Trike top

I've had this kit for some time but needed to fab a rear holder; got around to it last night. On & off in less than 30 seconds.

This vid is more of a 'captured moment' rather than a how-to. The 'kit' came with some very heavy and crude steel brackets that were designed to attach to a DF seat post, but I don't know if I'd even use them driven in the ground to hold a fishing pole!

 

Texas Sun Shade

Would be good for shade, but the winds would be a real problem.

 

Wouldn't it be easier and lighter just to wear loose long sleeves and pants? Seems to have worked for thousands of years for those out in the desert.

 

I've built a few canopies for the trikes that I build and in each case the owners have asked to have them removed. The reason is that it doesn't do what you think it will do. That is block the SUN. The only way it would completely block the sun is if you were riding on the short side of noon or the long side of noon. Out here in Arizona the sun gets high in the sky early. That's why most of the riders are out early in the AM. And even with an early start it still didn't block the sun. The other reason to have it removed was that in order to have it block the sun, the canopy had to be lowered to the point that the rider was unable to get into the seat.

It looks sharp.

Safe Rides,
Yoda

 

Fun stuff

I can't recall having this much fun playing with such a crappy trike accessory!

The product has obviously been pulled from the marketplace (for reasons other than product performance would be my guess). I bought this 5/29/2011 for $41.97 +$5.00 S&I, but at the moment a current supplier is not known.

Over 50 miles on the top for the first 2-days!

 

Ed,

Nice looking jersey!!!!

 

You're right!

I wonder how popular it would have been back then to have recumbent trikes with a sun shade, roads on which to ride and a McD or Seven-Eleven on each corner serving among other things, Slurpee's!

I'm beginning to realize why the Chinese are taking over with product development.............!

Dave (and others), constructive critism is certainly welcomed by this writer, and no, I'm not interested in ANOTHER US Patent, but Challenge is what fuels my fire! Nearing seventy, I can truthfully say that with weather patterns gradually getting more extreme, we'd better be coming up with workable solutions to real issues! My free ideas shared here are a way for me to have fun in life; if they help someone, great. If not, well, would it help if I offered a 100% refund if not satisfied, and free shipping?

Upon further study this morning, I discovered a link to this product:

http://theshadetogo.com/ The price is now less than I paid!

BTW: Regarding the shirt, for group rides I prefer to sport an RRI Jersey. It is the very least I can do to support in part, an open forum where ideas from everyone are freely exchanged. I normally carry an extra XXXL (loose fitting XL) RRI Jersey in my car, so if anyone needs to borrow one and I'm around , just holler. I won't elaborate on who has declined this offer, but I'll start packing an extra long sleeve shirt 'lacking UV absorbing pigmentation' just in case we meet on a Camel Tour! Dave, I'm playing with ya, but I take product experimentation passionately with an attitude of, "Let's fix this thing!".

 

That's odd!

First of all Yoda, thanks for your 'looks sharp' comment. I firmly believe that an abundance of satisfaction comes from how it looks.

I would be very interested in seeing pictures of your canopies. Here are some reviews from other owners via Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Shade-To-Go-9...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Interestingly, of the two, one was from Arizona, the other from California; so it seems as though further development is strongly needed to help in hot environments! On the other hand, if I lived in Arizona, I believe I'd be working on better nighttime lighting systems! As for California, I think the heat was one of the reasons I left there; that is where I attended college and I credit that place for helping to make me what I am................., crazy as ****!

Bill, my forward attachment points, as of the extensive 2-day development program............, allow the top to swing up to a vertical position when the lines are unhooked. This is the coolest thing to see because it reminiscent of those exotic automobiles with weird swinging door patterns, The amount of fabric area controls the motion as if the speed of this movement is being being 'shock' controlled much like the action of a screen door closer. I understand the potential issue with entry/exit, so..........., fix it!

Do you suppose I'll be able to shoot a video of take pictures during a mild rain event? And because I like to park under a shade tree to eat lunch, if it happens to be a Maple tree..................., no sap in the hair! Did someone say..............., bird droppings?

Folks, I see a sun shade from a recumbent trike owners perspective as being a worthwhile pursuit primarily because of the frames concept flexibility. And if you look at the roof profile from the side you'll notice a teardrop shape that forces the air to flow faster over that top surface which creates lift. Now if a small bellows hole (a waterproof fabric flapper to close when forward movement is static, open when moving) is positioned above the helmet area, do you think it would be possible to create a sufficient amount of air flow upward thru that port and away from the head/helmet area to further cool the rider? I don't know, but it seems worth a try!

FYI: I forgot to mention in a previous post that this $50 plaything weighs 1lb-6oz. I weighed a heavy LS shirt at 1lb-4oz but forgot to add the visor and/or dorag I no longer need! Besides, one roof fits all, doesn't require constant laundering and keeps the seat temp ready-to-use without cooking your tush!

Bill, I appreciate your input and would be interested in learning what you've tried in the past. It seems to me that if the hottest part of the day at noontime can be calmed, then better and continual design might extend a shades usefulness period. Help needed here guys, what is the real problem with what's been done thus far?

 

I feel strongly about wearing bright colors. It's important that cyclists be seen by drivers and others. Thanks, but I'll stick with my day-glo lime-green or traffic-cone orange jerseys.

 

Sharing

More ideas to share as I have time. Haven't touched the top since unloading Sunday, but will try some subtle tweaks if Paul & I ride Wednesday. I have some 1/2" hollow Fiberglass rod that I could fab for those posts and run the cord, which is rigid, thru those with a looped end to fasten those to the present hooks. This would likely prevent the roof from collapsing at speed. Also, I eventually want to lower the rear mount a couple of inches to reduce the overall height.

 

Single point support

Thanks for sharing.

 

Good point

Before I bought the RRI Jersey, I draped the cycling shirts I had near the computer displayed red, black and white colors. I tried to imagine the RRI worn over the long sleeved lime-colored shirt where the sleeves would be visible to the sides of the reclined seat. An odd color combo but it works. Because we're so reclined and in front of a seat, I aim more towards flags and lights.

The concept top being discussed does offer some nice visable area for both rearward and frontal view; with side brows ,visibility will improve there as well.