as he was on a road with no shoulder and a blind curve.
Thanks a lot, that was very informative. You made a few points that I never even considered. I notice quite a bit of squeaking, are my ears playing tricks on me?
Malek Tubaishat The tadpole is 'better' in the sense that you can be in a very low gear and just poop along up the hill while daydreaming, very slow without losing control. The regular bike is better in that you can use your weight to climb the hill in a higher gear and thus get up faster.
Thanks for an informative review. What I'm seeing is a trike that disappoints in that I was expecting you to haul ass, and comment on how easy, and how fun, and how fast you can go for the same amount of effort you'd put in on a regular bike. I simply refuse to ride a non-motorized vehicle. I thought this trike would be the answer, but I was wrong about that. I need an electric motor, no question about it. I do have a condition where I get fatigued too easily. I can't see pedaling forever.
Does the bike feel stable going downhill at maximum speed? I've of trikes tipping over which worries me. I have a Burley recumbent and it feels real twitchy speeding down hill so I always go down slow. Do you get flats? HOw is it to deal with that on the road?
SDPickups Very stable at high speeds. I would have to try hard to get it to tip, but it is possible to make the rear wheel lift if braking abruptly at higher speed. I have never had a flat on this machine, but then I rarely did with regular bikes either.
+SDPickups I have a trike that's narrower than the Catrike and it's stable at max. Tipping over is not a problem. If you feel the inside wheel lifting just lean into the corner a bit. It doesn't need much body lean to keep all three wheels on the ground. I haven't gotten a flat in over ten years, I use Schwalbe Plus tires. There's some other makes that are puncture proof as well. If I ever do get a flat on the road, I'd just fix it like I would a bicycle. Always carry a basic repair kit. And pump.
+Mike Savage I ended up getting a Catrike Road, which has rear suspension. LOVE IT LOVE IT. I always use the Schwalbe flatless tires too, only flat I ever got on one was from bad tube install and a pinch that popped. I carry a full set of tools, and ride at night, so have spare lights, and riding in winter now I got some Volt heated gloves, so my hands don't freeze. I use a super bright Cygolite and 2 ultra bright tail lights, and mounted a micro car horn on the front and used a laptop battery to power it, the horn has saved my butt several times, and nice to honk back to bozos who honk at you just to scare you.
SDPickups Very nice. Have much fun riding. I tried heated gloved on my trike once a few winters ago. Even when it was below freezing I found my hands overheating. I use ordinary full-fingered gloves instead. We don't get much deep freeze temps in Ireland.
I just ordered a Catrike Road AR. I am having a 750 watt motor installed as well. I wondered if there have been any change since yours is the 2012 model?
Great video, many thanks for taking the time to film and upload it! You said that there's gear changes for both the front and rear wheels on the left and right hand grips? Would you run through your gear change sequence for a complete newbie, please? I'm thinking of getting a recumbent trike and I'm very out of practice riding anything with pedals and gear changes. Also, is it usual to have gear changes on both left and right grips, or is this just particular to Catrikes? Thanks again. :-)
taiwarrior1 I don't go for the scheme of using ALL gear ratios when shifting. I believe in keeping the front chainring in position and just shifting up and down with the rear hub. I change the front as change speed RANGES.
+taiwarrior1 Left side is for the front gears, right side is for the rear gears. on the left, 1 is low, 2 is middle and 3 is high. on the right, 1 is lowest and 10 is highest gear. You twist the lower part of the grip to change gears. Look at the front and rear gear groups to see where you are initially. The easiest pedaling is when the front is on the smallest ring and the rear is on the largest ring. The highest gear is when the front is on the largest ring and the rear is on the smallest ring. Everything else is in the middle and you choose your proper gear by shifting the front and rear gears up or down until you feel comfortable pedaling in your immediate situation. You don't normally change gears until you are moving or unless you have an internal hub gearset. That is why you should shift down before you come to a stop. (It is hard to take off in the higher gears)
Really like the info in your video. I have test rode a Catrike 559 and liked it, but found the ride kind of harsh. I know the aluminum frame does not help that problem. Would like your opinion on 2 issues. First does the fact that the Road model can not fold up cause any transport issue? Also would you say that the shock on the Road makes a fair amount of difference compared to a non-suspension model to pay for the extra cost? Thanks for your opinion.
