Jun 24, 2019

Learning To Ride A Recumbent Tricycle

By Martha Murray


With the summer approaching it's important to get out and get some exercise in order to stay fit and healthy. Being able to ride a bicycle or tricycle is an excellent way to exercise without doing damage to your knees or spinal column. A popular way to exercise is by riding a recumbent tricycle or bicycle. Recumbent trikes are a new trend that has increased in popularity because of the way it rides for people who don't especially like riding bicycles while leaning over the front wheel.

Some may question why using a trike with three wheels. In the past, the tricycle actually came before bicycle. People had trouble balancing the bike and often reverted back to the more stable trike. It's an easy way to ride and be able to view the scenery without worrying about toppling over.

Others ask what the advantages of the recumbent type have over the traditional bike. The biggest advantage is that you do not have to lean forward over the handlebars. You can see the scenery and not be in an awkward position. Sitting back in a relaxing pose also lets you go farther distances without tiring while traveling.

Getting in and out of this type of vehicle can be a little bit intimidating. But it doesn't need to be because you can simply start off by making sure that the trikes brakes are completely locked so that it doesn't roll while you're trying to get into it. The first step is to straddle the front and back in towards the seat as you sit down. With the brakes on you should be able to easily sit down. Make sure not to use the handlebars or steering because are not load bearing and could easily be damaged. Exiting the bike is the reverse start by locking the brakes and lean forward and stand up and then step to the side.

Pedaling can also be difficult at first. A serious recommendation is that you have pedals that have a strap or some way to clip your foot into the pedal. If your foot slips off it could hit the ground and get pulled under the bike which could cause a lot of pain. You don't have to worry about falling off the trike when you stop because there are three wheels.

There are a couple of types of configurations for steering. The linkage type may seem strange at first, but it has a big advantage in that you can steer with just one hand. The direct type is two handles and is more like driving a sports car.

Changing gears is as simple as it would be on the two-wheel bike. The advantage here is that you don't need to know what gear you are in. You just simply change the gears as you feel the need to when you're climbing a hill or going downhill. The most popular type of gear is similar to a 10-speed bike where you have two gear settings that can be adjusted to maximize the torque.

Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy exercise, fitness, and riding bikes. Not everyone can ride the traditional 2 wheel bike so using a recumbent version is helpful. Being able to look up and watch the landscape as you ride enhances the experience. With options like a trike that leans back, everyone can easily get out and enjoy the summer.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment