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great distance, and the non-flashing light is better for other road users to judge your distance from them
with.
Use your rear view mirror, but don’t rely on it. You must also turn your head to check behind you before
turning or changing lanes.
Be careful of carrying too much speed into corners. The immense stability of the trike is not absolute,
and sharp high speed cornering may cause you to lift the inside wheel, or even roll over. As you ride
more, you will gradually learn what the limits of the trike are.
Be careful of downhill speeds. It is
very
easy to reach speeds in excess of 40 mph (60kph) when going
downhill. Although you may feel in perfect control, be wary of and allow for road hazards and other road
users doing stupid things.
The drum brake hubs and disc brakes rotors can get hot after long descents. You can burn yourself on
the hot surfaces.
The usual practice is to brake evenly using both hands. You can brake at the maximum rate with the front
brakes only. The trike is designed not to brake-steer if you brake only one side (a safety feature
necessary if you are braking and signaling a turn at the same time), but violent, single sided braking can
cause the trike to pull slightly to the braked side.
Use your flag. Most road users haven’t ever seen anything like your trike, and will give you much more
attention and room on the road than they would a standard upright bike. Nevertheless, using the flag will
help to ensure you’ve been seen, especially in heavy traffic. You are low, and reversing cars may not be
able to see you. Ride defensively, as if others can’t see you.
Consider bright visible clothes. They make good sense regardless of what you are riding.
You might consider fitting a horn. The ‘AirZound’ is a lightweight air horn, charged with your bicycle
pump, and it is LOUD! It is available from most good bike shops.
Although you are far more noticeable than any other cycle, motorists will almost always underestimate the
speed of an approaching trike. They just don’t seem to understand how fast you can be traveling. Be
wary of cars which assume you are ‘slow’ and pull out in front of you with little warning. Also be wary of
cars overtaking you close to a junction. They will often misjudge the space they have to get in front of
you, and are rarely certain of what to do once they’ve realized their mistake.
Like any other cycle, try not to ride close to parked cars. Drivers can fling open a door or pull out
suddenly.
Don’t ride close to the edge of the road. Rubbish tends to collect there and your tyre is at a greater risk
of picking up a puncture. Although a trike is only a little wider than the handlebars of an upright bike, it is
seen as being very wide by other road users. If you move out a little into the road, it is less likely that
drivers will try to force their way past. Likewise, pay attention to timid drivers that refuse to overtake you
(because you are so wide!) Pulling to the side to let the queue pass will earn you the respect of other road
users.
7.0 Other Important Information
7.1 Recumbent/Trike forums on the Internet
Now that you have your new trike, why not share your experiences with others on some of the internet
forums?
ICE Trikes (TRICE) Owners List
There is an online Trice Owners group, started in 2008. Run by Trice owners, it’s the first place to go
to discuss riding, maintenance, or anything else TRICE. It can be found at:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/triceriders/
Bent Rider Online
The BentRiderOnline website is a valuable source of information. They operate a message board
(forum) that is moderated and is free to join. You will need to register before you can post a
message, but the forum is available for anyone to read. To register, point your browser to
www.bentrideronline.com
and click on the 'Message Board' link at the top of the page. On this
new page, you will find links to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and the registration page.
Follow the simple instructions and you will be registered to participate in the discussion. There is a
Trikes specific forum under Specialty Discussions, and you will find a number of ICE trike owners
there.
