Category: maintenance/repair

TRIKE GUIDE

I  came across this website called Trike Guide so I am sharing it here for those interested in what it offers. It covers Tadpole vs Delta, Wheels, Brakes, e-Motors, Trike Brands & Manufacturers, Gear, Tours, and lastly Trike Events & Conferences. It also covers basis repairs and maintenance. It is far from complete. In fact, I think you will find more comprehensive information right here on this website. Never the less I did enjoy looking thru it.

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“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

HOW TO SET TOE IN ON A TADPOLE TRIKE

Toe in adjustment is another subject I have covered several times. Proper toe in adjustment is most important for proper and safe handling as well as achieving maximum tire wear. When I first bought my Catrike Trail the Catrike dealer had set up the toe in a full one inch off. It was hard to pedal and handled horribly. And it wore the two front tires out in only 30 miles. Here is a video covering the subject …

Most tadpole trikes are pretty much the same but there can be some differences with some brands. And trikes with direct steering are different than trikes with indirect steering. That is something I have covered in my previous postings about toe in adjustment. On a few models the rear wheel camber is adjustable. This next video covers that.

I have come up behind trikes that had the rear wheel way off and in need of adjusting the camber angle.

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Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

 

SETTING UP BOOM LENGTH

Well known triker,Sylvia  Halpern created a video to help others learn about setting up the boom length of their tadpole trikes. This is a subject I have covered a few times over the years. HERE is one of those articles.

And here are some other videos covering this subject …

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Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

FIXING A FLAT TIRE & MORE

I have covered all of this before but I offer it as a refresher of some basics we all need to know. This video not only covers fixing a flat tire but it also covers tools you should carry, which inner tube is the right one, tire pumps, flat resistant tires and more. I find myself agreeing with some of what he says but totally disagreeing with some of what he says. I certainly don’t agree with his advice on using tire tools to install a tire. If you know the right way to install a tire on a rim and do it that way tire tools are usually not needed. And I definitely don’t agree that a Marathon Racer gets the same wear as a Marathon Plus. That is pure nonsense. There is no comparison. Not only is there more (thicker) tread on the Marathon Plus but the rubber is an altogether different compound which wears much better and longer than all of Schwalbe’s other tires.

 

A Marathon Racer would do good to get 4000 miles while I have gotten over 15,000 miles out of Marathon Plus tires. I stopped using Marathon Plus tires a few years ago. Now I use Big Ben Plus. I like their ride and handling better, but they wear out much quicker than the Marathon Plus.

Oh well, at least we agree on tire liners. They cause internal flats.

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You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

TADPOLE TRIKE MAINTENANCE 2024 UPDATE

Well made tadpole trikes require very little maintenance once everything is set up properly. At least they should not. It is good to know the basics involved. Watching videos like these are helpful.

Here is the previous video …

It is about 4 years old but I did not come upon it until I posted it back in Nov. 2023 … https://tadpolerider.com/2023/11/17/recumbent-trike-maintenance-workshop/

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A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

TOOLS TO CARRY ALONG ON A TRIKE

A well equipped bike shop has lots of bike tools available to use. It would be nice to have all these tools available to use when we are out riding, but obviously that would be very impractical. Never the less, it is a good idea to carry “essential tools” along so we can handle most things that might happen.

I bet very few of us do however. And many riders carry multi-tools which in my opinion and experience are to be compared to teats on a boar. They are just one notch up from being totally worthless.

They are okay for some things but for many things they won’t work. And what do you do if you need to use two tools at the same time and they are both on the multi-tool? That is a common occurrence. No, I am not a fan of multi-tools. I have a few but like I said, I find them very impractical and next to worthless for most tasks.

That means that for me I choose independent individual tools. I do carry more tools along with me than most people do. Yes, it is extra weight, but that is okay. I would rather have what I need than be broken down somewhere and not be able to remedy the situation for lack of a tool needed.

I keep my tools in a canvas bag I bought at Harbor Freight Tools. I keep the canvas bag in one of my panniers. I also have more tools in a smaller bag which just fits in the pocket in the back of my Catrike seat.

Tools I carry are common place  … flat blade screwdrivers, Phillips head screwdrivers, 4 inch, 8 inch and 12 inch adjustable wrenches, medium size ball peen hammer,  metric open/box end wrenches, rat tail and flat files, needle nose pliers,  side cutters, vice grips, slip joint pliers (ChannelLock type), set of metric Allen wrenches,  chain cutter,  missing link chain pliers,  spoke wrench, pedal wrench, Torx head screwdrivers for disc brake adjustment and brake rotor removal, set of 3 plastic tire tools, telescoping antenna used to set toe in and possibly a few more tools that are not coming to mind right now.

Along with tools I also carry some common spare parts such as inner tubes, chain repair links, several connected links (sections of chain), a small assortment of bolts, nuts and washers,  steel wire,  a small assortment of plastic zip ties, extra Schrader valves, spare spokes, chain oil, wet wipes, vinyl gloves, a few clean shop towels and no doubt some other things that are not coming to mind right now.

No, I don’t carry any inner tube patching  supplies as I don’t patch inner tubes. I have had too many patches fail so I don’t mess with patching them. Truthfully I have not had a flat for many years. I have been using puncture resistant tires for many years now and I just don’t get flats anymore.

I carry a small bicycle tire pump with me as well as a battery powered air pump.

That is about all that comes to mind about this subject. With all of this I carry along with me I not only can take care of my own needs but I can help other cyclists in need when I come upon them. I definitely believe in being prepared. How about you?

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You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

WELL EQUIPPED VS GREAT PRISTINE LOOKING

What is more important to you … having your trike look great with nothing much added to it much like it came from the factory … or … adding a bunch of stuff to it which distracts from its appearance but is quite useful and practical to have available? Now I ask you? I see tadpole riders all the time riding trikes that appear to have nothing extra on them. They must be dependent on others if something goes wrong as they are not equipped to handle it themselves.

I must admit I have been asked if I have the kitchen sink somewhere on my trike. It is loaded down with all sorts of stuff. I am prepared for most anything. For example, I have  bungee cords with me and I have battery chargers along so I can recharge my batteries anywhere I can find electricity to plug them in. This picture below is not my current set up. Now I have most of it pretty well hidden out of sight as I was able to do so the last time I worked on it.

Now I have large panniers and rear trunk bag which both hide some things as well as provide a storage place for lots of stuff. I carry plastic shopping bags in one of the panniers as I frequently use them to haul stuff in on my trike such as shopping, picking tomatoes off of the vine to take home, etc. All the bungee cords are now out of sight and in a pannier. I have to admit that I don’t normally carry a spare tire with me. That is not something that I am likely to need.

Yes, my trike is usually pretty well loaded down with various stuff. I am down to just one battery now as I have one which lasts a long time providing power for long rides. I no longer need to carry 2 or even 3 batteries on my trike like I used to. Of course, that one battery is a heavy beast.

Am I jealous of those who have and keep their trikes nearly bare-bone? Sometimes I am, but for the most part I am glad I have all this stuff with me as I like being prepared. I don’t need to call somebody to come get me and my trike should something go wrong while I am out riding. I can take care of it myself and continue on my way.

Yes, it adds weight to my trike, but lifting my trike in and out of the bed of my pickup truck helps keep me strong in my old age. I admit though that it gets more challenging as I age. I will be 77 next month. The Greenspeed Magnum trike is even heavier to lift and presents even more of a challenge. I am glad I am not lifting it daily anymore as it nearly got the best of me. A few times my wife helped me and it made the task much easier.

Well, it is time to go lift my Catrike Trail out of my truck and go riding. And I will be going prepared so that I can …

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You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

RECUMBENT TRIKE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP

Recumbent trike workshop covering basic adjustments, maintenance and safety, i.e. changing a tire, lube points, and more.

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You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

HAVING TROUBLE FINDING SPOKES?

The picture above is of my rear wheel with a hub motor. As you can see the spokes are quite short … only 2  7/8 inches long. That in itself makes them special, but they are also 12 gauge meaning they are heavier duty than standard spokes. I have checked the local bike shops and none of them can help me. I searched online and came up empty handed … nothing. I contacted the Ebay seller I bought the wheel from hoping I could get some spare spokes. I failed to mention that I have one broken spoke in the rear wheel. I removed it but have not been able to replace it yet. Anyway, I never heard anything back from the Ebay seller so I am unable to replace the broken spoke. I would think the wheel would come with a few extra spokes but it didn’t. Since I have not been able to locate a source for these spokes I have had no choice but to ride my trike ‘as is’ missing the spoke. That is not a problem, however, I would like to get it replaced. Two or three months have passed by when I learned of a bike shop in Chicago that specializes in spokes. I contacted them and inquired into it. No problem … they have them and I had my choice of black or silver. I ordered a dozen along with the nipples and now I have spokes.

I am telling you this just in case there are others who are or will be facing the same situation. The Chicago bike shop is Yojimbo’s Garage at 1310 North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60670. It appears to be somewhat of a specialty shop. The phone number is 312-587-0878 and the email address is: marcus@yojimbosgarage.com

I got quick reliable service when I contacted them. I was so thankful to finally get the spare spokes I needed. I was quite surprised to discover that these 12 gauge spokes are hard to find. 13 and 14 gauge are commonplace but not 12 gauge. Even so I did not expect to discover that they are hard to find. I assumed most any LBS (local bike shop) could supply them,  but they all said no, they can’t help.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

TO FOLD OR NOT TO FOLD … THAT’S THE QUESTION?

Folding tadpole trikes are nothing new. They have been around for quite some time … almost from the beginning. Some require and involve removing the seat in order to fold it. A few do not.  They get my vote as having to remove the seat is a royal pain in my book. It seems many people buy folding trikes and then never fold them. I would say that that is a waste. Why pay extra for a trike that folds if you are not going to fold it? Another factor concerning folding trikes is that it adds complexity and more that can break and go wrong. And it does happen. Here is an HP Velotechnik Scorpion with major failure of the hinge area.

A weld can be nice looking but not a quality weld. Hinges and suspension members are the likely areas of failures. Below is an ICE trike with major failure with the rear suspension.

