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« on: June 05, 2010, 01:15:15 am »
Addendum:
One can subtract all the issues related to stability (wobbly starts and stops, unforgiving gear choices when starting, low speed erratic-ness, etc, etc) by adding a third wheel. It all goes away. Use a tadpole arrangement (two wheels up front) and you double the traction available for steering and almost double it for braking.
Granted, you are low to the ground. But, drivers notice the unusual. There are few things more unusual looking on the road than a trike. I have little touring experience (something that I'll correct as soon as possible), but while commuting in town and on country roads, drivers give me a lot of room. I have never had a car crowd me.
It is definitely true that with normal peddling techniques recumbents are slower up hill. However, trikes have the advantage of low speed stability. This means that we can take advantage of a lower gears, take the hill slower while still maintaining an efficient spin. No wobble.