About Recumbent Trikes

Recumbent? What does that mean?
 
When you ride a recumbent bike, you’re not sitting on a small saddle seat, hunched over your handlebars. You ride in a semi-reclined position, with your legs in front of you. As a result, your body’s weight is distributed over a wider area. It’s really comfortable and reduces bodily wear-and-tear and fatigue compared to a conventional bicycle.
 
Trike? Like Tricycle?
 
Yes! Three wheels on a recumbent cycle means lots of stability and less worry about balance! There’s no need to dismount or place a foot down on the ground when you slow down or stop on a recumbent trike. One of the pleasures of riding a recumbent trike is that you have a comfortable seat to rest, no matter where you go!

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Where are the handlebars?
 
Most recumbent trikes feature something called under-seat steering - turning is controlled by a steering bar underneath the set, with handlebars on either side. This puts your hands and arms in a more natural position, and you’re not obligated to use your arms to support your weight as well as determine the direction you want to go.
 
Can you go fast?
 
Absolutely! In fact, a recumbent holds the world speed record for a bicycle! Recumbents have a more aerodynamic profile than upright bicycles. You can cruise as fast as your legs (or e-motor) can carry you. ​

Are they safe?
 
Yes! Three wheels and a low center of gravity make these bikes pretty difficult to tip over or fall from. Even if you should fall, you’re much closer to the ground than when riding a conventional two wheeled bike, so your impact is greatly reduced. You’re also less likely to land on your head because of your recumbent position. There’s no wobbling or tipping over when you slow down or come to a stop. You may be slightly less visible to other riders and vehicles because you’re closer to the ground, but you can easily attach a flag to your bike if you’re not already attracting a lot of attention - these bikes are pretty unique and most folks will slow down to take a second look!
 
Tadpoles & Deltas
 
There are two basic types of recumbent trikes. A “tadpole” style recumbent trike has two wheels in the front, and a “delta” style recumbent trike has two wheels in the back. Which is better? Well, that all depends on your preferences. Check out our blog post on tadpoles vs. delta trikes for more information. Tadpoles tend to have a lower center of gravity, which makes them a little easier to turn at higher speeds. Delta trikes are generally a little easier to get on & off and provide the best “smallest” turning radius. We recommend you test ride both and decide what works best for you.

View RAD's Recumbent Trike Models

Why choose a recumbent trike?
 
There are a lot of reasons to choose a recumbent trike over a conventional bicycle. Let’s look at some of the top reasons people are turning to recumbents:

1. Ergonomics. On a traditional bicycle, all of your weight comes down on your sit bones, hands, and feet. Over time, this is stressful and can be uncomfortable or even painful. The seating configuration on a recumbent trike relieves stress and pressure on bones, tendons, ligaments and joints, since you spread your weight over a larger surface area. Your seated position also relieves stress on your back and pelvis.
2. Comfort. This is perhaps one of the most common reasons people choose to go with a recumbent trike - it’s simply one of the most comfortable cycles available. Everything about the position of your body on a recumbent trike is meant to relieve stress compared to two-wheeled biking. Your back, legs, arms, hands, and posterior will all thank you.
3. Enjoy the scenery! A recumbent trike puts you in a “heads up” position, which makes it easier for you to enjoy your surroundings beyond the road right in front of you, without craning your neck upward.
4. Stability. Uneven road surfaces are not a crash and fall hazard on a trike. Individuals with balance issues can ride without worry. Even on icy surfaces, a recumbent trike isn’t going to slip out from underneath you. Go ahead and lean into that turn!
5. Adaptability. Recumbent trikes make cycling possible for many who wouldn’t be able to ride a conventional bicycle due to disability or injury. Most trikes can be custom built to take advantage of your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses. Whether your back and knees just don’t bend the way they used to, or your balance isn’t what it used to be or your mobility is limited by conditions like paralysis, Stroke, MS, Parkinson’s etc  a recumbent trike can be adapted to fit your unique needs.
6. Instant Celebrity! While recumbent trikes are growing in popularity, they’re still fairly uncommon. Everyone in your neighborhood will immediately recognize you on the road, and many will want to stop and talk about your eye catching ride.​

Check out our recumbent trikes!

Which recumbent trike is right for me?
 
Once you’ve decided to make the switch to a recumbent trike, you’ll find you have a lot of options! It’s always best to discuss your choices with an expert, and whenever possible we recommend test riding as many recumbent trikes as you can.
 
At Rad-Innovations, we work closely with our customers to make sure they get the right trike for them. We can custom build bikes to adapt to most any disability or special circumstance. An adaptive recumbent trike from RAD is an investment in mobility, freedom and fun, and should work seamlessly with you to achieve your goals.

Contact RAD to get your perfect trike today!