As a highly  experienced weldor, especially in repair welding and as a metal fabricator I have repaired many products that were simply underbuilt and doomed to failure. And I can say this … the simpler one can make something the less likely it is to fail. That is one reason why I love the Catrike space frame. It is very strong and a sensible way to build a trike. I personally would never buy a folding trike. I have never been one to gamble taking unnecessary risks. I am old school and, in fact, a US Navy weldor. In the Navy a minimum of three passes of weld are required to assure strength in the weld. You can see in the two pictures above only one weld pass was made on both trikes. I am not surprised that it broke. In my book it is a design to fail. If you have a folding trike or plan on getting one I highly recommend keeping an eye on the welds. I caught a weld on my Catrike that started to fail. I caught it early and Catrike replaced the frame under warranty. It was a “hairline crack” along the edge of a weld under the cruciform. It might have continued to hold for the life of the trike, but then again it could have broken at any time. In hindsight I think I probably should have risked it as I don’t like the newer style frame Catrike replaced it with. You can see in the picture below Catrike placed a gusset on the opposite side to strengthen it. They should have added one to this side. Then it probably would not have broken.

For what it is worth … not all trikes are created equal. Some are better designed and engineered than others. Some are extremely underbuilt and stand a good chance of failure. I am not naming names here … just stating a fact.

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A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT “MY TRAIL”

The late David Goldman made a video entitled 5 things I love about “my” trail. It was concerning a bicycle trail. It inspired me to write this article I have titled “5 things I love about “my Trail”. However, I am not writing about a bicycle trail. I am writing about my Catrike Trail trike.

I almost did not buy a Catrike when I was looking into trikes. It is not that I was not impressed with them. Rather it was a matter of money … something I did not have much of. Consequently I was looking at the best I could get for the money that I had available. I was all ready to buy another brand but I changed my mind when I called the company to place my order and the owner of the business got really nasty with me on the phone for calling his number several times in succession trying to get thru as the line was busy when I called. I did not like the way he treated me and so he lost a sale that day. He ended up going out of business. I had heard that he turned off a lot of customers by his treatment of them. I think it caught up with him as there was nothing wrong with the trikes he was selling.

Anyway, I had to start over and made the decision to save a little longer so I had more money available. I did not need a whole lot more money to get the trike I chose next. Back then Catrike sold the Trail model for $1750. I bought a new 2009 model and fell in love with it. I never had any regret in the way things worked out back then.

So the number one thing I love about my Trail is the price I paid for it. The price has doubled since then.

The second thing I loved about my Trail was the space frame. Notice I used the past tense “loved” and “was”.

I do so because something happened to change all that. Under warranty Catrike replaced my 2009 space frame because of a hairline crack I discovered along one of the welds on the bottom of the cross member. Sadly the space frame was no longer offered and I had to accept their new frame which I don’t like nearly as well as the space frame. Oh well, as the saying goes … “you’ll have that!”

The number three thing I love about my Trail is the comfortable ride. I have ridden several other trikes including some costing twice to four times what my Trail cost. As far as I am concerned the Trail wins hands down when comparing them.

The number four thing I love about my trail is it’s handling. It handles like it is running on rails. Again it wins my vote over the other trikes I have ridden. I have always been extremely impressed with Catrike engineering and craftsmanship. I can’t say the same for their customer service. Sometimes it is non-existent.

The fifth thing I love about my Trail is its quality. I have over 110,000 miles on it and it is as good as brand new mechanically. To be totally honest I have upgraded the wheels with heavier duty BMX rims which are holding up much better than the original Catrike wheels. Otherwise I am sold on Catrike quality.

I could probably come up with more things I love about my Trail, but I need to take it easy on my nearly 77 year old brain as I need it to last me awhile longer yet.

As many of you know I nearly lost the use of my Trail earlier this summer when the rear dropouts broke due to the extra stress my e-motor puts on the dropouts. I thought it was done for as I saw no way to repair it. Then a fellow triker wrote on a Facebook trike group that he bought the Utah Trike’s Catrike rear wheel extension kit to use to mount a rear hub e-motor on his Catrike. I was aware of these rear wheel extensions but it never entered my mind that I could use them to fix my problem and keep my Trail trike going. And it is a fairly inexpensive repair … $300 plus another $100 for labor at my LBS as I had them do part of what was involved. A new replacement frame would have been well over $1200 and I would still have the same concern of the rear dropouts failing again. These extensions are much stronger than the rear dropouts on the Catrike frame.

Hopefully my 2013 Trail I now have is good for another 110,000 miles. I just hope this nearly 77 year old body is too. Well, that’s my story and I am sticking with it. I am doing my best to …

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You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

 

LEARNING HOW TO TRUE A WHEEL

Have you got a wobbly wheel? Most wheel wobble problems can be fixed. Here are a couple of videos to help you learn how to go about adjusting the spokes to true a wheel.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

SPOOKED BY SPOKES?

(above is compliments of YouTube royalty free music)

(Unless noted otherwise all sound files are made available by Pixabay.com )

Spokes can emit some strange and sometimes creepy noises. There can be various causes. If you hear your spokes making noises it is best to pay attention to it and try to figure out what is causing it as spokes should be relatively quiet. If you have noise coming from your spokes you most likely have trouble brewing. And as we often heard Andy or Barney say … “nip it in the bud”. Ignoring the sound could be lead to trouble.

nip it in the bud

And who can forget the organ music from The Ghost & Mr. Chicken comedy movie starring Don Knotts … compliments of televisiontunes.com …

Louder!

Louder!

Atta boy, Luther!