Good video, it just seems odd to me that small wheel size should limit gear range and thus, top speed, why not use an oversize chainring, like the folders have??
Damon Thomas If you want to deviate from the standard kit that comes with the Road, you could probably make a larger chainring work. But there might be some unexpected issues.
Amanda S. Depends what you mean by 'having to' stop at stop signs. The law says that all vehicles on roads need to follow all traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs. But in practice, few cyclists will stop at a sign if there is no traffic in the area. Cars probably would not either in that case, but you would get a ticket. No tickets for offenses on bikes/trikes, and indeed police in my area seem to agree that stopping bikes in such cases is rather silly and they don't enforce it.
youtuuba tnks 4 the info and insight. FWIW - seems to be a feud brewing here in Minnesota,,, bicycles vs autos. it's not uncommon to see participants in this feud flipping each other the bird. cars seem to think they own the road,,, and so do bicyclists:) as for me, i prefer to stay on sidewalks and bike trails and don't ride on the road at all if i can avoid it.. better safe than sorry:) ur trike looks like fun
Your big gear in the back is your lowest gear. Try going down to the small gear when you'll in the big chain ring up front. That will be your top gear.
Curt8153 Not sure why you think I don't already know that. The overall effective drive wheel diameter is still smaller in top gear than it would be on a 'regular' bike. Catrike makes another model with a larger rear wheel that goes faster, but I have no need for such higher speeds.
Does it fold up for transporting? This is one thing all of these presentations seem to miss completely though I understand the presenter is not doing that at all and no reason he should cover it. This is not a complaint so please excuse me if my comment seems to be that way. OK it doesn't mean anything to some but how portable are these trikes. How easy or difficult is it to dismantle them and package? Why would I want to know that? Answer is I might have a small car and want to drive to a location and go riding from there or I might be interested in International travel. this trike actually looks like it might fold up but nothing said about that. Just saying OK. There really needs to be more presentations of foldups and dismantalling of recumbant tadpole trikes. That's my imporession of watching these presentations. I'm sure there is a catrike make that does that very thing and maybe there is more than one of them. I'm still looking. Even when one is shown the reveiwer overlooks completely the folding option and how easy or difficult it is to fold up and package for ground freight or airfreight. It's getting a little annoying because I am seeking presentations that cover the topic. It is very relevant to me because I am not going to ride a trike across the ocean once I buy it so it seems the most obvious thing.
You make a good point. The more expensive brands of tadpole trike (Catrike, Ice, etc) all seem to make folding versions, and for the reasons you mention. They tend to be more expensive, and often are lacking some other desirable features as a trade off. But as I often say in my responses to UA-cam comments; Why ask these questions here, where an answer is not sure to be timely, accurate or adequate, when you can simply go directly to the manufacturers (or their websites) and see if they have folding models, and what those are like? Any specific answer I can give here will be out of date within a year when the models change. Suffice it to say that, yes, there are folding tadpole models available.
Longevity of this product. I recently cracked my femur crushed my hip cracked 3 ribs fractured 4 vertebrae in n my back 3 in my neck.and I’m tired of walking in 90 degree heat. Is thi something for me this video is great. Well it’s 2023 now what’s everyone’s opinion.
Your feet going to sleep is not unusual for those old style SPD pedals. That's why they came out with the much wider roadie SPDs. Having the cleats too far forward also makes this more likely. Shimano now sells composite SPD roadie pedals, made of carbon fiber. It helps kill road vibration that numbs nerves. www.competitivecyclist.com/shimano-ultegra-pd-6800-spd-sl-pedals
Some horses can panic at the sight of a trike coming because it resembles a large cat stalking prey - or so I've heard. Best thing to do is stop and get off the trike and wait until the horses aren't around anymore. That might be a little too cautious though. I have no idea how common that could be a problem. I got off my trike once to allow two police on horses pass. Those horses are well trained anyway and not so skittish.
Ray Charles, you need to decide if you want to ride a motorcycle or some kind of human powered vehicle. There is no version of a bicycle or tadpole trike that I am aware of that requires no pedaling, unless that vehicle is a motorcycle. As for you getting fatigued too easily, the idea is that you do shorter rides and then add distance as your body gets stronger. Anyone who is in even reasonable health should need able to pedal for at least 15 minutes initially. If I could not do even that, I would see a doctor!
