A Pedelecs reader has contacted us requesting advice on where to start with finding an electric trike.
He wrote ‘I am now 84 and used to be a keen cyclist. After hip and knee operations, I purchased an electric assisted bicycle which I have used very little – my maximum in one day was 25 miles – because I no longer feel safe and have balance problems, hence my interest in electric trikes. Where do I start?’
Trike specialists, www.tricyclesales.co.uk help with an introduction to what some of his options are:
When choosing a trike there are some key points that you will need to consider, typically a 20” wheeled trike will be suitable for a person up to 5’6 and a 24” wheeled trike will be suitable for people 5’6 and above. It is important to note that trikes drive from one wheel, this allows them to turn, so you will feel a slight camber when first riding one, however a simple adjustment of your riding style will accommodate this.
In terms of electric trikes, there are various options at your disposal, there are trikes such as the Batribike Trike or Mission E-trilogy that employ a pedal sensor behind the crank arm so the power is applied by rotating the pedals and the sensor picks up the movement and applies power accordingly; these 2 models also have throttles so the power can be applied on demand without the need for pedalling. The Batribike trike also employs a tilt function for easy cornering.
It’s also possible for normal trikes to be adapted with conversion kits to make them electric, by simply installing it with motorized components and batteries should the need arise, sometimes we find that our customers like the style of individual trikes so this is a very good option for them in this instance.
In terms of tricycles, there are many different trikes out there that can be used not just for people with balance issues but for a number of purposes, whether that be recreational use or business use.
For instance the spectrum of people riding trikes in our experience is vast. These can be a business that needs to transport heavy loads utilising something such as Mission Industrial Trike or alternatively heavy load-carrying trikes for things like warehouse duties or stock movement. We have a Baroness as one of our customers has one of these trikes for use around their grounds, so in all respects they are useful for a variety of reasons.
You are also correct that many people feel safer with the stability of a trike, whether that is for balance, mobility issues or just a preference for a tricycle over a bike. For instance the Mission Solo Tricycle has been specially designed with a low step-over of only 6 inches from the ground, making it easy to mount and dismount. This has proven to be very popular with our elderly or physically-challenged customers, giving them greater independence and improving both their health and fitness. So many people have had operations for mobility and find these trikes advantageous.
There are also folding trikes that are excellent for space saving, such as the Viking Adult trike or Mission Space Genie that has a pivot in the frame, thereby halving the size of the trike when stored. Another option is the Di Blasi folding trike that is quite unique in the way that it folds down to approximately ‘suitcase size’, great for transporting in cars, motor homes or caravans for those trips out.
Another type that is fairly new to the market is the Mission RV transporter; these have a specially designed frame with a twin child seat with safety harnesses, these are Ideal for transporting 2 small children for leisure or school runs.
There are of course more unique models such as the Mission Tribrid that has 700c wheels or the semi recumbent trike for those looking for a faster riding experience.
There really is a wide cross section of trikes that are available in the market today as you can see, the key points are to identify the size of the trike that is going to fit best, what you are specifically attempting to gain from the use of the tricycle and then deciding which would be most suitable, we are always happy to give advice on this.
