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Original poster

Adult trikes

30 replies

ClaraTheImpossibleGirl · 19/03/2021 21:11

DS1(5) has just learned to ride his bike without stabilisers, and is so thrilled that he wants to cycle at every opportunity! Which is great, and I don't mind walking with him, but ideally he'd like me to cycle too. The issue being that I haven't cycled for 20 years and wasn't much good at it when I did Confused

I've seen a few adult trikes around, would I be an object of ridicule on one?! I have a couple of stone to lose and am very conscious that a normal saddle might not be comfortable enough either; the trikes seem to have a slightly bigger saddle?

In an ideal world I would be riding this beautiful machine, but I think even secondhand it's going to be waaaay out of my price range, if I get a trike I'll have to keep an eye out for something more affordable!

OP posts:
lalafafa · 19/03/2021 21:16

You just need to practice on a 2 wheeler for half an hour. I haven’t been ona bike for years and needed to take Dd her bike to school. I got in, after a few wobbles I was off! Really liberating.

GeorgeandHarold66 · 19/03/2021 21:17

I'm interested in this too, I just can't ride a bike and feel safe on it. I'd love a trike but would you end up looking like a giant toddler?? Grin

Whenever I see an adult on a trike I look at it with interest but I'd love to see what other people think.

lalafafa · 19/03/2021 21:18

Love the trike though.

GeorgeandHarold66 · 19/03/2021 21:18

@lalafafa

You just need to practice on a 2 wheeler for half an hour. I haven’t been ona bike for years and needed to take Dd her bike to school. I got in, after a few wobbles I was off! Really liberating.
Sorry, I'm glad that worked out for you but it doesn't work like that for everybody Confused
PamDenick · 19/03/2021 21:20

There are trikes around but just be aware that you would need to 'learn' to ride that too… The handling is very different to a bike and strangely enough they have more chance of tipping over due to the weight of the back two wheels…

suziedoozy · 19/03/2021 21:21

I have to say I never thing people riding trikes look like big toddlers. I have a racing bike but I really like the look of that trike.
I always think people riding ones look very smart & particularly using the basket etc

jay55 · 19/03/2021 21:24

I just googled as I had no idea. The ones with the big baskets on, just make you look like you're an off duty delivery driver. So would be fine.

Agree with above though, they won't handle like a bike, especially going round corners.

PamDenick · 19/03/2021 21:28

Apparently 'tadpole' bikes (so named as there are two wheels at the front, not the back) handle better if you want to go for a three wheeler...

idontlikealdi · 19/03/2021 21:30

Just get a bike! Practice and it'll be fine, riding a trike is harder in different ways.

Evenstar · 19/03/2021 21:31

I actually couldn’t cope with the one I bought second hand, it was really heavy and difficult to steer. I ended up selling it again, but they are hard to come by second hand and I got back what I had paid.

PamDenick · 19/03/2021 21:31

But they are expensive… Good luck with whatever you go for…

CatChant · 19/03/2021 21:43

That tricycle looks very stylish and not in the least like a toddler's one so I wouldn't worry about it looking odd.

But if you can borrow a bike and spend a couple of hours practising in a park I think it would come back to you.

I managed to re-learn to ride a bike in the first lockdown and I hadn't really cycled since I was 10. And I am rubbish at practically anything requiring physical co-ordination.

TheLost · 19/03/2021 21:48

Where would you be planning to cycle? If you’re going on any roads without cycle lanes you’ll get a lot of pretty pissed of drivers who can’t overtake as you’re a lot wider than a normal bike. My exh used to ride one of those low down to the ground trikes but stopped as he was nearly getting killed every time he went on a road. They’re also a lot easier to tip over as you balance them completely differently to a normal bike. If you’re out of practice it would be a lot easier and safer to just spend some time off road somewhere getting the hang of it again on a normal bike. You can get different saddles if you’re worried about your arse eating it.

Original poster
ClaraTheImpossibleGirl · 19/03/2021 21:52

Thank you everyone for the responses! I think I'm just worried that I wasn't great at riding a bike even when I did ride one regularly, so many years and a good bit of weight gain later, I can't imagine it will be easy/ comfortable/ enjoyable. However, I will bear in mind what PP have said about a trike being tricky to ride in other ways!

I also really like these beautiful trikes but again, a lot out of my price range. Sigh.

I'll see if I can borrow a trike to ride for a bit and see if it's worth the investment. Possibly not if I can't keep up with DS1...!

OP posts:
TheLost · 19/03/2021 21:55

Bloody hell, they’ve only got 3 gears! I hope you live somewhere flat or have thighs of steel.

Madamedelacroix · 19/03/2021 22:13

You can buy wider bike seats to go on a regular bike. I have just got this one. I haven't used it yet but the reviews are positive.

Bargebill19 · 19/03/2021 22:17

Buy a big bum seat for whatever bike you do get. Fil had a trike - heavy and cumbersome. What about an electric bike?

