Adult trike for balance disorder?

[tiva]

Hi-
My uncle introduced me to road biking after he had to stop marathon running. And now, alas, at 75 he has developed an odd balance disorder that limits his mobility. He switched from his road bike to a recumbant trike, but it's very hard for him to get in and out of (his wife needs to haul him up, and the bike weighs a ton). He refuses to use a wheel chair because he thinks it makes him look old, and so his mobility has become really restricted--not much fun for someone who was running multiple marathons each year until 5 years ago.

So I'm looking for suggestions for a lightweight, stable adult trike with a fairly upright position. This one looks pretty nifty (it folds! It's 21 lbs! The old guy looks so happy on it!), but I don't know anyone who has tried it:



Does anyone have any suggestions? I hate to see my uncle so restricted.

[TsPoet]

This is not quite so high, but is easier to get on/off than the Tadpole trikes.
http://www.greenspeed.com.au/anura_main.html
(I know that's an australian page, but they aren't too hard to get in the US).
If money isn't an option, a similar trike
http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents...ent-trikes.htm

[Trek420]

I gather that part of his issue is a traditional 'bent or trike is heavier though would resolve the balance challenge. That one in the picture looks sooooo light. My only reservation would be the non standard tires/tubes.

Other than that it looks like a hoot to ride.

[pll]

My only reservation would be the non standard tires/tubes.

My guess is that the wheels are solid rubber, like in some caster wheels. Looks like fun to ride it.

One suggestion might be to try a few with your uncle -- I searched Craigslist and different trikes appeared for reasonable prices. Getting in and out with a balance problem can be tricky, so if the idea is to keep him as independent as possible, this is a major issue.

[tiva]

Thanks, all. He loves his recumbant trike (which is similar to the Anura), but it's a major production to go for a ride. Two people are needed to haul him up from the bike, and to get the bike into the car, etc. I'm hoping to find something light and stable that he can use for everyday mobility--around the house, , shopping, going out downtown. Right now, because he hates the thought of a wheelchair, he's essentially confined to his house unless we can get him into the big recumbant trike.