More, more, love cycling. Love your videos. I'm a 75+ year old cyclist and have cycled some of these trails. I have to say a big THANK YOU to the Fred Meijer team for all their great work. THANK YOU.
The thing about recumbents of any kind is they use different muscles than upright bikes do. So you have to get accustomed to that. i road regular recumbents for years and finally got a trike. WHAT A RIDE!!! Never looking back.
I'm 77 and my biking buddy is 79. I also have other elderly biking friends, some of whom ride trikes, and I think trikes are really gonna catch on in this demographic. At our age, with our creaky old fragile bones, all we can think about is how disastrous it would be to fall off our two-wheelers. I know of one broken wrist and at least two broken hips. I'm certainly going to investigate. Thanks for an educational and entertaining video.
I own a Catrike Expedition... Trikes are comfortable. Trikes are also a lot of work too ! Funny how many people think "easy" because you're laying down
I own a Catrike Expedition too. They are only a lot of work IF you ride that way. I have many upgrades on my Catrike Expedition, especially a Wolf 42t granny sprocket; which I am able to climb any hill, at a snails pace of course. haha. I also have a full set of long-term tour panniers: Ortlieb back roller classics, Radical Design sm. Banana side pods panniers, and a Ortlieb rack pack 24L duffel bag, which snaps together to the back roller classic panniers. All and all, fully loaded 45 lbs of gear. I really enjoy my Catrike Expedition. Yes, recumbent trikes are generally slower than traditional upright diamond frame bicycles, but...knowing this, I'm not in any hurry to mash down the road. I take my time and enjoy every mile. I'll get there when I get there, is my philosophy.
I don’t have a recumbent trike but I do have 2 recumbents. I totally agree with you, while recumbents are comfortable, they are not easy. Comfort and ease are 2 totally separate things!
Since you can’t stand up on the pedals you have to get off regularly to get circulation back in your butt! Rode to work every day for a year till my hips started hurting went back to mountain bike.
@@tboneholt when I rode an upright, longer rides (over 40 km) i had to stand up after each 10km or so to get the numbness from my ass. Also had to ride 1 or no handed to get the pins n needles out- which put more weight on my ass. Vicious cycle (no pun intended) bought a greenspeed magnum big wheel and after the first 500 km to get accustomed, I have no issue with ass, hands or neck that I did on an upright. Done a dozen or so 50+km rides without issue, no stops as I can reach water from the seat. Greenspeed have a very comfortable seat- maybe that's the difference.
@@tboneholttry looking into seat adjustments or pads. I had the same experience but after adding a wedge pad my posture in seat changed and have had no more problems
I just came across your channel researching recumbent trikes. I'm classified as 100% disabled veteran and have been looking for a way to get exercise and improve my health. I had to give up riding my motorcycle and am currently working on trying to get it sold. I've got 60 and 40% nerve damage to my arms and can't safely ride the bike anymore. Riding a regular motorcycle would create the same problems so that started my search for a trike. So now I have a direction to go and thanks for the video on the trike.
Never seen anyone use it. In decades. Anyone who can turn a wrench on a bicycle brings their own tools. They are needed for emergencies usually, you can't ride 20 miles to find one of these if you need tools now. They blow at least $1000 of tax payer money on each one of these. And they look way less pretty than this one, which looks to be at most 1 season old.
I have had a Rans recumbent since 1984. Its been several different colors, sported an off-road package for many years... am taking it back to mostly stock now. I have a trike but do not like it. That will change soon as my balance is nearly gone. With a bad heart and 73 years young ... I must keep riding. Best exercise ever. Thanks for the video.
Speed simply increases your range. First day I owned my recumbent I did 30 miles, 15 of it in driving rain after midnight. I soon got Kevlar gators and 1 1/8" 125 psi tires. Level max 32 mph, max downhill 39.9 mph and a prayer. Passed the 40 somethings on racers. Now at 66 I have a 750w 29mph 27.5" x 4" ebike and trailer for beer. Scary.
And the sensitive Flora and fauna! You Crack me up!! The trike looks interesting. My next camper build is going to be a "Foamie" pull behind mini teardrop camper for camping with a bike! Those would be a perfect trip item with the pull behind!
Your wife mentioned surgery. Bless her. An additional note to women, a sitting position, recumbent, while cycling is better for women because of the heart. This information was relayed to me by my acupuncturist, who also has a MD in orthopedics. Nice wave in the beard.
Oh, this breaks my heart!! I'm a disabled veteran and have spent a great deal of time on a 2 wheel touring bike. Even a week long Kansas tour of 500 miles. 3 years ago I spent 10 days in the hospital with total kidney failure!! I've had to give up cycling due to balance problems. A trike would be awesome, but on disability the price is just not feasible. Good luck and enjoy.
I see you are using the heel straps - which I might assume are TerraTrike brand. Thanks for including them in your video. I've got some on order, with hopes of getting my arch over the pedal axle in regular shoes. I also noticed your position on the trike has your knees coming higher than I'd expect - if it's comfy, it's FINE. Having a motor assist but not dependent upon it - interesting. I'm still organic-powered (coming up to 73 year old).
I hired out on the railroad 25 years ago in Saginaw, and the old heads use to say how much they loved the trip from Saginaw to Grand Rapids. Such beautiful scenery. This video really makes me miss the Mitten. Awesome job as always.
I noticed you showed the Greenspeed Magnum at the Terra Trike shop. Years ago, I met the originator of the Greenspeed Trikes - Ian Sims - when he introduced the Magnum at a recumbent rally in Los Angeles. That's a great trike!
Got a trike recently, love it, the ICE SPrint X Tour. Having been in a wheelchair for a while, when I could stand again, got an ebike but got rid of it when able to climb hills without assistance though, replacing it with a normal bicycle. The trike though enjoy alot more due to comfort plus it feels alot safer than a bicycle due to not having to worry about balance when signaling etc, traffic also gives you alot more space. On the trike I am about 25% slower than the bicycle according to strava, but don't care as don't notice while riding and in no hurry as ride for leasure. Brave of you going on the road without high viz clothing or a flag
Thanks Restless Viking i love your title and the personalize style of production. I hope more people in America realize the real ameru ways for life. The Vikings uphold the code and it's good to see someone enjoying life. We Indigenous People miss our links to our Viking Brother and Sisters. Together we will remake America for all. Thanks Restless Viking you and you wife made my day.
After way to many surgeries, I decided 18 years ago, on riding trikes. After trying out most brands of them, it came down to the Catrike, or the ICE. Being a grumpy Marine, the Catrike being made from scratch in the US, was the one I went with. Terra Trikes have always been good value for the money. While the ICE, HP Velotechnic, and Catrike are better engineered. They are a lot more expensive.
One other great thing ( really many more reasons to go with a Trike). I rode a Trek 1000 for years and still have it. My father, his buddy and I rode miles and than one day dad says, have you every checked between your legs after a ride, I said No! He said take a mirror and look. So I did and couldn't believe the bruising and how large of an area it was. Besides that my wrist would numb on me, shoulder and neck pain than lower back problems and have 2 pins and 6 screws. So I ordered the Catrike Dumont and hoped it would be what I needed than while waiting for it to arrive I got MAC Disease which tore me up and got into my blood which really screwed me up. But now I enjoy the Dumont but you might want to change out the rear tire for one that is a little more aggressive, my was just street tire and once you get off into the grass or anything wet you may not have any traction. Good riding.
Great video and scenery. I started riding a trike this past January after riding an upright for 18 years. Health issues made me switch. Glad I did! It's a whole new world on a trike! Love it! Good luck to ya!
So you're in your lawn chair going down the trail😊 I spend a lot of time laying on the couch at home and when I'm not on the couch I'm riding down the trail on my bike so you could say that my biking keeps me from laying down
I just re-watched your video. It was part of the reason I did purchase a Terra Trike EVO and have ridden it almost 1400 miles so far this year. I couldn't afford all the accessories that you rode with, but I am slowly adding what I can. I have ridden many of the wonderful Fred Meijer trails in the past and hope to revisit them on the trike next year. Thanks for sharing your experience on the trike and the local history.🙂
Richard! I just watched a couple of your videos. 1,400 miles!! That's a lot of miles for sure. I like the trike a lot for long rides on Michigan's rail-trails. Thanks for posting a note, I just subscribed.
I just finished 8 825km on my Ice Adventure 2...Rholoff hub at the back...Slumph Drive in front with a Burley Nomad Trailer...200km a day...piece of pie !!!!
I’m a native Michigander living in California’s Central Valley but planning to move “home” in a few years. I’ve recently taken up riding a tadpole trike and was worried I wouldn’t find many trails back in Michigan, but I’m happy to see there are indeed trials that will accommodate trikes.
Really cool. I seen one of these on a bike path between Concord and Jackson, and the gentleman who was riding it passed me 3 times before I got the circle done.
Almost bought one of these last month. Still saving my pennies. BTW you were about 60’ from my front door in Belding. We would have let you use the bathroom.
Nice video! Last month I bought a recumbent trike of the same company (Greenspeed GT20). I wished I did buy it 10 years ago actually, it's so much fun really. Do you have a recumbent trike still?
Welcome to the world of recumbent trikes! I would have stopped riding years ago if not for these fine machines. If you ever get the bug for traveling - bring them over to southeastern Pennsylvania. We have an exceptionally long and scenic route from Whitehaven to Easton to Bristol (canal tow paths along the Lehigh and Delaware rivers) and another great ride from center city Philly to Perkiomenville (following the Schuylkill river and Perkiomen creek along more tow paths and rail-to-trail paths). And there is always the nearby ocean route hugging the New Jersey beachfront from Sandy Hook to Cape May. And yes sir - cars do tend to give wider safe zones to a trike - especially when lit up and equipped with a tall flag. Cheers
Came across your channel and was so excited to see you are in Lowell. My wife grew up in Greenville. We lived out on Lincoln Lake Rd as a young family and worked for Montcalm County EMS. My brother lived in Lowell and the out on McPherson. We are now in the north end of metro Cincinnati and LOVE watching your channel. Thank you for making these videos!
