Neck....again. Sigh

[Catrin]

This is SO true! DH and I test rode them a few years. They are like little go-carts! We would own them except we already have a lot of bikes, and have no where to store them that is convenient. Plus, we know we'll be moving (potentially to somewhere a lot smaller depending on if/where I get in med school and then (hopefully) where I match for residency) - too much uncertainty for now. But I will have one one day!

I must admit that this becomes more interesting the more I hear and look at pictures. Unsure how realistic it would be with my car and an upstairs apartment, but it is worth of lengthy consideration. For now, my budget won't allow anything like this, even at a good price. My goal for 2014 is to finally develop an emergency fund, and I am afraid that buying a new bike isn't the way to get there. Perhaps, however, in 2015...

[Rebecca19804]

Hi Catrin

Sorry to hear of your dilemma.

If you've got a bit of time on your hands at some point, my friend Helen's blog may be of interest. Due to a problem with one arm so that she can't put weight on it, she cycles (extensively!) on a series of recumbent trike. She doesn't talk much about her health problem on her blog, but you can get a feel for all the types of riding she does, here in the UK and in Germany, with the trikes.

All the best

[smilingcat]

If you've got a bit of time on your hands at some point, my friend Helen's blog may be of interest.

Your friend, Helen, has a wonderful web site. Spent some time reading about her test ride and purchase of the velomobile.

She pointed out lot of pluses of a velomobile and a trike that people may not be aware of. So please let her know I appreciate all the information she has provided.

It is definitely worth spending time reading her posts.

Thanks.

[Catrin]

It is indeed a very nice blog, thanks for posting it! I probably won't go this route for a couple of reasons, but it sounds like your friend has had, and is having a great deal of fun with it! The information is quite useful and thanks!

[Rebecca19804]

Your friend, Helen, has a wonderful web site. Spent some time reading about her test ride and purchase of the velomobile.

She pointed out lot of pluses of a velomobile and a trike that people may not be aware of. So please let her know I appreciate all the information she has provided.

It is definitely worth spending time reading her posts.

Thanks.

Helen asked me to post this reply on her behalf!

"From Auntie Helen: Thanks so much for the comments about my blog - I'm glad to know that it's helpful. I don't dwell too much on the medical reasons for riding (which are many - I have recumbenting friends who ride because of neck, back, leg, balance and arm problems) as I think there are more significant reasons for riding a recumbent and a trike in particular - fun, safe, fast (not that I personally am fast). There are of course disadvantages (the space they take in storage, difficulties on some trains, they cost more than normal bikes) but the advantages very significantly outweigh the disadvantages.

For Catrin, the recumbent trike world is very friendly and lots of people lend out their trikes to people for test rides (my spare trike regularly goes to other people who have short-term injuries or just want to give it a go) so it's possible you might be able to borrow/hire one near to you to see if it might help you out - or to help you rule it out completely (although I think you've already decided it's probably not the best option). There are lots of Americans on the ICE Trikes Yahoo Group, for example, as I think ICE sell well across the pond.

Anyway, I'm glad that people enjoyed reading my blog. I'm moving to Germany in a month's time and will be doing lots more cycling in my Velomobile and on my trike whilst there, plus will be sampling lots of different German cakes and pastries, so I hope some of you will come back and have a read now and again at www.auntiehelen.co.uk.

Auntie Helen"

[emily_in_nc]

...the recumbent trike world is very friendly and lots of people lend out their trikes to people for test rides (my spare trike regularly goes to other people who have short-term injuries or just want to give it a go) so it's possible you might be able to borrow/hire one near to you ...

I can vouch for this. While I was out riding on N. Padre Island, where we spent January, I came up upon a woman on a recumbent trike. I told her I liked her bike, and she immediately said "Want to try it?"

I didn't, because the last thing I need is another bike now with our nomadic lifestyle (already can't bring all three of my bikes along), but I thanked her just the same. She said she had gotten it due to multiple physical limitations and she absolutely loved it. She was quite slow but was definitely enjoying the ride. I thought it was neat she immediately offered to let me try it it. I am sure it's fun!

[Fredwina]

I'll agree, trikes a hoot!