INNAUGURAL DRAT RIDE

David (Goldman) not only rides a trike but he heads up a group ride he is calling DRAT. Can you guess what DRAT stands for? That should be easy to answer if you are familiar with David’s videos.David Rides A Trike” and he lives over near Chicago, Illinois where he has various trails to ride on. Here is a video about this group ride which took place earlier this month. It was successful for the very first time he had it. Some 70 riders showed up. David has become fairly well known thru his videos.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

IT WAS A GOOD THING ONE OF US WAS PAYING ATTENTION

was going to title this “Stupid is as stupid does” but I have already used that title a couple of times before and I was talking about the same thing then. Nothing has changed. The trails are full of really stupid people. Today I was riding along and twice I came upon people on the trail who stepped out in front of me without even looking to see if anyone was coming. Now that was really stupid! I had to brake almost to a stop to keep from running into them. It was a good thing one of us was paying attention. They sure weren’t. And the way many cyclists ride it could have been disastrous.  This was a young couple with a young child. They didn’t have a clue I was behind them and what had just happened. And several other times today similar things happened. It is the same thing going to a grocery store. I see it all the time. People make a sudden move turning right in front of another shopper or they turn around 180 degrees right in front of another shopper. They don’t think to look to see if it is safe to do so. Stupid is as stupid does. Forest had it right!

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

RECUMBENT MAINTENANCE BASICS

Here is a video which covers several maintenance matters with our trikes.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

WITH SPEED THERE IS A CHOICE

It is summertime and the heat is on. I  remember well from my motorcycle days riding when it was quite hot outside. When it gets to a certain temperature it makes no difference how fast one rides … IT’S HOT! It is no different when riding a bicycle or a trike in my case. Even with an electric motor by which I am able to gain considerably more speed than I can via my own human power it is just plain hot. What I have noticed is this — I have a choice of riding in an oven at slow speeds or a blast furnace at higher speeds. That’s the way it was on a motorcycle too … oven or blast furnace … the only choices. Either way … either one … IT’S HOT! I do ride with a canopy in hot weather which certainly does help. And when I ride with a canopy I ride without my visor hat as I am cooler without it and don’t need it when I am seated under my canopy. But I guess I would rather feel the heat on me at 20 plus mph than at 2 or 3 mph. We have all heard it said that we lose up to 80 % of our body heat thru our heads. Science has proven that this is not true … not even anywhere close. Cooling off one’s head, however, is effective in relief from being hot. I need to incorporate some means of cooling off such as a wet towel over my head. Maybe I need to install a mister overhead or out in front of me. There is nothing I can do about hot weather so I will just have to deal with it. I am thankful for those things I have already mentioned … my canopy and e-motor do help a lot. I will manage to …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

My eZee hub motor has been going out for several weeks now. It is the clutch that is going bad. It will still run but it is noisy and slipping some. And it keeps getting noisier and slipping more. So I ordered another hub motor to replace it. I did not order another eZee motor. Instead I ordered a cheaper motor which is direct drive and twice the power of the eZee motor. I received it and installed it right away only to be disappointed. It ran very slow and had absolutely no power whatsoever. Like all e-motors it is made in China so there is a communication problem right off. I got excellent service when I bought it as I had it within a few days. However, all I got was the conversion kit. No instructions on how to install it or program it were included. I didn’t have any problem installing it but I was clueless as to how to go about programming it.  I turned to the seller for help which so far has been a waste of time. What communication I got from them was very poor English … almost laughable. Nothing they offered was helpful. I went online and found what I was in need of. I got it programmed the best I could. The Chinese seller said all the programming looked ok. But it did not seem to be  ok so I uninstalled it and had planned on sending it back since the top speed I got out of it was 3.2 mph (Not 32 … 3 point 2). This motor is suppose to deliver about 40 -45 mph with a 72 volt battery. I am running 48 volts. I have been very unimpressed with this Chinese seller as they don’t seem to know what they are doing. Anyway I gave up on in in great disappointment and reinstalled my failing eZee motor. I have been using it for several weeks now but the clutch problem is getting worse to where I made the decision to stop using it. for fear it was going to fail me completely and leave me stranded. Meanwhile I had another hub motor on order which would have to be laced into my wheel in place of the eZee motor. While waiting in limbo I decided to give this hub motor I already have another try so I reinstalled it. One thing about it … I am getting a lot of practice installing e-motors. When I first got it installed it ran about 7 mph without any load on it. I messed around in the programming of the controller and somehow got it up to 17.6 mph without any load on it. I was encouraged but when I tried riding it that 17.6 mph no load went down to 5.6 under load. I rode it that way for a couple of days. Toward the end of my ride on the second day I reached down to the control switch and pushed the up arrow. I did not know anything about it … I just pushed it. Much to my surprise my speed increased to 10.6 mph. I pushed the up arrow again and now my speed increased to 23 mph and had a good amount of power (torque). Now I am encouraged … thinking there is hope for this thing yet. If only these Chinese had the common sense and decency to include instructions that explained this none of this would have happened. That is why I titled this … “What we have here is a failure to communicate”. Yep, all of this could have been avoided if they would simply communicate. I don’t have 45 mph but even the 23 – 26 I am getting is good enough to do the job so I guess I will keep it. The total cost of this hub motor conversion kit was just under $502 without any battery and with Statoraid added to help keep the motor running cool.  It came laced into a 20 inch wheel. It will suffice for now and take any pressure or urgency off of getting the new hub motor I have on order laced into my old wheel. Besides, the controller for this new motor is out of stock at this time and I have to wait on it. I have no idea how long that will be. It is always possible that something is wrong with either this hub motor I am using now or it’s controller that is keeping it from obtaining the speed it is suppose to be capable of. Quite honestly it is probably for the best as if it could obtain those speeds I might find myself kissing a tree or wrapping myself around one. At 75.5 years old I don’t need to be doing that. The bottom line to all of this is … it is a learning experience. I have the part needed to repair my  eZee hub motor but the motor  needs to be removed from the wheel in order to open it up and replace the clutch unit. It is a good thing I already have the part as it is currently out of stock as is a new eZee motor. So when the new hub motor arrives I will have the eZee hub motor uninstalled in the wheel and the new hub motor laced into the wheel. Then I will have plenty of time to repair the eZee motor. I only have one trike and I will have 3 hub motors available. I think I will be buying another trike for my wife after she retires so I will already have and e-motor conversion kit to install on it. She will need it if she wants to keep up with me. LOL

For any who are interested … THIS is  what I just bought and installed. It is $469. I am quite pleased with it for the price. It does not come with a battery so the expense of a battery must be added into the total cost. It is a 72 volt motor so they are more expensive than the 48 volt I use. Of course, it will run on lower voltages. It comes with a twist throttle which I don’t care for so if you want a thumb throttle it must be ordered separately at an additional expense. Be sure to order one with a long cable.

Lastly, I made the decision to cancel the new hub motor I had on order and just use this one. I will repair  my eZee motor and have it available if I want to use it. It has to be unlaced from the wheel in order to take it apart to repair it. I don’t like that as it is expensive to have it relaced into the wheel. It seems to me that they could have made it so that it could be disassembled while laced into the wheel. Oh well,  I am still able to …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

NICE LIGHT SETUP

I came across this video of a fellow trike rider illustrating the lighting he has on his trike. I really like it. It’s got everything needed … bright headlights, bright taillight, brake lights, side light and turn signals front and back.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

HELPING A FELLOW TRIKER IN TIME OF NEED

I am doing something I have never done before … asking others to consider helping out a fellow triker’s family in a time of need. The end of life comes to all of us sooner or later and sometimes it can be difficult and expensive. Many of us only have Medicare to help us in our old age and often times Medicare does not meet the needs we encounter. I know dealing with my own parents as they aged I watched as the government took all of their savings they had worked a lifetime for only to leave them paupers. In order to get help from the government my dad had to literally get rid of almost all their money when my mom’s health failed her and her care got very expensive … more than their savings could handle. Then when his end of life scenario came about the same thing happened. He was allowed about $68 a month for himself. Everything else went to the nursing home. Go Fund Me did not exist back then so it was not an option. Since its inception it has helped a whole lot of people meet a need. Our fellow triker brother has set up a Go Fund Me account for his dad to help with medical expenses as well the expense of his dad going into hospice care. Please consider what you can do to help. Here is a link to the Go Fund Me page … https://gofund.me/04c09898

Thank you for caring and doing what you can to help. STEVE

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

 

KEEPING COOL

In case you haven’t noticed it a whole lot of the nation (U.S.) is hot and humid lately. Are you still out there riding in it? If so, what are you doing to help fight the heat? Do you purposely ride in shady areas?

Do you have your own source of shade … a canopy?

Do you wear wicking clothing?

Do you use a cooling headband or neckwear?

BTW, some of it is capable of having ice cubes inserted in them or has built in liquid which can be frozen in a freezer prior to use.

How about a hand held mister fan?

Do you ride anyplace that has a mister installed for trail users?

Do you keep hydrated while out riding?

(I hope you don’t get this desperate.)

Maybe you know a fireman who can help you out …

Hey, speaking of misters … maybe you have a trail which goes thru a park where they use a misting system to water the vegetation …

Several years ago in Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana they had misters in use like this except there were a lot of them and just riding along the trail thru the park was quite refreshing. I wrote an article on misters several years ago. We have one on one trail installed next to a restroom. I have never seen anybody use it. I have just to try it out.

Of course, you can always just pour water on top of your head and cool off. I have done that many times. It is very effective.

Anyway, if you are riding out there in heat and humidity keep cool, man (or woman or boy or girl). We all want to …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

LOOSEN UP THERE!

Notice: This article may contain commentary that reflects the author’s opinion.

would rather imagine that we have all heard the saying “in a perfect world” which is usually followed by a statement that a certain thing would exist or not exist. Well, that can be applied to our tadpole trikes. I will preface this by stating that not all trikes are created equal. Some are better designed, engineered and better built approaching perfection. I have long known about and practiced riding my trike using only a somewhat loose grip on the handlebars. In a perfect world … if the trike was properly engineered and made this approach works fine. I came across an article written about this subject. In short using a light touch or grip on the handlebars is desirable, recommended and works best. It just doesn’t take much “input” from the trike pilot to effectively steer a trike that is well designed and in proper mechanical condition. So don’t ride all tightened up … relax … loosen up. If you have never done so give it a try. Just don’t overdo it and loose control.  And don’t get so loosened up that you fall asleep.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE MOST INTERESTED IN?

I started this website back in … hmmm … seems we have a problem here, Houston. I don’t know the answer to that as there is no information on it. I can only venture a guess and I am guessing it was about 2011. I use WordPress to compose and post this website to the internet. WordPress makes available statistics  on the website which is helpful and informative. I mainly look at which articles I have posted are most viewed, the number of viewers visiting the website and from what countries the viewers are from. Never the less there have been visitors from every single country in this world … something which surprises me. Of course, the U.S.A. is always at the top of the list of countries. I titled this “what are people most interested in?” In asking that I am, of course, referring to what they are viewing on this website the most. That is no mystery as WordPress provides the answer and here it is … this is all time. (They break it down to daily, weekly, monthly quarterly, yearly and all time since the beginning.)  I don’t know if these results will surprise you any. Some of them do me while others are ones I would guess would be about where they are on the list. This listing is for the most viewed starting at the top to the least viewed at the very bottom:

“USED TRIKES 4 SALE”
“TIRE LINERS – DO THEY WORK?”
“TRIKE MANUFACTURERS”
“TRIKE PRICES”
“BICYCLE COMPUTER TIRE SIZE SETTINGS”
“FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TADPOLE TRIKES by DAVID BRUCE”
“TADPOLE TANDEM TRIKES”
“HOMEMADE SAFETY FLAGS”
“HPV SLINGSHOT DRAGSTER”
“ELECTRIC RECUMBENT TRIKE … “”RACE WOOD””
“$45 HOMEMADE TADPOLE TRIKE”
“STEINTRIKE’S WILD WAVE FULL SUSPENSION TILTING TRIKE”
“ARCTRIKE … A NEW ELECTRIC MOTORIZED TADPOLE TRIKE”
“TRIKE ANATOMY”
“SHORT CRANKSETS/CRANKARMS”
“48V 750W 8fun Bafang Mid Drive Motor Electric Bike Conversion Kit”
“VELTOP CANOPIES”
“FROM ORIGINAL TADPOLERIDER”
“THE PRAYER OF AN ATHEIST”
“TADPOLE TRIKE CONSTRUCTION – THE SCIENCE OF TADPOLE TRIKE STEERING”
“HEY MISTER, CAN YOU HELP A FELLA’ OUT?”
“4 WHEEL DRIVE REAR SUSPENSION ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST FAT TIRE QUAD”
“PODRIDE”
“MARVELO, A NEW VELOMOBILE FROM CANADA”
“TRANSPORTING A TADPOLE TRIKE”
“PERFORMER TRIKES”
“DIY (Do It Yourself) VELOMOBILE”
“DUMONT – CATRIKE’S NEW FULL SUSPENSION MODEL”
“SUNSEEKER ECO TAD SX TADPOLE TRIKE”
“THE BEST BICYCLE TIRE MONEY CAN BUY”
“PANNONRIDER SOLAR VELOMOBILE”
“Top 5 Incredibly Fast Recumbent Trikes”
“OTHERS’ ARTICLES, BLOGS, FORUMS, LINKS, ETC.”
“ARE YOU DIRECT OR INDIRECT?
“TRIKE DEALERS”
“VIDEOS”
“LOW COST FOLDING FAT TIRE TADPOLE TRIKE”
“About”
“SCHLUMPF HIGH SPEED DRIVE”
“SUNRIDER VELOMOBILES”
“DRY RAIN VS. WET RAIN”
“REAR DERAILLEUR CAPACITY”
“PICAR – A RECUMBENT PEDAL CAR”
“LOW COST CANOPY”
“SPD SHOE CLEAT POSITION”
“SEAT VS. PEDAL HEIGHT”
“HOME BUILT RECUMBENT TRIKE, DETAILED PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION STEPS”
“WORK STANDS FOR TADPOLE TRIKES”
“INFO RESOURCES”
“OFF ROAD HANDCYCLE TRIKE”
“FREE GIFT”
“TRAILS”
“A LOW COST TADPOLE TRIKE … KENT 20 CAVALIER”
“CHAIN TUBES … WHO NEEDS THEM?”
“TRIKE TIP OVER”
“JSRL DESIGN VS TERRATRIKE’S NEW HEEL SLINGS”
“CATRIKE REAR WHEEL EXTENSION KIT”
“TRIDENT TRIKES STOWAWAY 1 & 2”
“LEG SUCK … IT’S NOT A PRETTY SIGHT”
“ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTORIZED “”VELOCARS””
“TWIST SHIFTERS CAN BE AN OOEY GOOEY STICKY MESS”
“X SEAM MEASUREMENT/ADJUSTING THE BOOM”
“PERFORMER JC-70 TADPOLE TRIKE REVIEW”
“CATRIKE MAINTENANCE & REPAIR TIPS”
“GOTTA DO YOUR HOMEWORK”
“TRIKETIGHT WORKSTANDS”
“PROS & CONS OF ELECTRIC MOTOR PEDAL ASSIST
“TRIDENT SPIKE … MOVE OVER ROVER”
“KMX TRIKE FRONT SUSPENSION”
“TRIDENT ODYSSEY FOLDING TRIKE”
“THE PEDAL INN, A HOMEMADE INSULATED CAMPER (NOMAD LIVING)”
“ODYSSEY TRIKES”
“TIRE SCRUBBING”
“ADAM’S MOTORIZED KMX TYPHOON TRIKE”
“IT’S ALL ABOUT GEARING”
“GINZVELO – A NEW DESIGN IN VELOMOBILES”
“COVID 19, the GREAT RESET – HERE’S THE TRUTH”
“WHO SAYS “”RECUMBENTS CAN’T CLIMB”?”
“SOLOVJOV 3X3 TRIKE – FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (AIN’T HAPPENING)”
“FORTRIKE — PRODUCT OF BRASIL/BRAZIL”
“MASA SLINGSHOT, A BIT OF NOSTALGIA}
“SOME INTERESTING INFO ABOUT VELOMOBILES”
“FAT TAD – HOW QUAINT!”
“COMFORT TRIKE … A FULL SUSPENSION TADPOLE TRIKE FROM LATVIA”
“Ti-Fly … AZUB’S NEW FULL SUSPENSION TRIKE”
“HEEL SLINGS GET MY VOTE”
“MY OTHER BLOGS”
“TRIDENT TERRAIN FAT TIRE TRIKE”
“FATCAT … SOUNDS GOOD TO ME”
“PRESTA VS.  SCHRADER VALVES”
“BELT DRIVEN … DITCH THE CHAIN”
“WHAT IS A TADPOLE TRIKE?”
“ICE FULL FAT TADPOLE TRIKE”
“RAHT RACER – WOULD YOU BELIEVE?”
“DO IT YOURSELF PLANS”
“REMOVING, PERFORMING MAINTENANCE & REINSTALLING CATRIKE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS”
“DETERMINING PROPER CHAIN LENGTH”
“CHAINRING GUARDS”
“SDV DRIVE WITH OVAL PEDAL MOTION … A MORE EFFICIENT DRIVE SYSTEM”
“HOW TO CLEAN AND LUBRICATE A REAR DERAILLEUR”
“GAADI DOUBLE ENDED INNER TUBES”
“HEEL SLINGS VS. SPD SHOES & PEDALS”
“DIY PEDAL GENERATOR FOR ELECTRIC POWERED TRIKE”
“AIMED AT YOUR HEART”
“HUB MOTOR VS CRANK DRIVE MOTOR”
“eZee NOW – 3rd TIME IS A CHARM (ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST)”
“TERRACYCLE – EXQUISITE RECUMBENT PARTS & ACCESSORIES”
“MOUNTING HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES”
“RECUMBENT TRIKE DOG ATTACK”
“ATTENTION PHILIPPINE READERS”
“TIRE CHOICES”
“DEAD RED LAW”
“HOMEMADE TRIKE AND QUAD FROM THE LAND “”DOWN UNDER””
“SUNSEEKER FAT TAD ELECTRIC TADPOLE TRIKE”
“ADAPTIVE BRAKE CONTROLS FOR DISABLED RIDERS”
“COMFORIDER DELTA TRIKES”
“ELECTRIC HUB MOTOR SYSTEM … ROUND TWO”
“FAIRINGS FOR TADPOLE TRIKES”
“CONTACT ME”
“CATRIKE’S BOOM”
“HOW DO YOU STEER THAT THING?”
“PEDALS … PEDALS … READ ALL ABOUT IT!”
“BRITT ELECTRIC PEDALS”
“SAFETY FLAGS ARE FOR YOUR SAFETY”
“OUTRIDER 422 ALPHA ELECTRIC TRIKE REVIEW”
“LED LIGHT SAFETY POLES (or whatever they are called)”
“HOMEMADE TADPOLE TRIKE FOR KIDS”
“MY NEW CANOPY”
“VELOKS MK3 E-TRIKE”
“MILD STEEL, CHROME-MOLY STEEL, OR ALUMINUM”
“PEBL ELECTRIC PEDAL ASSIST VELOTRIKE”
“MAKING A WOODEN WORK STAND”
“SCARAB TRIKES (product of Texas)”
“WHEEL ALIGNMENT, SPOKE TENSION, SPOKE BREAKAGE”
“eGO – AN INTERESTING CONCEPT IN TRIKES”
“CHINESE KNOCKOFFS”
“CHEAP ELECTRIC TADPOLE TRIKES”
“FOLDING TRIKES”
“THE END OF BIONX?”
“THE VACCINE, PURE EVIL!”
“3 WHEEL TRIKE CAR”
“CURRENT STATUS OF BIONX”
“ORGANIZED RIDES, RALLIES & EVENTS”
“NUVINCI N360 INTERNAL HUB”
“FOLDING ALUMINUM RAMPS”
“DERAILLEUR ADJUSTMENT”
“AZUB TRICON 20 VS 26 FOLDING TRIKE”
“TERRATRIKE MAVERICK … NEW ENTRY LEVEL OFFERING”
“HELMETS … MY HEAD, MY CHOICE?”
“COLD WELD=WELD FAILURE”
“HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SELF SEALING TUBELESS TIRES”
“OUTRIDER HORIZON – ALL ELECTRIC ALL TERRAIN TADPOLE TRIKE”
“MAINTAINING PROPER AIR PRESSURE IN TIRES”
“TOE IN … A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER”
“TADPOLE TRIKE MAKES RECORD JUMP”
“DEALING WITH CURBS AND OTHER UNEVEN SURFACES”
“AVENUE TRIKES … ONE MORE OFFERING”
“GOOGLE MAPS – A VERY HANDY TOOL”
“SPECBIKE TECHNICS”
“TADPOLE TRIKE SIDECAR”
“50 MPH E-TRIKE”
“CHAIN REPAIR & YOU, YES YOU!”
“TERRATRIKE RAMBLER E.V.O.”
“VELOMO, A GERMAN TADPOLE TRIKE”
“HEAD/NECK RESTS”
“SHEDDING SOME LIGHT ON HEADLIGHTS”
“VEE TIRES FOR TADPOLE TRIKES”
“PODRIDE VELOCAR”
“BOOBY TRAPPED BIKE TRAILS”
“JA YOE! (MATT GALAT’S WORLD TOUR)”
“RECUMBENT BIKE & TRIKE PARTS”
“RECUMBENT RAG TOPS”
“AZUB FAT TRIKE”
“SETUP & ADJUSTMENT OF MECHANICAL DISC BRAKES”
“SHAFT DRIVEN … WHY NOT?”
“NASHBAR RAGSTER SANDALS … THEY’RE BACK!”
“IT’S JUST A HILL … GET OVER IT”
“TRIKEWARS CUSTOM MADE TRIKES”
“NO WELD TADPOLE TRIKE PROJECT”
“DRIVE TRAIN MAINTENANCE”
“HELP! I CAN’T GET UP”
“WHEN IS .75 NOT THE SAME AS 3/4?”
“TRAVELIN’ ALONG SIDE BY SIDE”
“TRIKE TRANSPORT IDEAS”
“EGO VELOCAR”
“UTAH TRIKES CUSTOM SUNSEEKER ECO QUAD WITH 1600 WATT MID DRIVE MOTOR”
“REVERSE TRIKES”
“REPAIR WELDING OF A CRACKED ALUMINUM FRAME”
“THE CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG … 559 THAT IS”
“RECUMBENT TRIKE WINDOW DECALS”
“HARTLANDER FAT TRIKE”
“DOG POWERED TADPOLE TRIKES”
“ELECTRIC TRIKE 3500w 40+MPH”
“FUN & THRILLING, BUT FOOLISH AND DANGEROUS”
“CATRIKE E-CAT MAKING ITS DEBUT”
“HPVelotechnik Scorpion fs 26 S-Pedelec e-trike”
“CATRIKE TRAIL FOLDER IS NOW AVAILABLE”
“AeeDEA E-TRIKE … INDIA’S FIRST OFFERING INTO THE RECUMBENT TRIKE MARKET”
“TRIKE BUYING GUIDE – TAKEATRIKE.COM”
“UTAH TRIKE’S FULL SUSPENSION REVOLUTION DEFIANCE TADPOLE TRIKE”
“CHAIN WEAR & REPLACEMENT”
“BIKE TOW LEASH for da pooch”
“EVOLVE TRIKES”
“RIDEKICK ELECTRIC BIKE REVIEW”
“TO LISTEN OR NOT TO LISTEN (THAT IS THE QUESTION)”
“JAYOE … NEW TRIKE AND TRAILER”
“LUMBAR SUPPORT TO GO”
“SHORTENED BOOM … SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF”
“ARE YOU SUSPENDED?”
“FINER RECLINER HEAD/NECK RESTS”
“TIRED HURTING FEET”
“RECUMBENT TRIKE RIDE WITH MY DOG”
“GOOGLE’S SELF DRIVING BICYCLE (only available on April 1st)”
“HELMETS … IS THERE REALLY A DIFFERENCE?”
“CATEYE RAPID X SAFETY FLAG LIGHTS”
“””SORTA FAT””
“TRIKETABLE REPAIR STAND”
“VELOCARS”
“SO YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR OWN TRIKE, HUH?”
“COPENHAGEN WHEEL NO MORE”
“5 BEST RECUMBENT E-TRIKES”
“ELECTRIC MOTORIZED E-TRIKE WITH REVERSE”
“HONK IF YOU ARE AMISH”
“CRANKARM SHORTENERS = PEDAL EXTENDERS”
“VELOMOBILE RACING … WILD AND CRAZY”
“TRI-SLED GIZMO PHAT”
“ROAM 2011 … A LOOK BACK”
“THE HARDEST PART OF RIDING A TADPOLE TRIKE”
“DOES THIS TRIKE MAKE ME LOOK FAT?”
“TIRE OVER-INFLATION”
“TIRE SEALANTS … DO THEY REALLY WORK?”
“CHAIN LUBRICATION”
“BACCHETTA CT 2.0 carbon fiber tadpole trike”
“KITE CANOPY”
“TILT STEERING DESIGN”
“LOW COST CANOPIES”
“HELMET LAWS FOR BICYCLE RIDERS”
“UNDERSTANDING GEAR RATIOS”
“TALK ABOUT TIRE MILEAGE”
“REAR WHEEL DIAMETER … 20 VS 26/700”
“PEDAL POWERED USB CHARGER”
“DO YOU LUBE YOUR TIRES & TUBES?”
“THE JOY OF RIDING A PEDAL ASSIST MOTORIZED TRIKE”
“HP VELOTECHNIK, A TRIKE TO BE RECKONED WITH”
“THINGS I’VE LEARNED”
“U.S. E-BIKE LAWS EXPLAINED”
“CATRIKE SAFETY RECALL FOR AXLE SPINDLES (2013 MODELS ONLY)”
“LOOKING FOR A USED TRIKE?”
“WHAT’S YOUR CADENCE?”
“FAHRRADI FARFALLA FFX … A TRUE WORK OF ART”
“PERFORMER FACTORY TOUR”
“AFRICA TRIKE”
“TAKING THE LANE”
“KICKING THE TIRES (buying a used trike)”
“DO YOU HAVE BENT LEGS?”
“ICE REAR SUSPENSION INFO”
“BIONX … THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THIS ONE”
“TOURING WITH E-ASSIST”
“CAN TADPOLE TRIKES REALLY FLY?”
“HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?”
“BROL CLASSIFIEDS … USED TADPOLE TRIKES FOR SALE”
“VERSA BARS”
“THE SCHWALBE LINEUP”
“DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO”
“WHAT, A STAND UP TADPOLE TRIKE?”
“WHEEL STANDING FLAME THROWING SLINGSHOT QUAD”,
“THE DANGERS OF RIDING A RECUMBENT TADPOLE TRIKE”
“FOUR SEATER VELOMOBILE”
“THE GREAT AMERICAN RAIL-TRAIL”
“FLINTSTONE BRAKES & YOU”
“ARE YOU BLIND?”
“RECUMBENT MECHANICAL TALK”
“USING THE PARK TOOL CHAIN WEAR INDICATOR TOOL”
“TRIKEXPLOR … some interesting offerings”
“NON-RECUMBENT RECUMBENTS”
“E-MOTOR BATTERY MOUNTS FROM TERRACYCLE”
“TRIKE THERAPY FOR MILITARY VETERANS”
“WHOA NELLIE!”
“BLINDED BY THE LIGHT”
“TIRE PRESSURE … READ ALL ABOUT IT”
“CATRIKE ROAD AR … LIKE A TRUE CAT IT DONE SNUCK UP ON US”
“STICK CATCHING … NOT A NICE GAME TO PLAY”
“DON’T CLICK THIS!”
“IF YOU’VE GOT ‘EM, USE ‘EM (GEARS THAT IS)”
“EFNEO GEARBOX”
“TALK ABOUT FAT TRIKES”
“TADPOLE VS DELTA … “”IN” VS “ON””
“LOW COST FULL SUSPENSION TRIKE/e-TRIKE/e-FAT QUAD”
“MY EXPERIENCE WITH E-MOTORS THUS FAR”
“FAT TRIKES RULE”
“ELECTRIC TADPOLE TRIKE ON SNOW SKIS”
“GOPRO MOUNTS TIPS & TRICKS”
“RECUMBENT RANGERS ON THE WITHLACOOCHEE TRAIL”
“THE HIGH COST OF IGNORING NEEDED MAINTENANCE”
“MagLOCK PEDALS”
“FIRST ATTEMPT AT RIDING MY TRIKE SINCE KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT”
“PEDAL EXTENDERS MIGHT BE THE TICKET”
“GREENSPEED AERO SPORTS TRIKE”
“PEDAL ASSIST … A “”WIN-WIN” SITUATION”
“MID-ISLAND TRIKE ADVENTURES IS NOW A TRIDENT DEALER”
“SO YOU THINK YOUR BIKE LOCK IS SECURE”
“GETTING UP – GETTING OLD is GETTING OLD”
“CATRIKE 5.5.9 VIDEO BY UTAH TRIKES”
“WHEEL TRUING”
“BICYCLE AIR PUMPS & TIRE PRESSURE”
“SOME LEGAL INFO ON E-BIKES”
“CATRIKE EOLA – a new “”base” model”
“BOOM CHAIN TENSIONERS (CRANK ARM SHORTENERS UPDATE)”
“AMPHIBIAN VELOMOBILE”
“E-ASSIST … A LOOK AT WHAT ALL IS AVAILABLE”
“ANALOGY OF A CRASH … SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF”
“TADPOLE TRIKES ARE NOT MADE TO CLIMB WALLS”
“ALL WHEEL TILTING AR-3 STEERING COMPARISON”
“TRIKE TECH – A RECUMBENT TRIKE INFORMATION WEBSITE”
“ENJOYING LIFE AT THE SPEED OF A TRIKE”
“FRAME WARRANTIES”
“THE NEW CATRIKE ALUMINUM ALLOY FENDERS”
“TRIKE RIDING TOGETHER AS FAMILY & WITH FRIENDS”
“WATER BOTTLE HOLDERS”
“FAT TRIKE RIDERS”
“HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF GETTING PUNCTURES”
“WHEELCHAIR TRIKE ATTACHMENTS”
“WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?”
“CATRIKES IN FLORIDA”
“THE PROS AND CONS OF RIDING A RECUMBENT TRIKE”
“BICYCLE AIR PUMPS & TIRE PRESSURE”
“CRITTER ENCOUNTERS”
“BOLT TOGETHER TRIKE BUILD (NO WELD)”
“SCHWALBE ONE – A NEW RACING TIRE”
“E-BIKE BATTERIES AND WATER … A DEFINITE NO-NO”
“INVISIBLE BICYCLE HELMET”
“SECURING YOUR TRIKE FROM THEFT”
“PONDEROSA HP8 URBAN RECUMBENT TADPOLE TRIKE”
“VELOMETRO”
“TIPPING OVER HERE, BOSS!”
“EVOVELO”
“WHAT IS TRUTH?”
“HIGH SPEED POLICE CHASE ON BIKE TRAIL”
“TRIKE RACING IN FLORIDA”
“BAFANG 750 WATT CRANK DRIVE MOTOR WITH TORQUE SENSOR”
“NEW HEAD REST TO SAVE MY NECK”
“3 CHEERS FOR RECUMBENT TADPOLE TRIKES”
“FRONT END SHIMMY”
“AND AWAY WE GO! (WITH BIONX)”
“ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST — THERE ARE CHOICES”
“INDOOR TRAINERS FOR THOSE COUPED UP THRU THE WINTER”
“ALL ABOUT TIRES”
“LEAF REMOVAL MADE EASY”
“EFFECTS OF COLD TEMPERATURES”
“THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU”
“BAR END MITTS – MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS”
“BICYCLE CHAIN – HOW IT’S MADE”
“SURE A PRETTY THING!”
“LOVE YA’ GRANNY!”
“FOLDYLOCK”
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL”
“BEST CRANKDRIVE E-MOTORS”
“SIDE MOUNT KITS”
“THE JaYoe NATION PODCAST”
“CATRIKE SEAT BACK EXTENSIONS BY UTAH TRIKES”
“HOW TO FIX A FLAT TIRE ON A TADPOLE TRIKE”
“A BIT OF HUMOR IN THIS VIDEO”
“AND THE WINNER IS ….”
“LIGHTS … CHEAPER & BETTER … CAN’T BEAT THAT!”
“MOM ON A TADPOLE TRIKE”
“FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE COMING OR GOING (B2B TRIKE)”
“SPEED TRIKE”
“HP VELOTECHNIK FACTORY TOUR & 2018 MODELS”
“PERFORMER JC-70 AND JC-20 ASSEMBLY”
“PODRIDE UPDATE 2022”
“CRANK DRIVES – A DISASTER FOR TRIKES”
“BIKE REGISTRATION THAT WORKS”
“””FAUX PEDALING” – FAKING IT HERE, BOSS”
“INVERTING TWIST GRIP SHIFTERS AND BRAKE LEVERS ON HANDLEBARS”
“DOES RIDING A TADPOLE TRIKE MEAN YOU ARE HANDICAPPED?”
“OH FOR SOME SHADE”
“TRAIL RULES EXIST FOR GOOD REASON”
“HIT FROM BEHIND BY TRUCK”
“FIRST RIDES ON TADPOLE TRIKES””A MAGNET FOR WOOD”
“ENJOYING LIFE VIA CATRIKE”
“RECUMBENT TRIKES – THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE”
“CUSTOMIZING TRIKES BY UTAH TRIKES”
“HOW TO BUY (and not to buy) A RECUMBENT TRIKE”
“NEWBIE’S TRIKE TESTIMONY”
“ELECTRIC BIKE OUTFITTERS”
“ACKERMAN STEERING”
“INSTALLATION OF SCHLUMPF HIGH SPEED DRIVE”
“HOW TO MAKE A TADPOLE TRIKE GROW”
“DEFUNCT TADPOLE TRIKES”
“INNER TUBE INFORMATION”
“WHO NEEDS FENDERS ANYWAY?”
“CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
“CRANKING IT UP HERE, BOSS!”
“CATRIKE GETS A NICE WRITEUP”
“WILL THESE TIRES FIT MY RIMS?”
“POOH POOH ON POO POO”
“CATRIKE MODEL LINEUP (2017)”
“MAGPED … another magnetic pedal offering for foot retention”
“PEDALING WITH KNEE PAIN”
“TRICYCLES … KID TESTED, MOM APPROVED”
“MATT GALAT’S WORLD TOUR”
“HOW TO CHANGE AN INNER TUBE”
“THIN MAYBE IN, BUT FAT’S WHERE IT’S AT”
“SO JUST WHO ARE TRIKES FOR ANYWAY?”
“AW, AIN’T IT PRETTY?”
“YAHOO! THE CRANKARM SHORTENERS WORK GREAT”
“ARE WHITE LIGHTS LEGAL ON THE REAR OF A TRIKE?”
“DROOPING CABLES AND OTHER LOW DOWN HAZARDS”
“BRAKE STEER”
“BIONX … DEFINITELY OUT OF BUSINESS!”
“TIRE WIPERS … A GREAT IDEA”
“11 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR TRIKE FASTER”
“NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU’RE SOREE”
“BEST CRANKDRIVE E-MOTOR?”
“WHEEL (RIM) REPAIRS”
“RECYCLED RECUMBENTS”
“LOW & SLOW”
“TIP OVER … HOW SAFE ARE 3 WHEELS?”
“BLUESKY CANOPIES”
“HEY HEY, WHAT’S THAT SOUND, EVERYTIME IT GOES AROUND?”
“BETTER WATCH OUT IF YOU DON’T WANNA CRY”
“TRAIL RULES DON’T APPLY”
“5 BEST TADPOLE E-TRIKES”
“HISTORY OF RECUMBENTS”
“SOMETIMES A GUY JUST HAS TO HAVE FUN”
“BEFORE YOU BUY A TADPOLE TRIKE”
“ALL ABOUT E-BIKE BATTERY CHARGING & DIY UNDERTAKINGS”
“AZUB ON ICE – FROZEN LAKE RIDE ON A FAT TRIKE”
“BECKETTS RUN TRAIL … FORT WAYNE’S NEWEST TRAIL”
“TADPOLE TRIKE BUILDS ON VIDEO”
“REAR WHEEL REMOVAL & REINSTALLATION”
“TADPOLE RIDER FB Group”
“THE GRANDE DAME OF BIKING … AND NOW TRIKING”
“TERRATRIKE RAMBLER SAFETY RECALL”
“SO TADPOLE TRIKES ARE SLOW … WHO CARES?”
“GOD DAMN IT!”
“TERRATRIKE SPYDER MAKING ITS DEBUT SOON”
“BROKEN GLASS, A POPULAR PASTIME FOR SOME”
“WATER, A NECESSITY OF LIFE”
“FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS”
“63 SPEED HAND CRANK MOUNTAIN TRIKE”
“WARRIOR IS BIRTHED”
“SEARCH THIS SITE”
“CYCLING IS FOR EVERYONE”
“FULL SUSPENSION WHEELS”
“HOW TO FIT A CHAIN ON A TADPOLE TRIKE”
“TRY BEFORE YOU BUY”
“MARTIN KRIEG – A MAN OF GREAT VISION – NATIONAL BICYCLE GREENWAY”
“RECUMBENT TV … a good idea while it lasted”
“WHY i HAVE SLOWED WAY UP ON THIS BLOG”
“WATER BOTTLE CLEANING”
“KMX FAMILY LINEUP”
“ANTI-THEFT ALARMS”
“HOW TO ADJUST STEERING ON THE PERFORMER TRIKES (models X, E AND F)”
“HILL CLIMBING … NOT THE WAY I REMEMBER IT”
“CENTURY RIDES – ARE YOU UP TO IT?”
“ORGANIZED RALLIES, RIDES and EVENTS”
“WHAT WIND?”
“THERATRYKE, A SPECIAL PURPOSE TRIKE”
“PEDAL REMOVAL & INSTALLATION”
“EUROVELO FELLOW (and gals)”
“CALL OF THE WILD or SILENCE CAN BE DEAFENING”
“BEST ELECTRIC CONVERSION KITS FOR TRIKES”
“REAR WHEEL STEERING = HIGH SPEED INSTABILITY”
“IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT”
“””SHADEMOBILE” … WHAT A DIFFERENCE!”
“ACCIDENT PREVENTION”
“HEADKAYSE ONE – REINEVENTS HELMETS”
“I NEED YOUR HELP”
“HOLE IN ONE”
“MATT’S WORLD TRIKING ADVENTURE”
“TAILLIGHTS”
“TADPOLE TRIKES CAN PROVIDE A 2ND CHANCE”
“MOVING RIGHT ALONG …”
“11 SPEED CASSETTES … WE’VE COME A LONG WAY”
“RIDING AROUND HORSES”
“MOBILITY ASSISTIVE DEVICE”
“JaYoe! … JUST ADD FUEL”
“THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES of MYRTLE the TURTLE”
“WHEEZY ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST”
“A $25 TADPOLE TRIKE”
“RIDING UP A 41 % GRADE”
“SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER”
“3D PRINTING … A HANDY GADGET”
“IMPROVING THE TURNING CIRCLE ON ICE TRIKES”
“CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?”
“RECUMBENT HISTORY”
“HOMEMADE TRIKE BUILD VIDEO”
“TOE IN REVISTED”
“COVID 19 … THE TRUTH”
“HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT THING? … and OTHER DUMB QUESTIONS”