If u don't mind me saying so, I THINK you need to extend the boom out a bit more, for greater ease for your legs , as your knees seem to shortened which makes riding unnecessarily more difficult , using energy you did not need to use had the boom been properly fitted to the length of your legs .
You're in my neck of the woods. I've never ridden this trail. It's about the only one I've missed in West Michigan. I need to get over there and ride it.
I got my first recumbent back in the 80's, a Ryan Vanguard, and then switched to trikes when they became available. About the only downside of a trike or recumbent is that you can't stand up and throw your weight into the pedals on uphill slogs. The flip side of that coin is that it's totally unnecessary to climb big hills on any bike to get good exercise benefits from riding one. The real trade off is that you can comfortably ride longer distances on a trike or recumbent than on a conventional bike. And most important for older riders; it's almost impossible to fall off a trike!
I'm currently in Escanaba, MI enjoying being a Yooper! I have an e-bike, and unfortunately, there aren't many trails. I live in Virginia, and the Washington and Old Dominion Trail is 45 miles long. It is asphalt with a divider line. I only ride during the week as it has heavy traffic on the weekends. Also, we have the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal bike trail that is 184.5 miles along the C&O Canal. And then the Great Allegheny Passage trail. Come to Virginia and enjoy the view and the ride!
I recently found your videos! I really am enjoying them! The information is very good and different from other videos and is really educationally informative and much more appreciative. Thanks VERY MUCH Poppins & Chuck!
My incumbent trike has a reversed layout: driven wheel on front, a pair of wheels in the back. Advantage: the drivetrain is basically a standard item, and spares are easily available. Big disadvantage: as your weight sits mainly on the back wheels, you don't get much of your power on the road without slipping. Steep hills are thus a problem. Alas - it is already 25 years old, when people were still experimenting with the layout.
I have a Catrike Dumont and love it, have added lots of extras, you need to try out the Kampway Pedals you will be surprised at how nice they are. I hated the clip ins. You can use any shoe with these Kampway Pedals.
Great video! I lived in that area 35 years ago. Looks like a great trail system. The wife and I ride our terratrikes all over up here in northern Michigan. She rides a tour 2 and I ride a zoomer sl or all terrain on the 2 tracks. They're awesome machines. FYI- I think I bought a radiator and other miscellaneous parts for a 1974 F250 from your building
Back when it was Lou II's Auto Salvage? Probably. No parts these days. Just projects and shuffling around working on things. Thanks for stopping by to watch!
Got a Greenspeed Magnum XL myself, and it gave me back my love of being outdoors with the wind in my face. I really enjoyed this video. I look forward to more recumbent trike adventures!
I have a Magnum big wheel, bought new 2 years ago and had 3000 trouble free km so far. The big wheel gives me the overall gearing for speed when I feel the need.
Ian Sims designed the Magnum to meet the needs of the Ameriican market. I got one of the first, and i won't part with it, 11 years later. At the age of 82 i am considering a motor addition to help with the hills. Sadly, Ian passed away, resulting in the acquisition of Greenspeed by Terratrike. May they keep the Greenspeed tradition alive!
Hi Chuck, great video with some real nice rail trails scenery in MI. The three wheeler seems like a perfect vehicle for those gravel trails, and especially paved. Did you mention that it had a battery as well? I didn't know they were adding the pedal assist features on these toads. I'm over the pond in WI and am looking to transition from 10 speed type bikes which are more meant for fast, into longer distance. Would this be a good vehicle for longer distance for an older rider? Thanks!
It is a great machine for long distances especially as we get older. This model does come with electric assist. You can turn it on and adjust the level of assistance or leave it off. It does not have a throttle (it is a class 1 electric bike). The key to your endurance is there aren't pressure points or fatigue points - only your input into the pedals. I can go much farther and Poppins can ride despite many surgeries. It is slightly slower than a two wheeler, but it still moves very well.
Yes! ❤️ I had a stroke three years ago and I got a Terra trike All terrain last year and I love it. I put road tires on it for smooth ride but it goes anywhere except sand.
I think you need to work on your train whistle mister. or buy one of those wooden ones and your local tourist trap locations!!! Then you would sound like a Viking !!!! Thanks for the commute and scenery. Pretty Cool. Thank you for sharing.
Looks like a great Trike to put a 5K hub motor on the back, I have PAD in the right leg so an e-bike is the only way for me to go now. Full suspension would be a nice add-on also for a better ride.
Cool video! As you continue to explore this trike, please provide your experiences with hills. Limits, steering control, peddle difficulties, electric assist function, etc. Thanks!
