Suggestions for trikes that would fit through a standard door please.
- Thread starter IanSmithCSE
- Start date
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OP
OP
IanSmithCSE
Guru
- Location
- Worcester, Worcestershire
Good morning
The idea is that one wheel won't be off the ground. The wheels pivot as you turn, like 3 wheeled mopeds.
There is a thread on here somewhere about the poor chap who had a life changing accident riding his Planet X bike off a kerb that he thought was safe to so do.
This got me thinking about how I ride off kerbs, rarely, but these are within a few hundred metres of home.
Bye
Ian
The idea is that one wheel won't be off the ground. The wheels pivot as you turn, like 3 wheeled mopeds.
There is a thread on here somewhere about the poor chap who had a life changing accident riding his Planet X bike off a kerb that he thought was safe to so do.
This got me thinking about how I ride off kerbs, rarely, but these are within a few hundred metres of home.
Bye
Ian
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grldtnr
Veteran
I urge the OP's friend to try a recumbent trike, but then I am biased!
The problem tho ' is that most recumbent trikes are just that bit too wide for a standard door, one way is to source a Dutch 'bent trike, as they have to be a certain width for Dutch cycle tracks, tho' that may have changed.
Psamathe
Über Member
Some recumbents are higher than others. For some (eg ICE) you can get additional supports to help get in/out. Just because some recumbents are low does not mean they all are.
I've not ridden an upright trike but from what I've seen they are not as easy to ride as recumbent trikes - but others might have more experience.
In terms of width measure the door user will want to get it through and look at specs and/or post width of door here and people can maybe measure their own.
I've not ridden an upright trike but from what I've seen they are not as easy to ride as recumbent trikes - but others might have more experience.
In terms of width measure the door user will want to get it through and look at specs and/or post width of door here and people can maybe measure their own.
OP
OP
IanSmithCSE
Guru
- Location
- Worcester, Worcestershire
Good afternoon,
Thanks.
I will pass the ideas on.
I think that when you get down to it will just fit if you are very careful and after the newness wears off it will be time for some big chunks out of the door frame.
A definite downside of converting the garage to living space,now matter now unnimble, fitting a trike into a car sized hole isn't so hard.
Bye
Ian
Thanks.
I will pass the ideas on.
I think that when you get down to it will just fit if you are very careful and after the newness wears off it will be time for some big chunks out of the door frame.
A definite downside of converting the garage to living space,now matter now unnimble, fitting a trike into a car sized hole isn't so hard.
Bye
Ian
grldtnr
Veteran
An 'upwrong' trike is a whole different kettle of fish to ride, it's a misnomer that balance isn't required, when it still is,in fact you need to counterbalance & counter steer, which perversely requires a sense of balance.
Which is where the low sense of gravity comes in with recumbent trikes it's not such a requirement, but you still need to shift your weight if cornering at speed, thin back to your days wasted tearing about on a soap box cart....it's the same feeling.
And honestly, being visible or not. Isn't a thing , believe me you are far more visible on a recumbent of any type, just because they are so unusual to see on the roads
Mikethetrike
Member
Pretty much any handbuilt trike, or conversion axle built by either Higgins, Ken Rogers, George Longstaff or Geoff Booker, who traded as Trykit. There was an unofficial 'standard ' over locknut width of 27", to enable access through UK front doors!
a.twiddler
Veteran
That's useful to know. As the issue with the OP's friend seems to be balance, something like the Noomad concept would probably be ruled out as despite having three wheels, it tilts and therefore would need some ability to balance it. Despite some posters pushing for a recumbent trike, due to the ease of learning to ride one, I have a feeling that the most acceptable solution for the OP's friend would be some kind of upright diamond framed conversion, if the Hetchins would accept it, or if reluctant to bodge it about, a used trike from one of the quality manufacturers, if the 27" OLN trike standard is as common as suggested.
Gastroped
Veteran
- Location
- Scottish Borders
With regard to recumbent trikes (I too am slightly biased in my view) .
The Hase Kettweisel is eminently practical for this very situation but I haven't checked it's actual width. It's a delta configuration (two wheels at the back) rather than tadpole (two wheels at the front) so much easier to mount and person-handle around.
