And now for something completely different...racing/touring tricycles!

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

For those unfamiliar with them, lightweight (a relative term) racing and touring tricycles are a whole different aspect of our sport. These are not recumbent delta or tadpole designs, but upright like a conventional bicycle with one additional wheel either front or rear. Some of the engineering is exquisite, and the Jack Taylor/Taylor Brothers models are among my favorite touring tricycles (apparently "trike" is a pejorative term to true tricyclists). While all are innovative in some way, a few are stunningly gorgeous in their design, construction, and finish.

While ordinary bicycles can be converted through a variety of kits and homemade methods (haven't seen a Thorn yet, still possible!), the most exciting are the purpose-built machines. Seeing them in action on snow and ice, or cornered at speed is a sight you won't soon forget -- lots of body english and a thrill-a-minute (see: http://www.tricycleassociation.org.uk/public/bin4aae6daa4a57e.jpg ...and... http://www.tricycleassociation.org.uk/public/bin46e567023366b.JPG ). Most machines have a single-side drive, but a few have differentials.

I have not yet seen a Rohloff tricycle, but there is no reason why one couldn't be made, especially in the "Welsh-style" with a single drive wheel and the other two wheels in front (Kendrick, Harding and Newton, see: http://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/2011/05/red-newton.html ).

For those with an engineering bent, braking is one of the more interesting aspects. Many machines boast two brakes on the single front wheel and none on the rears. Rear braking is possible, but requires a level of innovation beyond that already seen in the basic tricycle.

It is well worth visiting the homepage of The (UK) Tricycle Association, active since 1928: http://www.tricycleassociation.org.uk/Home.html

The 2012 World Tricycle Championships will be held in Belgium over the weekend of 27/28th May 2012, and promise to be a great deal of fun for all, competitors and spectators alike. The race site is NW of Brussels in a lovely part of Belgium, and would make for a nice holiday. The food there is wonderful and the people warm and hospitable.
See:
http://3wielweb.supertrike.be/WTC2012.htm
Google-translated English version here:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2F3wielweb.supertrike.be%2FWTC2012.htm&act=url

Pictures of racing tricycles here: http://www.flickriver.com/groups/1063134@N22/pool/interesting/
And one of several blogs: http://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

 not a lover of trikes or bents to be honest Dan each to there own i suppose, but give me a proper bike any day 

[Danneaux]

Oh, I agree, jags, I agree! I would so very much miss leaning into corners -- the only way to fly for me! Goes back to when I was a kid and pretended I was flying an airplane instead of riding a bike.

Also, you stand a fighting chance of missing a road obstacle on a bike, but a tricycle will almost guarantee hitting it with at least one wheel. They're kind of fun to watch in action, however, and (except for a track-stand, which I can't maintain indefinitely) I can't stop and eat my lunch while still on the bike. I have to give them that!  

All the best,

Dan.

[il padrone]

Or stop when touring and sleep in it overnight...... as my brother has done this weekend  

He has a fully-faired Rotovelo with a specially made camping canopy that can be fitted overhead, and I-don't-know-what for the sleeping gear   But he has done this on several camping tours.