I tried converting a Schwinn trike to an eBike but abandoned the project when I realized how awkward trikes feel on the side of the road. On a 2 wheeler, we don't really feel how the road is pitched so that rain runs off the sides because our inner gyroscopes keep us vertical, despite the slight slope of the road. But on a trike, you are forced into that leaning position and it feels like that bike wants to flip over to the right. This effect is probably less dramatic in a recumbent but I don't intend to find out, even though I liked my recumbent 2 wheeler.
I got a TerraTrike about a year ago and have resumed cycling. I couldn’t ride an upright because of orthopedic problems. I love love love this bike. Because I got the electric assist I don’t have to worry about where I go. I can get help from the electric assist. I have a Chrysler Pacifica and I can fit the trike in the back with the last seat row down and one of the second row seats folded down. I’ve started doing bike touring and can’t wait to try the next one. Which trail were you riding? I’m also a Michigan resident.
Hi, I think your seat is upright quite a lot. I would recommend reclining it a bit more so you don't slide off so often. Nice video, for sure, and I like the rails to trails system. That's great! Honza
I would love to see you pull a steep hill on that thing. I live in a hilly area and as they say, it feels like "it's uphill both ways" when I go to the grocery store. Fortunately it's uphill only one way, but that's coming back home with a huge load of groceries. Not pleasant.
If I hav t missed it - did you utilise the electric booster- wondering if it is necessary- as an experienced tourer needing to get to a particular destination to rest for the night that extra pedal punch would help late afternoon ??? Interested in peeps thoughts.
I used about 20% of the battery in 30 miles - the route gains elevation for the 30 miles. It was mostly on the low setting for inclines about 20% of the time. It will definitely help get to the next destination on long tours..
You do not want a recumbent trike anywhere when there are hills. Even when it is a asphalt or concrete road. That said: An electric drivetrain on a velomobile can work well. Though in that case I'd opt for a quatrovelo...
that is a pretty sweet trail. 30 miles of nature without cars!
More, more, love cycling. Love your videos. I'm a 75+ year old cyclist and have cycled some of these trails. I have to say a big THANK YOU to the Fred Meijer team for all their great work. THANK YOU.
Right on!
The thing about recumbents of any kind is they use different muscles than upright bikes do. So you have to get accustomed to that. i road regular recumbents for years and finally got a trike. WHAT A RIDE!!! Never looking back.
I'm 77 and my biking buddy is 79. I also have other elderly biking friends, some of whom ride trikes, and I think trikes are really gonna catch on in this demographic. At our age, with our creaky old fragile bones, all we can think about is how disastrous it would be to fall off our two-wheelers. I know of one broken wrist and at least two broken hips. I'm certainly going to investigate. Thanks for an educational and entertaining video.
I own a Catrike Expedition... Trikes are comfortable. Trikes are also a lot of work too ! Funny how many people think "easy" because you're laying down
I own a Catrike Expedition too.
They are only a lot of work IF you ride that way.
I have many upgrades on my Catrike Expedition, especially a Wolf 42t granny sprocket; which I am able to climb any hill, at a snails pace of course. haha.
I also have a full set of long-term tour panniers: Ortlieb back roller classics, Radical Design sm. Banana side pods panniers, and a Ortlieb rack pack 24L duffel bag, which snaps together to the back roller classic panniers.
All and all, fully loaded 45 lbs of gear.
I really enjoy my Catrike Expedition. Yes, recumbent trikes are generally slower than traditional upright diamond frame bicycles, but...knowing this, I'm not in any hurry to mash down the road. I take my time and enjoy every mile. I'll get there when I get there, is my philosophy.
I don’t have a recumbent trike but I do have 2 recumbents. I totally agree with you, while recumbents are comfortable, they are not easy. Comfort and ease are 2 totally separate things!
Since you can’t stand up on the pedals you have to get off regularly to get circulation back in your butt! Rode to work every day for a year till my hips started hurting went back to mountain bike.
@@tboneholt when I rode an upright, longer rides (over 40 km) i had to stand up after each 10km or so to get the numbness from my ass. Also had to ride 1 or no handed to get the pins n needles out- which put more weight on my ass. Vicious cycle (no pun intended) bought a greenspeed magnum big wheel and after the first 500 km to get accustomed, I have no issue with ass, hands or neck that I did on an upright. Done a dozen or so 50+km rides without issue, no stops as I can reach water from the seat. Greenspeed have a very comfortable seat- maybe that's the difference.
@@tboneholttry looking into seat adjustments or pads. I had the same experience but after adding a wedge pad my posture in seat changed and have had no more problems
I just came across your channel researching recumbent trikes. I'm classified as 100% disabled veteran and have been looking for a way to get exercise and improve my health. I had to give up riding my motorcycle and am currently working on trying to get it sold. I've got 60 and 40% nerve damage to my arms and can't safely ride the bike anymore. Riding a regular motorcycle would create the same problems so that started my search for a trike. So now I have a direction to go and thanks for the video on the trike.
