OK, I got this one going, now I have another question

I can't go slow with this SWB recumbent ReBike 707 two wheel 18 speed.

Not at all.

I can't walk.

I would like to buy a recumbent bicycle or Tricycle that will go slow slow slow, almost a crawl or leisurely stop to gently and slowly crawl along enjoying the scenery and surroundings and not really going anywhere or doing anything.

Just out their in the elements.

I can't ride a DF because of my ankle and back.

The SWB is great for rides and traveling but won't do the leisurely crawling along and stopping and looking around this and then creeping away slowly and easily and effortlessly.

I would like the slowest easiest gears in existence so that it would also crawl up hills more easily.

I don't care if it takes me two hours to go a mile uphill.

It will still clip right along when I want it too.

What is this bike?

I'm sure it's a three wheel recumbent to start with but which model and which gears please.

Thank You, Tom

 

Any trike would give you a stable platform from which you can stop and start with ease. There are lots of good trikes to choose from, so your budget would be the main consideration. Weight is a factor to be considered, but it should be of less importance than comfort if you have no need for speed. Buying a trike with a triple ring up front and an IGH in back, such as a SRAM Dual Drive will get you 81 speeds and you can shift while stopped - no worries about trying to start off in the wrong gear. Definitely some overlap, but it gives you a lot of gearing nonetheless. A NuVinci in back will give you even more, because of its unique planetary gearing but is quite a bit more expensive. There are also Schlumpf drives and Rohloff hubs that can be considered, but the price goes up exponentially. All great equipment but as I said, it will all depend upon your personal budget.
There are several really good trike companies but if you want the most bang for your buck, you should look first at Trident Trikes. Trident has a nice line of trikes and they include an accessory package with their trike unmatched by anyone else.They make several models but I am particularly impressed with their Monorail, as its unique rear monofork design allows easy changing of a flat tire without removing the rear wheel. A Trident trike with Dual Drive and triple front would give you enough gear range to ride pretty much anywhere you would ever care to go, and still be able to afford to buy coffee when you are out on a ride.
Catrike, TerraTrike, ICE, Greenspeed, Performer, SUN, and KMX are some of the other trikes most readily available in the US. Finding a good, used trike for a decent price and upgrading the gears could also be a worthwhile choice.

 

What Patti said.

Trikes are wonderful for creeping up hills. They're also great for sitting in the shade and sipping water or nibbling a refuelling snack. I've had wrecked knees since age 15. Riding a bike, I couldn't go on very windy days and walked up most hills if the grades were 3% or more. I just power on, slow and steady, with the trike.

I've still had to walk up a few hills. The drive wheel doesn't like 10-18% grades with loose gravel. Still an improvement over what I could do with 2 wheels!

Terii

 

Thanks guys, I just put a bid in for $250 for a Retrike 707 he's asking $375 for.

I probably wont get it but it's several hundred miles away and the time and gas and age of the bike limit me.

It would be a good starter and I can change the cone like you say and improve my gears.

I think the two bikes are going to be my ticket, I can't tell you how good it feels to be mobile again.

These things are the eighth wonder of the world.

A gift from the gods.

I can and will spend more if I have too.

I'm just getting my feet wet.

These things are probably going to extend my life by ten years.

This is a great forum, we will probably get to meet up sometime over the years.

Thanks again, Tom

I'm looking to get a 15 or 17 bottom, 19 if it's good enough.

 

Yes, and thank you. Good tip too!

Yes, improved quality of life by a factor of ten.

 

Just a minor FYI. Rebikes would be more correctly termed "semi-recumbent." If you were to apply recumbent labels to them, they would be long wheelbase (LWB) or maybe Compact LWB. A Short Wheel Base would have pedals out in front of the front wheel.

 

Compact LWB if I'm not mistaken.

 

It seems like most everybody goes for those tadpoles I think their called with the two wheels up front and below the seat steering.

It seems like some of those sit way low to the ground and others a little higher.

It looks to me that they come in at about 95% of the three wheelers.

