Recumbent trikes for trails also Schlumpf drives?

peter said:

steep climbs in Norway, but I'm not in a hurry and if pedal comes to push I'm happy to walk and
push the trike on the bits I can't manage.

Pushing is not that easy, certainly with a trice. Everything is low, so you have to bend over or
crouch a bit, and the handlebasr are even lower, so you need to crouch a lot. If you need to push,
you need to do so on teh seat back or rack, and doing that and keeping a hand on the steering means
you have to crouch and sort of walk crabbing sideways.

If you need to shift a trice other than by riding, picking it up by the luggage rack and dragging
seems best. If the toe-in is true it will then follow reasonably docilely. Trouble is, if doing this
with luggage on teh rack you're lifting the luggage, and that can get hard work.

However, with a trike and suitable gearing you can go up hills as slow as you like (no risk of
falling off). If you're prepared for teh slowness of teh ascent I can't see any steepness of hill
stopping you entirely.

Quoted message said:

My concern is that parts of the route are on fairly rough trails with loose stone surfaces and I
wonder how trikes cope with this.

That could be a problem. I occasionally ride my trice on off-road (unmetalled) routes. On steep
loose material, you can lose traction quite easily. A touring load of luggage might help a little
(since all teh weight of that will go down the back wheel), but gradients that on a mountain bike
just need a bit of shifting your body-weight around are unrideable on teh trice - teh back wheel
just spins.

Having said that, I've never had to get off on any route intended for motor vehicles. I don't know
how steep / rough / unsurfaced your tracks will be, so can't actually confirm if it will be a
serious problem or not.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

peter scribed with passion and wit:

Quoted message said:

Considering getting a recumbent trike probably a Greenspeed or Trice for next year, doing a UK end
to end and then going on to Bergen in Norway and riding the bit of the North Sea Route I didn't
manage this year, before getting a Ferry to Denmark for a while.

Im about 16 stone and not superfit, know trikes are not ideal for the steep climbs in Norway, but
I'm not in a hurry and if pedal comes to push I'm happy to walk and push the trike on the bits I
can't manage.

My concern is that parts of the route are on fairly rough trails with loose stone surfaces and I
wonder how trikes cope with this. I'm also interested in the durability of Schlumpf drives fitted
on trikes. Anyone with experience of riding trikes in these conditions and/or of using the
Schulmpf drive care to comment? Thanks Peter

Trikes climb fine if you get the right one and practice, the Trice range is good, as is the
Greenspeed, but have a look at the Catrike Trail as well, Schlumpf drives are good units and
very durable.

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗

Thanks for the info peter

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ian
Trikes climb fine if you get the right one and practice, the Trice range is good, as is the Greenspeed, but have a look at the Catrike Trail as well, Schlumpf drives are good units and very durable.

Are they more durable than a 3 speed SRAM hub? I ask because I am hoping to get a trike and wonder what to use to compensate for the smaller wheels.

Peter, Having been to the Trice factory and met the guys I am sure that the Explorer or Classic
would fit the bill. My Classic NT climbs most with a 14" bottom gear without resorting to anything
other than a triple chain set 20/32/42 and a max of 34 on the back, keep it simple for reliability.
There is an occasional problem with traction but this is mostly resolved with weight in the
panniers. Pushing is not too bad because you can steer with sideways pressure on the rear rack
whilst you are pushing. Another option you can try is to tow it with a thin nylon cord. It will
follow easily. You can collect the Trice and you are only a few miles from the start of your UK E2E
! Good luck whatever you choice.

SW in the UK (simply a biased and happy owner)

"peter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Considering getting a recumbent trike probably a Greenspeed or Trice for next year, doing a
UK end to end and then going on to Bergen in

Norway

Quoted message said:

and riding the bit of the North Sea Route I didn't manage this year,

before

Quoted message said:

getting a Ferry to Denmark for a while.

Im about 16 stone and not superfit, know trikes are not ideal for

the

Quoted message said:

steep climbs in Norway, but I'm not in a hurry and if pedal comes to push I'm happy to walk and
push the trike on the bits I can't manage.

My concern is that parts of the route are on fairly rough trails

with

Quoted message said:

loose stone surfaces and I wonder how trikes cope with this. I'm also interested in the durability
of Schlumpf drives fitted on trikes. Anyone with experience of riding trikes in these conditions
and/or of using the Schulmpf drive care to comment? Thanks Peter

If you have to push, turn the trike around and pull (assuming you have a rack over the rear wheel).
It will follow like a lost puppy and ya don't have to bend over. "peter" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Considering getting a recumbent trike probably a Greenspeed or Trice for next year, doing a
UK end to end and then going on to Bergen in

Norway

Quoted message said:

and riding the bit of the North Sea Route I didn't manage this year,

before

Quoted message said:

getting a Ferry to Denmark for a while.

Im about 16 stone and not superfit, know trikes are not ideal for

the

Quoted message said:

steep climbs in Norway, but I'm not in a hurry and if pedal comes to push I'm happy to walk and
push the trike on the bits I can't manage.

My concern is that parts of the route are on fairly rough trails

with

Quoted message said:

loose stone surfaces and I wonder how trikes cope with this. I'm also interested in the durability
of Schlumpf drives fitted on trikes. Anyone with experience of riding trikes in these conditions
and/or of using the Schulmpf drive care to comment? Thanks Peter

I've had a Greenspeed now for about a 18 months. It has the Tioga Comp Pools and a Schlumpf
mountain drive.

The rear wheel will slip on gravel roads, dirt roads, etc. with steep grades.

The Schlumpf Mountain drive is a good idea. At the time of purchase I questioned the need for it
because of the cost. In retrospect I couldn't image life without it. I've put 4500 miles on it and
have had no problems. Lubed it with MoSu2 (sic?) at 3000 per manufacturer's instructions.

YMMV.

"peter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Considering getting a recumbent trike probably a Greenspeed or Trice for next year, doing a UK end
to end and then going on to Bergen in Norway and riding the bit of the North Sea Route I didn't
manage this year, before getting a Ferry to Denmark for a while.

Im about 16 stone and not superfit, know trikes are not ideal for the steep climbs in
Norway, but I'm not in a hurry and if pedal comes to push I'm happy to walk and push the
trike on the bits I can't manage.

My concern is that parts of the route are on fairly rough trails with loose stone surfaces
and I wonder how trikes cope with this. I'm also interested in the durability of Schlumpf
drives fitted on trikes. Anyone with experience of riding trikes in these conditions and/or
of using the Schulmpf drive care to comment? Thanks Peter