1. Which layout is better at fast cornering like a 90 angle at high speeds
2. If loaded with equipment and possible bike tow which has better handling and traction
3. Pros and cons of each / additional info

I've ridden for a long time with both flat and drop bars and have, in recent years, gone for wider versions of both. The reason is that I was diagnosed with what's called an "essential tremor" and it has affected my stability when riding, hence the wider bars. The tremor is getting worse, very gradually, and may ultimately prevent me from doing anything at all. So, while I still have it in me to tour I want to do so.

During Covid, I built up a Surly Long Haul Trucker to the specs I wanted, but haven't been able to tour with it due to diverse medical issues. Now, I'm not sure I ever will. So, I'm looking to the recumbent community for advice on how to continue. I had planned on riding from Vancouver to San Diego in the Fall of 2025 so time is of the essence.

I would appreciate any advice or recommendations...
Donal

This is just a reminder/psa to those out there looking to get into trikes, or needing to upgrade/change their adaptive bikes/trikes.

Your regional VA health clinic may be willing to support your therapy or health goals through awarding you a recumbent trike. Often this includes a meeting with a occupational therapist, a meeting with a dealer for your recumbent, and a few weeks for the VA to do the paperwork.

My bike shop in Ohio has had the pleasure of fitting 5 vets to trikes this winter. The reason I am posting is not just self-serving. For the last 5 years I had not heard of this option, and many don't know that this can be an option. Recently, I have discovered 2 different avenues that my shop can get deserving vets trikes. I have had the VA pay for repairs for a trike. I have had the VA pay to modify a trike. There are options out there.

Now - not every VA has the same programs available. So if you need help, hopefully this thread can be a spot for everyone to help each other find programs available in your area. I have only worked with the Cincinnati VA and Dayton VA.

I got a '90s-ish M5 but it didn't have a seat pad. Does everyone just use a Ventisit or is there another manufacturer I should look at? Anyone have a used seat pad for the M5 87cm pan?

I used to have a '70s SS that had USS and I loved it but sold it 10 years ago. Has anyone added USS to a frame that did not come with factory attachments for it?

I found a combination of products from amazon that should make it possible to mount just about anything to your recumbent. At this point, nearly everything worth buying has Garmin or a GoPro mount base, so that's the key.

https://preview.redd.it/uzospvam209e1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=568bf5d35cedf14f4cf9af97b45bcdb3d60dd2a7

The Basic combination is a ATV light bar mount and a GoPro tripod base. The light bar come with shims that should fit just about any recumbent tube, and the GoPro base attaches with a short 1/4-20 bolt. I put the bolt on and tightened it down first to create a post, and then screwed the GoPro mount onto it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C893CB7C

If you have something with a Garmin quarter turn mount, you'll need this:

https://preview.redd.it/6bqr4h7k309e1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0dd66e2296deec0f9b4bed6133e5582f98e418b2

It comes with different inserts for Wahoo style mounts. as well. I suggest mounting it to the lightbar mount using an M6 bolt and nut.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XZ2L76X

Finally, you can add a Garmin mount to just about anything with this, though I would use a bit of expoxy in addition to the include adhesive if you're going to use it for something expensive like a phone.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076P316M8

I've been wanting a stein trike for a while mainly due to the suspension, but I want a fast trike as well. I ride mostly on the road but part of my route includes very old road that is incredibly bumpy. Should I be looking at a different trike? Are the trikes with lessor suspension systems comfortable on bumpy roads?

Is there much ride difference between a stein trike and an azub ti-fly?

My hex set disappeared from my osprey pack. Again. I suspect it was my youngest. He insisted he gave it back. I just told him that “back” means put away. Anything else is “stolen”.

So, right now there is a metric folding hex set in the tool box, plus an imperial set. He has several of his own, likely lost. Not my problem. My new rainbow set STAYS IN MY HYDRATION PACK. Any, “Ma, can I use your hex wrenches?” Will be met with NO.

