Steering your Trike

zoood

This is what I posted to another trike learner. In another forum and I felt that its good info and decided to post it in here as well.

When I first started riding my trike. I felt I developed new muscles in places I knew there weren't any. The way I see it is. I kept steering the way I thought I should steer. Like when I steer a car. Where as I dont have one of my arms on an armrest. With nothing to rest either arm on. It becomes a constant push and pull. Steer and counter-steer. This is what hurts your arms and leaves you with that unsafe feeling of not being able to safely negotiate your turns.
I read what old school trikers did to safely accommodate their turns. Im sure this is what they came up with before steering dampeners came into the picture. Though, personally there's no need to jump out and buy that product. 1st off. if it's a serious turn. I do lean. It's what comes naturally, because of the 40 yrs of 2 wheel riding. And I'm sure that it helps. It would be unfortunate to find out that all ya had to do was to lean. To avoid going over.

This is what I found out to be successful at negotiating my turning.

lets say I'm tooling down a two lane back road at a good clip. In front of me I see the road turning to the left. In advance of entering the turn. I lock my right elbow. Not where you would stop blood flow. But where your arm is rigid or straight. My left arm does the pulling. This way the steer/ counter steer is determined by one arm. Not both. Its as simple as; Right turns, you lock your left arm and left turns, you lock your right arm. I only apply this technique when moving. In a parking lot or maneuvering around through town. I use both arms, without locking either.
Now as for possibly tipping over. I'm not trying to do that. But I'm always aware of that may happening. I would presume that happening because of crumby road conditions. Catching the lip of the tire. Too much speed for a surprise turn. If I'm reckless. The results will be from recklessness.
This winter, I plan on finding a parking lot that is iced over. Just to practice what a slide is all about on a trike.
Though I havent ever gotten my trike up on 2 wheels from cornering. I'm thinking that the feeling may not be that scary. Because its two wheels that I started riding on. I'll post after that experience, if I have an unfortunate mishap in my pants.

Just take it slow. Allow yourself to adjust to the new required riding techniques. Other riders on two wheels, that you may ride with,... havent a clue of what you have to relearn to sharpen your handling skills. Dont worry about keeping up. If their true friends. They'll wait up on you. And if not. There's plenty of us in here that are relearning, just what your going through.

zoood/RJ

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Hobbit

great post Zoood trikes are an art to ride

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RichardS

DITTO on that Hob!

I remember years ago I wanted a trike in the worst way.

A buddy told me "you better TRY one before you BUY one!"

Thank GOD that I DID!

Whew! It was downright TERRIFYING at first, and I had been riding about 30 years when I tried a trike for the first time! Going into sharp and quick turns was 'bout nough to make a man's heart STOP!

By the time I got back from my little ride, I was CONVINCED.

I'm on TWO wheels!

And don't even get me STARTED about SIDE-CARS!!!
: :

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Hobbit

wanna buy a side car i have one in the garage
great way to scare the passenger is to wave the air in the air

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Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more.
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