Why People Fear Buying a Trike 

Years ago, I told a guy on a bike trail that I was considering a trike. He said, "Oh no. You need a hybrid bike. Trikes are dangerous. If one of those tires slips off the pavement, the whole thing will topple over. Dangerous!" What a joke! I love my Gekko. Drivers always swing waaaay around me, because, I suspect, they must think I'm handicapped. Riding without having to balance is so much fun, like one of those Go-Karts in days long ago. Pure fun and worth the extra moola! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.🙂

Nice video, keep them coming. Apologies in advance, this gets long, but it’s my experience with riding a trike. I’m just starting my first full season riding a trike. I got my Catrike Dumont late summer last year. Because of age, old damage from my youth coming back to haunt me riding a diamond framed bike became too painful, I stopped riding for about 3 years. Then I discovered Trikes. I big factor for me not getting a trike, was cost. But I got a killer deal on a very gently used Catrike Dumont, one I couldn’t pass up, it was even my favorite color! What I’ve learned since getting the trike is all the reasons to not get one, are coming from people that haven’t ridden one. 😂 Here are my top myths I’ve become aware of since I started riding a trike. Trikes are not cool, they’re for old people. People that see me out on the road are always curious, drivers tend to smile and wave or give me a heads up nod when they see me. And kids always say it’s weird, but then they want to ride it. When I rode bikes more often than not they looked mildly annoyed or didn’t notice me. They’re hard on your back, um… no. It’s like sitting in a Lazyboy recliner, my back, hands, shoulder and feet do not hurt from riding the trike. My body did hurt from riding my regular bike, got so bad I’d hurt for days after a few miles of riding a regular bicycle. Cars/drivers can’t see you. Well that’s kind of true. Out on the highway, roads not in town, drivers give me way more room on the road than they ever did when I road a traditional bicycle, I still get out of the way drop over to the shoulder whenever possible as a courtesy whenever I see cars or trucks about to overtake me, but as a rule the drivers are very aware of me and give me the whole lane when passing. In town, that can be a different scenario. Because I’m so low to ground, the top of head is several inches below the tops of even car doors, SUVs and some trucks I just about fit under them, if there is string of cars coming, the ones behind the lead car probably can’t see me because I’m physically blocked from their line of vision by the lead vehicle. Even with the flag and lights, I ride defensively and assume I’m invisible when riding in town, but then even on a regular bicycle I’ve always assumed I’m invisible to drivers. As a result I try to avoid the busy main streets, it’s a matter of self preservation. Trikes are hard to get in and out of. Some more than others, I’ll admit, my Dumont was a pain to get out of when I first got it. I was also in bad shape. Now, I don’t think about. And every trike builder has assistive handles you can install if you need them. Some models as you said, also sit higher making them easier to get in and out of. Some Terratrikes sit as high as kitchen table chairs. It’s like cars, a sports car is harder to get in and out then say a truck or SUV. Peddling and having to have an E motor. Mine is not motorized. I am the only source of power. My trike is just as easy to pedal as any other bicycle, easier because of the crazy low gears. At present I cruise around 12 to 15 mph, I’m just getting back into shape, the last time I tried to ride one of my diamond framed bicycles I was cruising about the same speed with similar effort. The only draw back with a recumbent trike, is hills. You can’t get up out of the saddle to kicker down when climbing hills when on a trike, but with the wider gear range, it’s really not a problem. The E assist trikes are fun, they can extend your range and bump up your speed, but it’s not required. The biggest draw back I’ve found with a trike is storage and transporting one. They have a larger footprint, and weigh a bit more than some bicycles. Folding frame trikes like my Dumont make it easier to store and transport in car, in my case the back of my SUV, it is what is it is. But then most bicycles don’t fit in cars either and you can get car carries for trikes if you do a lot of traveling. But it’s not a good reason to not get a trike. I look at this way, what good is bicycle if you can’t or won’t use it. Since getting my trike I haven’t looked back, my only regret is it took me so long to get one.

Hard to pedal? Um... anyone who says this probably don't understand that THAT"S WHAT GEARS ARE FOR.

The first thing is their cost. They are expensive (at least good quality ones are) but they are worth the cost.

Over 30 years of experience riding/owning recumbents here. Both tadpole and delta planforms owned here. Never tipped over any trike here. 70yo, limited-mobility, handicapper now. 25-inch seat height option on my "Hase Lepus." On/off with wheelchair and forearm crutches (Not so on any tadpole!). 2WD, Rohloff gearbox (never again any cassette!!!), E-assist, dual air-suspension directly under rider's torso (and any cargo). Not for everybody..., but solid tires now on order (cannot get off/on if a flat tire occurs). For others: No 'tadpole disassembly' for a rear flat tire on a delta planform trike! HELLO?! A pair of delta planforms can immediately be EITHER a tandem, OR.., two solos!!! OH, YEAH! Premium trikes are expensive! Never outgrow a delta planform trike. Grow oldest on a delta planform trike. "Jason Stillwater" in the recumbent world.

Just bought a Terratrike Path and had to drill out a couple of bolts that had seized over time. Now I am waiting for brass bushings to arrive so I can rebuild this into what I want . BTW it was a 3 speed and is now a 20 speed. The only problem that I am working on is the front boom has no braze ons to connect cable to the derailleur? Yes the boom with braze ons is available but why pour out more money for something I can finally fabricate? I am also putting a rear disc brake on it as I intend to use this on very steep mining roads and I want a nice drag brake to go down those hills ,Slow. As for traffic ,paved pathways , trails , forest service roads , I will not be out in traffic at all .

Most importantly reason for me is that they look ridiculous, i feel like like every reason you mentioned is from people that haven’t tried them so they make up reasons, maybe l’ll get one if they were more common here

I don't know how or why I am seeing this now, but that's the internet for you. I have been riding two wheel recumbents for over 40 years. I got a trike to try it. I still prefer two wheel recumbents. Trikes are sluggish compared to two wheeler recumbents. I think that is why many, perhaps most, have electric assist. I appreciate the stability of the trike on slick surfaces, but I live in a dry climate and don't ride in what little rain we get. Trikes are more complicated. If you have a recumbent specialist locally, or if you enjoy doing things like checking alignment yourself, that is not an issue. But if you don't, it can be. Horses for courses, and all that, but I think it is sad that the two wheelers have died off because I do think they are still the right tool for some jobs.

I like your helmet.