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Hey Mike,
Good for you. Yes most any recumbent rider is going to blow the USX trike away.
If yours is the EZ3-USX remember you are pushing 65 pounds empty compared to something probably under 35#. With the Honda assist you've added a bunch more to the base weight. Weight really can dampen your speed and make your work a lot harder than on the 2 wheel bents; just the extra wheel causes that much more road friction.
If yours is the EZ3-USX remember you are pushing 65 pounds empty compared to something probably under 35#. With the Honda assist you've added a bunch more to the base weight. Weight really can dampen your speed and make your work a lot harder than on the 2 wheel bents; just the extra wheel causes that much more road friction.
We just got a Hase Kettwiesel at 35# and my wife can do up to 15mph on it where with the USX she could only get about 8. I ride the Sun now with her and it is fun to see her kick it up and enjoy it. We get lots of looks as we ride in our hi color bright green shirts and gloves.
A couple of years ago when I was in better shape, I tried the Sun with my Eau Claire Pie Riders bike group. I was able to pace ok with them down the Chippewa Trail til they left it
to do the local roads. They dropped me like a stone. So I went back to the trail and rode alone til they eventually returned to the trail; I had gone may 4 miles and they at least twice as far? But due to leaves, sticks on the paved trail I sure felt more secure and did not worry about falling. So the trike does that for you for sure. For a cheap hitch I added a radiator hose to the rear and "plugged" in an old kid trailer; used screw type clamps on the hose to the bike and for the trailer (easy on off). I plan to make runs to the grocery store 3 miles away with that. More weight but I can do it with out being in a hurry as the way is pretty flat. Have a small cooler in it for milk, etc. I did a 22 mile ride (sans trailer) once but was tired when I finished that. That is about as far as I have gone with it.
I also ride a Rans Status XP and while it is pretty fast,
my heart won't let me get to 18 without a slight down grade, and my group likes to ride like that. So I fall behind and then everybody waits at the next stop in the road and off we go again when I get there. Downhill I usually am out or close to the front leading. Those rides are 20-30, trails and roads.
Wife and I hope to seek out other "slower" trike riders next season for some trail rides in our Wisconsin area. Most all rails to trails are paved now here.
Anyway fun to read your story.
Dave Anderson
Mike <schutteonduty@...> wrote:
I rode with the group to Old Sac and back today. There were a lot of
Easy Riders/ Gold Rush bikes, a few trikes, one Screamer, a couple
Rans, and serval other bents. I ride a Sun USX trike with power-
assist.
The ride started with a long downhill to a 4-way stop. Did I mention
that I am a slow rider. By the time I had ridden down to the 4-way
stop there were no riders to be seen. So it was time to increase my
speed to catch-up. I do not mind being the last rider, but being
dropped from the group after 1/3 mile into the ride. I reached down
and pulled the starter chord that brought my Honda engine to life.
Using a combination of engine and human pedalling I increased my
speed to 20 mph. Once I entered the American Bike Trail I kept my
speed at 15 mph. I didn't see any bent riders from our group until
arriving at Old Sac. Sorry, I forgot the eating establishment name,
but it was a nice stop to talk to my fellow riders.
Then it was time to return, and I left earlier than the other riders
to get a head start down the American Bike Trail again. At around
mile 8 guess who passed me like I was standing still? All the bent
riders. Oh well, someday I will be a stronger rider, but at least I
am riding and really enjoying the wind in the face, the heavy
breathing, sweating like a dog, but really enjoying being out doors.
I will be at the Nov ride? YES! I can not begin to tell you how
much fun it was. I was not a fast rider, but I got to see the tree
leaves turning color, The smiles on other bicyclist faces when I
waved at them and said Hi. To me this was a touch of heaven.
So if you are thinking of riding with this group in Nov, but are
scared that you ride too slow. I will be there and we can ride
together and join the group in Old Sac. Just remember I ride slow.
Mike
Rocklin
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