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

WILL MOTORIZING YOUR TRIKE VOID THE TRIKE WARRANTY or AFFECT GETTING SERVICE?

Do you know if motorizing your trike will void your trike warranty? Do you care or should you care ? The answer to the first question is … PROBABLY, unless you have a motor the trike manufacturer sells for their trikes. Many trike owners like myself add on aftermarket products rather than go with the expensive motor kits the dealers sell.

Another question which is of importance is … if you install a motor on your trike will you still be able to get maintenance and repair work done on it at your local bike shop/trike dealer?

These are questions which one should consider. My trike is long past the expiration of any warranty so the first question is not any concern. I have had a motor on my trike for several years now and until recently it never presented a problem for me. My local bike shop has always serviced it even before they became a Catrike dealer. In fact, they took very good care of me. Recently however, they told me that they will no longer work on it. The reason given is because it has a motor on it and they don’t want to deal with liability. I was really bummed out when they told me this.

Shortly afterwards I was told the truth by a past employee. The local bike shop was a great store which the mom and pop owners built up and then sold to Trek Bikes for a good sized chunk of change providing them with a very comfortable retirement. Sadly the place has really gone downhill since Trek took it over. They have lost all their good mechanics as they have all quit. I know I don’t like shopping there for accessories as all they have is what Trek sells. Anyway, I was told that the bottom line as to why they will no longer work on my trike is because they don’t make good money working on it and they only want work that provides fast easy money. Trek does not care about the customer … only money. There are really sad stories all over the nation concerning Trek buyouts and customer dissatisfaction since Trek took over.

I emailed Catrike about all of this and asked them a few questions I wanted their answers to, but they have not had the decency to reply back which further bums me out. That is very poor customer relationship and very unprofessional. I love Catrike trikes, but I can’t recommend them as far as customer service. That is a shame. That is no way to treat their customers.

There are a few other bike shops in town but with the exception of a TerraTrike dealer none of them will work on tadpole trikes. They only want to work on bicycles. That is disheartening also. So it looks like I will have to take my Catrike to a Terratrike dealer since the Catrike dealer won’t work on it. I am not very excited about that as I have had this TT dealer work on my Catrike before and I was not impressed with the work they performed. In fact, I paid them good money only to have to do it over myself as they did not do it right. I hope they do better work now.

I am sharing all of this because it could happen to you. Many years ago I was much younger and I did most of my own mechanical work on my trike. But now I am much older and dealing with various physical issues (especially poor vision) making it difficult for me to do the work myself anymore. I need someplace to take my trike to to get work done on it. Nothing on my Catrike has changed other than my rear wheel which has a hub motor in it. It is just like working on any other Catrike yet my local Catrike dealer refuses to work on it. It could happen to others. The question is … could it happen to you?

BTW — I could use some help from English language experts … is it  “effect” or “affect” getting service? I have tried looking it up and I still am as confused as ever. I have typed both and changed it back and forth. Truthfully I don’t have a clue which is correct.

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You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

AN UPDATE ON MY CATRIKE REAR WHEEL DROPOUT FIX

A few weeks have passed since I got my Catrike Trail trike back on the road using the Utah Trikes rear wheel extension kit to get around the problem with the broken rear dropouts. I am happy to report that it is working well. I am able to ride it normally and without any issues. That being said I am very much aware of the sideways movement of the extensions. I don’t have a larger diameter wheel mounted in them. I still have a 20 inch wheel so I did not change anything in using them with exception of moving the rear wheel back about 4 inches. That has a very minor effect on my turning radius with the longer wheelbase. My trike handles and corners great … like it is running on rails.

For what it is worth I never have liked this newer frame Catrike has which replaced the older space frame. If ever I could find a Catrike Trail space frame I would love to get it and replace this frame I have now. And then I could do away with these extensions and get back to being completely stock.

Below  is a video concerning these extensions. I agree with all this man says, but for my situation I am well pleased with the extensions. I just wish Catrike made better (as in deeper and stronger) rear wheel dropouts. Then mine would not have broken and I would not need these extensions to fix it.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

MY CATRIKE … RESURRECTED FROM THE JUNK HEAP?

I read a posting on one of the Facebook trike groups about a triker using Utah Trike’s new rear wheel extension kit on his Catrike to mount a hub motor wheel. That put the idea in my head … hey, maybe this would be a possible fix for my Catrike. I don’t know if it is going to work or not but I emailed Utah Trikes about my broken rear dropouts on my Catrike Trail trike.  I knew they have made the rear wheel extension kits for a number of years so I emailed them about my trike. They told me that I could use their older kit (different than the one this other triker used) to repair my rear dropouts. I had never thought of that. So I ordered a pair of them buying them on credit. I installed them and put everything back together on the trike. It might work, BUT I am concerned as to whether or not the extensions will hold up to the side stress (lateral forces) involved in cornering. They seem fairly weak when I just push sideways on the rear of the trike. They are made to hold a 26 inch or a 700 wheel which would produce even more side stress (lateral forces) than my 20 inch wheel does. Using my 20 inch wheel will result in raising the front of the trike up slightly higher as the extension extends back and up for the larger diameter wheel.

I have my fingers crossed but I am doubtful it will hold up. Here is what the extension looks like on another Catrike (not mine). If I had known that the extensions would sway so easily back and forth sideways I don’t think I would have tried this.

