Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cross Chaining and how does it affect the Cruiser? In order to
achieve the wide gear range that our customers like, we have set
the Cruiser up with its current drivetrain which has a wonderfully
useful band of gearing. The one element that results from this set
up is the fact that the Cruiser ( any bike actually ) does not like
to be used in the large front chainring/large rear cog combination
- this is called "cross chaining". We are now adding one
chain link to each Cruiser to solve this issue but keep in mind
that this is bad technique and can lead to problems because there
is barely enough chain to accommodate the two large circumferences
of those rings. That gear that you're trying to reach is a redundant
gear and can be achieved in the middle chainring. Cross chaining is not exclusive to the just the Cruiser. It should be avoided on any bike or trike. Never cross chain your gears! How durable are the chain idler wheels? The chain idler
wheels spin on sealed bearings and are attached to the frame with
an idler axle bolt. Their job is to guide the long chain through
its journey from the front chainrings to the rear cogs with as little
resistance and noise as possible. The chain idler wheels are a wear
item like a tire. The front idlers average about 2500 - 3000 miles,
some have lasted over 6000 miles (of course this is dependent on
many factors). Rear idlers should last much longer than fronts.
If you are not getting this type of performance from your idlers
here are some tips: 3) Periodically
check the idlers to make sure they are spinning freely and not binding
on anything. 6) For stronger riders and long distance touring, we are now offering the TerraCycle high performance idler wheels. These are compatible with the Cruiser, Tour, Access, Sport, Race, and the Tandem. 7) If you follow these directions, your idlers will last a very long time. If you do need replacements, we keep them in stock and you can order them directly from us. THIS JUST IN! How is the stability at high speeds? High speed handling
can be dependent on many variables; tire pressure, road surface,
seat position, size of the rider, riding style, alignment of the
front wheels etc. What are the load limits of the trikes? Please refer to our specifications chart for the load limits. If your body weight is at the high end of the limit and you like to carry a heavy luggage load, we recommend using the Bob trailer to haul your gear. These things work great. How can I transport a TerraTrike? The best way to transport your TerraTrike
is to ride it of course. But if you must use a gas powered
vehicle it is easier than you may think. You can use a roof
rack with three channels including a short middle channel for the
third wheel. The TerraTrike will easily adapt to a common
trunk or hitch rack if you tilt the trike sideways 90 degrees and
rest the main frame in the cradles (show
me). Check out our accessories
page to see our own Trike
Transporter hitch rack
system. A fully assembled TerraTrike will also
easily fit in a minivan, SUV, small station wagon, and even a Ford
Escort hatchback. We even have a customer who transports his
fully assembled TerraTrike in his Camaro (I
don't believe it, show me). With his rear (car) seat folded
down, he simply loads the trike backwards through the rear hatch
and rolls the rear wheel of the trike between the front seats.
Two people and a TerraTrike can comfortably ride in a Camaro! TOP Is balance an issue with a TerraTrike? You may find that balance can be a problem for 2-wheeled recumbents. This is primarily due to the low center of gravity of recumbents, as well as the generally smaller diameter wheels(lower rotational inertia, to be technical). The Trike behaves differently than a regular bike or recumbent, due to its three wheels. It handles more like a car than a bike, and does not lean when cornering. You, the rider, must do the leaning! But, balancing is not really a factor, especially when climbing hills. You can also pull up to a stop sign and never unclip your feet from the pedals. In addition, otherwise hazardous obstacles such as sand and gravel, water, and uneven terrain don't upset it. You can brake while cornering, and even get a little bit sideways without worrying about a spill.
Will I ride faster on the Trike? The TerraTrike will undoubtedly have less wind resistance at speed. Many TerraTrikers, once accustomed to their trike, report faster speeds on their trike as compared to their upright bicycle. You will need to keep in mind that, like any new exercise, it will take time to develop the different muscle groups that riding a trike in a "recumbent" position requires. Your speed will also depend on which trike and which accessories you order (ex. high pressure tires and a fairing on a lightweight trike will make you remarkably fast).
