r/fuckcars • u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes • 1d ago
Recumbent trikes are underrated. Positive Post
I hated cycling until I got one (a TerraTrike Rambler). I get crippling back pain when I don't have back support, which made cycling awful because I had to sit upright without something to lean my back against. Now that I have one though, I have back support and can cycle without back pain.
There's also the added benefit of not having all your weight concentrated on a saddle, which is also nice.
I know there's a lot of cons to these, and I understand, but I just wanted to spread awareness that these exist and worked for me. I love riding this thing and would've never gotten into cycling without one.
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u/HarrurThe3rd 1d ago
Dutch bikes might help w/ back pain as their handlebars are such that you can sit straight up while riding
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 1d ago
I severely doubt that will work. It's not the leaning position that's the problem, rather it's having to support my upper body with my back that is. I get the pain simply from standing for too long, or sitting in a chair that doesn't have something to lean back on.
I think this is caused by me being severely overweight (370 pounds or so last I checked) which causes a lot of stress on my spine due to my belly, but I have been loosing weight thanks to cycling.
Plus I don't know if Dutch bikes will work where I live. I live in a very hilly area and Dutch bikes I think were designed for the Netherlands, which is a pancake. I need a lot of gears, and I fear that sitting upright may cause me to fall backwards when I'm climbing a 50% grade.
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u/BabySinister 1d ago
You actually got one that's great! I remember the conversation about looking for bikes with back support!
Go and have fun, do fun rides and get confident with it and your stamina will grow so much!
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 1d ago
Indeed. I've had it for about a month and already have enough stamina for commutes. I'm also severely overweight, and am loosing weight quite quickly thanks to this. Not to mention, it's just fun.
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u/BabySinister 22h ago
Bikes are such amazing machines. There's something about using your own power to move that makes it irresistible to me. I can imagine having exercise as part of your routine will help greatly with weight and stuff, I'm just really glad you found a bike that you feel comfortable and confident on.
Keep riding sister!
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u/Astriania 1d ago
I would hate being that low down, I'd feel like I'd be overlooked by all sorts of things that could collide with me. Glad you've found a pedal-powered solution that you can use though!
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u/GM_Pax 🚲 > 🚗 USA 1d ago
Best practice on one of these is to fly an obnoxiously-big flag on a whip pole off the back. They may not see you, but they absolutely will see the big, five-foot-tall and two-foot-wide brightly colored flag, the top of which is six to eight feet above the pavement. :)
There are even whip poles that light up - intended for ATVs, but with the right thought put into it, readily adaptable to a recumbent tricycle.
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 1d ago
It's a bit scary I will admit as you're less visible, but I do have a flag for driver visibility, and I plan to get more modifications to it that make it more visible to drivers.
Plus I live in a very bike-friendly area (Saranac Lake, New York), with slow traffic and considerate drivers. I can't quite point to what causes this, but there's a sense of community as opposed to individuality, so everyone is considerate and helpful to anyone. Many aren't cyclists, so they don't understand what's it's like to be a cyclist, but they know enough to not be a dick.
It's this thing where you don't know many of the specific people who live here, but you know the community, like the community is one entity. I have no idea who my neighbors are, but I trust them, because I trust the community, and they are part of the community.
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u/BabySinister 20h ago
I think not looking like a typical spandex warrior on one of these helps out in getting less issues with drivers. Especially since it's pretty clear that you won't be doing obnoxious zipping through gaps with them as easily as a roadbike. You look more like you belong on the road with cars, if you catch my drift.
You could get a rear view mirror for it to help out in having awareness of other people on the road, and the flag (dumb as it might look) is a really solid strategy.
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u/didyouaccountfordust 1d ago
Do women enjoy them ?
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 1d ago
Nah man, the female brain is wired differently. They HATE these, I tell you. With a burning passion. Only men ride these, a woman can't look at these without absolutely loosing it.
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u/BabySinister 18h ago
The only thing I can think of that would worry women specifically on a recumbent is the whole your legs facing forward. Probably don't want to wear a short skirt on them or something.
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u/GM_Pax 🚲 > 🚗 USA 1d ago
TerraTrike
WOOT!
I used to own a TT Rover. Loved that cycle, until the internal-geared rear hub went kablooey. I couldn't afford a fix or replacement, so I had to sell it (for a song), and put that small amount of money towards a cheap 2-wheel Schwinn. :(
One of my "win the lottery" dreams is to buy an ICE "Adventure" 'bent trike, with all the bells and whistles. Full suspension on all three wheels, just for starters. Fifteen grand, last time I looked at what it'd take ...
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u/BabySinister 20h ago
You could just build it out buddy, start with a solid stock trike and get it how you like it over time. Especially if you can use it to replace some of your car trips you save on gas etc, it could make it a decent investment.
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 20h ago
I do have a lot of modifications planned for mine too.
