Recumbent trike question

[Switter]

I am considering buying a recumbent trike. I was wondering if anybody has experience riding around in The villages on them, particularly the multi modal paths.

Edit 6/5/24

Thought I'd give an update. I bought the recumbent trike, a cat trike 559. I put about 150 miles on it in the villages so far in the last two weeks. For the most part it's been great. I did have two incidents though.

The first was a group of people on a golf cart coming out of a tunnel who did not stop or even slow down. I had to lock up my brakes. They were too young to be villagers so I am assuming they were Airbnb'ers. It was also on a Saturday night at about 7:30 PM near Sumter Landing and they appeared to me to have been drinking. I think I'll stay away from the town squares in general.

The second incident was a lady who was letting her large dog run loose in front of her golf cart. The dog looked for a second like it was gonna run right at me (in a friendly way). I was doing about 15 miles an hour. If I would've hit the dog it probably would've been seriously injured.

Both of these incidents would've been a problem for a regular bike as well.

Highly recommend bright front and back LED lights (flashing), flag, and a helmet.

[Erider]

I am considering buying a recumbent trike. I was wondering if anybody has experience riding around in The villages on them, particularly the multi modal paths.

It's doable but semi dangerous. You have 1000 lb carts driven by half blind 80 year olds, not to mention speed demons doing 30 mph and swinging into your lane on corners. Best to ride during slower periods and on less busy mmps, and drive defensively.

[Topspinmo]

It's doable but semi dangerous. You have 1000 lb carts driven by half blind 80 year olds, not to mention speed demons doing 30 mph and swinging into your lane on corners. Best to ride during slower periods and on less busy mmps, and drive defensively.


Plus you have half blind 80 years old riding all kinds of bicycle’s going 5 mph weaving all over ready to tip over at any moment. :eclipsee_gold_cup:

[Triker]

Yes, moved here and brought two Catrikes along. We were used to riding on extremely flat ground so ours were not e-trikes. We rode around our village and ventured out to other areas but for the most part avoided tunnels and bridges. On the MMP it was not uncommon to have golf carts whizzing around you with less than an inch of clearance. Or oncoming carts passing other carts, pedestrians etc. and whipping back over 5 feet in front of you. The worst was on a curved street in our village when we were both almost taken out by a speeding contractors van trying to short cut the curve completely on our side of the street. Thought long and hard about it but decided to sell the trikes and they are now in another state. Good luck!

[VApeople]

We ride normal bikes and only ride on the walking/biking trails where golf carts are forbidden.

[Erider]

I am considering buying a recumbent trike. I was wondering if anybody has experience riding around in The villages on them, particularly the multi modal paths.

Better and safer places to ride would be Santos Trails, West.Orange trail, Withlacoochee trails, paved, no carts or cars

[Switter]

It's doable but semi dangerous. You have 1000 lb carts driven by half blind 80 year olds, not to mention speed demons doing 30 mph and swinging into your lane on corners. Best to ride during slower periods and on less busy mmps, and drive defensively.

lol, yep. I definitely ride defensively. I ride the mmps on a two wheeler right now but it's killing my wrists. I just wonder how people on recumbent trikes do on the paths. I'm not sure I've ever seen one on them and I'm wondering if there is a reason.

[Switter]

Better and safer places to ride would be Santos Trails, West.Orange trail, Withlacoochee trails, paved, no carts or cars

Thanks, I'll have to look these up.

[Switter]

We ride normal bikes and only ride on the walking/biking trails where golf carts are forbidden.

Thanks. I didn't know there was such a thing. I will have to look these up

[LeRoySmith]

I am considering buying a recumbent trike. I was wondering if anybody has experience riding around in The villages on them, particularly the multi modal paths.

My wife and I bought a pair of recumbent trikes and enjoy riding them here. We have not experienced any close calls and haven't had any trouble with tunnels or bridges (the bixley bridge was kind of intimidating at first). We try to stay away from the mmp that are part of a street because you are very low and cars are moving pretty fast just a foot or 2 from your shoulder.