I myself, started riding recumbent bicycles because, I have severe hemophilia. Just after I graduated from high school in 1994.
After an accident due to faulty road construction conditions, I wrecked, and ended up with a fractured femur. So, I switched to the tadpole trike, since I had a reduced sense of balance.
Shortly after purchasing the tadpole trike, it sat in my shed for awhile, because of an epileptic seizure. That broke the ball joint on the same side that I fractured my femur.
Due to the surgeries, and having severe hemophilia. I ended up having to get a full knee replacement.
And, within the past four years, even with all the many safety additions. I was hit twice, on two different tadpole trikes. Because of individuals in automobiles not paying attention to their surroundings.
I'm now waiting a year to get a quatrovelo, which is one of the many cycles within the recumbent family.
Recumbents in general have, and continue to be my alternative physical therapy. That's the only reason why I'm still standing, and walking today. When the doctors have told me each time that I should have been paralyzed or have died.
"Stay safe, and be seen". And, "Enjoy, and appreciate every ride that you take".
Some individuals may find videos like these, boring....but at the same time if you're truly interested in finding something that will bring back what you enjoy the most....this video was great 👍.
I ride an atomic zombie tadpole trike that I completed several months ago. Don't ride any of my 2 wheelers anymore. Love the comfort and I am getting much more exercise. Your video is very good except for the wind noise. The text was helpful. Many thanks.
Very informative for anyone considering the purchase of a recumbent. Thanks for sharing.
Looks good, but Catrike has come out with many more models and improvements of existing models since 2013. Be sure to project yourself with very bright flashing lights facing to the rear and double whips. The Scorpion Plus has you 22 1/2 inches off the ground and facing more forward.
Excellent Review of the road. I am saving my pennies to purchase a trike and your video is a perfect review to help me in my decision making.
Thanks for sharing this video. I also came to triking recently for the same reason as you. I now commute to work on my ICE Adventure each day rain or shine. Love the Catrike as well. Very nice.
Thank you for taking so much time to do a very lengthy explanation of the catrike road. I am in the market and have picked up so many tips from you ....I really appreciate you showing us....I was considering the 700 but like your thoughts about rough roads and your reasons for your choice....plus your observations and remarks were just great...kiddos...
Another informative video for those out there who have always wondered what that thing is....I ride the Catrike Trail as well as the Catrike Expedition, wonderful machines!
I'm 73 years old and wish the Catrike Dumont was around back in the 70s, I love my Catrike, no more neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain both upper back and lower ( lower has 2 pins and 6 screws), no more wrist pains, and no more balance issues. Also no more butt sores or heavy Bruising between the legs.
I now can look up from the ground and enjoy the surroundings where on a bike I was always looking down, it hurt so bad to look up because of being bent over.
Thanks for the ride. Very helpful as I'm considering buying a used Catrike in the very near future.
Thanks for your video. I'm thinking about getting a catrike and before I spend the $, I want to do as much research as i can. You cleared/answered a lot of my questions..Thx again,
Bobby
Booby C do wat we did,,, bike trails here in minnesota rent these little guys cheap,,, so i tried some out B4 getting my TerraTrike:)
I enjoy your video! I like to watch it while I ride my recumbent exercise bike. I have a 2010, Catrike Road. I wish it had the adjustable seat,and rear suspension.
Nice video. I enjoyed it. I have a 2015 Catrike Road that I have about 1700 miles on now. I also noticed the same problem with the low sun angle. I solved it by wearing a cycling cap. They are small enough that they should fit under your helmet, and even thought the bill is small, it can be positioned low close to the eyes and shades them well.
Nice informative video. I'm looking into getting one. Thanks for the video. This has helped me in my non company bias research. I have rode several models before only in a lot not on the road. So, it's hard to get the full long term feeling of the ride. Besides how comfortable they are. Thanks again!
How much is the cost
My Catrike Dumont Trike has locking brake levers that has buttons to push to lock when squeeze in. Makes it real nice.
I thought at first that I would just attach my MUVI mini camera to my helmet, but decided to use my Canon ELPH digital camera in its movie mode. I mostly held it in my right hand, resting my hand on my chest for stability, hence the low angle view. When necessary, I switched holding the camera from one hand to the other. In almost all cases, my camera hand was pretty much on the center of my chest, but sometimes I held it out at arm's length to get a different view. The lens was zoomed out.
