I am just wondering what everyone else is doing speedwise on a normal casual ride, not really pushing yourself? I have read about people passing up upright bikes etc. I just looked at my averages over this last years 377 miles, and was shocked to see it is only 8.8 mph average. On a 40 mile ride last year on Hines Park in metro Detroit, seemed like upright bikes were passing me left and right. I am 55 and not out of shape, so I don't really understand some people talking about getting in the ranges of 15-20mph etc. Was thinking of seeing about putting on the 26" rear upgrade wheel, but don't want to spend the money for 1-2 mph difference. All of my rides are mostly flat. :evil:
Comments
I am 71 and average 11 mph on a Rover in a hilly area of the country. Depends on terrain and fitness level. Changing to a larger wheel, which is the same as changing to a larger gear, wouldn't make me any faster, and in fact, on a hill would probably slow me down.
Also I just went out in the garage and looked to see what tires were on it, and they are Cheng Shin tires only rated at 40psi max. Would changing to a 100 psi tire make much of a difference, and if so, which ones would be the best bang for the buck?
If you are "spinning out" with your current gearing, which means you are pedaling as fast as you can, and that is what is limiting your speed, the bigger wheel size ( or higher gearing) will help. Another option is to change your gearing slightly with a larger chainwheel. If you are not spinning out, then the bigger wheel won't make much difference. These tires are pretty good and used by many trikers. http://www.terratrike.com/shop/accessor ... od_20.html
If you are "spinning out" with your current gearing, which means you are pedaling as fast as you can, and that is what is limiting your speed, the bigger wheel size ( or higher gearing) will help. Another option is to change your gearing slightly with a larger chainwheel. If you are not spinning out, then the bigger wheel won't make much difference. The stock high gear on the Cruiser is a 90" gear, so if you can pedal at say 85 RPM, you should be going around 23 mph
These tires are pretty good and used by many trikers. http://www.terratrike.com/shop/accessor ... od_20.html
If you are not cruising in the mid 20s all the time, then it is *NOT* gearing - spinning out - ie pedaling as fast as you can, and not going any faster - RPM of anywhere (comfort range) of 75 (low) to 95 (high).
If you can spin at a cadence of 90 for an hour (RPM, which is wonderful), but to you when you are in high gears it feels like you're in 1st, then raising your gear range (26" wheel in back, bigger chain-ring in front) is a great idea.
But, if like me, you can not sustain 80-90 RPM in your tallest gear most of the time, then the above changes will only help you on down grades.
So, either you must improve the engine, or, improve how easily the trike rolls, or, lose weight off the trike, or off the engine.
Tires *can* play a big part in both comfort and speed~! But only you can decide which is most important to you. Samples:
100PSI Marathons -bullet proof, faster, hard - less comfort
90 PSI Kojacks - fastest tire according to many threads on 'BROL' - but not super-comfortable
then you come to my personal favorite, the "Big Apple' - by going to the 20X2.00 tires, you now have a *suspension*. If you ride at their max of 70PSI, folks say they are almost as fast as Kojacks are. If you drop the pressure some, your comfort becomes almost wonderful~!!! I weigh 360lbs, and run mine at 50PSI - but comfort is more important to me than speed.
At speeds *under* 15-16mph 'rolling resistance' is more critical than all else - Big Apples are built for low rolling resistance, and are bout a 4 out of 5 for fl@t-proofness.
Then, look at what you carry when you ride? I carry everything but the kitchen sink - bout 15-20lbs - lighter is faster. Are you a big or small guy? If like me, then you gotta give up the speed idea, or be superman.
Lastly, lighter trikes are a 'bit' faster.
Anyhow, tires *will* help you to a degree regardless of your goal - comfort, speed, or both. here is a link to all the above tires...
http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/recumbent
Lastly, most folks think that high pressure skinny tires are the ticket to speed. Only on perfect surfaces! A wider tire with less rolling resistance is actually faster on less-than-perfect roads, plus, comfort adds to speed~!
PS - if going over 20mph is your norm, time to add a fairing and/or a tail-sox to increase speed. But neither will help speed much under 20mph.
HTH
Peter_C
TerraTrike Rover W/N360 by NuVinci (copy and paste into your browser) to see ---> My Trike Photos
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I have a TT Cruiser and upgraded my original tires to the Marathon tires that TerraTrike sells. I upgraded because I was having way too many flats. BUT, I was delighted to find that the upgraded tires upgraded my average speed from 6-7 MPH to 10-11 mpg!!!!!
Caryl
I've been reading and researching on the topic of trike speed for several months. I've concluded that trikes are slower than bikes for these reasons:
1. Wind resistance of the trike front wheels in the clean air.
2. Drive train (especially boom) flex
3. Pedal steer robs power due to front wheels always slightly turning, even with the smoothest of strokes
4. Extra rolling resistance of the third wheel
I've ordered those in what I think is descending order, most egregious offenders at the top. For me (6'5", 220lbs), the Cruiser's chromoly frame delivers a smooth ride, but I can flex it quite a bit. I find it a good commuter, but it's not a performance machine.
Having said all that tho, I find the Cruiser fun to ride at almost any speed. You do not have to sustain 20mph speeds to have fun...I have a recumbent grin every time I ride to work, even riding in the rain like I did today.
G
G
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/archive/events/events12/hayes2-12.html
But for a special, leaning, narrow-track delta, I would have been the fasted unfaired multitrack, including a racing DF trike (column M). Shows that the monkey doing the grinding is the most important part. Even then I wasn't spinning out on a 3x8 gearset. A 26" wheel would have been no help.
I disagree that wind resistance is the killer; I rate the trike as being better aerodynamically than most uprights, exempt time triallists. It's the weight. A really good road bike weighs in at 10 kg or so (top end down to 6, but that's nuts), a Cruiser weighs considerably more. It's most pronounced going up hills, where one loses all momentum almost immediately. On the flat, and down an incline (where you need to be aero-slippery), I could hardly keep up with my wife with me on an old DF racer. Up the hills, however, no contest.
So to get quicker:
0. Pump up the tires (40psi isn't much...)
1. Get fitter
2. Get lighter
3. Fairings
4. Go to a fully-faired recumbent bicycle (something I think TT ought to consider...)
And to get lighter:
- Carbon boom
- Carbon Frame
- Narrower track
- Aluminium in place of Cromoly
- SS Wheels
- Strip for action
Ken
I have a recently built Zoomer with a 26" rear wheel. The trike frame is aluminum and appx. 3 inches narrower then other models and the only additional gear is mirror, water bottle, front and rear lights. I'm 6 ' and weigh 183 lb. The tires are kept around 75 psi. I average in the 13 mph range on paved bike trails with some moderate hills during a 18 mile ride.
ed