[djbabler]

My 99 year old Father in Law rides his 10 miles 3 days per week mostly on MMP between Sumter Senior Living and Turtle Mound starter shack and he says all traffic is very courteous. Perhaps they are envious and give him a wave. What a great place to live for him😀

[bobeaston]

My wife and I have been riding recumbent trikes in The Villages practically every day since we moved here 3 years ago. We ride on the MMP trails, on streets within villages, over the bridges and through the tunnels. We've been far and wide within The Villages and have NO hesitancy about riding anywhere. Even though legal, we do not ride on busy streets such as Morse, Buena Vista, the 466s, etc. Only occasionally do we ride on busy streets which have cart lanes are next to regular traffic lanes, such as Hillsborough Trial.

The warnings above about constant threats from thoughtless cart drivers are overblown and likely from people who don't actually ride trikes on the MMP paths. Yes, there are times when an impatient cart driver passes too close for comfort, but those are extremely rare. Even slowly crawling up a bridge on our non-electric trikes, cart drivers have been courteous and patient. Only once did some lady (probably from NYC) impatiently honk her horn, and it was likely because she was 2 carts behind and didn't know we were there.

Some tips for safety:
- Basic safety: make sure you have a good mirror on your trike and watch it constantly. Your awareness of your surroundings is paramount.
- Basic safety: mount flashing lights on your trike, both front and rear, and use them.
- Basic safety: make you trike more visible with a flag or two. Most trikes are low enough that they need the flag to be more easily seen.
- Basic safety: AVOID blocking your hearing with streaming music, headphones, earbuds or whatever. You need to be able to hear those things around you ... and carts are getting quieter every day.

After all the basics, common COURTESY solves most other problems. You can almost always cooperate with cart drivers, other bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid conflict.
- Courtesy: as always, stay to the right. On the wider MMPs, there's plenty of room for other traffic to pass you. Delays for oncoming traffic are very rare and everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: handle narrower MMP paths on one of 2 ways:
--- on those narrower paths with no curbing, you can often drop one wheel off the path onto the grass and thereby offer a following cart enough room to pass. Do it early (watch that mirror) and the following cart driver will see it as a courtesy. We often hear "Thank You" from those drivers. The long narrower paths through Chitty Chatty are an example of where this works well. We drop one wheel off onto the grass and the cart drivers drop one wheel off on their side as they pass. Everyone is safe and happy.
--- on the narrower paths that have curbs (i.e. short stretches along the Morse and Buena Vista MMP paths) AND are not wide enough for the trike and a cart, move to the middle of the path to avoid tempting a cart driver to pass in too narrow a space. These situations are very rare and we've found cart drivers very courteous because we give them as much room as possible when the path widens. Do NOT hog the path on wider paths or when not justified. That only frustrates the people behind you. Be courteous. This technique also applies to where the paths make a chicane near village entrance gates. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy, when approaching pedestrians, either call out "on your left" or use a bell. When 7 people are walking side by side, I'd like to use a truck's air horn, but use the bell instead. :) Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when approaching crossings and intersections EYE CONTACT is your best safety measure. After eye contact, often comes a nod about agreement on right of way. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when you see another cyclist approaching (remember that mirror) wave acknowledgement before they're close enough to announce their presence. Everyone is safe and happy.

Lastly, be aware of what traffic might be like when you go out for a ride. There's a magic hour right before the morning's first tee times where cart drivers are in a hurry. We can't make em get up and get their coffee early enough for a calm ride to the tee, but we can be aware that they'll be coming fast and furious. Late afternoons offer a larger number of cart drivers who have already had their happy hour. WATCH for them. Saturday mornings, especially the Strawberry Festival day can be busier than usual around the squares, and climbing the snakelike curvy and steeper than normal path up the Brownwood bridge isn't good on a festival day.

With nearly a thousand days experience, we really enjoy our trikes in The Villages. Be smart and careful and you will too.

[thevillager1988]

It's possible to rent one. We did. It helped us make the decision.