If my old set turns up (it likely will, eventually), well, he and I both know what it looks like, as does one daughter. My husband has no clue, but he never uses them, neither do my other 2 daughters. But this rainbow set, if my husband sees it, even he will know it’s mine.

My trike doesn’t have any bolts that take 8 or 10mm. So I put them in the tool box. They are very heavy, why lug what I cannot use? I’ll probably sew a better case. A fabric one with sleeves will be smaller as well as nicer.

I'm new to this sub. I've ridden over 20,000 miles on recumbent trikes, mostly on local bike paths. My first one was a brand most of you probably aren't familiar with, Avenue. It's an entry-level model that was designed by Bicycle Man in Alfred Station NY (in the middle of nowhere), which claims to be the largest recumbent dealer in the Northeast. The Avenue website shows a few other scattered dealers selling it. I bought one of the first ones produced and put 13,000+ miles on it. I then bought a Catrike Villager and have about 7,500 miles on it.

I'm 75, my needs have changed, and I've recently ordered an eCat Trail Catrike. I selected the Trail because I've been happy with the Villager but wanted a folding trike to fit in my car better.

The area around my home is rather flat. The hills are small, but some are steep. While I can still get the Villager up the hills, it's clear that I'll need the power assist in the not-to-distant future. I do casual ride as well as using it for shopping and some area restaurants. My longest rides will probably be about 40 miles round-trip.

I'm new to eBikes, could someone point me to information on battery management? The consensus seems to be to keep the charge level in the 20-80% range. The specs say the range with the standard battery is "up to 62 miles", there's no indication of the conditions for that. At least at first, I'll probably mostly use it in the "eco" mode and average around 15 mph. My riding will be mostly in moderate temperatures.

Aside from Matt from JaYoe, do we know of anybody out there (YouTube or us here on Reddit) that ride the Ti-Fly 26 or X solely with leg power?

I’ve been thinking about getting one and I feel most trike shops try to push e-assist due to the weight of the Ti-Fly, but I’m fit and in my 40s and am already use to my 40lb Terratrike. I can go out and do 30-50 miles and manage 1500 ft of hills… so I think I can handle this but it’s such a big purchase I’d hate to overestimate my ability and end up with a trike I can barely ride.

I’ve demo’d both the 26 and X and can ride them just fine, but those were demos on flat track… not REAL rides. So just wondering if anybody out there can provide any of their own impressions on riding these with just your own 2 legs.

Also, no hate for e-assist here, I just have my own fitness goals and am lucky enough to still have a mostly working body :)

I have a Bacchetta with a 138" chain. What size ultrasonic cleaner do I need for a 138" chain?

What’s the best source for connecting with long distance riding companions?

I’m a fit 70 year old planning a northern cross country east to west ride on my recumbent trike - Catrike 559 - for the summer of 2025. I would like to find one or two like minded riders with whom to share the trip.

What are the best sites to find these people?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9xlp-qN4Xo&t=55s

Good morning, I don't know where to find a seat for a recumbent bike project, I'm planning to do road trips so I don't dare do one myself, for fear of it becoming uncomfortable over time.

Many thanks to anyone who has a lead!

Has anyone tried a bone dry thing for drying and storing your camelbak? I just saw this and if it works, it looks like a great help. I try to hang mine from the frame to dry, but even then the tube doesn’t, it takes forever….

https://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Outdoor-Inc-BōnDry-U-S/dp/B081TL2VFN/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?content-id=amzn1.sym.eccc14de-bcf9-4d10-8c90-d881827e88ad%3Aamzn1.sym.eccc14de-bcf9-4d10-8c90-d881827e88ad&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VfyVK1BvH3ZM7cFXyDwVRlib9DoF7TPpPFQWmOM0F1ZVwkwZ4zM_cjf3jC4sALWTit7hK-dnOLDqJfKubVqt_huXJiFL4lznQpewyWOW9L61_mWJtxSDP_IudEPxxAYnQvZsbCuPOGzdKx6qntzcbg.S-4WfiWh7IVJswau3uLSlybQyExGlpzwzdwWooKB70Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=bone+dry+hydration+pack+dryer&pd_rd_r=08318721-94fa-4d3f-a270-4a7d412b62c7&pd_rd_w=zLvvL&pd_rd_wg=v2HnH&pf_rd_p=eccc14de-bcf9-4d10-8c90-d881827e88ad&pf_rd_r=RXTSEDV20SQ0S1RBA9Y0&qid=1733334076&sr=8-1

Check out my new ride! 🚲 Here's the breakdown of my soon-to-be favorite e-trike:

Motor: Shimano EP6 with 85 Nm torque – powerful and lightweight.

