http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: How extreme would you go? en Sun, 31 May 2026 18:59:36 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51924 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:05:22 +0000 ruggtomcat 51924@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can feel a velomobile coming on aswell... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51878 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:06:03 +0000 LaidBack 51878@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I'm going to take you up on your offer of a go on one of your trikes when the weather improves, </em></p> <p>Noted. Just email or text. Same if anyone else is undecided.</p> <p>It really is not bad at all in a non-comformist kind of way!</p> <p>You can always try once and say 'never again'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51843 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:04:05 +0000 Arellcat 51843@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I commuted on my trike from 2003 to about 2005, and I remember how I used to laugh when the weather turned frosty. I didn't laugh so much when it rained because it didn't have mudguards most of the time. Like Dave, for me velomobiling is the ideal future. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51841 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:49:44 +0000 steveo 51841@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm going to take you up on your offer of a go on one of your trikes when the weather improves, though as I've said in the past there is no way I could have one just now, neither the funds nor the space. Space being the larger problem. But I really fancy a shot on a tadpole trike for some reason. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51823 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:37:18 +0000 Roibeard 51823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd fancy a trike, although on reflection, I'd prefer a delta with two wheel drive - the KettWiesel was lots of fun, but two wheel drive would be even better in slippy conditions and you'd have "fiddle" brakes for manual traction control!</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51809 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:44:16 +0000 Dave 51809@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As one of probably relatively few people who has tried commuting on a recumbent trike, if I didn't live in an upstairs flat I could definitely imagine owning one...</p> <p>I'd really like a velomobile - not only largely windproof but weatherproof too, and inadvertently super speedy at the same time. However, the same problem applies - cost and storage! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51787 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:52:37 +0000 LaidBack 51787@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for the responses so far.... </p> <p>The mention of cheaper and carbon is of course mutually exclusive! Just did for fun. Real thing it seems is the fold. My first trike sale was of a Greenspeed <a href="http://www.greenspeed.com.au/trikes.html">Australian Trike Company</a> which at the time was the best fold around. It also had 16" wheels so looked very toy-like. Suppose the dream is something with the fold of a Brompton that can become luggage when required?<br /> ICE of course fold even smaller with their flat fold. <a href="http://www.icetrikes.co/explore-our-trikes">ICE trike videos</a><br /> Or you can get bodywork and become a velomobile as seen here - garage though is required! <a href="http://oceancycle.co.uk/">Ocean - velomobile</a><br /> The mischievous mention of carbon is to cover the 'trikes could be lighter' question. In fact anything you'd really want to hammer on a daily basis is unlikely to last long if it's too lightweight. </p> <p>Other purpose of survey is to get people interested in having a test ride... Trikes are not like cycling trailing a hod of bricks. Perception is that extra wheel makes 33% more work. Not true at all - in fact it's a lot of fun 'scrubbing' round corners and a great contrast to an upright.</p> <p><em>Clarification from original post!<br /> &lt;&lt;Two wheeled recumbents are of course better against the wind&gt;&gt; ...than uprights - not better than trikes.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51784 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:15:48 +0000 Instography 51784@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Getting blown over is nature's way of telling you to get the bus ;-)</p> <p>A low slung, recumbent, dragster sort of trike could be fun. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51782 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:55:24 +0000 wingpig 51782@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd certainly consider trying one in addition to rather than instead of two-wheelers, if I needed one or had anywhere to keep one (either at home or where I would need to park it) and if they were cheaper but I don't see how 'cheaper' and 'more carbon' can be simultaneously wrought. At the moment I only have to pick out a single inch-wide line between potholes or bits of glass or dog eggs and can bunnyhop the occasional gapless obstacle but with a trike there'd be three tracks to worry about and no hopping. If they squeezed flat they'd definitely be more tempting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51781 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:50:19 +0000 SRD 51781@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd love an (upright) trike and want to get my mum one too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51780 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:42:01 +0000 Greenroofer 51780@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd love one with spiky tyres...</p> <p>There's a wonderful video on the ICE Trikes website of somebody riding his trike out of the garage just as if it was a car. So, if I had a garage and could persuade Mrs Greenroofer that (a) it was better to keep a trike in there than keep junk or a car and (b) that she was content for me to spend an eyewatering sum on the procurement of said trike, then I would get one.</p> <p>Unfortunately I don't have a garage and I don't reckon much to my chances of persuading her of (a) or (b). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51779 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:33:06 +0000 Kirst 51779@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would if I could afford a new bike and had somewhere to put it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51778 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:32:54 +0000 ruggtomcat 51778@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ach Id get a trike if anyway if I could afford it, loads of fun! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51744 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:39:11 +0000 amir 51744@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There are limits - at least in town. If it is very icy you have to watch out for sliding cars. If it is very windy, it's falling masonery, flying bins, trees etc.</p> <p>For me, the costs would outweigh the benefits for those few days of the year when it would be beneficial (hopefully 2010 was an outlier). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51743 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:34:09 +0000 Smudge 51743@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would say the "4x4 effect" is clearly shown by the number of people on the forum with studded tyres ;-)</p> <p>Buying a vehicle just for windy weather is a different question imo, a trike and a bike are just *too* different. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51736 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:55:36 +0000 wee folding bike 51736@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't tend to use my Longstaff in gusty wind. You can't predict and provide for the wind in the same way that you can for camber and bends.</p> <p>I guess I'll experiment with the small wheel thing mentioned a few weeks ago and see if it makes a difference. Riding a Brompton for most of the last decade I may have just got used to any advantage they have in that department. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51731 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:04:12 +0000 Uberuce 51731@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thus far Wintersaurus, the cyclocross in fixed gear'n'studded tyres who you've climbed Arthur's Seat beside, has proven surefooted enough for me. I'd have to have a go in one to see if what Wintersaurus finds hairy is comfy in a trike; just as relevant, I'd see if the drawbacks of a heavy low geared fixie are as fierce as the drawbacks of a trike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51730 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:45:19 +0000 LaidBack 51730@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ta - I should have said '• Yes.. if it folded very small and had carbon bits...!'</p> <p>Tick yes maybe?</p> <p>I'm not suggesting people give up there beloved two wheeler - just have something more suited to the aerodynamic/icy road conditions </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51729 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:43:14 +0000 custard 51729@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would if i had practical storage<br /> sadly i don't :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4889#post-51728 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:29:36 +0000 LaidBack 51728@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Would you change your machine for the weather? Ok - this is partially market research but I'm interested to know if the 4x4 effect might get replicated by the great unpowered people of this broad forum. </p> <p>Would you ditch two wheels for three (when needed) if it let you continue riding through gale force winds without risk of getting blown over? Likewise would you consider using three wheels if the roads were full of icy potholes ? Two wheeled recumbents are of course better against the wind but when you have sudden side gusts anything on two wheels can get blown about. So would you go for a low trike just so you could keep riding? </p>