Recumbent Trikes

What is a recumbent trike?

Recumbent trikes (or recumbent tricycles) are quite similar to recumbent bicycles but have three wheels rather than two. Recumbents (both bikes and trikes) have a very low profile on the road. Recumbent trikes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with riders appreciating the inherent balance and painfree riding.

Recumbent trikes come in two different varieties:

delta trike --- This variety has two rear wheels and one front wheel just like the classic design of a child's tricycle (like the trike pictured above). One notable advantage of the delta trike design is the ability to carry large amounts of cargo due to the rear stability; as a result, delta trikes are a popular option for touring and delivery purposes.
tadpole trike --- This variety has two front wheels and one rear wheel (like the trike pictured to the right). The tadpole design is very popular for touring and sporting.

There are several advantages to riding a recumbent trike:

no need to disengage from the pedals when stopped
ability to turn sharply at speed
ability to climb even steep gradients at low speed (due to low gearing and balance)
greater accessibility for people with disabilities (particularly limb disabilities; see the handcycling discussion below)

Tandem recumbent trikes are also available for riders who want to share the experience!

How do I buy a recumbent trike?

There are many different dealers of recumbent trikes. It's also possible to buy a recumbent trike on ebay or craigslist. Please visit the Buying Guide page for more details on the various options for purchasing a trike.

I want to build my own. Where can I get recumbent trike plans?

Though certainly not an option for the faint of heart, plans can be found to construct your very own recumbent trike. For an example, follow this link for a set of plans from the IHPVA (International Human Powered Vehicle Association). You can probably find other plans by googling "recumbent trike plans". I even came across tandem recumbent trike plans here.

What is a handcycle?

A great thing about recumbent trikes is that they can be re-designed in order to be hand-powered rather than leg-powered. A handcycle is a hand-powered recumbent trike and, as such, allows use by riders with little or no use of their legs. Handcycles (or hand cycles) usually have a delta design with front wheels powered by hand cranks. Hand cyclists can achieve very high speeds in competitons. For a wide range of handcycle choices and more information, I recommend visiting the Handcycle Store on-line.

What is a Velocycle (Velomobile)?