I am thinking in a relative to a diamond frame bike on hill climbs and how much effort is required to peddle a trike as I have C.O.P.D.
Yeah, great video ! You touched a couple points I had a feeling about, like wearing shoes with clips; wind getting up your shorts... good during summer, not so good when it's too cold :-)
Allbbrz On any recumbent its a good idea to get some good bike shorts. Regular shorts without elastic to close the leg of the pants is a bad idea as I found out one time when a BEE flew up my shorts leg ;-)
hahah got it - I kept mine when I sold the mountain bike to upgrade to the trike :-)
Good info and well done! Any updated information on Catrike Road maintenance, issues or awesome rides?
My 2012 Catrike Road has been 'golden'. Absolutely nothing going wrong with it. Since I travel frequently in Wisconsin, I have managed to take it back to the Hostel Shoppe for annual tuneup, but it really does not need anything.
I have added a loud horn that I can blast by pressing a button with my right thumb. This is to alert car drivers that I am present if they are not in a good position to see me.
Adventures with Noah No issues at all with my trike. I take it back to the Hostel Shoppe once a year, usually just before Christmas, when I am in that area to visit relatives. They give it a good cleaning and lube/adjustment and it is good for the next year. I would do all that myself, but it is so convenient to have them do it.
That's an impressive length of time and distance traveled, while holding a camera !
Thank you for this very detailed video. I don't have a local shop in Nashville TN so I am research as much as I can before make a choice. ICE< HP or Catrike. and how is transporting. There does not see to be flat road here
Thank you for an informative and nicely done video!
Very useful and entertaining video! I guess the only bad things about a trike are that they are slightly unhandy to put in your car or on your bike rack; if you can't go around something, one of the wheels will hit it for sure and certain close side clearance obstacles might be a problem. These are small prices to pay for not falling over ever! I think the rear wheel shock is the way to go also and worth the extra money! I like two wheel recumbents until I get old enough to start falling over.
The clipless pedel info was well worth watching your video.. I just never thought about that even though I have always riden clipless or harnessed on up right bikes...I don't only push I love to pul a crank...
I think I would go old style harness on a trike.. Forget the clips....lol.. Can you buy harness anymore????
Tim Reeves and pulling mite evn reduce fishtailing on power strokes , , , ?
Tim Reeves Why would you do that? Clips are so much more convenient, and safer since you can get out of them easier in an emergency. Straps are just for hardcore oldschoolers....
The camera was in one hand or the other, usually with the hand resting on my chest for stability. Sometimes I moved the camera from one hand to the other while shooting, but this is not very apparent as I did it smoothly. Sometimes I was riding 'no hands' while one hand was holding the camera and another hand was demonstrating something. The camera was never 'mounted' to anything.
We really enjoyed your video, watched it instead of the rubbish they call entertainment on NZTV. and it makes a big difference having a stabilizer on the camera unless you have a very steady hand. I have been sorting out a camera for my Tadpole, will be doing my best to copy your results. I'am not happy with the results on my helmet cam.
I made a brake similar to yours but leave it attached to the brake leaver, looks a bit untidy flapping in the wind but easy to apply.
Regards Bryan
Great video I am looking at the 559 now and am wondering if the suspension models are worth the money. I am going to test ride them this week hopefully this will answer my question. I liked the video because you gave a lot of detail throughout.
Do they have races for these trikes? I've seen recombinant bikes on the road a couple of times. On both occasions I saw him just in time as he was on a road with no shoulder and a blind curve.
is it better than the tradition two wheels bike? tell me in details plz :)
Thanks a lot, that was very informative. You made a few points that I never even considered. I notice quite a bit of squeaking, are my ears playing tricks on me?
which one is better when u go uphill the tadpole or the normal two wheel bike ?
Malek Tubaishat The tadpole is 'better' in the sense that you can be in a very low gear and just poop along up the hill while daydreaming, very slow without losing control. The regular bike is better in that you can use your weight to climb the hill in a higher gear and thus get up faster.
Thanks for an informative review. What I'm seeing is a trike that disappoints in that I was expecting you to haul ass, and comment on how easy, and how fun, and how fast you can go for the same amount of effort you'd put in on a regular bike.
