Transports of Delight

I have been fascinated by three wheeled vehicles for as long as I can remember and have owned quite a few including: a Vincent Comet and Watsonian Avon, a BSA Thunderbolt and Watsonian Monaco, a Bond Bug, a Honda 750 and Bender and two conventional pedal tricycles, one by Bob Jackson and the other by George Longstaff. One format of which I have no experience is a recumbent tricycle and I am going to rectify that state of affairs before I am too old (or wise) to enjoy the experience.

By chance I happened upon a HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) meeting and saw my first tadpole format recumbent. I was completely smitten. This must have been about 10 years ago. I made some tentative enquiries only to find that financially these machines were beyond my reach but "one day" I promised myself…Well the day has arrived, though I am not sure that my wife Pat would agree…

Starting from a zero knowledge baseline it has taken much longer than I anticipated to acquire even a basic understanding of what recumbent tricycles are about. Funny really considering how long I have been interested in cycling. But the variations on the "tadpole" theme are extensive: which frame material (carbon fibre, aluminium or steel), what type of brakes (drum or disc), under or over seat steering, what type of seat (mesh, fibreglass or carbon fibre), should it have suspension and if so just on the rear wheel or all three, how many gears and in what format, is enclosure needed, how big a factor is overall weight, and so on.

I constantly had to remind myself what I was hoping to do with the trike. It was very easy to see myself on long tours, loaded to the gills with all manner of equipment, rather in the manner of Francis Chichester roaming the high seas, whilst Pat looked after things at home. (Yes, Yes I can hear her saying). The reality is likely to be somewhat different. Whilst I do not rule out some limited touring the machine is more likely to be used for longer day rides where I hope the anticipated additional comfort afforded by the more relaxed riding position will prove its worth. Up to now I have found that rides up to 50 miles or so are as much as I feel comfortable with. So I am a tourist not a racer. I do not wish to go down hills at a dizzy pace (though going up in a similar fashion would be nice). High gears would be wasted on me. I would like as light a weight machine as possible but would not be prepared to pay for it. Neither do I want a particularly low seat height, I think that 12 inches will be quite low enough for me thank you. Taking all these factors into account it had to be the I.C.E "T", which at £1499 delivered to the door, seems an absolute bargain. I have just ordered one and it should be here within a week or so.

I am very apprehensive. £1500 is a not inconsiderable amount of money (a year's Council Tax in our case). Will the reality match the dream or am I just being an old fool. I have done some good training miles on my Ridgeback Bullit to prepare myself as best I can for the extra weight of the "T" (approx 10lbs) and have sought out the most significant hills within a couple of hours riding distance of our home. I think that not being up to the task ahead is my greatest worry; I am only too well aware that at my age it is all too easy for one's mind to make promises that one's body cannot keep. All being well by this time next weekend I should have a better idea of what I have let myself in for.

The build up

The box arrived on 4 May 2005, a day earlier than I expected. The build up was straightforward once I had acquired the 19mm box spanner that I was positive I had until I came to look. A quick run around the block to see if everything worked and with the exception of a loose mudguard bolt everything did.

(Click to enlarge a Build photo below)

First Impressions

I decided to wait until I received a couple of spare inner tubes from Ben at Kinetics, since the 20" size is new to me, before gathering a few miles. Only the intervening weekend spoiling the effect of his "by return" efforts. I was extremely nervous about this initial ride. If I had some mechanical disaster how would I get the machine home if I could not repair it at the roadside? Would the extra weight prove too much for me on the many hills that I have to negotiate around our home? Would I feel too exposed to other traffic, especially lorries, in my new, lower riding position. Would I feel a nuisance by holding other traffic up? Would the anticipated attention of motorists and pedestrians alike embarrass me? And so on..