It's worth a try and if D-Tek have any secondhand ones in stock you could always ask for their "hire to try" service which I think is still an option for those of us who live too far away to visit.
Good luck and leave no stone unturned in your quest to keep on pedalling.
Happy Riding,
Steve.
The Hase Kettweisel is eminently practical for this very situation but I haven't checked it's actual width. It's a delta configuration (two wheels at the back) rather than tadpole (two wheels at the front) so much easier to mount and person-handle around.
It's worth a try and if D-Tek have any secondhand ones in stock you could always ask for their "hire to try" service which I think is still an option for those of us who live too far away to visit.
Good luck and leave no stone unturned in your quest to keep on pedalling.
Happy Riding,
Steve.
404 Not Found Anywhere
Über Member
I’ve had two Kettweisels so even more biased!
The width of my 2006 aluminium model is about 86 cm so 33 inches or so. However unlike a tadpole trike a Kett can be stored upright on its two back wheels (there is a little rubber foot on the back of the seat for just this purpose, so taking up very little space) and in this orientation can be lifted through a standard doorway. Not sure about the current models, but the steel framed ones and at least the early aluminium trikes can do this. The steel ones are a bit narrower, if memory serves.
I have a 1990 Ken Rogers upright trike and I can assure you that is a pretty challenging beast to ride though if you’ve got the nerve and the skill it’s very light and can go alarmingly quickly if you want to. You definitely need good balance skills!
The width of my 2006 aluminium model is about 86 cm so 33 inches or so. However unlike a tadpole trike a Kett can be stored upright on its two back wheels (there is a little rubber foot on the back of the seat for just this purpose, so taking up very little space) and in this orientation can be lifted through a standard doorway. Not sure about the current models, but the steel framed ones and at least the early aluminium trikes can do this. The steel ones are a bit narrower, if memory serves.
I have a 1990 Ken Rogers upright trike and I can assure you that is a pretty challenging beast to ride though if you’ve got the nerve and the skill it’s very light and can go alarmingly quickly if you want to. You definitely need good balance skills!
PaulM
Guru
- Location
- Portsmouth, UK
The Greenspeed Anura delta trike has a width of 28.5" so will pass through a UK doorway. As DTek HPVs if they have one.
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Now as someone with balance issues myself, I can tell you from practical experience that a recumbent is not necessarily the way to go. Hauling yourself upright while sitting a few inches off the floor without toppling over is a challenge. Now funny enough, I only looked at a trike thread because today I started to consider one myself. I have arthritis in one knee, and cycling is supposed to help ease the discomfort that brings. The jury is still out, I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow so I'll seek his opinion.
404 Not Found Anywhere
Über Member
If you’ve only been looking at tadpole recumbent trikes (two wheels at the front), have a look at a delta like a Kettwiesel - the seat is higher, low chair height, and you can swing your leg over the frame whilst seated so getting up is not a major deal. Though Kettwiesels are now very pricey new, that isn’t retained in the second hand market it seems.
a.twiddler
Veteran
Just as with recumbent bikes, there are trike models with low reclined seats and there are less reclined higher ones. Some Anthrotech tadpole trikes have relatively upright seats, most delta trikes are higher and more upright than tadpole models. New trikes are expensive, but used ones can be relative bargains if you keep your eyes open in the usual places and can travel. They might all look similar but when you look into it, there's more difference between them than just seat height and wheel size or configuration.
Although there's a lot of hard won expertise on CC, you would benefit from advice from such as Kevin at DTek as advised further up thread. Finding the right trike could save a lot of trial and error and at the least add fun to your mobility, at best kindle a new enthusiasm for cycling as discovering recumbent bikes did for me several several years ago. It is one of those things that if you don't try it, you will never know.
Although there's a lot of hard won expertise on CC, you would benefit from advice from such as Kevin at DTek as advised further up thread. Finding the right trike could save a lot of trial and error and at the least add fun to your mobility, at best kindle a new enthusiasm for cycling as discovering recumbent bikes did for me several several years ago. It is one of those things that if you don't try it, you will never know.