If it does work it is a much cheaper “fix” than buying a new replacement frame from Catrike. They are $1200 plus tax plus the shipping cost. I will have about $300 in this. The extensions cost about $185 with shipping. That is a lot of money for a couple of pieces of aluminum. With my 20 inch wheel  installed in these extensions it definitely makes the trike look a bit different. The rear wheel is position about 4 inches further back than where it was originally.

I hope Catrike changes it’s rear dropouts for the sake of other hub motor users.  I never have liked them even with a regular non motorized wheel installed. The dropouts are just too short and appear weak to me. There just isn’t enough material there to mount a rear hub motor drive wheel in. They know this as they have gotten reports from various owners including me about the bottom part of the dropouts breaking off. And what is left just is not enough to hold a rear wheel.  I was looking at the rear dropouts of the Greenspeed Magnum recently and noticed that they are much better and stronger than Catrike’s. I would not be afraid to install a rear hub motor wheel on it … which I might do as I am not liking the crankdrive motor that is on it now. It is just too hard on the drivetrain. My rear sprocket sounds like “mechanical pop corn popping” as I ride along using the motor. I hate that! It has got to be damaging my sprockets and chain. Whoever came up with putting a motor on the crankset had a bad idea. The drive train of a bike/trike just is not made to take the extra power a motor provides.

Time will tell whether or not this is a fix to resurrect my Catrike from the junk pile. I hope it works as I really miss riding it.

UPDATE — I just took my first ride on it and was thrilled to be back on it. Everything seemed to work well and felt right. Even my concern about lateral forces in cornering are hopefully not a concern after all. It felt so good to be back in the saddle again.  Getting back up out of the seat is quite challenging though compared to the Greenspeed Magnum. I already have my riding in for today. Besides it is just too hot now to go back out to ride the Catrike anymore today. I have really missed the large 2000 watt hub motor and the 72 volt battery. This thing will scoot along compared to the Bafang motor on the Greenspeed Magnum trike. All it does is destroy my drivetrain.

UPDATE 2 —  I rode 37 trouble free miles today ( 8/22) and thoroughly enjoy myself. My Catrike is just so much more fun to ride than the Greenspeed and it handles and rides better as well. I had it up to 33 mph and it felt rock solid.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

 

ARTICLES, TIPS & REVIEWS ON UTAH TRIKES

Utah Trikes has many things to offer includiing many articles, tips and reviews. Click HERE to see what they have to offer. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Articles, Tips, and Reviews

We love riding our trikes and tweaking them out. Here we document some of our efforts and write our tips. Stay up to date and subscribe to our article feed: 