I believe you can get financial help for a trike as a disabled vet. There is a guy in Murfreesboro TN who might know. Recumbent Bike of Middle TN
That ParkTool bike repair stand on the trail is absolutely brilliant.
Never seen anyone use it. In decades. Anyone who can turn a wrench on a bicycle brings their own tools. They are needed for emergencies usually, you can't ride 20 miles to find one of these if you need tools now. They blow at least $1000 of tax payer money on each one of these. And they look way less pretty than this one, which looks to be at most 1 season old.
Yeah sure, trumper.@@firstlast9292
Super fun video. Nice to see someone enjoy the trike for the first time. Terratrike are good people.
They are! And Thanks!
I have had a Rans recumbent since 1984. Its been several different colors, sported an off-road package for many years... am taking it back to mostly stock now. I have a trike but do not like it. That will change soon as my balance is nearly gone. With a bad heart and 73 years young ... I must keep riding. Best exercise ever. Thanks for the video.
Greenville native here!😎🤙 lived around Lincoln lake my whole life.
Right on
Speed simply increases your range. First day I owned my recumbent I did 30 miles, 15 of it in driving rain after midnight. I soon got Kevlar gators and 1 1/8" 125 psi tires. Level max 32 mph, max downhill 39.9 mph and a prayer. Passed the 40 somethings on racers. Now at 66 I have a 750w 29mph 27.5" x 4" ebike and trailer for beer. Scary.
My wife and i have enjoyed our Terra Trikes for over 10 years and it was fun to go in the store and see the makers. Thanks for the scenery fun ride.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love the comment in regards to using the instruction manual "I never use 'em. Until later"..... haha....same!!!
Right?! 😂😂😂
And the sensitive Flora and fauna! You Crack me up!! The trike looks interesting. My next camper build is going to be a "Foamie" pull behind mini teardrop camper for camping with a bike! Those would be a perfect trip item with the pull behind!
Your wife mentioned surgery. Bless her. An additional note to women, a sitting position, recumbent, while cycling is better for women because of the heart. This information was relayed to me by my acupuncturist, who also has a MD in orthopedics. Nice wave in the beard.
Oh, this breaks my heart!! I'm a disabled veteran and have spent a great deal of time on a 2 wheel touring bike. Even a week long Kansas tour of 500 miles. 3 years ago I spent 10 days in the hospital with total kidney failure!! I've had to give up cycling due to balance problems. A trike would be awesome, but on disability the price is just not feasible. Good luck and enjoy.
The VA could pay for your trike. Start with your PCM and talk to them about adaptive equipment for exercise
The VA will give you a bike. Check it out!!
I see you are using the heel straps - which I might assume are TerraTrike brand. Thanks for including them in your video. I've got some on order, with hopes of getting my arch over the pedal axle in regular shoes. I also noticed your position on the trike has your knees coming higher than I'd expect - if it's comfy, it's FINE. Having a motor assist but not dependent upon it - interesting. I'm still organic-powered (coming up to 73 year old).
Heel strap pedals hugely preferred here over "clipless pedals."
Senior arthritic here that needs to have moveable feet to lessen arthritic pain!!!
pretty amazing that you refrained from insults in the sensitive area
😂🤣
@jonglaser4468 my thoughts exactly, no innuendos either! So professional, Chuck!
I like the design. Two wheels in the front is the safest way.
I hired out on the railroad 25 years ago in Saginaw, and the old heads use to say how much they loved the trip from Saginaw to Grand Rapids. Such beautiful scenery. This video really makes me miss the Mitten. Awesome job as always.
Very interesting trike. Never really thought about them. Your “woo woo” got me laughing out loud.
I noticed you showed the Greenspeed Magnum at the Terra Trike shop.
Years ago, I met the originator of the Greenspeed Trikes - Ian Sims - when he introduced the Magnum at a recumbent rally in Los Angeles. That's a great trike!
Got a trike recently, love it, the ICE SPrint X Tour. Having been in a wheelchair for a while, when I could stand again, got an ebike but got rid of it when able to climb hills without assistance though, replacing it with a normal bicycle. The trike though enjoy alot more due to comfort plus it feels alot safer than a bicycle due to not having to worry about balance when signaling etc, traffic also gives you alot more space.
On the trike I am about 25% slower than the bicycle according to strava, but don't care as don't notice while riding and in no hurry as ride for leasure.
Brave of you going on the road without high viz clothing or a flag
Thanks Restless Viking i love your title and the personalize style of production. I hope more people in America realize the real ameru ways for life. The Vikings uphold the code and it's good to see someone enjoying life. We Indigenous People miss our links to our Viking Brother and Sisters. Together we will remake America for all. Thanks Restless Viking you and you wife made my day.
After way to many surgeries, I decided 18 years ago, on riding trikes. After trying out most brands of them, it came down to the Catrike, or the ICE. Being a grumpy Marine, the Catrike being made from scratch in the US, was the one I went with. Terra Trikes have always been good value for the money. While the ICE, HP Velotechnic, and Catrike are better engineered. They are a lot more expensive.
