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Biking
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Posted by: GoingToRussia

My fiancee, and wife in 3 days, want to do some biking. Her back hurts on a regular 2 wheel bike and I was thinking about an adult recumbent/reclining tricycle. Does anyone have any experience with these? The only one I can find that I we like are made by Triton.

My neighborhood is great for riding bikes and we have a park where you can drive, park, and take a bike ride. She really liked the park bike ride idea.

Any information would be appreciated.

Posted by: matt235

GTR,

The recumbent bikes are a bit difficult to get the hang of at first, but once you got it, it is pretty good. I do not own a recumbent, but I have been around quite a few of them. Even though it appears to be better for your back, I have heard that there are other back related issues with them (i.e. the pain in the back is in a different location on a recumbent bike as opposed to a standard style bike). They are usually a bit more expensive than a comparable standard style bike, but if it is what you/she wants then it might be worth it. Here are some of the brands of recumbents that I know of; you can google them and get all sorts of info:

RANS
Inspired Cycle
Challenge Bicycles and Trikes
Sidewinder Recumbents
Easy Racers Bikes
KMX Tricycles
Optima
HP Velotechnik
Greenspeed Tricycles

Also another suggestion, have you considered a modern cruiser? If you do not plan on going on long rides, either on the road or mountain bike style, but would rather just cruise around the neighborhood and park area, the cruiser might be an easier alternative. The number one brand for curisers is Electra (http://www.electrabike.com/), but there are others making curisers as well such as Trek and Specialized.

One of the good things about a cruiser is that the price is going to be around $400 as opposed to a recumbent starting near $2000 (although you might find some cheaper ones here and there)

If you have any other questions, please ask.

later,

Posted by: GoingToRussia

She's got her heart set on a recumbent. We will have to try one and see if we like it though. Here are 2 sites. Do you know anything about this brand Triton? They are cheap (for a recumbent) so I'm wondering about the quality.

http://www.rehabmart.com/category.a...cles&ppc=google
http://www.abikestore.com/adult-tricycles.htm

Thanks for the info.

Posted by: matt235

Well, for the price that these sites are showing it is obvious that the components are sub-par at best. Basically your wal-mart level of quality. The Triton that I was looking at was a single speed trike. If you have any hills around you, that single speed in a recumbent is going to be murder. You will need some method to down shift to a lower gear to power up some hills.

The frame, seat and steering on any bike is going to be ok until you get to the crazy stuff like carbon and such. However, the components (the brakes, gears and shifters) are what makes the bike fun to ride and not a burden. There are basically 3 manufacturers of components for bikes (all bikes). They are Shimano (the workhorse), Campy (the erotic Italian stuff) and SRAM (the new kids on the block). I ride Shimano on all of my bikes, and so does my brother. Between the two of us we have over 20 different bikes. If you talk to someone regarding these bikes, ask them what components are on the bike (the manufacturer and the series of components). I would stick to a level of component equal to the Shimano 105 series. Any average bike shop will know what that is. Anything lower than that and you will know the difference. If at all possible, try to get over and ride a few of the bikes to test out the differences in the components, even if it has to be on a curiser or mountain bike. You will see the difference.

Keep asking, I won't run out of answers for a long time. And when I do I'll ask my brother. I have actually sent him an email asking his opinion on recumbents. He may have more knowledge about it than I do.

Later,

Posted by: stevo

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

Her back hurts on a regular 2 wheel bike and I was thinking about an adult recumbent/reclining tricycle.

Might the back pain have been due to the saddle being at the wrong height?

Posted by: matt235

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo

Might the back pain have been due to the saddle being at the wrong height?

Good point Stevo. I made the assumption that the bike that she was riding had been "set up" for her (i.e. frame size, saddle height, etc.). GTR, ask her if you don't already know, what kind of bike she was riding that gave her the back ache. Find out if someone at a bike shop actually went through the process of fitting the bike to her instead of her trying to fit on the bike.

To give you and idea of the differences on a bike that people just don't think about. If you were to walk into either my house or my brothers and see our road bikes, you would probably be a little surprised. My road bike looks huge compared to what most people would expect. But I am 6'4"+ and to put me on a bike for someone 5'9" would be murder on my back and legs. In other words the bike has to be selected for the person's frame.

GTR, if you go down to your local bike shop, you should be able to have one of the sales guys/mechanics there set up a bike appropriate for her frame size and let her ride it on their little test area. I bet she will be surprised. I do not recommend testing a road bike (the one with the curly handlebars) but rather a mountain bike. This will have her sitting up in saddle more and feel more like a bike that you rode as a kid. On the correct bike setup, she might change her opinion.

Take care and I hope this helps,

later,

Posted by: Chrismc

Matt

I rather doubt that in Moldova or anywhere in the FSU for that matter they would fit you up for a bike, customer service is not their big selling point over there

More like, here's your lovely new bike, we have it in one colour only, one sized wheel, no gears, and you have to wait 3 months to have it, or you can take this one right now! it has one slightly buckled wheel, a saddle with atv least three more months wear in it and a loose handlebar, only 16 previos and very careful owners, one being Eddy Merckz

.....BUT it is ready to go!........OK DEAL! and off she rides

Posted by: matt235

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Matt

I rather doubt that in Moldova or anywhere in the FSU for that matter they would fit you up for a bike, customer service is not their big selling point over there

.....BUT it is ready to go!........OK DEAL! and off she rides

I was kind of thinking that, but I wasn't 100% sure. I guess we get a little spoiled from time to time. Hopefully GTR can have her try out a couple of options.

Also if The Cannibal was on that bike at one time, some of us will understand where that goes...

later,

p.s. yes i know that eddy doesn't like that term.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt235

In fact I have never ever seen a bike shop in Russia or Ukraine, no doubt they have them,, but they keep them well hidden if they do

Come to think of it, I have not even seen many bicycles in general

unless you count this one

A Russian Leitner Folding Bike

Posted by: matt235

I need to get 1 for my next MS-150 ride!

later,

Posted by: I/O

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo

Might the back pain have been due to the saddle being at the wrong height?

May the "Lower Back" pain be due to the new sleeping arrangements?

I/O