I just thought of something. I have been posting the “From the archives” on several Facebook Recumbent Groups for some time now. This has made a big difference in these numbers of views.

Here is a partial list of the countries viewers are from.

You may not have any interest in this but I am sure at least some people will. Besides, I had to come up with something to post here today and this is what popped into my head. And now that I have  guess what … it is that time … time to go for a trike ride. Hopefully next time I will come up with something more to your liking.  This even bores me some. Meanwhile …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

BILLY BONKERS …WHERE DO THEY COME UP WITH THESE NAMES?

Notice: This article may contain commentary that reflects the author’s opinion.

BILLY BONKERS … now I ask ya … where do they come up with these names? Schwalbe manufactures a lot of different tires. Have you ever taken a look at the list of tires they offer? And the names … just reading thru the list is good for a laugh or two. Billy Bonkers is made for mainly off road use. I like the tread pattern.

I would like to try these but I thought there is one major problem. At first I thought they only come in one size … 26 by 2.00, but I have since found them in 20 by 2.00. I wonder how they would do in snow.  If you give Billy Bonkers a try I would love to have you leave a comment telling us what you think of this tire.

Tire manufacturing has become quite a science over the last several years. It is nothing at all like it was when I was growing up as a kid.. With several different rubber compounds formulated for specific purposes and built in flat protection which really works for most of us I am sold on what is available nowadays.

Reading thru what this tire is designed for I have to admit it is not a tire that would benefit most of us on our trikes. Their description includes increased air time (the cycle remaining up in the air off of the ground). I don’t really think that is something I have any desire to improve upon. I kind of like staying down on the ground as much as possible. Anyway, if any of you try this tire please let us know what you think. Thanks.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

GOING DOWNHILL FAST /SLOWIN’ DOWN HERE, BOSS

Time is always on the move and with time comes change. Just two years ago I was able to pedal my trike along at 20 mph. Then a year later I noticed that my top speed had slowed to 18 mph. And this year it is clear down to 15 mph. I am 75  1/2 years old. It is kind of scary to be experiencing this. This body is slowing down.

Oh, I can still go downhill as fast as always but even that is a bit of a mystery to me. Many others report that they had their trikes up in the 40s and even 50s going downhill. I don’t know what kind of hills they have but the steepest hill I know of around here  is pictured above. Riding down this hill I have only obtained 25 mph without an electric motor to assist me. With an e-motor I made it to 33 mph. Obviously that is not fast at all compared to what others have done. Even so I was going downhill fast. It has  been 2 or 3 years since I last rode there. As I have been sharing I seem to be going downhill rather fast and I don’t like it. I don’t think there is anything I can do about it though. I am most grateful that I am still able to go out riding each day and enjoy what I consider almost perfect health each and every day.

I would rather imagine it happens to the best of us sooner or later. I have a few issues I deal with but overall I certainly can’t complain. I have noticed how true the holy scriptures are which state that our lives are like a vapor or mist … here now but disappearing quickly. (https://www.openbible.info/topics/life_is_like_a_vapor_)  The older I get the faster time seems to go. It goes unbelievably fast. I am 75 now but it seems like it was only last week that I was 60 and two weeks ago that I was 40. A person asks themselves “Where did time go? How did I get this old so fast?”

I read that Paul McCartney wrote this popular song when he was only 16 years old …

I should be out riding right now instead of composing this. I am not getting any younger, you know? I would appreciate comments sharing about your personal experiences with aging.l And those who are younger will know what to expect as they age. May we all …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

It’s funny … I did go for a ride right after I finished composing this and much to my surprise I found myself pedaling at 22 mph. Of course, I did not keep it up but I was quite surprised that I was able to pedal that fast. Most days 15 is as good as it gets. And as my ride went on today it did drop down to 15. After I had total knee replacement of both knee joints  late in 2012  I was pedaling the recumbent bike in physical  therapy  at 120 rpm cadence . The physical therapist made me stop. He did not want me doing that.  I don’t remember ever pedaling that fast before. I was surprised I could do it at that age (66) much less just after having the surgery. https://tadpolerider.com/?s=knee+joint+replacement

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

IS HE STILL AROUND? … DAVID BRUCE, THAT IS.

Notice: This article may contain commentary that reflects the author’s opinion.

Much to my surprise my one and only article I have ever written on David Bruce happens to consistently be one of my most visited posts. Just now while looking up something else for a post I am doing I stumbled across a  video of his. So I clicked on his YouTube channel and …. walla … there he is. I guess he has been there all along. His videos are all rather old … 7 to 11 years ago.  I don’t know about his personal life. I don’t know if he is still actively involved in trikes or not. I assume he is still with us. I have no idea what happened with his front wheel drive trikes or the trike racing he did. Maybe somebody who knows him and reads this can comment and enlighten us. I am sure many would be interested. One thing is for sure … there are lots of people interested in his front wheel drive trikes.. I just took a look at today’s statistics of the Tadpole Rider.com website.

This video has David Bruce as one of the trike riders featured on the Withlacoochee State Trail in Florida. However I believe it is from 2014.

The article I posted on David Bruce  in 2014 is currently (this day) the second most visited page of my entire website. I hope he is doing well and is able to …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.

MAINTENANCE & REPAIR HELP RESOURCES

As fun as our trikes are to ride they do require periodic maintenance and repair. Many of us do our own mechanical work on our trikes. Being mechanically inclined is one thing but knowing what we are doing or need to do is another. Thankfully help is available and from several different sources. Certainly YouTube videos come to mind. I usually just do a search for what I am looking for on YouTube. A quick simple search for tadpole trike repair  brings forth many results.

Then there are lots of different companies that have various videos and articles on repair and maintenance. Parktool is one that immediately comes to mind. Utah Trikes is another one.  Hostel Shoppe is yet another one. There are several other bike/trike shops that have created videos as well as individuals. Some are pretty good while some are not so good. Anyway, whether you are an old hand at doing your own work on your trike or a newbie help is available for most everything. All you have to do is search for it. Modern day technology is great in someways. All the information we need is right at our fingertips.

Maintaining our trikes making any necessary repairs will help us …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the two membership vetting questions and agree to comply with the group rules.