I simply refuse to ride a non-motorized vehicle. I thought this trike would be the answer, but I was wrong about that.
I need an electric motor, no question about it. I do have a condition where I get fatigued too easily. I can't see pedaling forever.
Does the bike feel stable going downhill at maximum speed? I've of trikes tipping over which worries me. I have a Burley recumbent and it feels real twitchy speeding down hill so I always go down slow. Do you get flats? HOw is it to deal with that on the road?
SDPickups Very stable at high speeds. I would have to try hard to get it to tip, but it is possible to make the rear wheel lift if braking abruptly at higher speed. I have never had a flat on this machine, but then I rarely did with regular bikes either.
+SDPickups I have a trike that's narrower than the Catrike and it's stable at max. Tipping over is not a problem. If you feel the inside wheel lifting just lean into the corner a bit. It doesn't need much body lean to keep all three wheels on the ground.
I haven't gotten a flat in over ten years, I use Schwalbe Plus tires. There's some other makes that are puncture proof as well.
If I ever do get a flat on the road, I'd just fix it like I would a bicycle. Always carry a basic repair kit. And pump.
+Mike Savage I ended up getting a Catrike Road, which has rear suspension. LOVE IT LOVE IT. I always use the Schwalbe flatless tires too, only flat I ever got on one was from bad tube install and a pinch that popped. I carry a full set of tools, and ride at night, so have spare lights, and riding in winter now I got some Volt heated gloves, so my hands don't freeze. I use a super bright Cygolite and 2 ultra bright tail lights, and mounted a micro car horn on the front and used a laptop battery to power it, the horn has saved my butt several times, and nice to honk back to bozos who honk at you just to scare you.
SDPickups Very nice. Have much fun riding.
I tried heated gloved on my trike once a few winters ago. Even when it was below freezing I found my hands overheating. I use ordinary full-fingered gloves instead. We don't get much deep freeze temps in Ireland.
I just ordered a Catrike Road AR. I am having a 750 watt motor installed as well. I wondered if there have been any change since yours is the 2012 model?
Great video, many thanks for taking the time to film and upload it! You said that there's gear changes for both the front and rear wheels on the left and right hand grips? Would you run through your gear change sequence for a complete newbie, please? I'm thinking of getting a recumbent trike and I'm very out of practice riding anything with pedals and gear changes. Also, is it usual to have gear changes on both left and right grips, or is this just particular to Catrikes? Thanks again. :-)
taiwarrior1 I don't go for the scheme of using ALL gear ratios when shifting. I believe in keeping the front chainring in position and just shifting up and down with the rear hub. I change the front as change speed RANGES.
+taiwarrior1 Left side is for the front gears, right side is for the rear gears. on the left, 1 is low, 2 is middle and 3 is high. on the right, 1 is lowest and 10 is highest gear. You twist the lower part of the grip to change gears. Look at the front and rear gear groups to see where you are initially. The easiest pedaling is when the front is on the smallest ring and the rear is on the largest ring. The highest gear is when the front is on the largest ring and the rear is on the smallest ring. Everything else is in the middle and you choose your proper gear by shifting the front and rear gears up or down until you feel comfortable pedaling in your immediate situation. You don't normally change gears until you are moving or unless you have an internal hub gearset. That is why you should shift down before you come to a stop. (It is hard to take off in the higher gears)
Of course most of the time the camera was in a pocket on my shorts, where I could easily grab it to shoot some video.
Really like the info in your video. I have test rode a Catrike 559 and liked it, but found the ride kind of harsh. I know the aluminum frame does not help that problem. Would like your opinion on 2 issues. First does the fact that the Road model can not fold up cause any transport issue? Also would you say that the shock on the Road makes a fair amount of difference compared to a non-suspension model to pay for the extra cost? Thanks for your opinion.
Good video, it just seems odd to me that small wheel size should limit gear range and thus, top speed, why not use an oversize chainring, like the folders have??
Damon Thomas If you want to deviate from the standard kit that comes with the Road, you could probably make a larger chainring work. But there might be some unexpected issues.