[Cuervo]

It's doable but semi dangerous. You have 1000 lb carts driven by half blind 80 year olds, not to mention speed demons doing 30 mph and swinging into your lane on corners. Best to ride during slower periods and on less busy mmps, and drive defensively.

I agree with this poster.
I'm not 80 and have 20/20 vision and sometimes I'm almost on top of them before I'm aware they're there, even the ones with the flags.
You should get one if you so desire, but really consider your safety.

[Two Bills]

My wife and I have been riding recumbent trikes in The Villages practically every day since we moved here 3 years ago. We ride on the MMP trails, on streets within villages, over the bridges and through the tunnels. We've been far and wide within The Villages and have NO hesitancy about riding anywhere. Even though legal, we do not ride on busy streets such as Morse, Buena Vista, the 466s, etc. Only occasionally do we ride on busy streets which have cart lanes are next to regular traffic lanes, such as Hillsborough Trial.

The warnings above about constant threats from thoughtless cart drivers are overblown and likely from people who don't actually ride trikes on the MMP paths. Yes, there are times when an impatient cart driver passes too close for comfort, but those are extremely rare. Even slowly crawling up a bridge on our non-electric trikes, cart drivers have been courteous and patient. Only once did some lady (probably from NYC) impatiently honk her horn, and it was likely because she was 2 carts behind and didn't know we were there.

Some tips for safety:
- Basic safety: make sure you have a good mirror on your trike and watch it constantly. Your awareness of your surroundings is paramount.
- Basic safety: mount flashing lights on your trike, both front and rear, and use them.
- Basic safety: make you trike more visible with a flag or two. Most trikes are low enough that they need the flag to be more easily seen.
- Basic safety: AVOID blocking your hearing with streaming music, headphones, earbuds or whatever. You need to be able to hear those things around you ... and carts are getting quieter every day.

After all the basics, common COURTESY solves most other problems. You can almost always cooperate with cart drivers, other bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid conflict.
- Courtesy: as always, stay to the right. On the wider MMPs, there's plenty of room for other traffic to pass you. Delays for oncoming traffic are very rare and everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: handle narrower MMP paths on one of 2 ways:
--- on those narrower paths with no curbing, you can often drop one wheel off the path onto the grass and thereby offer a following cart enough room to pass. Do it early (watch that mirror) and the following cart driver will see it as a courtesy. We often hear "Thank You" from those drivers. The long narrower paths through Chitty Chatty are an example of where this works well. We drop one wheel off onto the grass and the cart drivers drop one wheel off on their side as they pass. Everyone is safe and happy.
--- on the narrower paths that have curbs (i.e. short stretches along the Morse and Buena Vista MMP paths) AND are not wide enough for the trike and a cart, move to the middle of the path to avoid tempting a cart driver to pass in too narrow a space. These situations are very rare and we've found cart drivers very courteous because we give them as much room as possible when the path widens. Do NOT hog the path on wider paths or when not justified. That only frustrates the people behind you. Be courteous. This technique also applies to where the paths make a chicane near village entrance gates. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy, when approaching pedestrians, either call out "on your left" or use a bell. When 7 people are walking side by side, I'd like to use a truck's air horn, but use the bell instead. :) Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when approaching crossings and intersections EYE CONTACT is your best safety measure. After eye contact, often comes a nod about agreement on right of way. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when you see another cyclist approaching (remember that mirror) wave acknowledgement before they're close enough to announce their presence. Everyone is safe and happy.

Lastly, be aware of what traffic might be like when you go out for a ride. There's a magic hour right before the morning's first tee times where cart drivers are in a hurry. We can't make em get up and get their coffee early enough for a calm ride to the tee, but we can be aware that they'll be coming fast and furious. Late afternoons offer a larger number of cart drivers who have already had their happy hour. WATCH for them. Saturday mornings, especially the Strawberry Festival day can be busier than usual around the squares, and climbing the snakelike curvy and steeper than normal path up the Brownwood bridge isn't good on a festival day.

With nearly a thousand days experience, we really enjoy our trikes in The Villages. Be smart and careful and you will too.

Probably the best and most factual post I have seen for Trike riding in TV.
Still would not get me on one, but for the possible riders, a mine of useful information.
Well posted.:ho:

[NotGolfer]

Before moving here I rode my bike---a lot! Brought it down but never used it as even 15 yrs ago the traffic would give us pause. NOW, it's worse and with recombants (I've never had one) it looks like a "death wish" to me....especially those low to the road ones. I don't know how the rider can see, especially over bushes etc. Even with the flags these folks sometimes aren't that visable----but that's just me. I'm with one other person's post---rent one and see before buying. Then good luck!!!

[ChicagoNative]

Question for the old timers here: were the MMP in the mid and northern areas always MMP, or were they “retrofitted”?

I see recumbent bikes, e-bikes, hikers, dog walkers, and the occasional baby stroller frequently. I’m actually surprised there aren’t more accidents.

Separating the carts from the cyclists and walkers, as they seem to have done south of 44 is one of the best thing about all the new villages.

[JerryLBell]

It's doable but semi dangerous. You have 1000 lb carts driven by half blind 80 year olds, not to mention speed demons doing 30 mph and swinging into your lane on corners. Best to ride during slower periods and on less busy mmps, and drive defensively.
This is equally true for standard bicycles, roller skates, skate boards, mobility scooters and even walking. And it's worse on the roads where those same half-blind 80-year-olds are driving multi-ton cars and SUVs.

Don't let that stop you from enjoying bicycling though. Just be aware that there are risks involved and you have to ride (or walk) defensively.

[airstreamingypsy]

Only once did some lady (probably from NYC) impatiently honk her horn, and it was likely because she was 2 carts behind and didn't know we were there.

Seriously? It gets tiresome hearing all the hate for New Yorkers. 335 million people in the USA, and someone beeps at you so they must be from NYC? Cut it out.

[Ptmcbriz]

Yes, my husband has a recumbent e-trike and rides 3-4 times a week about 20 miles each time. Never a problem on the multi-modal paths. He really loves it.

[kendi]

Yes, moved here and brought two Catrikes along. We were used to riding on extremely flat ground so ours were not e-trikes. We rode around our village and ventured out to other areas but for the most part avoided tunnels and bridges. On the MMP it was not uncommon to have golf carts whizzing around you with less than an inch of clearance. Or oncoming carts passing other carts, pedestrians etc. and whipping back over 5 feet in front of you. The worst was on a curved street in our village when we were both almost taken out by a speeding contractors van trying to short cut the curve completely on our side of the street. Thought long and hard about it but decided to sell the trikes and they are now in another state. Good luck!

Wow! Smart move but too bad you had to do that. I am always concerned when I see a recumbent bike because they’re not always easy to see. Seems especially dangerous when a regular bike is riding with the recumbent. Drivers are not expecting the low rider to be there. I’ve seen them suddenly appear from behind a parked car when following the regular bike. Not easy to see and more likely to be run over.

[kendi]

Seriously? It gets tiresome hearing all the hate for New Yorkers. 335 million people in the USA, and someone beeps at you so they must be from NYC? Cut it out.

Totally agree, not cool.

It is kinda humorous though to hear all the horns blowing in the city. So much so that it doesn’t take long to ignore them and simply think of it as background noise.

[kendi]

Before moving here I rode my bike---a lot! Brought it down but never used it as even 15 yrs ago the traffic would give us pause. NOW, it's worse and with recombants (I've never had one) it looks like a "death wish" to me....especially those low to the road ones. I don't know how the rider can see, especially over bushes etc. Even with the flags these folks sometimes aren't that visable----but that's just me. I'm with one other person's post---rent one and see before buying. Then good luck!!!

Good points. I’ll just add one more thought. They look to me like a neck killer when having to hold the head up the entire ride up to see.

[LeRoySmith]

Good points. I’ll just add one more thought. They look to me like a neck killer when having to hold the head up the entire ride up to see.

