What’s that funny looking conveyance that man is sitting on in the photo on my Instagram feed? That is a recumbent tricycle. My husband has Parkinson’s Disease. It affects his balance and endurance. Riding a bicycle was getting a bit risky. He’d taken a few spills. So, we decided he needed something more stable. Those big trikes aren’t cool. But recumbents definitely are, even for people without mobility problems.
This is a one person trike, although they can be made for two. It’s geared like a bicycle, and this one has the advantage of a small battery-powered motor that can either assist in pedaling, or propel the rider along without effort. With the motor alone, it can go up to 40kmh. Because my husband tires easily, he can use it to assist getting up hills, or when his legs just can’t pedal anymore. The recumbent position allows you to pedal with greater efficiency, and it is so much more comfortable than a regular bicycle. Having ridden this one, I don’t know why anyone would want to sit hunched over on a bicycle enduring sore bottom, wrists, shoulders, and neck. There are recumbent bicycles too, which I’d love to try.
This link takes you to a video of Thomas sharing the road with the snowmobile trail groomer back in January when he first got the trike. You don’t want to travel icy roads like these on two wheels!
Every Day a Little Better 