I have done some 110 miles in the first week, commencing on Monday 9 May 2005, and have answered many of the questions that I had been asking myself. I was surprised initially by how much noisier than a bicycle the trike was because of the chain rubbing against the protective plastic tubing especially when pressing hard on the pedals. It is not, however, an unpleasant sound and I have already begun not to notice it. The steering is very precise with seemingly no tendency to wander down the camber like my upright tricycles did. The twist grip gear change for both front and rear mechanisms is at least the equal of anything else I have used and very probably better. The brakes are superb, wet (yes I have been rained on, this being Scotland after all) or dry, and are very confidence building. The seating comfort is a revelation. Having set it in its most upright location when I built up the machine I have since lowered it to its lowest position which seems about right for me. As a matter of interest I did not find that it was just a case of removing the top bolt and relocating it lower down as the build manual suggested. I had to adjust the rear boom somewhat before the holes would line up, which could have affected the chain length, but thankfully didn't. I find that I can, for the first time in my cycling life wear my "distance" spectacles without having to continually adjust them back up my nose. I moved the front boom forwards by half an inch (12mm) or so after my first ride and it now seems about perfect.

Apart from a general check round to make sure that all was secure that's it really. I have loved every minute of it thus far and have, I am embarrassed to admit, revelled in being the centre of attention. Thank you Inspired Cycle Engineering for making it possible.

21 May ’05

I had decided that the time had arrived for me to increase the daily mileage somewhat and I set off with a view to matching the highest trip I had recently achieved on my Ridgeback cycle, 40 miles or so. I rode down to Longtown and up the A7 to Kingstown. I cannot say that I felt in any way vulnerable on this lorry laden road and I did not appear to impede my fellow travellers in any way. There was however an unexpected incident when a lorry driver, who had overtaken me a little earlier and parked on the other side of the road to visit a shop, suggested that I make myself more visible from behind because, according to him, my dark coloured clothing made it difficult for me to be seen as I tended to blend in with the road. I think that he probably has a point and in future will use the fluorescent flag that came with the machine - better safe than sorry.

Just before Kingstown I rode through a hailstorm. It proved to be the forerunner of several I was to experience during the ride, one of which was particularly heavy, painful and COLD.

Along the A689 and A69 to Brampton in the company of too much traffic, with its' attendant noise, to be enjoyable. The cycle lane at the edge of the carriageway, delineated as it is by cat's eyes and white lines, necessitates a high degree of concentration if the pilot of a recumbent is to have a comfortable ride. I don't think I will use this road again, it is simply not enjoyable enough.

I stopped in a lay by near Newtown for a bite to eat before continuing my journey along the A6071 to Longtown. I felt rather more tired than I had anticipated but nonetheless determined to go the long way home in order to get the mileage to 40 (in the event 41). The ride had taken quite a lot out of me with the ache under my left shoulder blade that has dogged me most of my car driving life making a most unwelcome appearance, though I suppose the driving/riding positions are pretty similar. Even so I was nothing like as physically troubled as I would have been on my bicycle. I will try adjusting the seat straps to see if it helps, if not then I will live with it.

I weighed the trike as best I could when I got home. Nineteen and a half kg's fully laden with luggage, tools and bits and pieces, Rather heavier than I would have liked but a similarly laden Windcheetah would only save six pounds or so and would cost at least a thousand pounds more. I am content with what I have.

28 May ’05

At around 1000hrs Pat and I were driving up towards Gretna Green when I spotted a recumbent tricycle and rider at the side of the road. Since I have only ever seen a handful during the last 15 years or so I had to stop and have a word.

The rider who must have been about my age told me that he was attending a holiday weekend rally some 8 miles beyond Dumfries. When asked from whence his journey started he named somewhere on the outskirts of Manchester. He had departed the previous day, and 154 miles earlier, and anticipated being at the rally by lunchtime or so, a total trip of almost 190 miles! His average speed since leaving home had been 10.6 mph. He was riding a heavily laden and faired Windcheetah "Club".

The whole thing left me a little dazed. Notwithstanding the very strong and favourable (for him) winds of the previous day it certainly put into perspective my rather limp efforts thus far. Pat said that she did not believe him (not to his face you understand) but I think she was just being kind to me. The chap looked the kind of bloke who could and would ride 150 miles in a day (the bugger).