As I posted earlier we recently bought a pair of recumbent bikes, prior to trying one I was a skeptic as well. They are very comfortable to ride and you find yourself putting in many more miles than on a standard bicycle. No neck pain, no knee pain, no wrist pain, they are a treat to ride.

[Switter]

My wife and I have been riding recumbent trikes in The Villages practically every day since we moved here 3 years ago. We ride on the MMP trails, on streets within villages, over the bridges and through the tunnels. We've been far and wide within The Villages and have NO hesitancy about riding anywhere. Even though legal, we do not ride on busy streets such as Morse, Buena Vista, the 466s, etc. Only occasionally do we ride on busy streets which have cart lanes are next to regular traffic lanes, such as Hillsborough Trial.

The warnings above about constant threats from thoughtless cart drivers are overblown and likely from people who don't actually ride trikes on the MMP paths. Yes, there are times when an impatient cart driver passes too close for comfort, but those are extremely rare. Even slowly crawling up a bridge on our non-electric trikes, cart drivers have been courteous and patient. Only once did some lady (probably from NYC) impatiently honk her horn, and it was likely because she was 2 carts behind and didn't know we were there.

Some tips for safety:
- Basic safety: make sure you have a good mirror on your trike and watch it constantly. Your awareness of your surroundings is paramount.
- Basic safety: mount flashing lights on your trike, both front and rear, and use them.
- Basic safety: make you trike more visible with a flag or two. Most trikes are low enough that they need the flag to be more easily seen.
- Basic safety: AVOID blocking your hearing with streaming music, headphones, earbuds or whatever. You need to be able to hear those things around you ... and carts are getting quieter every day.

After all the basics, common COURTESY solves most other problems. You can almost always cooperate with cart drivers, other bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid conflict.
- Courtesy: as always, stay to the right. On the wider MMPs, there's plenty of room for other traffic to pass you. Delays for oncoming traffic are very rare and everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: handle narrower MMP paths on one of 2 ways:
--- on those narrower paths with no curbing, you can often drop one wheel off the path onto the grass and thereby offer a following cart enough room to pass. Do it early (watch that mirror) and the following cart driver will see it as a courtesy. We often hear "Thank You" from those drivers. The long narrower paths through Chitty Chatty are an example of where this works well. We drop one wheel off onto the grass and the cart drivers drop one wheel off on their side as they pass. Everyone is safe and happy.
--- on the narrower paths that have curbs (i.e. short stretches along the Morse and Buena Vista MMP paths) AND are not wide enough for the trike and a cart, move to the middle of the path to avoid tempting a cart driver to pass in too narrow a space. These situations are very rare and we've found cart drivers very courteous because we give them as much room as possible when the path widens. Do NOT hog the path on wider paths or when not justified. That only frustrates the people behind you. Be courteous. This technique also applies to where the paths make a chicane near village entrance gates. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy, when approaching pedestrians, either call out "on your left" or use a bell. When 7 people are walking side by side, I'd like to use a truck's air horn, but use the bell instead. :) Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when approaching crossings and intersections EYE CONTACT is your best safety measure. After eye contact, often comes a nod about agreement on right of way. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when you see another cyclist approaching (remember that mirror) wave acknowledgement before they're close enough to announce their presence. Everyone is safe and happy.

Lastly, be aware of what traffic might be like when you go out for a ride. There's a magic hour right before the morning's first tee times where cart drivers are in a hurry. We can't make em get up and get their coffee early enough for a calm ride to the tee, but we can be aware that they'll be coming fast and furious. Late afternoons offer a larger number of cart drivers who have already had their happy hour. WATCH for them. Saturday mornings, especially the Strawberry Festival day can be busier than usual around the squares, and climbing the snakelike curvy and steeper than normal path up the Brownwood bridge isn't good on a festival day.

With nearly a thousand days experience, we really enjoy our trikes in The Villages. Be smart and careful and you will too.

Excellent post and thank you so much! I am going to go look at one this week and pull the plug.