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 19/03/2021 22:19

They're not worth it. They're more unstable as you can tip them easily on corners and handle like the fucking titanic.

MrsAvocet · 20/03/2021 15:36

I wouldn't if I were you. There are good reasons why bikes are a lot more popular than trikes. Trikes are heavy and difficult to manoeuvre - obviously you can't lean into corners like on a bike or you'd topple over.
With that kind of weight, small wheels and limited gears I don't imagine it would be easy to pedal up hill either. I'd also imagine that you'd be pretty much limited to riding from your house too. Unless you drive a van or something you couldn't easily put it in the back of the car or onto a carrier and then drive to somewhere different to ride like you can with bikes.
Obviously some people simply can't ride a bike and have no option, but if I were you I'd at least have a try on 2 wheels first. Maybe you could have a few lessons and/or find some local Breeze rides to go on. These are free, women only rides and are great for building your confidence up.
Maybe hire a bike to have a try first so you don't waste your money?
Also, have a look to see if there is an accessible cycling hub anywhere near you. They often have a range of different adapted bikes, trikes etc that you can hire, so you could try a trike at very little cost that way.

Madamedelacroix · 20/03/2021 16:21

If you Google 'learn to bike ride adult classes near me' you might get lucky. Loads came up for my area.
My friend's adult daughter did this and is really confident on a bike now even though she couldn't grasp it as a child.

dozyman · 20/03/2021 17:44

I've used a two wheeled bike (just for commuting, since I don't drive) all my life. We had a friend who had a trike, and I once gave it a go. I just could not ride it. When we ride a two wheeled bike, a coordinated leaning and slight turning into the lean is part of the balancing process, and learning instinctively to do this is what learning to ride a two wheeled bike is all about.

When it comes to riding a trike, the trike, having three wheels, leans with the natural camber of the road. I then simply couldn't stop the instinctive learned two wheeled bike riding skill, and turned into the lean, ending up in the gutter.
No matter how hard I tried, I just could not override the two wheeled bike riding instinct, and had to give up.

I've seldom felt more idiotic, being able to ride a two wheeled bike, but not a trike.

So for heaven's sake, do give it an extended trial before laying out a lot of money!

ApplestheHare · 20/03/2021 17:46

Honestly please get a bike and learn to ride it. It will only take you a few days of practice.

DorisLessingsCat · 20/03/2021 17:50

If you have the money consider an electric trike. They are heavy so hard work up any hills.

Once the bike shops are open you should be able to try some out?

noodlmcdoodl · 21/03/2021 09:57

In your situation I might look at taking the pedals off my existing bike, dropping the saddle a bit and going somewhere quiet (large empty car park) to reacquaint myself with the balance. Scoot along like kids do. You won’t fall as your feet are there. You’ll build confidence abd will ultimately feel good to lift your feet and rest them (on the rear stays perhaps). Then add the peddles in. Once confident, raise saddle back to correct height. There are lots of places to ride away from others abd traffic, you may just have to be creative to find them. It works for kids (balance biking). Adult balance bikes are a thing. So I bet it could work for you.

Your saddle needs to accommodate your sit-bones, not your entire arse. Bigger definitely isn’t comfier. Bigger leads to chaffing, rubbing, pressure build up, not being able to peddle efficiently/ ergonomically which in turn leads to poor posture and injury. Don’t go there! A correctly fitted saddle, correctly set up bike and decent padded cycling specific bottoms = super comfortable, no matter how big or small you are. There are brands which cater for larger sizes. Although if you’ve only a couple of stone to lose I can’t see why brands like DHB wouldn’t offer you a size that fits. My mate is a size 22 and 6ft she has Rapha and Assos shorts which cater for her size. Also a ‘normal’ size saddle - she races triathlons, cyclo-cross, mountain bikes and time trials.

I was an utter joke when I re-started cycling. I’d never even learnt to use my brakes properly. Wobbly, terrified and lacking in confidence was an understatement. With the correct support I got there. I now road race, race cyclo cross, ride with my club and go mtb’ibg. DS (4) tends to come along on my adventures in his burley trailer, Followme tandem or shotgun. I’d be gutted if I couldn’t ride a bike with him/ bring him along for the ride. Once he gets older I know even super fit me will struggle to keep up with him, but unfit me on a heavy cumbersome old trike - naar. Even if you master it now, it won’t be much use for cycling with your son for long.

Original poster
ClaraTheImpossibleGirl · 22/03/2021 22:51

Thank you again to everyone for their responses! I was looking at something like this Halfords bike - it looks simple enough for me to use! - but annoyingly it isn't in stock anywhere near me.

I'd love an electric bike but they're a bit out of my price range at the moment - hopefully they'll come down in cost soon.

I'll definitely bear in mind the tips about the saddle and the cycling shorts!!

OP posts: