July 12, 20232 yr I am on my 3rd e-bike and unfortunately, my 3rd fall. I am nearly 80.....and it hurts. So decided it's not worth the pain so I an looking at an E-Trike or similar. I don't know the 1st. thing about them so any advice/recommendations welcome.
July 12, 20232 yr Hard luck. Trikes are notoriously easy to turn over on corners if you aren't used to them. I believe those with two front wheels are a lot better in that regard than those with two rear wheels. I've never ridden either so second hand information.
July 12, 20232 yr If I ever make it to 80 years old, I'd certainly convert a recumbent trike (lower center of gravity) to electric, the type with two front wheels, for stability.
July 12, 20232 yr I am on my 3rd e-bike and unfortunately, my 3rd fall. I am nearly 80.....and it hurts. So decided it's not worth the pain so I an looking at an E-Trike or similar. I don't know the 1st. thing about them so any advice/recommendations welcome. Many of them fall over more easily than bicycles, and you get worse injuries, so be careful. You'll probably be OK with a recumbent one with 20" wheels and two wheels at the front. They're the most stable and unlikely to topple if you keep the speed down. That type is very expensive though, especially electric ones.
July 12, 20232 yr Depends on your budget as the well regarded manufacturers are expensive. You could have a look at and maybe chat with ICE about their Adventure HD, with raised seat and wider track. They come up second hand occasionally, and a middrive conversion on a non-electric one would be a much cheaper alternative to off the shelf. Otherwise look at cargo etrikes, normal bike back end and a two wheeled front, or the Jorvik which could have a front hub motor added. But all suffer from limited width and so limited resistance to toppling over. Flat roads and low speeds are fine, but a bit of off camber on a curve is a problem.
July 12, 20232 yr For stability a Recumbent Trike aka Tadpole, issue may be getting on/off - up/ down from a low riding position.
July 12, 20232 yr If you go for a two wheel at the front trike, despite what people have said here, they are very stable, unless you take corners at stupid speeds. At modest speeds, even one wheel at the front trikes are not that bad. As Nealh says, if mobility is limited, getting down into and out of a low recumbent can be an issue. Worth talking to people like this, as in the Netherlands, people cycle right into very old age and there are manufacturers that specialise in bikes for those with limited stability etc. Worst case, you could also go for an electric quadracycle! https://www.vanraam.com/en-gb
July 12, 20232 yr For stability a Recumbent Trike aka Tadpole, issue may be getting on/off - up/ down from a low riding position. Hydraulic chairlift mod? Electric winch chair, suspended from a roll cage bar? That motor I scavenged from the dead and discarded escooter I found last year, may yet become useful as I become ever older... I like the lower center of gravity of this, but look at the price of the Easy Rider [mention=26000]WheezyRider[/mention]: https://www.vanraam.com/en-gb/our-bikes/tricycle/tricycle-for-adults/easy-rider Their two front wheeled model, is also expensive. https://www.vanraam.com/en-gb/our-bikes/tricycle/tricycle-for-adults/viktor
July 12, 20232 yr Their two front wheeled model, is also expensive. https://www.vanraam.com/en-gb/our-bikes/tricycle/tricycle-for-adults/viktor I don't like the look of that Viktor one. The CofG is very high. The batteries are unnecessarily high too. It's going to topple if you hit a bump with a front wheel.
July 12, 20232 yr That universal joint steering looks very useful - is the Easy Rider the only production bicycle to have it? Van Raam list a lot of UK dealers. Anyway, some design inspiration perhaps... https://www.recumbent.news/2023/06/01/breaking-news-hp-velotechnik-introduced-new-delta-trike Edited July 12, 20232 yr by AntonyC
July 13, 20232 yr These things are not going to be cheap as they are not mass produced in China. Even the fairly standard ICE recumbents made in larger numbers cannot be called cheap. The thing is you have to compare it to the alternatives. Public transport? OK if you are in a big city perhaps, but in the UK generally, it does not run where and when you want it to. Getting a car? Even a fairly basic car these days is heading towards £20k and the cheapest available is £13k. Then you have tax insurance, fuel etc to deal with and congestion charge/pollution zones cropping up all over the place. Plus you get no exercise. Also, if you are getting health issues with age, or your eye sight is going, you might not be able to keep driving.
July 17, 20232 yr Author Thank you all but I'm not ready for a Recumbent Trike just yet. Still mobile , just will be a bit nervous getting up on a 2 wheeler again........Looking at an Alpine Explorer Trike ....it was the pothole that did for me..this thing should take them in its stride........I've seen a goo second hand one......
July 17, 20232 yr Thank you all but I'm not ready for a Recumbent Trike just yet. Still mobile , just will be a bit nervous getting up on a 2 wheeler again........Looking at an Alpine Explorer Trike ....it was the pothole that did for me..this thing should take them in its stride........I've seen a goo second hand one...... Much better carrying capacity too. Not sure the need for knobbles on the tyres though.