One other great thing ( really many more reasons to go with a Trike). I rode a Trek 1000 for years and still have it. My father, his buddy and I rode miles and than one day dad says, have you every checked between your legs after a ride, I said No! He said take a mirror and look. So I did and couldn't believe the bruising and how large of an area it was. Besides that my wrist would numb on me, shoulder and neck pain than lower back problems and have 2 pins and 6 screws. So I ordered the Catrike Dumont and hoped it would be what I needed than while waiting for it to arrive I got MAC Disease which tore me up and got into my blood which really screwed me up. But now I enjoy the Dumont but you might want to change out the rear tire for one that is a little more aggressive, my was just street tire and once you get off into the grass or anything wet you may not have any traction.
Good riding.
Try a Hase ketteweisel evo it is the bees knees. Much faster and better handling than the fine machine you are riding
Great video and scenery. I started riding a trike this past January after riding an upright for 18 years. Health issues made me switch. Glad I did! It's a whole new world on a trike! Love it! Good luck to ya!
I think trikes are a chance to keep many people pedaling for sure. Glad you're still pushing the pedals!
So you're in your lawn chair going down the trail😊 I spend a lot of time laying on the couch at home and when I'm not on the couch I'm riding down the trail on my bike so you could say that my biking keeps me from laying down
Awesome! I have been looking at a Terra trike for a while now. I will have to get one eventually.
I just re-watched your video. It was part of the reason I did purchase a Terra Trike EVO and have ridden it almost 1400 miles so far this year. I couldn't afford all the accessories that you rode with, but I am slowly adding what I can. I have ridden many of the wonderful Fred Meijer trails in the past and hope to revisit them on the trike next year. Thanks for sharing your experience on the trike and the local history.🙂
Richard! I just watched a couple of your videos. 1,400 miles!! That's a lot of miles for sure. I like the trike a lot for long rides on Michigan's rail-trails. Thanks for posting a note, I just subscribed.
@@RestlessViking Thank you 😊
I just finished 8 825km on my Ice Adventure 2...Rholoff hub at the back...Slumph Drive in front with a Burley Nomad Trailer...200km a day...piece of pie !!!!
I’m a native Michigander living in California’s Central Valley but planning to move “home” in a few years. I’ve recently taken up riding a tadpole trike and was worried I wouldn’t find many trails back in Michigan, but I’m happy to see there are indeed trials that will accommodate trikes.
A few thousand miles of trails, in fact.
Really cool. I seen one of these on a bike path between Concord and Jackson, and the gentleman who was riding it passed me 3 times before I got the circle done.
Almost bought one of these last month. Still saving my pennies. BTW you were about 60’ from my front door in Belding. We would have let you use the bathroom.
Nice video! Last month I bought a recumbent trike of the same company (Greenspeed GT20). I wished I did buy it 10 years ago actually, it's so much fun really. Do you have a recumbent trike still?
I do. A couple of longer trips planned this year.
I ride a Terra trike All terrain with a Bosch motor, I love it.
Welcome to the world of recumbent trikes! I would have stopped riding years ago if not for these fine machines. If you ever get the bug for traveling - bring them over to southeastern Pennsylvania. We have an exceptionally long and scenic route from Whitehaven to Easton to Bristol (canal tow paths along the Lehigh and Delaware rivers) and another great ride from center city Philly to Perkiomenville (following the Schuylkill river and Perkiomen creek along more tow paths and rail-to-trail paths). And there is always the nearby ocean route hugging the New Jersey beachfront from Sandy Hook to Cape May.
And yes sir - cars do tend to give wider safe zones to a trike - especially when lit up and equipped with a tall flag.
Cheers
Just ordered a Magnum XL with the Bosch system... Can't wait to hit the road with it. Two lumbar spine surgeries have kept me from biking.
Great News! I hope you ride all over!
Came across your channel and was so excited to see you are in Lowell. My wife grew up in Greenville. We lived out on Lincoln Lake Rd as a young family and worked for Montcalm County EMS. My brother lived in Lowell and the out on McPherson. We are now in the north end of metro Cincinnati and LOVE watching your channel. Thank you for making these videos!
What a wonderful trail system.
If u don't mind me saying so, I THINK you need to extend the boom out a bit more, for greater ease for your legs , as your knees seem to shortened which makes riding unnecessarily more difficult , using energy you did not need to use had the boom been properly fitted to the length of your legs .
How can we ride it on heavy traffic.?
Because most of the videos I seen are very peaceful indeed
I wouldn't do that at all for safety reasons ❤
This is pretty neat! Thanks for the ride! I use to live in Merrill, not to far from Alma.
Wow! What a intro! Cookies to start! Great video! So interesting! Love the comment about instructions! Never met a instruction manual design person.
Heal straps are a must way more secure. Nice ride enjoy your new traveler.
I'm stoked! Thank you for the inspiration.
