9 Secrets to Get the Most Out of Your Recumbent Trike

[@ronsteed]

100% agree on number 2. Keep the habit going even if you go for a shorter ride!

[@skeemodog]

I just added the Terra Trike headrest to my All Terrain and I am enjoying the heck out of it. I am going to try the shorter trips = more trips. Thanks for all these ideas.

[@karenleclerc3142]

My husband made ramps for our trikes out of 1x6 and a pvc pipe cut in half. The trikes both fit nicely in our Traverse(which was a must before he would purchase his)

[@gmaneis]

Micky, many decades ago I remember a basketball play by play guy on TV saying "He has a wrist on his right tape." No one ever told him what he said. Thanks for a great video. I hadn't thought of some of those psychological parts of trike riding. So true.

[@marktracyr]

One of your best informative videos.

[@bobr9689]

I just got done riding 52 miles in 4 hours on my trike. I plan on riding at least twice a week - a hard trail (with grades ranging between 5% - 9%) and an easy ride (basically a flat surface). And getting plenty of rest in between. It all depends on the weather.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Awesome!

[@e.w.oudenampsen1207]

secret # zero anticipatory pleasure. I just ordered my ICE (25th Anniversary model) and have to wait a few weeks for delivery. I can't wait to ride it! 😇

[@LaidBackCycles]

Yes! Expect to have a great time 😀

[@DSAlthaus]

After making a couple of different ramps for my Toyota Tacoma, I have found the best option is a pair of wire shelves that I picked up at Home Depot for about $20 each. They are light, strong, and about six feet long.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Thanks for the idea. I've even seen people make custom wood ramps.

[@DSAlthaus]

I tried custom wood ramps first. The shelving is lighter and easier for me to handle.

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I purchased a rack for my CaTrike Expedition to get to some longer paved bike trails.

[@gardenman3]

Thanks for the tips.

[@LaidBackCycles]

You're welcome!

[@jamesmchugo9422]

All great ideas, I’ve done them all at some point or another. But one of my motivations is I’m trying get back my distance, and like to ride town to town. Something else is do a tour. Whether that’s something like Cycle America, the RAGBRAI or a cause like riding for MS research, (I’ve done 16 MS TRAM tours in the past before my daughter was born) or cancer research. But these formal rides are fun. The promoters do the all hard work of carrying your stuff, and having supports along the way, making sure you’re fed and hydrated, you just get to have fun riding, camping and being with like minded riders. And if it’s one of the riding for a cure, you get the knowledge you helped someone by covering the costs of research.

[@bobr9689]

Recumbent trikes - think Lazy Boy on Wheels! Unlike Bigfoot or ghosts, trike grin is a real provable phenomenon!

[@peterbilta]

I store my trike in the back of my Tacoma pickup. It has a cap and is always ready to go along with all my gear stored in the cab.

[@jholloway5264]

Which lock do you use? I do not see the link? 11:11

[@neilclaypoole7529]

I use two 2x6 s put grip tape on them you cut to the length that fits your vehicle. I have a Minnie cargo and a large cargo van . My Son has a Toyota Matrix an it makes it easy to load.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Nice idea. I've also seen people do that and put sides on so the trike does not fall of the ramp.

[@RND_ADV_X]

I have a question about recumbents. Why are the dual wheels in the front and the drive wheel in the back? With the drive wheel in the front, you could have a much smaller chain.

[@sebastiandomagala9233]

I can confirm almost all of your tips. Especially the accessibility is a thing. I threw my car out of the garage and store my shopping trailer there instead of folding it. There's no more shopping trip by car anymore. But loading a trike into a vehicle? The trike IS the vehicle to ride. Maybe it's just me, riding as a commuter or the US making any trip on a bike a mere death wish. But I won't loaf any of my bikes into my car to go on a bike ride. Especially since I plan on getting a velomobile, that thing can and will replace my car completely - as long as my kids are not in need of a taxi.

[@chrisdoutre101]

One thing I do to make sure that my trike is always ready to go is to plug in my rechargeable lights frequently when I get home from a ride. Not necessarily every day, but often enough to ensure that I could go on a long ride if I felt like it. I sure don't like the idea of riding without lights, especially during daylight rides, and the brighter and flashier the better. A riding buddy of mine got hit by a dump truck. We were riding our road bikes, without lights but in broad Arizona daylight, and the driver claims he did not see us. And I see it every day; cars seem to come pretty close to the unlit bikes that I see; they avoid me like the plague. Edited to add: Another great video Mickey!! Thanks.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Great tip! Charge your lights BEFORE you ride 👏

[@jowilder1115]

What is the difference (pros/ cons) between trike with 2 wheels in the front vs 1 wheel in the front

[@LaidBackCycles]

Great question! A trike with 2 wheels in the front (tadpole) offers better stability and handling, especially in turns, while 1 wheel in the front (delta) gives you a tighter turning radius and often a higher seat for easier mounting. It really depends on your riding style and needs! I prefer a tadpole trike.

[@lindawalker8500]

Mickey, Loved your video. Very inspiring and informative. On the subject of making your recumbent more comfortable...My husband has a quad recumbent. He complained that the seat is not comfortable. (It has the sling type netting fabric.) But he feels the frame (16") is too narrow for his size. Is there an easy and secure pad, that's also breathable, we could get to make his seat and ride more comfortable for him?

[@LaidBackCycles]

A Ventisit may be a good option - they come in varying sizes. It's a breathable mesh pad which most people velcro strap or ziptie to their seats.

[@donaldjans-l7i]

@@LaidBackCycles

[@samterravecchia7421]

What would you suggest for a bike need one for exercise and need it to go hunting have a disabilty can't walk that far

[@mikejrSAA]

Azub Ti Fly 26 with Brose torque assist

[@MarvinRensink]

How should you manage a group ride with both bicycles and tricycles? Seems there might be a safety issue.

[@LaidBackCycles]

When we do group rides regular bicycles are welcome too. Never had a problem. Every day there are trikes and bikes on the American River Trail riding in harmony :)

[@PhyllisBoone-sn8oi]

I join a weekly ride exploring trails with other riders. All, except me ride uprights. I ride my Terra Trike Spyder. There really are no problems, we use trail and group ride etiquette. We inform each other of obstacles and pavement irregularities and of other trail users. It works well! We will average 14-15 mph (the uprights make a good draft for me!😊 And while I'm a poor draft, my flag helps with measuring the overhead branch clearance. And there's always lunch at a local eatery afterwards!

[@MadChad57]

It was nice to meet you at cycle con Micky. Hope to ride with you someday.

[@MadChad57]

I’m with you on the rehab, I’m fighting Leukemia and I’m going to win!

[@LJTomlinson1]

I'm having a hard time trying to keep all my senior's and my light batteries charged . What can i do?

[@LaidBackCycles]

Plug them in the night before a ride. I got in the habit of it with my e-assist battery.

[@collettemak4863]

Have a fun wind spinner instead of a flag--seeing people smile at my wind spinner makes it even more fun!

[@bobr9689]

I recently added another flag to my TerraTrike flag kit - a flag from the Nation of Dish Pan Hands (a dish towel, sewn to fit the pole, that is orange & yellow in color). Being visible out there is very important!

[@dgeorgaras4444]

That’s it, the catrike is coming down from the rafters for the spring.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Woohoo! It should be a great season for riding.

[@daveb.8692]

I moved my truck closer to the back wall and parked the trike inside the door. 😊

[@gregedwards3267]

There is a nice loop that can run from zero to 26 miles in the Half Moon Bay Area. Most of it is off the streets but on paved trails. Anyone want to ride?

[@clayc124]

What I have done for the last 3-4 years is give X amount of money per mile that I ride to a charity that I like to support. So I have a purpose for riding other than just exercise.

[@LaidBackCycles]

I love that! What a great motivator.

[@kennethbradley2222]

Where are you

[@LaidBackCycles]

Sacramento, CA! We also serve people nationwide with trike delivery :)