I’ve been cycling on and off for the past 4 years, more for fun and

exercise than for practicality. However, rising energy costs and such

provides me with a great excuse to ride more often.

I no longer ride a bike, haven’t ridden one for over 2 years.

“What?  You just said you’re riding more often, you lying jerk!”

I might be a jerk (sometimes), but I’m not lying. I’m a big guy,

so riding on a bike saddle (no matter how much gel padding one uses) is

not a comfortable experience. So a couple years ago, I bought a

recumbent trike. 

My purchase was the Sun EZ3-USX Recumbent Trike. (pictures above)

Recumbents don’t have little saddles. They have a SEAT.  I chose a trike instead of a recumbent bike because of

the increased stability of three wheels. I chose the Sun EZ3-USX

as it’s an “entry level” model. Still not cheap (about $1,000), but

much less that other trikes. *It’s more like pedaling

an easy chair instead of a bike.*  It’s a little slow

on the hills, but once you get used to it, it’s not so bad. You just

gotta get your “bent legs.” You can’t use your weight like you can on

a bike, but you’re braced against the seat back, so you can use your

leg muscles more effectively.

These were the modifications I had made:

1. Primo Comet Kevlar-belt tires. Yes, I have bullet-proof material in my tires. I

can’t recommend them enough if you’re riding on city streets. I had a

lot of flats until I upgraded to these. I also use thorn-resistant

tubes and tire liners as well, but nothing has yet to get through the

belt.

2. Lights! Visibility is a good thing. You sit lower to the ground

(about the same as a car) than on a bike, so you want people in cars to

see you. So I have headlights on the front, and red blinky lights on

the back. During the day, I’m hard to miss since I might be the only

person in the city riding a ‘bent trike. It tends to get a lot of

attention.

3. Electric assist motor. There are days when you’re not feeling up to

a 7-mile or more trek, or you’re really getting killed by a hill.

That’s where the electric assist comes in. Note I said “assist.” I only

use it occasionally, and I pedal when it’s in use. I can maintain 12-15

MPH on the trike by myself, but I can maintain 18-20 easily with the

pedal/motor combo. When I get to my destination, I disconnect the

battery pack and carry it elsewhere to recharge. It also comes in handy

for an acceleration boost when traffic lights turn green, so motorists

behind me don’t have to wait for me as long for me to get about 370 lbs

(me and trike) moving. I picked Wilderness Energy because they’re inexpensive and reliable.

4. Rain gear (pants, jacket, helmet cover) stowed on the trike, just in case.

I am currently committed to triking to work (about 7 miles each way)

at least every other day until weather gets below 40 degrees. With the

right gear and attitude, it’s definitely a realistic goal, even in

Ohio.

So, if you like riding, are tired of paying for gas for relatively short commutes, but get a bit saddle-sore… Recumbents (trikes/bikes) are a good way to go.