Tricycle Round Up: Three Wheels Better than Two?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney 
on 01. 9.09
Photo: HyperSport by Windcheetah
Pedal propulsion is as revered as solar and wind power at TreeHugger. But highly efficient human propelled transport isn’t limited to two wheeled bicycles. Oh, no siree. You can equally enjoy many of the same benefits, (and others) with three wheels. After a trawl through our archives we’ve rounded up a mob of tricycles for your viewing pleasure. (Pedal powered quad bikes also coming soon.)
Twike
Developed in Germany, the Twike has dual pedal sets so two riders can give its aerodynamic shell as a good push along, whilst steering via a joystick. An electric version offers a top speed of 88 kph (55 mph) and a range of up to 144km (90 miles.) But at $35,000 USD the Twike is, alas, beyond the reach of many. Twike
TrioBike
Danish designed, the Triobike attempts to do everything. It’s a seven speed internal hub bike that converts to a kiddy or cargo hauling trike, which in turn becomes a stroller, sans the bike. A modern interpretation of the bakfiets or moederfiets, the Triobike also appreciates a well stocked wallet or purse. TrioBike
Go-One
For about $10,300 USD you can have the human powered equivalent of, say, the Aptera. Conceived by one of the designers of the SMART car, the Go-One is a carbon-fiber, fiberglass and Kevlar enclosed trike that sports a headlight, rear light and even turn signals. An electric-assist motor is also in the works too. Go-One
Kangaroo
A Danish trike by that can transport one or two children, up to about the ages of 10-12, with seats that adjust to redistribute the weight. Or can be used as a load monster (well, up to 100kg anyhow) for delivery or grocery runs. Has a 3-point steering system for stability. Kangaroo
Windcheetah
A go-fast trike for those with over $4,000 USD in the piggybank. Fix optional fairings to your custom made Windcheetah and you should expect a 12% increase in speed over a conventional road bike. Although a winner of human-powered vehicle championships, UK’s AVD also make luggage carriers for touring. Windcheetah
Zigo Leader
Borrowing, it seems, on the creativity of the Triobike or the Kangaroo, the North American Zigo performs similar feats of transformation. A bicycle, kiddy caddy and stroller can be configured from the Zigo’s various elements, with the manufacturer espousing 30 seconds for the necessary conversions. $1,350 USD. Zigo Leader
More cool human powered trikes on page 2!
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GREAT review of trikes. But US readers should know about Catrike:
http://www.catrike.com/
I ride one. A tadpole style trike is a fast, comfortable and stable machine. Not to mention it is the most fun vehicle I have ever operated.... motorized or human powered. Too low to ride on public streets? No, not my experience at all.
That Twike would be perfect for cold weather, especially here in Ohio. But for $35k? Don't think so. Hopefully something like the Twike comes along that is much cheaper.
Oh, and also even more models can be found in the US from the wonderful TerraTrike company:
http://www.terratrike.com/
The Triobike is Danish, not Dutch.
_____________________
Writers Note: Too true, Shaun. I did correct that in one of my drafts. Dunno how that error crept back in again. Thanks for picking it up. Now corrected.
I am a proud owner of a Lightfoot cycle Greenway recumbent delta cargo trike. One of the few trikes actually manufctured in the United States. They have numerous trike models in production at www.lightfootcycles.com
There are a few manufactures of pretty popular non-faired trikes you missed:
Wizwheelz - http://www.terratrike.com/
Cattrike - http://www.cattrike.com/
Trice - http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/
Trisled - http://www.trisled.com.au/
HP Velotechnik - http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/index_e.html
Hase - http://www.hasebikes.com/
But there are also a number of manufactures of faired trikes or velomobiles such as:
Greenspeed Glyde - http://www.greenspeed.com.au/Glyde.htm
Quest - http://en.velomobiel.nl/quest/
There are a number of them, this list http://www.velomobiles.net/obtain.html#bentlists might be helpful.
The author didn't MISS anything per se. If you read his comments at the beginning this was a gathering of trikes rounded up from their archives. Trikes that had rated a special mention in treehugger previously for some reason or another.
Archives...smarchives....
If this is supposed to be a list of cool human powered trikes it is missing some of the coolest ever made:
Versatron Vector - first trike over 60 mph
Vacuum Velocipede - ultra low leaning trike
Atomic Zombie Gladiator - chopper
Interesting that Twike is named, but the 3-wheel Mini Ellert from Denmark (now City-EL selling in Germany) is not. Going back into archives for Twike would seem to bring up the 1989 City-EL.
Strange that 3-wheelers go back to the 1800s at least, but are struggling for public acceptance and explanation these days! Thanks for yet another "hmmm - what is out there?" article!
check out www. feetz.nl
a folding trike that works as a shopping cart/stroller.
I think this could be very nice. I have ridden a "reverse trike" (two wheels in front)for 6 years, winter and summer in Canada, and I have found them to be the only suitable trike/bike for canadian winters. They don't fall over and have FANTASTIC traction on the rear wheel...
Mine is a dutch trike, and I am trying to figure out how to get/make them here.
Interestingly, in 1972 a "reverse trike" was made in Calgary ,Alberta and called " The CANADA BIKE".
I have one as well as an article from the time.
Daniel in Vernon BC
i have lived car-free for 20 yrs. now i use a Catrike Trail pulling a Burley Nomad trailer for all my personal transportation needs. i say yes! It is very possible to go carfree. i am 57 and very healthy and with money in the bank that would have gone to alll the expenses of a car. Also it is practical i rode 14,000 miles last year. i do at least one cross country trip a year. Trikes are safer and faster then two wheels.
Daniel in Vernon BC...
contact me please...
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