Gearing: Shimano Nexus 5E with electronic Di2 shifting for seamless rides.

Battery: 504Wh capacity – solid range for long trips.

Lighting: Busch & Müller IQ-X, up to 100 lux – crazy good visibility.

Brakes: Avid BB7 mechanical discs – reliable stopping power.

Can’t wait to hit the road with this beast!

( stock photo from azub)

Riding a Trident Titan trike. Adding a middrive. Looking for tips on battery placement. I opted for a shark style(?) sloped at one end instead of the rear rack option. It's an 11lb battery so I'm concerned about the tcycle holder etc.

Any battery placement tips for a trike?

I have been doing a bit of research & learning from many of you in this forum. I know I need to try/test before I make a purchase and going used is mostly recommended for beginners. I am not a regular cyclist. I like my bike but don’t enjoy it, prob bc I have the wrong bike?!? (That’s a different post) Anyway - I want to ride around my neighborhood for recreation. Streets are mostly bumpy bc of the poor Houston foundation (city built on swamp land). And then I started thinking it might be fun to bike on the beach in nearby Galveston. And that’s where I was needing advice. I don’t have much bike knowledge and even less recumbent trike knowledge. From the little I have read, it would seem this would really be 2 different trikes. But is there a frame I could switch out tires? Or do I go with fat tires & just inflate a bit more? What’s best for compact or loose sand? How does that change the experience on the neighborhood streets? Do I need something that folds to easily transport or are there less expensive trike transport options?

I just cleaned up an old Schwinn 205p recumbent bike, that has been stored in a good environment. I believe I had bought this bike back in the late 90s. After a tuneup all is running and feeling good.

Is there any reason to suggest I should look for something newer? I had done lots of miles on this bike back in the day. I'm sure bikes have come along way, but I liked this bike cause it's so low to the ground.

I don't know if I'm answering my own question but just curious if there is any consensus if this bike was considered good in it's time, and can hold it's own now if all working properly.

Hello! I just bought a used Catrike Expedition. I’ve quickly come to realize I don’t love the feel of a neck rest as I ride and want to McGuiver something so that I’m somewhat more upright. Any ideas? I’m thinking of a wedge cushion but I haven’t been able to find anything quite the right size. I know some catrikes have adjustable angles on the seat but this does not. Any ideas welcome!

I have an old Bacchetta Strada mid-racer and a new Lightning Phantom with an itty-bitty 16 inch front wheel. Which one will be my best bet for training to do long steep climbs? FYI, I’m a 71 year old female working on improving my health and fitness. I used to be a dedicated roadie riding C+\ B- category. Now I’m a solid D rider. I’d like to ride with a bike club again but most of their rides start at the C+ level. Not sure I can work up to that ever again at my age. I don’t have e-assist so I have to ride all ass, no gas.

I'm thinking of adding a slightly smaller rear wheel to my 700 for an upcoming trikepacking trip. It's on a lot of limestone railtrails, so a fatter, lower pressure tire would be appropriate. I'm on a 2016, so it still has the quick release axle, not the new 12mm thru-axle. What is the rear dropout spacing on these older 700s?

I don't want to rebuild the wheel with the original hub, as I'll go back to the skinny tires for running around our local paved trails.

Also, looking for lesson learned if anyone else has done this.

Hi there I'm selling this for our bike shop. What height/inseam would fit a small size recumbent? This is a small Volae high racer, what height range would fit? Any help appreciated.

Volae High Racer size small