You're in my neck of the woods. I've never ridden this trail. It's about the only one I've missed in West Michigan. I need to get over there and ride it.
I got my first recumbent back in the 80's, a Ryan Vanguard, and then switched to trikes when they became available. About the only downside of a trike or recumbent is that you can't stand up and throw your weight into the pedals on uphill slogs. The flip side of that coin is that it's totally unnecessary to climb big hills on any bike to get good exercise benefits from riding one. The real trade off is that you can comfortably ride longer distances on a trike or recumbent than on a conventional bike. And most important for older riders; it's almost impossible to fall off a trike!
I'm currently in Escanaba, MI enjoying being a Yooper! I have an e-bike, and unfortunately, there aren't many trails. I live in Virginia, and the Washington and Old Dominion Trail is 45 miles long. It is asphalt with a divider line. I only ride during the week as it has heavy traffic on the weekends. Also, we have the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal bike trail that is 184.5 miles along the C&O Canal. And then the Great Allegheny Passage trail. Come to Virginia and enjoy the view and the ride!
That was nice, relaxing ride. Thanks!
I ride a two wheel SWB from time to time. It's a learning curve, but it's worth it. Nothing will replace my scrap-build uprights though.
Da Viking needs a whistle for his trike!
He "Wooo's" just fine! 🤣
I recently found your videos! I really am enjoying them! The information is very good and different from other videos and is really educationally informative and much more appreciative. Thanks VERY MUCH Poppins & Chuck!
Rails to trails, we have the Katy Trail here in Missouri, I love it.
My incumbent trike has a reversed layout: driven wheel on front, a pair of wheels in the back. Advantage: the drivetrain is basically a standard item, and spares are easily available. Big disadvantage: as your weight sits mainly on the back wheels, you don't get much of your power on the road without slipping. Steep hills are thus a problem. Alas - it is already 25 years old, when people were still experimenting with the layout.
Well done. An ambassador to trikes and touring!
I have a Catrike Dumont and love it, have added lots of extras, you need to try out the Kampway Pedals you will be surprised at how nice they are. I hated the clip ins. You can use any shoe with these Kampway Pedals.
Muito bom esse passeio. Ótima máquina.
Muito obrigado!
Miss these trails. I did Kal-Haven in undergrad, was really rewarding.
Totally awesome, Chuck! Ive always wanted to try tryking but Id have to trade in half of my personal inventory to buy one. 😅
They are very pricey!
Great video! I lived in that area 35 years ago. Looks like a great trail system. The wife and I ride our terratrikes all over up here in northern Michigan. She rides a tour 2 and I ride a zoomer sl or all terrain on the 2 tracks. They're awesome machines. FYI- I think I bought a radiator and other miscellaneous parts for a 1974 F250 from your building
Back when it was Lou II's Auto Salvage? Probably. No parts these days. Just projects and shuffling around working on things. Thanks for stopping by to watch!
Yes, Lou 2. I used to live on woodbeck lake and work at the log cabin store. Haven't been down there in 35 years. Great area.
Got a Greenspeed Magnum XL myself, and it gave me back my love of being outdoors with the wind in my face. I really enjoyed this video. I look forward to more recumbent trike adventures!
Right on. More to come! Thanks for stopping by!
I have a Magnum big wheel, bought new 2 years ago and had 3000 trouble free km so far. The big wheel gives me the overall gearing for speed when I feel the need.
What a fantastic place to ride. Also, can't believe tools and a pump station..
They went all out on the trail magic for sure!
The trike with the 1 wheel in the bike can let you also use a cart you can tow upping your capacity to over 400 pounds
"The beauty of a trike" is you'll never miss a pot hole.
Awesome ride with beautiful scenery.
Ian Sims designed the Magnum to meet the needs of the
Ameriican market. I got one of the first, and i won't part with it, 11 years later. At the age of 82 i am considering a motor addition to help with the hills. Sadly, Ian passed away, resulting in the acquisition of Greenspeed by Terratrike. May they keep the Greenspeed tradition alive!
I ride that trail from Belding to Greenville to work during the summer. Great video! Love the trail!
Cool!
I'm a Michigan boy. But live in Arkansas now. Love Michigan best state in America. I still have my cabin over by luddington. New subscriber 👍🏻💛🙏🏻
Hi Chuck, great video with some real nice rail trails scenery in MI. The three wheeler seems like a perfect vehicle for those gravel trails, and especially paved. Did you mention that it had a battery as well? I didn't know they were adding the pedal assist features on these toads. I'm over the pond in WI and am looking to transition from 10 speed type bikes which are more meant for fast, into longer distance. Would this be a good vehicle for longer distance for an older rider? Thanks!
It is a great machine for long distances especially as we get older. This model does come with electric assist. You can turn it on and adjust the level of assistance or leave it off. It does not have a throttle (it is a class 1 electric bike). The key to your endurance is there aren't pressure points or fatigue points - only your input into the pedals. I can go much farther and Poppins can ride despite many surgeries. It is slightly slower than a two wheeler, but it still moves very well.