 

That is true. The majority you see are tadpole style, with two wheels in the front. There aren't as many makers of delta trikes (one wheel in front) and they are not quite as popular. The very best ones are made by Hase, but because they come from Germany, they carry a pretty hefty price. Sun sells trikes in both the delta and tadpole styles. They tend to run on the heavy side but you can often find them used, for a good price and they are upgradable. There are a couple of EZ-3's on eBay currently.

 

http://www.sunbicycles.com/product_detail.php?short_code=EZ-TriClassic+SX&cl1=RECUMBENT

I can't understand how come this delta style is not 95% of the market and the tadpole 5% instead of the other way around.

All things being equal you would think the delta to be the overall winner.

Obviously the tadpole must ride and handle, lots and lots better than the delta or they wouldn't be as popular as they are.

I would expect the consensus to be about the same around here.

People fortunate enough to have all of these bikes available to them for inspection and trial demonstrations have an advantage here.

Youtube can only get you so far.

I live 50 miles east of Fargo, North Dakota in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Pretty rural, Minneapolis 225 miles to the south.

I've looked for recumbent clubs in my area and their seem to be none.

I'm going to Fargo today and will go to our most major bike store locally while I'm there.

Great Northern I think it's called.

A pretty substantial store in the old railroad depot I think.

I'm expecting them to have no recumbents.

According to what I find out about them on the internet, but they can no doubt steer me in the right direction as far as clubs and stores for recumbents in this area.

I'll probably end up making a special trip to Minneapolis before I'm through.

I would have thought that their would be dozens of long threads of this subject right here as important this subject seems to be.

This whole recumbent thing, as huge as it's internet coverage is, seems to be way under discovered.

Like virgin territory in rural areas and not that much even in populated areas.

The baby boomers are changing all of that.

I brought up an AARP article from a few years ago stating the same.

Overall it looks like about 1% of the overall bicycle market right now.

Their so wild and freakish looking and expensive no doubt having a lot to do with that.

That big national race thing rejecting them I am told, also having effects from long ago and still today.

The handling and learning curve has got to be a big player too.

I'm still like a loaded gun myself only getting better slowly on my Compact LWB, it's really uncomforting.

All of the models seem freakish to me except the two and three wheel deltas

That's why I'm locked in to the delta unless the lazyboy comfort and handling level of the tadpole swings me over.

I'm open beyond looks and price to, functionality.

Comfort and relaxation and ease of use being everything to me.

For instance, nothing will ever make my Compact LWB anything but rotten at slow slow speeds and the inability to start going uphill.

Function and comfort for a leisurely ride that handles in town and out of town and even touring is where I'm at.

I don't need high speed racing types right now, although I fully realize how exhilarating that top to bottom high speed is.

Too bad we can't have it all.

If I were younger I would go into business with this at the hobby level.

I might become the local guy anyway just for something to do.

Minor parts and device type of thing.I can do it all in my living room and storage area.

A small bicycle store.

Like home hair cutting and whatnot.

Be a fun hobby type thing to retire on.

My home and location are pretty good on a county highway leading into lake country and only three miles from a somewhat famous tourist town.

This is a genuine discovery for me.

It makes me want to dance when I hear music.

I love it!

Thanks

 

Hi midwestconnection,

Since you posted the above link and said you are going to Fargo I did a search of Sun dealers in Fargo and found 4 in the greater Fargo area
http://www.sunbicycles.com/dealer_map.php?ZipCode=58102&Search=Search&Distance=25

Hope this is not too late.

Good luck with your search,

Gary

 

Delta trikes are loads of fun to ride,especially if the rear wheels'are canted inwards. You can corner like mad at high speed so to speak and not have to worry about dumping unless you are really flying and not being careful. Delta trikes with back wheels straight up and down cannot corner as well and are mainly used in really flat area and leisure riding styles. I had a Hase Lepus in my shop briefly doing some maintenance and that thing was SWEET! Oh if only I could get one for myself.

 

Those Hase trikes are really awesome. Price and lack of available dealer has kept me from buying one. so far. Every once in a while one shows up on BROL or EBAY but always right after we have had some other big expense. Some day, maybe...