The Annihilator Meets Full Suspension!
The Electro Tad: Electric power with an affordable price tag.A reliable, affordable trike with an electric upgrade. The Electro Tad features a Falco 500W hub motor and 36V battery to give you a little extra power on the road.
Electrify Your TrikeEver wondered which electric system is best for you and your riding style? Take a look at this article and compare and contrast some of the most popular options.
UT Custom DifferentialBetter traction. Better triking. The all new posi-traction differential from UT Custom will eliminate slipping, avoid tire scrub, and enhance your off roading experience.
The Tricon by AzubYou’re thinking about purchasing an Azub Tricon? It’s one of the best decisions you’re going to make. It’s adjustability, reliability, agility, and beauty built into one impressive machine.
KMX Frame Kit – Your Next ProjectThe do-it-yourself triker’s dream come true. We give you all the essentials and you can mix and match your own components to build your own recumbent trike. It is easy to put together, a fun project, and well worth your time.
Fat Tad Crawler – The Monster Truck of TrikesThe HUGE tires, incredible ground clearance, and awesome gearing on the Fat Tad Crawler will get you through all kinds of terrain. Don’t let sand, snow, mud, water, or rocks stop you from enjoying your recumbent ride.
Rolling with the Rotovelo
The KMX ViperA road machine that will carry you for miles. You’ll love the comfort and the speed that the Viper offers. Use to to commute, get in a killer workout, or simply take a seat and see where it will take you.
The KMX K-3 – A Fun-Size Trike for Kids!Safety, reliability, and easy use all in a fun-size package for the kids. You’ll love the adjustability and the hassle-free set up of the KMX K-3.
Velocity and the KMX VenomA performance trike that will have you flying on the pavement. It’s sturdy, features a 26-inch rear tire, and 27-speed gearing. Great for commuters, speed demons, and every-day riders.
The Revolution Defiance FSA full-suspension trike at a price that won’t break the bank. The all-new Defiance FS by Revolution is comfort and quality that’s sure to go beyond your expectations.
Climbing with the KMX Cobra24-speed drivetrain, low gears for climbing, and a sporty look that will make people stop and stare as you cruise by. It’s the KMX Cobra.
Quality You Can Afford – SunSeeker Eco Delta 3 SXLearn all bout the Eco Delta. If your want to know how this delta trike from its tadpole counterpart, you came to the right place.
Meet the Catrike 559A folding recumbent from Catrike. It features a 26-inch rear wheel, responsive handling, admirable gearing, and it’s so comfortable to ride you’ll want to be riding 24/7. An excellent combination of luxury and performance packed into a quality folding trike: the Catrike 559.
All About Shipping at Utah TrikesWe outline Utah Trikes method for packaging and freight Shipping Trikes. We highly recommend that every customer review this information.
Seeking an Amazing Entry Trike – Sun Seeker Eco Tad SXThis is a detailed review on the Sun Seeker Eco Tad SX. Some people want to know how this more affordable trike compares to the Terra Trike Rover. This article will give you everything you need to know.
Komprehensive Review of the KMX TyphoonExploring the KMX Typhoon: Start here for components, use and popular upgrades!
Trike away the poundsThe only way to shed pounds is if you’re having so much fun, it doesn’t feel like exercise. Read about how I accomplished this with a recumbent trike and turn your daily commute into a cardio workout.
Catrike’s New Plush And Pocketed SeatCatrike recently unveiled a new seat for their trikes. This seat features padding for comfort and enough cargo capability to take care of the casual rider or day-tripper needs.
Affixing a video camera to your trikeThere’s nothing quite like going on an exhilirating ride than to be able to watch it over, and over again. Having someone record you while riding can be fun, but actually having a camera on the trike is even better!
Schwalbe Marathon Plus TiresIf you are looking for some tires that are faster than the stock CST rubber, and you need something nearly bullet proof, then the Marathon Plus tires may do the trick.
Shimano Nexus INTER-8 HubChanging over to an internal rear hub versus the standard derailer is like driving an automatic instead of a standard shift. People ask about it all the time, so here it is.
Ultimate Gearing Modifications For Your TrikeIf you are a gear head like me and like to ride fast, then you are probably looking for some way to modify your gearing. Here I talk about what I’ve done.
Upgrade your chainring for more speedOne of the easiest and cheapest solutions to raising your top-end gearing is to install a bigger chainring. Ashley gives you step-by-step details on how to do it.
Preparing your trike for high speedAre you a speed demon like me? Does pedaling your trike up to 50mph sound like a thrill. Well, here are some of the tricks that I’ve used to make it happen.
Increase your Energy and Speed with Proper HydrationHow to increase your triking speed by just one simple and inexpensive change.
Understanding your tiresThe folks at Schwalbe have provided us with super great tire information. Choosing the right tires can make you ride faster and be more comfortable.
Schwalbe Kojak TiresWho loves ya, baby? Looking for a fast tire with a great look? These racing slicks are incredible.
Shimano Capreo Hub and Cassette ReviewLooking for an easy way to boost your top gears? The Shimano Capreo system is the way to go. Just pop the wheel on and ride faster!
Preparing for the ULCER Century ride111 miles on a trike. We ride around the Utah Lake in the hottest part of the year. Can I do it? I’ve tweaked my trike and trained for months.
Riding the ULCER 2007 Century on a TrikeRiding the ULCER on a trike is something I’ve wanted to do since I had heard about it. Well, I did it. Over 100 miles around the Utah Lake in the hot August sun.
Learning Proper Pedaling TechniqueDo you want to go faster? Does the thought of triking up a hill freak you out? Do your knees hurt when you ride? If you answered yes to any of these questions a new pedaling technique may help you out.
Schwalbe Big Apple TiresThe Big Apples are the tire that has gained the reputation of being the comfort ride. These tires add built-in air suspension to your trike.
Schlumpf High Speed DriveDo you need higher gears? Would you like a simpler drivetrain? Consider the Schlumpf High Speed Drive. It’s one of our favorite solutions.
Are Trikes Safe?An in-depth look at the pros and cons of Recumbent Trikes and how they are safe to ride in traffic or suburban areas.
TerraCycle Idlers and Your Trike’s ChainlineEliminating friction in your trike’s chainline can make a huge difference. Less drag makes pedaling easier, which means you can pedal faster and go longer.
The Nuvinci CVP Hub Transmission – It’s So Smooth!!!The Nuvinci CVP is a totally new type of gearing system for the cycling market. We’ve adapted this technology for use on our trikes. This is a different kind of ride.
Trikes and PVCAre you looking to make some accessories for your trike? The local hardware store may have all you need. With some PVC or ABS tubing, fittings, glue, and a saw you can make some great things.
Building your own TerraTrike standIf you like to tinker, tweak, tune up, and mess with your trike having a stand is invaluable. Some friends have given us the details on how they built their stand.
Why Ride a Trike?Trikes are fun and comfortable, but they are also easy to ride. Whether you are looking to tour, commute, or just ride casually through the neighborhood, the trike should be on your list.
Catrike – A Different Kind Of TrikeThe Catrike frame looks like a piece of pop art. Flowing lines and an integrated seat make this trike different than the others. Find out what makes the Catrike special!
Greenspeed GT5 ReviewThis is a review of the Greenspeed GT5 top of the line touring trike. It can fold and is incredibly comfortable. Check it out.
Catrike Villager ReviewThe highest ground clearance recumbent trike from Big Cat HPV, the Catrike Villager, is a great trike. Read more about it in out Catrike Villager Review.
Utah Trikes – Custom KMX Hand CycleThe challenge was to make a hand cycle for a child in about a week. We pulled some all-nighters and made a child happy for Christmas.
The 2009 KMX TyphoonThe new Typhoon from KMX Karts has been updated. It has a new seat and new tires which make it a serious contender for anyone looking for a bullet proof trike under $1500.
The Dangers of Cross ChainingWith such a wide gear range and a long chain, the term “cross chaining” comes up frequently. Learn what it is and how to avoid it.
Catrike Trail ReviewThe Trail is a great trike for beginners and veterans alike. If you are looking for a trike that doesn’t lay as far back as some of the others and has a little higher seat height consider the Catrike Trail.
Catrike Villager Review by SoniaThe Villager is the cutest trike ever! This trike is mine and you can’t have it.
Sun HT3 SX Handtrike ReviewThe Sun HT3 is easy to ride and fun to use. This trike will give you the upper body workout that you won’t get from your regular bike or trike.
Sun HT3 SX Handtrike ReviewThe Sun HT3 is easy to ride and fun to use. This trike will give you the upper body workout that you won’t get from your regular bike or trike.
Catrike Expedition ReviewThe Expedition is the perfect trike for everday commuting or touring. Its extremely comfortable and is loaded with great components.
Matt’s Catrike 700 ReviewLooking for a fast trike? Well, Matt says this is the fastest trike available. Matt spent a lot of time in the saddle and has some good insight into Catrike’s top-of-the-line model.
Thoughts on the Sun EZ Tad SXMost people think you need to spend a lot of money in order to get a reliable, comfortable, and fun trike. The Sun EZ Tad SX tosses that misconception out the window.
Sun T-3 CX A ReviewLooking for an intermediate cost effective trike? Look no further. The Sun T-3 CX is your trike.
Eggbeat 1/Clipless Pedal ReviewTonight at 9, Clipless shoes may be for you.
Styles, types, and purposes, all in the following article!
330 Miles on a Catrike 700George rode his Catrike 700 330 miles to raise money for those with HIV/AIDS in Northern California.
Customer Review: ICE Sprint with Golden MotorSean gave us an excellent report on his custom ICE Sprint that we equiped with the Golden Motor 1000W system.
HP Velotechnik Gekko FXThe HP Gekko is an fantastic trike for anyone that wants something with a decent gear range and foldability.
The folded dimensions, and style makes it easy to carry, and store this trike in small areas, even a cubical!
The New Catrike Villager and TrailCatrike has made some radical changes to the their lineup with adjustable seats ad a new frame design on the Villager and Trail.
Introducing the New Generation of Villager by Big CatWhen the Villager was first introduced it grabbed a lot of attention with its lightweight frame and high seat. The new Villager G2 adds an adjustable seat for a trike that will fit anybody.
Bikes around the ButtesGeorge Fisher writes about circumnavigating the Buttes is a 40 mile easy ride, both scenic and exhilarating in the northern Sacramento Valley.
The 2011 KMX VenomThe lightest and fastest of the KMX range, it’s a demon for the experienced rider or racer over 18. A light-weight wheel set with narrow, high-pressure tires and road-bike-specific componentry reward riders with superior road-touring performance. Own it – and the road is yours.
EcoSpeed Electric Kit for KMXThe KMX EcoSpeed Mid-Drive will change your riding experience forever. Not only can you ride faster but longer than ever before at great speeds. Fly to and from work at no cost, take long rides with ease, and mostly enjoy the time spent on your EcoSpeed trike.
Introducing the 2012 Catrike RoadCatrike is know for their lightweight, fast trikes, and above all their fine engineering. For 2012 Catrike brought us rear suspension with the new Catrike Road.
The 2012 Catrike Cat-4 Quad by Utah TrikesThe Quad has been designed for those looking for a true pedal car. The additional cargo capacity, traction, and 4-wheel disc braking make it the perfect utility vehicle for touring and commuting.
Brians Thoughts on the Scorpion FS-26Brian from California recently bought a custom Scorpion fs-26 with electric assist from us. Here are his preliminary impressions. . . .

