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TM
Make it a habit to inspect your trike from time to time, especially
when new. Fasteners have a habit of working loose at first
and this can cause a safety hazard. Also, you’ll find that the
right front wheel tends to pick up debris from the edge of the
road faster than the left front wheel, because it’s running closer
to the curb. The Catrike comes with Kevlar-belted tires for
puncture resistance, but this does not mean they’re immune
to flats.
Keeping your trike clean will maximize its life. Wash it from
time to time, but avoid the use of pressure washers. They do
a great job of getting dirt out of tight spaces, but they do an
equally good job of driving lubricant out of where it needs to
be. It’s better to use a bucket of water, mild detergent and a
soft brush.
We recommend fitting fenders to the trike. This goes a long
way towards keeping it from getting dirty in the first place.
Many new owners tend to over-lube the chain. It should not
be dripping with lube. A properly lubricated chain looks dry
and clean, and while it may leave a bit of a mark on your hand
if you grab it, it should not be a gloppy mess. Use your favorite
lube and follow the instructions.
Always keep your tires filled to the recommended pressure
(printed on the tire sidewall). The tubes are not entirely airtight,
and the tire will lose pressure over time. Trikes by nature will
scrub the tires a bit, so they may not last as long as they would
on a bicycle. Overly aggressive riding will shorten tire life.
Your seat mesh will stretch a bit and settle in over time. It’s
not meant to be drum-tight…it’s meant to support you
comfortably. Pull the straps tight from time to time when the
trike is new…eventually the mesh and straps will settle into a
stable configuration that you’ll find is quite comfortable.
If you’ve purchased the optional headrest, we recommend
placing the pad so that it’s behind your neck, just under the
lower edge of the helmet, and in a position that lets you rest
your head on it if you need to but which doesn’t force you to
have your head on it all the time. The headrest is nice and
soft, but it does transmit road vibration. On the Speed, we find
that we can ride all day without using the headrest as long as
the road is flat, but as soon as we start climbing hills it’s nice
to have that support available. On the Road, many people
find that the headrest is not necessary at all.
If you’re adjusting the trike to fit another rider, make absolutely
certain that the chain is of the right length. In order to get the
maximum possible gear range, the Catrike drive train pushes
the derailleurs close to their maximum capacity. The chain
must be long enough to handle the big chain ring/big cog
combination…if it’s too short, it’s possible to severely damage
the drive train by shifting into this gear combination and applying
power. You can get away with a slack chain, but NEVER ride
with a chain that’s too short.
Improper toe can cause extremely rapid tire wear. Toe is set
by the mechanic during installation of the tie rod. We’ve heard
reports from the field of improperly set toe, with resulting
excessive tire wear. Don’t assume it’s been done right! Check
it yourself. Toe is checked by measuring the distance between
the front tires at approximately axle height ahead of the axle,
then comparing this measurement with the distance between
the tires behind the axle. The difference should be no more
than 1/16 inch with the front narrower than the rear. See the
section on toe in the assembly instructions to learn more.
Maintenance tips
