Directions For Riding A Recumbent Tricycle

By Martha Murray


With the summer approaching it's important to get out and get some exercise in order to stay fit and healthy. Being able to ride a bicycle or tricycle is an excellent way to exercise without doing damage to your knees or spinal column. A popular way to exercise is by riding a recumbent tricycle or bicycle. Recumbent trikes are a new trend that has increased in popularity because of the way it rides for people who don't especially like riding bicycles while leaning over the front wheel.

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.

The first thing to learn is how to enter and exit the trike. It can be intimidating but it doesn't have to be. Start with locking the brakes. This step is important so the trike doesn't roll away while you try to sit down. Then you straddle the bar and lean back into the seat. Exiting is just the opposite. Lock the brakes, lean forward, stand up and step out of the trike.

Pedaling can also be difficult at first. A serious recommendation is that you have pedals that have a strap or some way to clip your foot into the pedal. If your foot slips off it could hit the ground and get pulled under the bike which could cause a lot of pain. You don't have to worry about falling off the trike when you stop because there are three wheels.

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.

Gear changing is very simple. It is pretty much the same as the traditional 10-speed bike. Some will have just one set of gears, while others will have the combination gears to achieve more torque when you're going uphill. Change it as needed and don't worry about what gear you are in.

There's no reason to not get out in the sun and have fun in the summertime. Riding a bike is not something that some people are comfortable with but using a recumbent trike helps those who have a hard time bending over the handlebars of regular two-wheeled vehicles. These kinds of options make it easy for anyone to ride and enjoy the summertime weather and get the exercise that will help them get fit.




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