Date: 1 July 2013
CD 1001
Issue: 1.0
Vélo Cargo Owner’s Manual
Page 19 of 34
7.2.1 Is the hill too steep????
If you are ascending a hill and with the assist power on ‘high’ and with the chain gear in the lowest
gear and the Vélo Cargo grinds to a halt, you must release the throttle to avoid burning out the motor.
Apply the brakes, step off the cycle and walk the Vélo Cargo up the hill whilst still using the throttle to
provide electric assistance. The Vélo cargo will be able to ascend much steep hills without your
weight on the saddle.
IMPORTANT:
The Vélo Cargo’s motor can be severely damaged by applying power
to it with the back wheel not turning. You must release the power if the Vélo ever
grinds to a halt.
TIP:
Tip:
•
Get off and walk on very steep hills and use the power to push the bike up
the hill without you on it.
•
Always use the lowest chain gear on steep hills and provide as much effort
as you can. You will find that the Vélo Cargo can go up some surprisingly
steep hills with an adult and two children in it.
7.3 Cornering
The key difference between a ‘tadpole’ tricycle and a bicycle is that it can’t lean into turns and hence
if the rider doesn’t lean towards the centre of the turn the bike can potentially go on two wheels or
worst still roll on its side. This is not something to worry about in the long run as you learn to turn
corners on a tricycle the same way you learned to ride a bicycle. For most people it takes only a few
minutes to realise the difference.
The Vélo will also have more tendency to tip if you have no load in the front section, so extra care
must be taken when riding like this.
7.3.1 Entering a turn.
•
Lean to the centre of the turn, especially on very tight turns to transfer your weight towards an
imaginary centre of a roundabout for example.
7.3.2 Whilst in a turn
•
Do not increase your speed by using the throttle / pedals as you progress through the turn –
keep steady speed.
7.3.3 Cornering whilst going down hills
•
As you can imagine if you corner on a hill you have an additional risk of making the trike tip
as there is a tendency to go fast and you have the slope of the hill working against your
centre of gravity.
IMPORTANT:
The risk of toppling the trike is significant if these golden rules are not
adhered to. You risk damaging the trike, yourself and your precious cargo.
