Trikes not just for kids

When I bought my fifth bicycle two years ago, I vowed never to buy another.

But I recently took a recumbent trike out for a test ride.

Now the only question is not whether I will buy a trike but when.

One of the sales pitches for recumbent trikes is that they are more comfortable than bicycles. They literally force you to recline on the job.

The fact that trikes come with three wheels instead of two makes them more stable than regular bicycles.

If you somehow manage to fall from a trike, you won’t travel far, and certainly not as far as you could fall from a standard bicycle.

Most trike owners I have visited with on my hometown bike paths in the Washington, D.C.-area are seniors. They have told me they opted for trikes because they were uncomfortable riding regular bikes, some due to various ailments. Even paraplegics can ride trikes, thanks to the availability of hand-propelled models.

Many recumbents are stout enough to carry a rack and all the gear required for a cross-country tour.

Some trikes also fold, making them easier to transport and store. But before you pay extra for a folding trike, make sure it will fit into your car.

One advantage bikes have over recumbents is that the former are generally faster up hills, at least shorter hills that aren’t particularly steep. Bike riders can stand up on their pedals on hills, adding their weight and the strength of their arms and core to their ascents.

There’s no way to stand up on the pedals of a trike. So if you invest in a trike, make sure it has low enough gears to let you pedal up any mountains you plan to climb with your legs.

I can see myself using a recumbent to cruise bike paths, and I would love to ride one on an extended tour, and maybe on the 4,211-mile TransAmerica Trail.

With a trike, you might  be able to do that, too.

If you like the idea of riding outdoors under your own power but aren’t comfortable on a bike, try a trike. It may open the door for you to start cycling.