Nice, thorough video. Thanks for posting. How did you have the camera mounted while filming ?
do u not have to stop for a stop sign? (u didn't)
Amanda S. Depends what you mean by 'having to' stop at stop signs. The law says that all vehicles on roads need to follow all traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs. But in practice, few cyclists will stop at a sign if there is no traffic in the area. Cars probably would not either in that case, but you would get a ticket. No tickets for offenses on bikes/trikes, and indeed police in my area seem to agree that stopping bikes in such cases is rather silly and they don't enforce it.
youtuuba tnks 4 the info and insight. FWIW - seems to be a feud brewing here in Minnesota,,, bicycles vs autos. it's not uncommon to see participants in this feud flipping each other the bird. cars seem to think they own the road,,, and so do bicyclists:) as for me, i prefer to stay on sidewalks and bike trails and don't ride on the road at all if i can avoid it.. better safe than sorry:) ur trike looks like fun
Thanks! Very helpful!
You don't say which gears you are in as you go along.
And why would I report on the gears used? Even if I knew what gear I was in.....I mentioned that I cannot see what gear I am in on this trike.....
Your big gear in the back is your lowest gear. Try going down to the small gear when you'll in the big chain ring up front. That will be your top gear.
Curt8153 Not sure why you think I don't already know that. The overall effective drive wheel diameter is still smaller in top gear than it would be on a 'regular' bike. Catrike makes another model with a larger rear wheel that goes faster, but I have no need for such higher speeds.
Does it fold up for transporting? This is one thing all of these presentations seem to miss completely though I understand the presenter is not doing that at all and no reason he should cover it. This is not a complaint so please excuse me if my comment seems to be that way. OK it doesn't mean anything to some but how portable are these trikes. How easy or difficult is it to dismantle them and package? Why would I want to know that? Answer is I might have a small car and want to drive to a location and go riding from there or I might be interested in International travel. this trike actually looks like it might fold up but nothing said about that.
Just saying OK. There really needs to be more presentations of foldups and dismantalling of recumbant tadpole trikes. That's my imporession of watching these presentations. I'm sure there is a catrike make that does that very thing and maybe there is more than one of them. I'm still looking. Even when one is shown the reveiwer overlooks completely the folding option and how easy or difficult it is to fold up and package for ground freight or airfreight. It's getting a little annoying because I am seeking presentations that cover the topic. It is very relevant to me because I am not going to ride a trike across the ocean once I buy it so it seems the most obvious thing.
You make a good point. The more expensive brands of tadpole trike (Catrike, Ice, etc) all seem to make folding versions, and for the reasons you mention. They tend to be more expensive, and often are lacking some other desirable features as a trade off.
But as I often say in my responses to UA-cam comments; Why ask these questions here, where an answer is not sure to be timely, accurate or adequate, when you can simply go directly to the manufacturers (or their websites) and see if they have folding models, and what those are like?
Any specific answer I can give here will be out of date within a year when the models change. Suffice it to say that, yes, there are folding tadpole models available.
Longevity of this product. I recently cracked my femur crushed my hip cracked 3 ribs fractured 4 vertebrae in n my back 3 in my neck.and I’m tired of walking in 90 degree heat. Is thi something for me this video is great. Well it’s 2023 now what’s everyone’s opinion.
Your feet going to sleep is not unusual for those old style SPD pedals. That's why they came out with the much wider roadie SPDs. Having the cleats too far forward also makes this more likely.
Shimano now sells composite SPD roadie pedals, made of carbon fiber. It helps kill road vibration that numbs nerves.
www.competitivecyclist.com/shimano-ultegra-pd-6800-spd-sl-pedals
Some horses can panic at the sight of a trike coming because it resembles a large cat stalking prey - or so I've heard. Best thing to do is stop and get off the trike and wait until the horses aren't around anymore. That might be a little too cautious though. I have no idea how common that could be a problem.
I got off my trike once to allow two police on horses pass. Those horses are well trained anyway and not so skittish.
Like it a lot good video
Ray Charles, you need to decide if you want to ride a motorcycle or some kind of human powered vehicle. There is no version of a bicycle or tadpole trike that I am aware of that requires no pedaling, unless that vehicle is a motorcycle. As for you getting fatigued too easily, the idea is that you do shorter rides and then add distance as your body gets stronger. Anyone who is in even reasonable health should need able to pedal for at least 15 minutes initially. If I could not do even that, I would see a doctor!
Nice vid and clear narration. If you're in the neighborhood on Facebook, check out 'recumbent trikes group'. Good friendly group for a 'ride'.