[Switter]

As I posted earlier we recently bought a pair of recumbent bikes, prior to trying one I was a skeptic as well. They are very comfortable to ride and you find yourself putting in many more miles than on a standard bicycle. No neck pain, no knee pain, no wrist pain, they are a treat to ride.

That is the main reason I'm looking at the recumbent trike. I'm 58 and still in pretty good shape but I think decades of keyboarding (I am a software developer) have done damage to my wrists and the pressure on them when riding a two wheeler causes me to avoid riding all together.

I am also a pretty defensive bike rider and will take the necessary safety precautions when riding a recumbent.

[Topspinmo]

My 99 year old Father in Law rides his 10 miles 3 days per week mostly on MMP between Sumter Senior Living and Turtle Mound starter shack and he says all traffic is very courteous. Perhaps they are envious and give him a wave. What a great place to live for him😀

I hope wears helmet elbow and knee pads. Very fragile at that age.

[DAVES]

I am considering buying a recumbent trike. I was wondering if anybody has experience riding around in The villages on them, particularly the multi modal paths.

I ride a bike, drive a golf cart and drive a car. A recumbent trike? I do wonder WHY. Far as a bike there is no shortage of people around you that do not know the proper way to drive. There are some that get far too close and others that will decide to pass you without realizing there is a truck parked on the other side of the street that others will drive around without realizing what will happen NEXT.

iT IS BAD ENOUGH ON A BIKE, A trike takes up more room on the road is lower and people have less experience with them.

It also takes more room in your garage.

[DAVES]

That is the main reason I'm looking at the recumbent trike. I'm 58 and still in pretty good shape but I think decades of keyboarding (I am a software developer) have done damage to my wrists and the pressure on them when riding a two wheeler causes me to avoid riding all together.

I am also a pretty defensive bike rider and will take the necessary safety precautions when riding a recumbent.

You might try a suspension front fork. It can be added to most any bicycle frame.
You can run lower pressure, to a point, in the front tire. You can change the handle bars. At 58 most of us can call you sonny.

[Switter]

I ride a bike, drive a golf cart and drive a car. A recumbent trike? I do wonder WHY. Far as a bike there is no shortage of people around you that do not know the proper way to drive. There are some that get far too close and others that will decide to pass you without realizing there is a truck parked on the other side of the street that others will drive around without realizing what will happen NEXT.

iT IS BAD ENOUGH ON A BIKE, A trike takes up more room on the road is lower and people have less experience with them.

It also takes more room in your garage.

The "why" has to do with my wrists. I can't ride more than a couple miles without pain so I avoid riding altogether. Exercise and diet are the two most important things for maintaining quality of life as you age. If a recumbent bike will negate the wrist pain, then I will go back to riding regularly.

[Switter]

You might try a suspension front fork. It can be added to most any bicycle frame.
You can run lower pressure, to a point, in the front tire. You can change the handle bars. At 58 most of us can call you sonny.

Sonny, lol. I realize I'm kind of a pup around here. I do have a suspension on the front fork. The problem is the weight of my upper body on my wrists, not so much the jarring from the road. My two wheel bike is a hybrid so the handlebar sits up higher but it still doesn't help.

[Toymeister]

The key is attention getting visability. Eyes are drawn to flashing lights. The best that I am aware of is cygolite products. For the rear a pair of hypershot 350 will get someone's attention, that's 700 focused lumens bursting at inattentive drivers. Pair that with a cygolite 600, 650 or 800 lumen headlight and you are impossible to miss. Cygolite is sold on Amazon.

Complaints on this board that this is too bright and too visible will probably follow this post, most likely by those who complain that trikes aren't visible.

[Erider]

Excellent post and thank you so much! I am going to go look at one this week and pull the plug.

Suggest you look at HP Velotechnic Gecko fx26 Comfort model

Indirect steering - a must, demo an indirect vs direct and you will understand

Adjustable seat angle, standard wrist rests and neck rest

Dual activator single brake caliper. On a recumbent tadpole trike, if you brake using right or left caliper it affects steering, dual activator caliper employs equal braking to both sides, much easier to drive.

