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Learning To Ride A Recumbent Tricycle

By Martha Murray


Summer days excite many people with the opportunities to get out and have some fun in the sun. A great way to stay fit is to ride a bike. There a number of people that enjoy moving around but have trouble riding because it is not easy to lean over the handlebars due to back pain or other issues. Using a recumbent tricycle is a great way to enjoy the summer fun without the pain that a traditional bike may cause.

One question people have is why they should use a vehicle with 3 wheels instead of 2. The history for the 3-wheeled nonpowered vehicle goes way back beyond the two-wheeled bicycles. The early days showed people having difficulty balancing the new vehicle and therefore a three-wheeled vehicle was created. Having a trike is a great way of riding without having to lean forward over the handlebar part of the bike.

Another question that is often asked is why should they use a recumbent vehicle instead of a regular 10-speed bike or dirtbike. The advantage to having a recumbent trike is you are able to lean back and ride in a relaxed pose rather than leaning forward over the handlebars. Another advantage is by leaning back on the vehicle you're also able to see the scenery around you and ride for many more miles.

Getting in and out of this type of vehicle can be a little bit intimidating. But it doesn't need to be because you can simply start off by making sure that the trikes brakes are completely locked so that it doesn't roll while you're trying to get into it. The first step is to straddle the front and back in towards the seat as you sit down. With the brakes on you should be able to easily sit down. Make sure not to use the handlebars or steering because are not load bearing and could easily be damaged. Exiting the bike is the reverse start by locking the brakes and lean forward and stand up and then step to the side.

Pedaling the trike can be difficult at first. One of the recommendations is that you use pedals that have some sort of strap or device to keep your foot from slipping off. If your foot does slip off it could easily hit the ground and be pulled underneath the bike which can cause a lot of pain. Since you're riding a trike you don't have to worry about the bike tipping over when you stop so it is not a problem to have your feet clipped in.

There are two types of steering mechanisms that are popular. The first is the linkage steering which feels more like power string for a bike. This type uses a sway bar and can be controlled with just one hand. The direct steering seems to be more like a sports car where you would need to use both hands.

Changing gears is as simple as it would be on the two-wheel bike. The advantage here is that you don't need to know what gear you are in. You just simply change the gears as you feel the need to when you're climbing a hill or going downhill. The most popular type of gear is similar to a 10-speed bike where you have two gear settings that can be adjusted to maximize the torque.

There's no reason to avoid getting out in the sun and having fun in the summertime. Being able to ride a bike is not something that everyone can do so using something like recumbent trikes helps those who may have difficulty bending over the handlebars of a regular 10-speed bike. With these options, anyone can ride by choosing the type of trike or bike that will best fit their needs.




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