Trike Qs

[NewToot]

What do you do on turns to avoid raising the outside wheel? Once the wheel is in the air, can you shift your weight and cause it to go back down? How much of a lean (side hilling, (moving or still)) can you do without turning over? I'm handicapped (Stroke) and require a trike. Weak right leg and foot, can't walk w/out special custom brace and walker. Can pedal, do this every other day for 20 minutes, I've ridden one trike and did OK. TKS for your time! Ray

 

["A"]

1. Slow down before the turn; lower speed will help stabilize the trike during the turn.

2. Whichever direction you turn, lean your upper body (shoulder) into the the handlebar grip that is closest to you to shift your body weight and help counter the tilt of the trike.

Combination of the two above can usually negate the instability in turns on an upright trike.

Like everything else, it takes practice, spend a half hour on a slight incline to practice u-turns or tight turns; take it slow at first, increase speed as you feel more comfortable. After 30 minutes, you body should get acclimated to the feeling of your trike's maneuverability.

 

[NewToot]

THANKS Muchly!! Really do appreciate!!

1. Is this the same as leaning to the outside of the turn, opposite of a two wheel machine?

2. Physically, what does this do to counteract the wheel rising? Just trying to picture this, to help me remember.

Thanks!

 

["A"]

1. Leaning to the "outside of the turn" is general term for "counter steering" in two wheel vehicles; not quite leaning to the outside, but more remaining neutral along the vertical axis.

2. Weight distribution is what makes the trike (and bike) balance while cornering, to counter the centripetal force that make the trike (and bike) tilt.
Concept is that rider (100-200 lb.) will always weigh more than the trike (or bike) and counter the "tilt" sensation more effectively.

Personally, I always "lean into the turn", shift my chest into the handlebar grip that's inside of the turn for trikes.

On bikes, just push right grip to turn right, push left grip to turn left.

 

[mangomike]

What do you do on turns to avoid raising the outside wheel? Once the wheel is in the air, can you shift your weight and cause it to go back down? How much of a lean (side hilling, (moving or still)) can you do without turning over? I'm handicapped (Stroke) and require a trike. Weak right leg and foot, can't walk w/out special custom brace and walker. Can pedal, do this every other day for 20 minutes, I've ridden one trike and did OK. TKS for your time! Ray

Hi .. I have riden my TerraTrike about 1k miles . In that time I have only had a wheel off the ground 2 or 3 time , And than because I was going to fast. In those cases Ieaned outwrd from the turn and did not turn over. Can you turn a trike over ,YES but it would be rider error ,just plan going to fast. My avg. speed runs around 12 to 13 MPH My trike does not have a throttle, so all my riding is done with pedal assist. In your case I would think you might want a throttle. I will have a throttle on my next trike. I am handicapted as well, similar to yourself. My problem is not from a stroke ,but from nearve damage. Trikes are great ,they feel like fredom

 

[mangomike]

What do you do on turns to avoid raising the outside wheel? Once the wheel is in the air, can you shift your weight and cause it to go back down? How much of a lean (side hilling, (moving or still)) can you do without turning over? I'm handicapped (Stroke) and require a trike. Weak right leg and foot, can't walk w/out special custom brace and walker. Can pedal, do this every other day for 20 minutes, I've ridden one trike and did OK. TKS for your time! Ray

Hi .. I have riden my TerraTrike about 1k miles . In that time I have only had a wheel off the ground 2 or 3 time , And than because I was going to fast. In those cases Ieaned outwrd from the turn and did not turn over. Can you turn a trike over ,YES but it would be rider error ,just plan going to fast. My avg. speed runs around 12 to 13 MPH My trike does not have a throttle, so all my riding is done with pedal assist. In your case I would think you might want a throttle. I will have a throttle on my next trike. I am handicapted as well, similar to yourself. My problem is not from a stroke ,but from nearve damage. Trikes are great ,they feel like fredom

 

[dburt]

On turns you will tend to lift the inside wheel if you lean incorrectly. It is best, on flat ground to slow down, as has been stated already, and then shift your weight slightly to the outside of the turn. I do this by shifting the weight mostly by hip action in my butt, you would not know I was shifting weight if you just watched me, it is very slight. Now if you are on any kind of an incline, you want to be careful that you do not shift too much weight to the outside of the turn, especially if the outside of the turn is downhill. Then you shift a slight bit of weight in your butt and lean the upper portion of your body to the inside of your turn. Just go slow and easy at first, until you get the feel of it. It will come quickly and naturally. Back in the early '80's our family rode many miles on 3-wheel atv's and the wife and I and the kids learned quickly that with a fixed rear axle, (as compared to an open differential rear axle like the XP Trike has) turns are much easier if you lean quite a big to the outside of the turn, which lightens the inner wheel in the back. Unless you want to do trick riding, you don't want to lean that much on a trike!