HP Velotechnic has highest quality standards, ask any mechanic. The Gecko is their entry level trike but has the German tech of the pricier models.

Foldable and affordable

HP Velotechnik Gekko fx 26 Comfort Deep Blue Trike — Hostel Shoppe (https://hostelshoppe.com/products/hp-velotechnik-gekko-fx26-comfort-deep-blue-trike?variant=31802036355126&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrcKxBhBMEiwAIVF8rNHQk9Coj3TB0soVygM8 HLIHrPGvZtYOPU01xT1t9AGjy3N6pk9gKhoCi44QAvD_BwE)

[Switter]

Suggest you look at HP Velotechnic Gecko fx26 Comfort model

Indirect steering - a must, demo an indirect vs direct and you will understand

Adjustable seat angle, standard wrist rests and neck rest

Dual activator single brake caliper. On a recumbent tadpole trike, if you brake using right or left caliper it affects steering, dual activator caliper employs equal braking to both sides, much easier to drive.

HP Velotechnic has highest quality standards, ask any mechanic. The Gecko is their entry level trike but has the German tech of the pricier models.

Foldable and affordable

HP Velotechnik Gekko fx 26 Comfort Deep Blue Trike — Hostel Shoppe (https://hostelshoppe.com/products/hp-velotechnik-gekko-fx26-comfort-deep-blue-trike?variant=31802036355126&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrcKxBhBMEiwAIVF8rNHQk9Coj3TB0soVygM8 HLIHrPGvZtYOPU01xT1t9AGjy3N6pk9gKhoCi44QAvD_BwE)

Thanks. That looks like a really nice one and about the same price as the cattrike trail I was looking at. The one thing I like about the cat trike trail and 559 is that they're folding.

Edit: oh, it does look like that one folds. I think I'll go check it out. Thanks

[Erider]

Thanks. That looks like a really nice one and about the same price as the cattrike trail I was looking at. The one thing I like about the cat trike trail and 559 is that they're folding.

Edit: oh, it does look like that one folds. I think I'll go check it out. Thanks

I think both those catrikes are direct steering, demo one and the the HP indirect to see what you like best

[Erider]

My wife and I have been riding recumbent trikes in The Villages practically every day since we moved here 3 years ago. We ride on the MMP trails, on streets within villages, over the bridges and through the tunnels. We've been far and wide within The Villages and have NO hesitancy about riding anywhere. Even though legal, we do not ride on busy streets such as Morse, Buena Vista, the 466s, etc. Only occasionally do we ride on busy streets which have cart lanes are next to regular traffic lanes, such as Hillsborough Trial.

The warnings above about constant threats from thoughtless cart drivers are overblown and likely from people who don't actually ride trikes on the MMP paths. Yes, there are times when an impatient cart driver passes too close for comfort, but those are extremely rare. Even slowly crawling up a bridge on our non-electric trikes, cart drivers have been courteous and patient. Only once did some lady (probably from NYC) impatiently honk her horn, and it was likely because she was 2 carts behind and didn't know we were there.

Some tips for safety:
- Basic safety: make sure you have a good mirror on your trike and watch it constantly. Your awareness of your surroundings is paramount.
- Basic safety: mount flashing lights on your trike, both front and rear, and use them.
- Basic safety: make you trike more visible with a flag or two. Most trikes are low enough that they need the flag to be more easily seen.
- Basic safety: AVOID blocking your hearing with streaming music, headphones, earbuds or whatever. You need to be able to hear those things around you ... and carts are getting quieter every day.