July 17, 20232 yr Thank you all but I'm not ready for a Recumbent Trike just yet. Still mobile , just will be a bit nervous getting up on a 2 wheeler again........Looking at an Alpine Explorer Trike ....it was the pothole that did for me..this thing should take them in its stride........I've seen a goo second hand one...... Make sure you do a test ride before you buy to make sure it suits and feels stable enough. The front motor looks a little more than 250W? Do you know the spec?
July 17, 20232 yr Author It says "250w brushless front hub motor (Bafang). High Torque". This is from the Manufacturer, I'm buying second hand, but it's the same TRIKE......I won't be able to test ride it.....It's in Sheffield......I'm In Penzance......
July 17, 20232 yr It's highly unlikely I'd be in any state to cycle honestly when/if 80 years old. I don't do that now lol. I'd convert something suitable rather than buy off the shelf, making absolutely certain I'd never need to put in any effort whatsoever! About 30A and 48V through a cadence sensored Bafang mid drive would be my choice. Of course I'd try to keep it legal with a 250W kit, even if I had to replace the controller with a 30A one. Failing that, a Bafang HD, laws be damned. That bike weighs 35kg, has a 36V front hub motor - I don't think it'd be good for riding up hills, unless you're this guy: Sandy lane: https://www.strava.com/segments/2455479?hl=en-GB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SqhglS_SPw:130 Edited July 17, 20232 yr by guerney
July 17, 20232 yr Author Very interesting video, talks sense. It is a bit hilly here but `I never had problems with the other Ebikes I had, but I was a bit worried about this one.....If it doesn't work out ......then it's back to the drawing board .....maybe something with normal tyres.......
July 17, 20232 yr Very interesting video, talks sense. It is a bit hilly here but `I never had problems with the other Ebikes I had, but I was a bit worried about this one.....If it doesn't work out ......then it's back to the drawing board .....maybe something with normal tyres....... Sounds like I0kg+ might not make much of a difference to you, which is brilliant, well done for keeping fit. Hope it works out.
July 17, 20232 yr It says "250w brushless front hub motor (Bafang). High Torque". This is from the Manufacturer, I'm buying second hand, but it's the same TRIKE......I won't be able to test ride it.....It's in Sheffield......I'm In Penzance...... If it says 250W it should be ok, the motor just looks big. I would not like to splash out a lot of money on a bike without getting the chance to ride it, but it seems like you don't have much choice.
July 17, 20232 yr I think this could be the spec: https://www.alpineelectricbikes.co.uk/products/alpine-electric-bikes-electric-explorer-trike-e-tricycle
July 18, 20232 yr It says "250w brushless front hub motor (Bafang). High Torque". This is from the Manufacturer, I'm buying second hand, but it's the same TRIKE......I won't be able to test ride it.....It's in Sheffield......I'm In Penzance...... Still 130 miles away in Seaton (Devon) but a lot closer than Sheffield. This particular one, is "as new" having only had two brief outings. There are a couple of phone numbers listed, so it might be possible to arrange a meeting of some sort if you drive? Even if you don't buy, you'd get the chance to try it out if you travelled to the seller.
July 18, 20232 yr Author I bought this on eBay "In immaculate condition", no battery or charger for £800, Transport £300. I have battery. Delivery Thursday......
July 18, 20232 yr Author You will see I hit something then went down, I had a rucksack on my back with heavy frozen food, so overbalanced..........You'll see my "airbag".........The man from the car who came to help had a Lanyard round his neck with Name and who he worked for..."Help the Aged"......he did that day....
July 18, 20232 yr Ok, let us know how you get on with it I try to avoid heavy rucksacks these days. Panniers I quite cheap and very useful, and if it's a weekly shop I tow a trailer.
July 18, 20232 yr You will see I hit something then went down, I had a rucksack on my back with heavy frozen food, so overbalanced..........You'll see my "airbag".........The man from the car who came to help had a Lanyard round his neck with Name and who he worked for..."Help the Aged"......he did that day.... Councils shouldn't just be tough on potholes, they should be tough on the causes of potholes. Looks like they've attempted repair by dolloping in a little hot tarmac, leaving the underlying condition untreated. You wouldn't catch me outside without an impact resistant spacesuit and oxygen, if I ever make it to being 80. Not just because air will have been privatised by then, but because falling over is often extremely hazardous for persons your age. My 78 year old neighbour didn't use a spacesuit - he broke his hip and fractured his shoulder after slipping on ice outside Tesco. Previously lived an independent life, but went a bit funny complaining about dark conspiracies orchestrated by Yakuza ninja gangs out to get him (or something like that, I couldn't make any sense of it), and calling the police repeatedly, after being under the influence of prescription opioid painkillers for months... that fall culminated in him going nutty and being trapped in a care home. Edited July 18, 20232 yr by guerney
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