13 June ’05

Just an update really. I have 450 miles or so on clock now and I am getting very used to the new machine. I have returned the seat to it's most upright position and have found that the pain under my left shoulder blade has all but gone. All my journeys now seem to be in excess of 30 miles and three or four have topped 40, with a best trip thus far (yesterday) of 42.5 in pretty hilly terrain.

I have continued to attract attention wherever I go. The highlight must be when I was stopped by a lorry driver who expressed delight with the trike and asked me all sorts of questions about it. He said he would investigate "recumbent" on the internet when he got home. Nice interlude.

21 June ’05

Nothing really to report, I just thought I would update the mileage diary after today's 31 miles and very demanding ride. My legs were still feeling the effects of Sunday's charge to Brampton during which I did 31+ miles in a riding time of two and three quarter hours, say 11 to 12 mph, rather better than my customary 8 to 9 mph. When I try REALLY hard I am not much slower than on the Bullit.

So today saw me completing 593.5 miles on the trike in 43 days, JUST within my target of 5000 miles per year. Allowing for a drop off in the colder weather 4000 per annum seems realistic. The best year I have had thus far was with the red machine when I completed 3150 in the year on a bike weighing about half of my current one. I must be getting fitter. I would like to get to the stage when I can do 50 mile day rides in comparative comfort. I think I will be content at that. Two or three 40 to 50 mile rides a week on quiet roads will do me nicely thank you. I am anticipating that greater fitness will be accompanied by increased pleasure but this will not be the case if I continue to push myself to the limit. This is not my intention and if I have to settle for fewer miles then so be it.

23 June ’05

Managed first 50 mile ride since coming to Scotland, indeed since George Longstaff trike approx. 5 years ago. The actual figures were: 50.23 miles, maximum speed 24 mph, 5hrs 30 mins. 20 secs running time (6 hours out) at an average speed of 9.1 miles per hour. I felt fit and well when I got home.

One unusual occurrence was when a lorry driver, who had pulled up in the lay by behind me when I stopped for my half way break, got out of his cab as I was about to move off and gave me the remainder of his bread and cheese sandwiches saying that he had had enough and I might appreciate them later on. My emaciated appearance gets them every time. Joking aside I was very touched by his gesture. He passed me 5 miles or so later and gave a toot on his horn.

17 July ’05

A milestone (no pun intended) was passed today when my total mileage reached 1001 miles for the last 10 weeks. There will be a bit of a drop off for a while now as Pat and I are moving house on Wednesday and I suppose I will be expected to help!

21 November ’05

Yes, that's right, four months, one whole summer has gone by. The gap in the 'Diary' entries was, in the main, intentional. Having reached my first 1000 miles and managed my first 50 miles in the day I wanted to give myself time to just get some miles in, to gain a lot more experience of this 'triking thing and to see how things developed. So were I am now. My total mileage is a little over 2500 and I have recently passed the first six months on the road landmark.

The machine has been completely reliable and immensely satisfying. I don't think I could go back to a diamond framed cycle now. I have felt safer and more secure than I would ever have thought possible. Strong winds don't blow me about the road now requiring constant nervy steering corrections and even their effect on forward motion is considerable lessened. A stiff neck and shoulders, accompanied by an increasingly tender nether region, are things of the past. I can see the way ahead (and rearward for that matter) at all times without strain. You will have gathered that I find my 'T' very, very comfortable.

I clearly misjudged the maintenance of the chain. I had been washing it in 'Muc-off' at regular intervals followed by a liberal spray of water repellent lubricant but the gear change had become increasingly sticky. I suspect this was due in no small measure to the tacky grease with which the chain was originally protected. In fact if I was to build up another machine I would remove this protection before fitting and replace it with a more suitable lubricant. In the event I removed the chain (a bit fiddly this), gave it a good scrub in cleaner and lubricated it after refitting. The very responsive gearbox was to hand again.

All the extras that were obtained from the ever helpful people at Inspired Cycle Engineering, side bag, 2 bottle cages, Cat eye Computer and front mudguards have proved to be well worth their additional cost.

I think I said enough now about the acquisition and early experiences of a recumbent tricycle. It's time for the machine to do what it's designed for i.e. transporting it's privileged rider about the planet in a thoughtful, gentle and environmentally sound manner.