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Recumbent Tricycles




Recumbent tricycles are not your ordinary
grandmother's ride.  Some of them are very radical.  There are
Two general types of Trikes; Frog configuration (Two wheels in
the rear, one in front) and the TadPole configuration (Two wheels
in front, one in back)  In the Frog, the rider generally sits
between the two rear wheels and steers the front wheel either
through the use of direct Over the Seat Steering (OSS) or by in-
direct steering using a linkage of some sort to the front forks.
The Frog trike is generally a LWB.
The TadPole is set up as a (generally) SWB with the rear wheel
acting as drive wheel (normally) and the two front wheels used 
to steer the trike.  This configuration is not only stable at
speed, but could be the most comfortable of the recumbent
vehicles, as the rider does not have to unclip from the pedals
at a stop and the bike is able to start off in the middle of a
hill.  
There is also a TadPole trike which is driven from the front 
wheels and steered from the rear.  This trike is very nimble
and can turn in it's own length.  I have a few pictures of 
trikes.  I have started to build my own and will have some 
drawings and pictures as the building proceeds.

WARNING!! CONSTRUCTION AHEAD!!!!







 

As I promised, I have obtained all the parts (I think) to build
my trike.  I have started by drawing what I want
to build out in a drawing program.  This helps me to visualize 
it even better than if I drew it longhand.  This is the first of
my visualization exercises.  It will be Front Wheel Drive, rear
steer.  In this drawing the only details are the FWD, and the
boom and Bottom Bracket.  The wheels will be 20" 36 spoke, and I
probably will run Tioga City Slickers. 







The following are images of commercially available trikes.
Most are versions of the Tadpole Configuration.



This is a Tricycle made by Trice. 




This is a Tricycle from Russia.  It is called the S327.  
It is built like a tank, and has a differential which allows the
bike to have both front wheels driven and steerable.  This trike
is available through both direct sale and from dealers in the
U.S.  Kinda wild looking......


This trike is called the Sidewinder.  It is a front wheel drive,
rear wheel steer Trike.  More info can be found at

 SideWinder Cycles Web Page. 


 





The following image is of the Chaise by Comfort Cycle.  It is a
Frog style LWB Trike.  It is also the only cycle approved by the
Veterans Administration for Rehabilitation, and transportation
for disabled veterans.

You can find more about it from the following Link. 
Comfort Cycles 




 Click
on this link to get to Timothy Smiths home page.
Tim is from Queensland, Australia and his trike designs, 
steering designs, and other ideas are very very well presented 
here.  It is a Don't Miss opportunity to get some very clearly 
thought out, and well designed ideas on trikes. 




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Last edited 25 June 1998

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