Author Topic: Recumbent trike practicality on routes  (Read 8099 times)

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Offline indydave

Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« on: August 28, 2017, 02:17:11 pm »
Hello.... Have put 8K miles on a recumbent trike purchased 1.75 years ago... absolutely love it...work on my new blog website: freewilllogistics.com as inspiration hits while peddling... I live in Indianapolis, IN and would like to do a solo tour down to New Orleans and then over to FL then maybe up the east coast to the GAP and back home. Would much rather ride my trike than an upright. Are Adventure Cycle routes trike-friendly ... generally speaking? 

Dave

indyfabz

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Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2017, 08:11:17 pm »
What do you consider trike-(un)friendly?

One thing you might have to contend with is rumble strip placement. Might find your left wheel riding in the travel lane.

Offline indydave

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2017, 08:19:13 pm »
Thanks Indyfabz... That would be a bit (un)friendly. Need to check out specific maps for a closer look at roadways... It looks like you had quite a good time on your tour. Thanks for sharing it and for your trike insights.....

Offline John Nelson

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2017, 09:03:40 pm »
ACA routes have some of everything. The width of the trike can make it a bit more challenging on shoulderless roads. Make sure you have low enough gearing for steep hills. Make sure it handles well on fast, twisty descents. Make sure it can carry all your gear.

Offline indydave

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2017, 09:22:21 pm »
Thanks Mr. Nelson... It's better going up steep hills and more stable at high speeds going down hills than an upright. It carries more gear. What I dislike about riding an upright, it doesn't have. The 32" width is the only negative. I guess riders get by using trailers that wide. Good food for thought. Thanks again for your insights. 

Offline jcostanz

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2017, 11:40:45 am »
Unpaved trails tend to be slower on a trike than on a 2 wheeler as the 3 tracks tend to slow one down.  Some of the trails either have only 1 narrow clear path or 2 clear paths (no grass or loose material)  these really slow you down and take much more effort.  I did the C&O several years ago on a trike and it had quite a lot of distance where there were 2 clear paths but the center was grassy and higher, I had to ride with either the rear wheel in the high center or both front wheels in the high center and the rear in one of the low tracks. 

I have toured a lot on my Greenspeed GTE trike, (a very wide tadpole trike) the only issues I have had are
1.  on a bridge where you needed to use the sidewalk, the sidewalk at the top of the bridge became too narrow for my trike to fit.  (this was not on an ACA route). (South Grand Island bridge near Buffalo, NY)
2.  Temporary bridge closure having a shuttle bus across a nearby bridge that didn't have pedestrian/bicycle capability, the shuttle bus could not accommodate the width of the trike, causing a 20+ mile detour, (I don't know if it was on a ACA route, Maine/NH border). I knew of the bridge closure and had planned for the possible need of the detour.
3.  A ferry between Salem and Boston, trike was too wide for ramp and had to be lifted over the railings several times.  (not on ACA route).

When I looked into the Ferry for Key West to Ft Meyers, I was told that my trike probably would be rejected as they didn't have space for a non folding trike.  This was several years ago.

So with the possibility of the unpaved trails being more unfriendly for making good progress I would not consider most routes to be trike unfriendly unless they involve detours or restricted ferries.


Offline indydave

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2017, 03:05:45 pm »
A 20+ mile detour ... yikes!! ... and I thought that only happened to me. Thanks so much for sharing the details. I think I'll order the maps and check out the roads. Having to pay attention to the added precaution far outweighs having to continually apply creams and lotions to open saddle sores ... being able to see where I'm going ... not waiting until I pass guardrails to have a place to rest ... being able to ride many miles before forcing myself to stop and take a break ... etc... Thanks again and happy triking!

Offline canalligators

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2017, 05:43:43 am »
I've helped with lifting a trike tandem over bollards that were too narrow.  Some places they're narrow in an attempt to keep motorcycles out.

jcostanz, that's a good list of criteria.  Maybe AC can consider those factors when planning a route.

Offline indydave

Re: Recumbent trike practicality on routes
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2017, 10:20:26 am »
...or maybe AC could mention the areas that are going to be challenging for trikes in the periodic route update info?