After all the basics, common COURTESY solves most other problems. You can almost always cooperate with cart drivers, other bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid conflict.
- Courtesy: as always, stay to the right. On the wider MMPs, there's plenty of room for other traffic to pass you. Delays for oncoming traffic are very rare and everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: handle narrower MMP paths on one of 2 ways:
--- on those narrower paths with no curbing, you can often drop one wheel off the path onto the grass and thereby offer a following cart enough room to pass. Do it early (watch that mirror) and the following cart driver will see it as a courtesy. We often hear "Thank You" from those drivers. The long narrower paths through Chitty Chatty are an example of where this works well. We drop one wheel off onto the grass and the cart drivers drop one wheel off on their side as they pass. Everyone is safe and happy.
--- on the narrower paths that have curbs (i.e. short stretches along the Morse and Buena Vista MMP paths) AND are not wide enough for the trike and a cart, move to the middle of the path to avoid tempting a cart driver to pass in too narrow a space. These situations are very rare and we've found cart drivers very courteous because we give them as much room as possible when the path widens. Do NOT hog the path on wider paths or when not justified. That only frustrates the people behind you. Be courteous. This technique also applies to where the paths make a chicane near village entrance gates. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy, when approaching pedestrians, either call out "on your left" or use a bell. When 7 people are walking side by side, I'd like to use a truck's air horn, but use the bell instead. :) Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when approaching crossings and intersections EYE CONTACT is your best safety measure. After eye contact, often comes a nod about agreement on right of way. Everyone is safe and happy.
- Courtesy: when you see another cyclist approaching (remember that mirror) wave acknowledgement before they're close enough to announce their presence. Everyone is safe and happy.

Lastly, be aware of what traffic might be like when you go out for a ride. There's a magic hour right before the morning's first tee times where cart drivers are in a hurry. We can't make em get up and get their coffee early enough for a calm ride to the tee, but we can be aware that they'll be coming fast and furious. Late afternoons offer a larger number of cart drivers who have already had their happy hour. WATCH for them. Saturday mornings, especially the Strawberry Festival day can be busier than usual around the squares, and climbing the snakelike curvy and steeper than normal path up the Brownwood bridge isn't good on a festival day.

With nearly a thousand days experience, we really enjoy our trikes in The Villages. Be smart and careful and you will too.

So people who have a different opinion than you are liars who "don't actually ride the mmps" and people who honk their horns are probably New Yorkers?

That's two uncalled for insults. Perhaps you can go for the trifecta.

[troiaeye]

lol, yep. I definitely ride defensively. I ride the mmps on a two wheeler right now but it's killing my wrists. I just wonder how people on recumbent trikes do on the paths. I'm not sure I've ever seen one on them and I'm wondering if there is a reason.


Wrist pain can be moderated by proper bike fit and ergonomic grips. Be sure to have your body weight balanced between the handlebars and saddle. Consult a professional at your local bike shop.

[Switter]

The key is attention getting visability. Eyes are drawn to flashing lights. The best that I am aware of is cygolite products. For the rear a pair of hypershot 350 will get someone's attention, that's 700 focused lumens bursting at inattentive drivers. Pair that with a cygolite 600, 650 or 800 lumen headlight and you are impossible to miss. Cygolite is sold on Amazon.

Complaints on this board that this is too bright and too visible will probably follow this post, most likely by those who complain that trikes aren't visible.

Visibility is key. After test riding a bunch of recumbent trikes I learned that one of the more dangerous spots is a parking lot or any area with a lot of park cars (like the town centers). You have to be super careful. Probably better to avoid them if you can.

[LeRoySmith]

Visibility is key. After test riding a bunch of recumbent trikes I learned that one of the more dangerous spots is a parking lot or any area with a lot of park cars (like the town centers). You have to be super careful. Probably better to avoid them if you can.

The flags on our recumbent trikes aren't flashy enough, I've been looking for a dayglow spinner type of flag but haven't found what I'm looking for yet. A small bright windsock is what I think I was with a lot of colors and a lot of action.

[Toymeister]

I ride the mmps on a two wheeler right now but it's killing my wrists.

This bike https://www.pedalpt.com/wpppt/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slouched-before-2.jpg is the solution. You are so upright the weight on your wrists is minimal. It's extremely comfortable to ride but not terribly fast. They are not generally available in the US, they are available for you to import directly from Holland from Premium Dutch Bicycles and Cargo Bikes - Amsterdam Bicycle Company (http://www.amsterdam-bicycle.com). You can check mine if you wish.