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5.4 Relax
Whilst riding sit back and relax. DO NOT PULL ON THE HANDLEBARS; just hold them lightly. The trike will
tend to steer itself in a straight line depending on the road surface and camber.
TIP – The steering of the trike runs on ball bearings so it is very smooth
and requires minimal effort to steer. The gear cables run forward and
backwards and the spring effect in these cables tend to make the trike
slowly turn to the left if you let go of the handlebars completely. This is
normal and we do not recommend riding without holding at least one of the
handle bars or you will not have proper control of the trike.
5.5 Cornering
Your trike is inherently very stable under normal riding conditions. Cornering at high speed can cause your trike
to lift a wheel, or in worse cases, roll over. Leaning into the corner can help this, and is a fun technique that all
trike riders learn.
Take care on corners which have a ‘reverse camber.’ Reverse camber is where the outside of the corner is lower
than the inside. On a corner with reverse camber, the trike will try to move to the outside of the curve, which
could take you off the edge of the road, or into the oncoming lane.
We recommend that you find a quiet smooth surfaced area (such as a car park or firm grassy field), and get a
feel for handling your trike. Try turning at various speeds to find the point where your starts to lift a wheel. It is
better to learn this in a quiet park than a busy street.
When you are negotiating a corner at speed, remember that your weight shifts away from the inside wheel. You
must remember that it is very easy to skid or lock the lightly loaded inside wheel, and that wheel is contributing
less to your ability to brake and steer.
5.6 Handling
You should avoid riding the trike on two wheels. It is possible to do, with considerable practice, but it places
unfair stresses on the wheels and you will not be able to control the trike properly.
If you lock the back wheel (using the optional rear disk brake), it is possible to make the back end of the trike
skid around; this is the so-called ‘handbrake turn’. While fun to do in a quiet car park, this maneuver can cause
a loss of control, and should not be attempted around other vehicles. It can also scrub the tread off an expensive
tyre in a very short time.
Heavy loads should be carried as low as possible, and as much in the middle of the trike as you can. Heavy loads
mounted high on the back of the trike will affect its handling, especially at higher speeds and when cornering. Do
not carry a child in a child seat over the rear wheel. Besides affecting the trike’s stability, the trike is not heavy
enough to sufficiently support a child without someone sitting on it (it can fall over when you get out of the seat).
For carrying children or heavy loads, we recommend towing a trailer. There are plenty of 2 wheeled trailers on
the market, and they can be very heavily loaded without affecting the handling of the trike. Crash tests done in
Germany show a child is much safer in a trailer than in a child seat.
5.7 Brakes
The front brakes are operated independently by each main brake lever. The left lever operates the left brake,
and the right lever operates the right brake. Normal braking should be done with both levers together and
evenly for excellent stopping power; you will find your trike to be very stable under braking. Unlike other trikes,
stopping using only one brake will not result in the trike veering from its intended course. This ‘No-Brake-Steer’
geometry is a safety feature that ICE developed and is designed into every trike we make.
Because your weight is being supported on 3 wheels rather than 2, you will find it easier to lock up the brakes on
the front wheels. The trike will not roll over, but it will slide. Locked wheels are hard on tyres, and are not as
efficient for braking as a wheel which is still turning. When you are braking into corner, you will find the
unloaded inside wheel will lock up quite easily. It's not a problem, but remember the lightly loaded wheel is not
contributing much to steering or braking the trike.
If you brake violently, at low speeds and with both brakes, you may find the trike wants to lift its back wheel. In
extreme cases, you can brake hard enough for the chainring to hit the ground.
Brake drums, calipers and rotors will heat up when they are used. They can get very hot, especially after a long
descent, and it is possible to burn yourself if you are not careful. Do not touch them while riding or immediately
after dismounting from the bicycle. Check that the brake components have been cooled down before attempting
to adjust the brakes.
Summary of Contents for TRICE 'Q'
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