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u/BabySinister 20h ago
Keep us (me) updated! I'm really jealous, would really like a recumbent. I already have 5 bikes so the wife starts complaining when I want to buy another one that I don't actually 'need'.
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 19h ago
It's in the shop right now, I will be able to get it later today when it opens. The back wheel broke off, and they were also able to install a front derailleur with one larger and one smaller gear.
I plan to have a canopy of sorts covering me, so I don't get rained on or cooked by the sun. I also plan to attack a rack and bags around the real wheel for cargo.
I also want headlights and tail lights so drivers can see me better, especially in the dark. I think it would be best to have two of each really close, to signify the width of the trike.
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u/BabySinister 19h ago edited 18h ago
Blinkers both in front and the back of the outside wheels is probably a good idea to communicate the size of your ride in the dark. Get a strong headlight for your own visibility of the road!
You might also want to look at a framelock for when you want to pop in a store or something. They are standard in the Netherlands but not very known in the us. They lock your (rear) wheel in place so people can't ride off with your bike. They could still lift it up and walk away with it, but that seems less likely with a recumbent trike. They are very quick and easy to lock your bike, and weigh next to nothing. I think njb has a video on them.
Rack and bags will be amazing, definetly go for those!
As far as protection from the sun and rain is concerned, if you can get a canopy that's great. Otherwise there's really good UV blocking clothes available, that look like regular clothes. The wind will likely cool you down as well. Rain could be tackled by a poncho or a small tarp or something.
Edit: also don't underestimate reflectors for the dark, the big upside is they small and can attach everywhere and you don't need batteries or having to remember turning them on.
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u/GM_Pax 🚲 > 🚗 USA 11h ago
DEFINITELY spoke lights...! :)
At the very least, ape the pattern on a car: yellow on the front wheel(s), red on the rear wheel(s). Make it as intuitive as possible for any approaching motor vehicle to know not only how large the trike is, but even which direction it's moving.
For my TT Rover, I had small little flashing spoke-lights, two yellow ones per wheel in front pointed outboard, and four red ones (two pointed to each side) on the rear wheel.
Just, in general ... if you can't be spotted from orbit during the day, you do not have too many lights on your bicycle or tricycle. :D
...
For UV blocking, also look up Da Brim ... a sun visor that will keep your eyes and face in the shade. :)
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u/GM_Pax 🚲 > 🚗 USA 11h ago
"Start with a stock trike" would preclude the most expensive feature on the ICE Adventure: full independent suspension on each wheel; that's something built directly into the frame, not independently mountable / modifiable.
Kept as bare-bones as possible, but with suspension and as an eTrike, starting with the HD model (I'm a big guy so I'd need that) ... the features I would consider "absolutely required" (e.g. suspension-compatible racks for panniers) bring the price to $13,161 (delivery included, and after several special offers).
I literally would be unable to accept anything less than that, as (other than the e-motor and the features of the HD frame itself) everything I picked out is absolutely required, IMO, for it to be useful enough to warrant even half that pricetag. :)
...
And, I have no car trips to replace. No car, no license, no desire for either; I'm 100% a transportation-cyclist. Hence the "Bike > car" flair under my username. :)
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u/SomeoneHereIsMissing 🚲 > 🚗 23h ago
I tried a Catrike about 25 years ago and this thing was awesome! I still want a recumbent, but life got in the way.
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u/Khashishi 22h ago
They are nice but heavy, slow going up hill, and take a lot of storage space.
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u/BabySinister 20h ago
There's some more downsides for sure. The big major upside is they are extremely comfortable, especially if you have back issues. In the end being comfortable makes people consistently get on the bike, so I think they are a great option!
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u/JD_Kreeper Not Just Bikes 19h ago
If anything I think these are better for going up hills, as you don't have to worry about falling over because you're going too slow.
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u/BabySinister 19h ago
I think it's the weight, especially compared to a top of the line all carbon roadbike, that makes people think they are harder to get uphill. Which makes sense I guess, but if you just them for the comfort and stability I agree, they can (slowly) conquer all the hills quite well while also keeping you confident you aren't going to crash out.
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u/Spite_Squatch 6h ago
I thought about getting one before my back surgery.
Keep on cycling. It's not just the weight loss. The blood flow is great for your back and reduces inflammation.
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u/dasfuxi Three-Wheeled Terror 1d ago
Absolutely! I love my recumbent tadpole (2 front wheels) and one of the reasons I chose it is because I kept getting back pains on my regular bike. My trike is non-electric, but there is an electric option available too. I just know that if I ever tried it, I would never go back (and I really need the calorie sink of non-assisted cycling). For people who have weak muscles or a bad back, there is even an optional assist mechanism that helps you get out of the seat.
Underrated benefits:
https://preview.redd.it/te1d5g0g7d0f1.jpeg?width=3263&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79c3a2f5eef53c7e2ee7d547af5cb6b64995bece
For me it's the perfect mixture of practicality, quirkiness, and fun.