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Riding a tricycle has become a great outdoor exercise option for a lot of adults. It has become the next best option for people with muscle and joint issues but still wishes to enjoy the outdoors and experience the cardiovascular benefits of riding a bicycle.
If you are considering purchasing an adult tricycle, there are lots of things you need to know about riding a tricycle. Lucky for you, you can find all the important information in this article!
Tricycle Vs. Bicycle
Once you take a ride on your tricycle, you will be surprised to know how different it works from that of a bicycle. If you want to know how different these two things can be, take a look at these two elements:
1. Wheel Position
The most obvious difference between the two is the number and position of the wheels that they have. From its name, bicycle only has two wheels—one on the front and the other at the back.
On the other hand, adult tricycles feature three wheels—one in the front and two smaller wheels at the back. The addition of this wheel boosts the bike’s stability and prevent it from tipping over, making things a whole lot easier to the user.
2. Seat
Another main difference between the two is the seat. As compared to bicycles, the seat of tricycles is flatter. The flatness of the seat allows the user to sit upright and prevent him from leaning forward which is the case with a bicycle. This allows the user to feel more comfortable and relaxed, allowing him to exert more energy in pedaling and therefore, burn more calories in the process.
How To Ride An Adult Tricycle
As mentioned, riding a tricycle is different from riding a bicycle. While the former is considered to be easier and more comfortable, it will take some getting used to. With that in mind, here are some steps that you can take:
Step 1: Place the tricycle on a flat surface then get up on it. Carefully sit on the bike’s seat. Once you feel that the bike is already stable enough, put your feet on the pedal and your hands on the handlebars.
After that, you do not need to do any balancing acts—that is one of the trike advantages that you can enjoy.
Step 2: Once you get the feel of it, try to pedal the trike. Do this slowly but surely. Make sure to give your time to adjust to it. Keep in mind that the tricycle sits a lot lower than a bike so you will be riding near traffic on the road and that may require a few adjustments.
Step 3: Familiarize yourself with the brakes. Do not ever go on a road trip without checking out the trike’s brake. Most of the trikes in the market feature hand brakes located near its handlebars.
Before you go out on your road trip, make sure to know where the brakes are. Moreover, you need to make sure that the brakes are working properly. Do this experiment in your driveway or in your neighborhood and not out in the highway.
Safety Tips You Need To Know On Riding A Tricycle
Now that you are familiar with the basic steps on how to ride a tricycle, the next thing that you should keep in mind is the safety tips that you need to put into practice while you are on the road. Here are some of them:
1. Check The Trike’s Condition Before Hitting The Road
Aside from testing the brakes, there are a lot of other things that you need to check and do before you go on your trip. These are as follows:
Safety Equipment: To stay safe on the road, you need to make sure that you have the following safety equipment—reflectors, bicycle flags, and lights. These will ensure that you are highly visible on the road.
In the event that your lights run on battery, make sure that they have enough juice to last your trip. If possible, try bringing extra batteries with you.
Seat: Check to see if the seat is properly fastened and positioned.
Handlebars: You use the handlebars to steer the bike to the direction you want to go. Because of this, it is important to make sure that they are properly secured.
Tires: The tires should be well-inflated and are free of holes and leaks to prevent it from deflating.
2. Wear A Helmet
Of course, you know this already. You may think that since it is less likely that you are going to tip over in a trike, you do not need a helmet. But let me tell you that even though trikes are more stable, accidents may still happen.
A helmet can protect your head when you run into something or some things run into you.
3. Follow Traffic Rules
This is another no-brainer but we do have to emphasize this one since a lot of people tend to forget about the importance of obeying traffic rules.
If you are not familiar with the laws regarding trikes in your area, it is recommended that you research about it.
One thing that you should keep in mind is the fact that pedestrians are the main priority when on the road. Because of this, it is a must that you always give way to the pedestrians crossing the street.
You may think that these laws are useless but please keep in mind that these are enforced not just for your benefit but for the welfare of the pedestrians and other motorists as well.
4. Always Watch Your Back
No, we are not talking about someone backstabbing you. We literally mean to watch your back—the back of your trike that is. This is because the widest part of the bike is located at the back portion which can become a problem when you are driving through tight areas or crowded streets.
Before entering a path, make sure that it is wide enough for the rear part of your trike.
5. Employ Hand Signals
One advantage that a motorcycle has over a trike is it has light signals. But don’t you worry—this issue can be easily addressed. When riding a trike and you wish to make a turn, you can employ hand signals instead.
If you are taking a right turn, try stretching your right arms horizontally with your palms facing forward. When turning left, do the same with your left arms.
Hold the brake levers while you are climbing on and off the tricycle. Getting on the tricycle is surprisingly tricky. Getting on a bike is easy peasy but it can be a bit challenging on a trike. This is because the seat of the trike is a lot lower and you cannot tilt the trike towards you as you would do with a bike.
With that in mind, the best way to ride a trike is to hold the brake levers tightly as you get up on the trike. In this way, the bike won’t slip away from you.
Only let go of the brakes once you are already planted firmly on the trike’s seat.
6. Plan For Turns In Advance
Unlike bikes, trikes do not have the ability to make very sharp turns. Yes, they are capable of sharp turns but making such turns can increase your risk of tipping over.
If you are used to riding a bike, you will tend to lean while making a turn. This is one thing that you should avoid doing when making a turn in a trike. With trikes, you have to keep your weight centered or as near to it as possible. This is the only way to ensure that all of the wheels are properly grounded, reducing your chances of getting into an accident.
To know more about trikes, watch this video:
In Summary
Tricycles may be the weirdest looking form of transportation for a lot of people but it can deliver one of the most efficient workouts that you can ever try. It is also one of the most economical and comfortable forms of transportation that you can ever use.
Just make sure to keep in mind that you put into practice the tips about riding a tricycle that we have mentioned. In this way, you will be safe and sound on the road.
Do you have other trike safety tips that you would like to share with us? If so, please leave them below!