Like I said, they have a bunch of them. So on a rainy day maybe this will give you something to do.

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

A MAJOR BREAKDOWN HAS PUT ME OUT OF ACTION

Ten years have passed since I got my 2013 frame from Catrike to replace under warranty my 2009 frame. Over the years I have had seven e-motors installed on it. Six os them have been rear hub motors meaning that the rear dropouts have had extra stress on them. I never have been impressed with this new style frame. I much preferred the space frame my 2009 trike had. One thing I noticed right off is the rear dropouts. They just are not as strong as those on the space frame. I love Catrikes but I think this is an area which Catrike could and should improve upon.

 Two days ago while pulling up into my driveway from the street I heard something break  and knew I had a major failure as I couldn’t go anywhere. Yep, it was those rear dropouts. Now I am or at least was a very highly skilled weldor and my specialty was repair welding. I knew right away that repair welding this was out of the question regardless how much some want to disagree. So immediately my only thought was to replace the frame … which, of course, would cost a lot of money. And I would still be back to what I consider a problematic rear dropout design which would probably just fail again at some point in time. This was a major failure and I was so blessed that it happened here at home instead of out miles away on a ride.

I looked online for used Catrikes and found some really great deals but none were near me.. Besides truthfully I just don’t have the money at this time. I checked thru my local Catrike dealer on the cost of a replacemejnt frame. It was less than I expected but I could still find a used trike for less. But like I said, that is not an option at this time nor anytime soon. So what is a guy to do?

