Here's Sparky!

[lauraelmore1033]

Just have to share my newest addition. There's not so much interest in recumbents here, so I'm hoping to instill some bike envy here...
Sparky makes my butt so happy!
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17491&d=1419349337

[ny biker]

Very nice. Enjoy!!

[Crankin]

For a second, I thought you were talking about Sparky, the ASU mascot!
But, congrats on your new bike.
And, it wouldn't hurt if we brought back the old Sparky!

[lauraelmore1033]

Had to google that, but I like the comparison. Sparky is zippy and naughty and a little bit devilish...

[smittykitty]

Gotta love a "Happy Butt".

[lauraelmore1033]

Honestly, it makes me wonder why there aren't more recumbents out there, since I can't possibly be the only one who suffers riding even the most comfortable roadbike seat. (especially since becoming menopausal) Such a simple solution to the problem!

[IBrakeforPastry]

Congrats on the shiny new ride!

[cosc]

Looks like the merriest of Christmas presents. Enjoy!

[lauraelmore1033]

Looks like the merriest of Christmas presents. Enjoy!

Indeed! I will!

[Catrin]

Have fun with Sparky, love the name!

[smilingcat]

Yes, all those trikes are fun to ride. The best part is you can go up a hill as slow as you want to go without ever worrying about tipping over.

I've been so busy that I've been putting off on getting a cat trike pocket. I'm bit jealous at your new, brand spanking new ride. Enjoy your ride. Personally, I think everyone should have one of these.:D

[lauraelmore1033]

Yes, all those trikes are fun to ride. The best part is you can go up a hill as slow as you want to go without ever worrying about tipping over.

I've been so busy that I've been putting off on getting a cat trike pocket. I'm bit jealous at your new, brand spanking new ride. Enjoy your ride. Personally, I think everyone should have one of these.:D

I know, I am totally undeserving of another new bike! The realization that people selling used trikes typically wanted as much for used as it cost to get new was perfect justification. Yes, the stability on hills was my main motivation for wanting to get a trike. I love the Bellandare, but the hills really freaked me out and it didn't seem to be getting better. Trikes for Everyone!

[Catrin]

Yes, all those trikes are fun to ride. The best part is you can go up a hill as slow as you want to go without ever worrying about tipping over...

I LIKE this part of it :D Perhaps someday I will be in a position to have a trike and get to ride again. Right now even IF I had the $$$, I wouldn't have any way to transport it or even get it up/down the narrow stairs to my apt. Not with my shoulder & neck...but I REALLY LIKE the idea of a bike that won't tip over on the uphill if you get too slow.

[lauraelmore1033]

I LIKE this part of it :D Perhaps someday I will be in a position to have a trike and get to ride again. Right now even IF I had the $$$, I wouldn't have any way to transport it or even get it up/down the narrow stairs to my apt. Not with my shoulder & neck...but I REALLY LIKE the idea of a bike that won't tip over on the uphill if you get too slow.

In theory, Sparky folds up as small as 32"x24"and could be transported in just about any trunk. He's 36 pounds--so not too much heavier than your average hybrid. That just leaves the price barrier, which is formidable. Trident Trikes (for instance) makes some well respected folding trikes (Spike, Stowaway, Titan)for about what you'd pay for a modestly priced roadie...
'

[OakLeaf]

Very nice, and looks practical too! Have fun!

[lauraelmore1033]

Oh yes,I'm considering getting a trailer and going car free (almost)

[Sky King]

Sweet, we have a friend who has a great trike. The Bike Hermit just helped him install a great dynamo lighting system. About 3 years ago he rode it pretty much across the country with a tag-along -trike attached for his 10 year old daughter. They had a blast. He jokes about once you go trike you'll never go back to a two wheeled anything

[lauraelmore1033]

Oh, I have to stay current with two wheel skills if I want to tour with dh on the tandem. I do love our beautiful tandem, but it's being custom made and fitted for me doesn't stop it from causing me a great deal of pain. If I could bring dh "to the dark side" with me, everything would be perfect.
I think sparky has the fittings for a hub dynamo light. Would be pretty cool to have!

[FahrRad]

I do love our beautiful tandem, but it's being custom made and fitted for me doesn't stop it from causing me a great deal of pain. If I could bring dh "to the dark side" with me, everything would be perfect.

Now I understand why you want a Pino....I want one for you too! Many couples turn to a Pino because one person had an arm or hip injury and can't ride a "normal" bike without pain. We discovered it just as we about to give up a long search after a custom frame failed to solve the problems caused by our height and weight differences...even though the custom allowed by husband, who's much taller and 50% heavier, to finally sit comfortably behind me, I just couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground on steep inclines, and the handling was still uncomfortably unsteady... What a relief when we got our hands on the pino! Even though my husband never complained about the handling of the other bikes we had or criticized my driving, he did admit once that he finally doesn't feel like he's going to die every time we take the bike out....

I really hope you get a chance to try a pino--even if you have no need for ANOTHER bike (but really, who can say that and mean it?) I'm sure that if you can get him on the bike you won't have to do any convincing. It's so easy to drive, and being able to go out for hours with you without pain is worth any price, right? We were able to search on the Hase website for dealers, and their listing usually included which models they had available for test rides. We were able to "rent" the bike for a week, which allowed us to try it in all kinds of terrain (and weather), and then the "rent," including the deposit, was applied to the purchase when we placed the order for our own. Maybe your trike dealer could get one in for you to try.

If you ever come to Germany send me a PN and we can meet up so you can take ours for a spin!

[emily_in_nc]

Beautiful trike! We rode a lot of flat rail-trails and bike paths over the past year all over the US and saw a lot of recumbents. They're just perfect for flat trails, and if I lived in a place where I could store an endless number of bikes, I'd add one to the fleet for sure. We have owned long-wheelbase single recumbents and a recumbent tandem in the past, and they were really, really fun. The hills were tough (since they were all heavy bikes), so we ultimately sold them and went back to uprights, but they certainly have their benefits!

[lauraelmore1033]

Even though my husband never complained about the handling of the other bikes we had or criticized my driving, he did admit once that he finally doesn't feel like he's going to die every time we take the bike out....


If you ever come to Germany send me a PN and we can meet up so you can take ours for a spin!
Ha! It was a long time before I felt I wasn't going to die when we went out on the roads on our tandem--especially on curvy descents! Dh is a lot stronger rider, but I am a nervous nelly, downhill weenie! The Pino does look like it would solve the pain issues, but I suspect the learning-to-trust-the-captain's-riding-skills issues would crop back up. That is such a kind offer! Rome is the closest we've ever been to Germany, and I suspect that will probably never change, unfortunately...