Yes! ❤️ I had a stroke three years ago and I got a Terra trike All terrain last year and I love it. I put road tires on it for smooth ride but it goes anywhere except sand.
i live in jersey... best i can do for a bike MUP is three miles. i gotta go to france down the canal paths for just a 40 mile path !
Chuck, What model TerraTrike did you ride in this video? Thanks.
Hey Doug! It was the EVO. Very nice ride.
How outstanding....how did Poppins become Poppins?? Missed her on the cruise!
She is literally a real life Mary Poppins when it comes to kids. So, it became her radio call sign back in our "expedition days".
@@RestlessViking awesome!
Looks fun.
Totally awesome. 😊
I think you need to work on your train whistle mister. or buy one of those wooden ones and your local tourist trap locations!!! Then you would sound like a Viking !!!!
Thanks for the commute and scenery. Pretty Cool. Thank you for sharing.
Looks like a great Trike to put a 5K hub motor on the back, I have PAD in the right leg so an e-bike is the only way for me to go now. Full suspension would be a nice add-on also for a better ride.
That looks like a lot of fun, can't say i ever rode a trike before
It was my first time too!
@@RestlessViking It's like pedaling a lawn chair aint it!
@@Nudnik99 Kind of like that.
Great trail!
Cool video! As you continue to explore this trike, please provide your experiences with hills. Limits, steering control, peddle difficulties, electric assist function, etc. Thanks!
I tried converting a Schwinn trike to an eBike but abandoned the project when I realized how awkward trikes feel on the side of the road.
On a 2 wheeler, we don't really feel how the road is pitched so that rain runs off the sides because our inner gyroscopes keep us vertical, despite the slight slope of the road.
But on a trike, you are forced into that leaning position and it feels like that bike wants to flip over to the right.
This effect is probably less dramatic in a recumbent but I don't intend to find out, even though I liked my recumbent 2 wheeler.
I got a TerraTrike about a year ago and have resumed cycling. I couldn’t ride an upright because of orthopedic problems. I love love love this bike. Because I got the electric assist I don’t have to worry about where I go. I can get help from the electric assist. I have a Chrysler Pacifica and I can fit the trike in the back with the last seat row down and one of the second row seats folded down. I’ve started doing bike touring and can’t wait to try the next one. Which trail were you riding? I’m also a Michigan resident.
Nice trike and video. Greenville has the best paths I've seen. Flat River, Baldwin Lake, and the cemetery's white pines.
Recumbent trikes do seem to be given a generous birth by overtaking motorists (in my experience).
Hi, I think your seat is upright quite a lot. I would recommend reclining it a bit more so you don't slide off so often.
Nice video, for sure, and I like the rails to trails system. That's great!
Honza
Hopefully you’ll add a safety flag. For the uninitiated, recumbents are so low that cars can’t frequently can’t see them.
It seems lights work better than flags too. But I just got my special order for a flag.
Great video; but how many people have a nicely groomed bike trail between home & work?
I’ve been to Greenville many times. How long did it take you to go 30 miles?
This trip took over 3 hours. Had to set up the drone, camera shots, stopped a lot, etc. The direct ride took about about 2 hours and 10 minutes.
do you still use the trike after a year ?
Yep. Just rode it last weekend
I would love to see you pull a steep hill on that thing. I live in a hilly area and as they say, it feels like "it's uphill both ways" when I go to the grocery store. Fortunately it's uphill only one way, but that's coming back home with a huge load of groceries. Not pleasant.
You should of stopped at Dickerson creek and seen the double rr trestle
Curious Chuck… how do you haul the bikes to places you want to ride? Do they collapse? Curious minds want to know!
One in the truck bed, one on the roof rack or a small trailer for both.
Great bike adventure video! What mole was this again?
Model
It is the EVO. Poppins has the Rambler.
Thanks for taking us along on the ride. 😎
If I hav t missed it - did you utilise the electric booster- wondering if it is necessary- as an experienced tourer needing to get to a particular destination to rest for the night that extra pedal punch would help late afternoon ??? Interested in peeps thoughts.
I used about 20% of the battery in 30 miles - the route gains elevation for the 30 miles. It was mostly on the low setting for inclines about 20% of the time. It will definitely help get to the next destination on long tours..
what was the change in elevation over the 30miles ?? i can ride endlessly on the flat. i like the Netherlands..........
It only rose about 200 ft. It was mostly a rail trail - so flat.
"Jackson's Landing... the first toilet..." Woah! Really? "... I've seen on the trail." D'oh! I thought it was a Michigan history learning moment! 😂
🤣😂
You do not want a recumbent trike anywhere when there are hills. Even when it is a asphalt or concrete road. That said: An electric drivetrain on a velomobile can work well. Though in that case I'd opt for a quatrovelo...
WHY IS THE TITLE “DONT BUY. TRIKE”????