Fortunately for me I inherited my dad’s genes and am gifted when it comes to working with my hands and doing lots of things. I am innovative. I spent a lifetime fabricating things and doing lots of repair projects. So I started thinking about this challenge and it did not take long before I came up with an idea. I went to work this morning working with paper templates at first trying to see if my idea was feasible. It was! So I went to work. I had a DF mtn. bike hanging from the joists out in the garage. It is steel and the rear dropouts are hardened steel. I knew I would never use the bike again so those rear dropouts were the ticket. I cut them off of the bike frame and modified them as needed to use them on my Catrike. I have the right side done with the exception of bolting it on. The image on the left side is of the broken Catrike rear dropout. The image on the right side is the steel bike rear dropout all fitted in place.

I have part of the left side done and tomorrow  (June 14th as this is posted) I will finish it and start putting everything back together. These should be very strong and certainly they are an extremely inexpensive repair … only costing me a couple of 3/8 bolts, washers and nuts … hopefully less than $5. The bicycle rear dropout has the rear derailleur mount built in it so I don’t have to deal with using the aluminum hanger Catrike used. I am pretty sure this will be stronger than the original Catrike rear dropouts Hopefully I will never encounter this problem again. If everything goes as I think it will I can soon be singing …

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!

…and saved myself some $2000 or more by repairing it myself…

UPDATE:  Murphy’s Law caught up with me. I got it all done but I am leary of it. I don’t trust it. I made the left rear dropout identical to the right side assuming both side were the same. Who would have thought they would be made different from one another?.I am quite concerned that the rear wheel wll slip out of thedropouts and leave me broke down with no way to fix it. I hope it makes a liar out of me.

UPDATE — I am no longer a tadpole trike rider … at least not until I can resolve this situation. I rolled my trike backwards out of the garage to go for a ride and when I attempted to go forward the rear wheel came right out of the rear dropouts. So I loaded my trike into the back of my pickup truck where I keep it and came back into the house. After 4 days of working on it I just don’t feel like working on it anymore. Besides I don’t know what more to do at this point in time. Woe is me! Me is woe!

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

DIDN’T EXACTLY TICKLE

A few days ago on one of the days when it was raining all day long I brought my tadpole trike into the garage to work on it. I was sitting on a mechanics chair on castors  when I started to move the chair back away from my trike. One of the wheels went down into a depression in the concrete floor of the garage and the chair caught and quickly tipped over all so easily dumping me off of it and down onto the floor. I lit right on my tailbone and I am here to tell you it hurt. And days later it still hurts. I am glad to say that it doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it did. And at 76 years old this old body does not deal with such things as well as it did many years ago. Nope, it didn’t exactly tickle.

I asked a few different people to pray for me that the pain would subside and I would heal quickly. I am happy to say God is answering those prayers. I can still feel it but there is very little pain and discomfort now. It still is not tickling. That’s okay, I can do without tickling. It was bothering me a little bit sitting on my trike seat, but now it feels fairly normal.

The mechanics chair is a combination mechanics creeper and chair … a handy gadget. However, I would have to say that it tipped over too easily. I don’t know if that means there is a flaw in its design or what. I sure do like to be able to sit down while working on my trike. This old body appreciates it. It just doesn’t appreciate getting dumped over and falling onto that hard concrete floor. Well, I learned how easily and quickly it can happen so hopefully I will be more careful when moving it around in the future. I don’t think I will soon forget the matter. Nope, it wasn’t a ticklish matter.

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 three membership vetting questions.

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!

YA CAN’T WIN FOR LOSING (ABOUT INNER TUBES)

I don’t think any normal person likes getting flats. I know I sure don’t. For years I used Schwabe Marathon Plus tires and never had a flat while using them.

A few years ago I switched to Schwalbe Big Ben Plus as I wanted to go with a balloon tire. I like the ride and handlling of the Big Ben Plus but they don’t offer the wear mileage nor as much flat protection as the Marathon Plus. I have always used standard inner tubes (shown as normal in the photo above). When I switched to the Big Ben Plus tires I decided to use the heavy duty thorn resistant inner tubes as the tires are plenty roomy inside to accommadate them.. My thinking was “since the BB+ don’t offer as much flat protection as the M+ tires do adding the HD inner tubes would increase the flat protection”. And they do, but there is a trade off. With the much thicker wall inner tube comes stiffness. With these inner tubes the sidewalls of the tires can’t yield like they can when a standard inner tube is used. Oh BTW, the cost for the HD inner tubes is about doulble what the standard inner tubes cost.

What I am saying is using the HD inner tubes means the soft ride balloon tires are capable of providing is sacrificed. It is a tradeoff. I am tempted to go back to using standard inner tubes just to experience the difference it would make in the ride.

I just had a thought worth mentioning here. Whatever a person does don’t mix up inner tubes, especially on the two front wheels. Don’t have a HD inner tube in one side and a standard inner tube in the  tire on the other side. That could seriously effect the handling of the trike and result in a wreck.

Well, that is my story and for now I am stuck with it. Besides, I just restocked my supply of HD inner tubes. My plan is to …

KEEP ON TRIKIN’

You are invited to come join the Tadpole Rider Facebook Group. Please note that in order to join you must first answer the three membership vetting questions.

A FREE GIFT AWAITS YOU!

Why wish upon a star when you can talk to the  One (Jesus) Who created them?

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS FOR THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

“NORMAL” is not coming back … JESUS IS!