How do TerraTrikes compare to competitors' trikes? Our competitors make fine machines and we never disrespect them but there are a number of advantages associated with a TerraTrike. These advantages are listed on our "Why WizWheelz?" page. TOP The front disc braking is rock solid and easy to control, without any 'skitteryness' under hard braking. Keep in mind that you control the braking on each front wheel with a separate brake handle and you will need to coordinate the braking effort with both hands. This is very easy to do, and feels quite natural. It also allows for braking around corners! Side Note: We can attach both brakes to one dual brake lever and have done so on many occasions for riders who only have use of one hand. Both shifters can be put on the same side as well. TOP There is no rear brake on the TerraTrike. The significant forward weight transfer under hard braking causes the rear end to lift enough to make the rear brake almost superfluous. So the extra cost and weight is not justified. The front discs are more than adequate for stopping power and there is no chance of forward flipping a trike. What are 'center point steering' and 'Ackerman adjustment' and why are they important? All TerraTrikes, whether they are linkage steer or direct steer, feature center point steering and full Ackerman adjustment. Center point steering is in place when the axis of the kingpin (the pivot through which the wheel turns side-to-side) intersects the contact point of the tire with the ground. Center point steering limits tire scrub and bump steer. Ackerman adjustment is desirable in a turn so that your inside wheel turns sharper than your outside wheel. The difference adjusts with the tightness of the turn. Picture your turning radius; the inside wheel has a smaller turning radius than the outside wheel, which means the inside wheel should make a sharper turn. This reduces the tire scrub and helps you keep control of the trike in a sharp or fast turn.
What is the difference between linkage steer and direct steer trikes? Some TerraTrikes have linkage steering while others are direct steer trikes. The specifications chart lists which trikes have which steering style. On Linkage Steering trikes there is a single handlebar which is connected to a pivot point then connected to the wheels via tie rods. The amount of movement of the wheels is less than the input from the rider. This steering arrangement provides a very slow, smooth, comfortable feeling that is great for touring, going very fast in a straight line, or just cruising around in comfort. On Direct Steer trikes there are two handlebars. Each is directly connected to a front wheel by attaching to the hubmount. The amount of movement of the wheels is equal to the input from the rider. This arrangement provides a fast sporty experience that is great for sport racing, taking sharp fast turns, and for those that just love that sportscar feeling. All TerraTrikes, whether they are linkage steer or direct steer, feature center point steering and full Ackerman adjustment.
TerraTrikes has just the right amount of frame flex to make the ride compliant while maintaining lateral rigidity. We now have found the sweet spot between flex and shock absorption. Are frame sets or kits available? No. Our production system is streamlined to produce complete trikes at the lowest price possible. Any deviation from this arrangement adds a great deal of cost. Under our system, pricing for a frame set would be nearly the same price as a complete TerraTrike.
Gear inch is an archaic measurement that dates back to the days of the high wheel bicycle. It was designed to measure the high wheel radius needed in order to travel a given distance with one revolution of the pedals. It is an inefficient tool of measure for today's multiple gear bikes but it is a standard still used for comparison sake. It basically equates to the distance your trike will travel with one revolution of the crank. To give you a rough point of reference, you might consider a typical mountain bike to have a gear inch range of 18 - 103 and a typical road racing bike to offer 43 - 127. Of course actual specs will vary widely. A good range for all around riding is about 20 - 90. Click here to view the gear inch ranges of our products. Click here if you're interested in using a gear-inch calculator. TOP Why do TerraTrikes have fewer gears than some other trikes? First remember that the number of gears
is never as important as the range of gearing. The bike industry
has done a great job convincing the consumer that more gears = better.
This is far from true. More gears only = more complexity (and
potential mechanical problems), and more weight to carry around.
We believe that we could race or tour on any bike with 5 gears if
we could pick our shift points. The old 10 speeds we all had
actually had the same gear range as today's 27 speed mountain bikes.
The new ones just have more overlapping or redundant gears. TOP
Is the lowness of a Trike a problem? Lowness really only becomes a problem in tight traffic, where drivers can't see the TerraTrike behind other cars. Adding a flag would be helpful in these situations and we recommend it for all conditions just to be on the safe side. On the positive side, the unique look of the Trike attracts a lot of attention, whereas regular upright bicycles are so common on the roads, they tend to be ignored. A comment that we hear from many customers is that they receive much more respect from motorists when they are riding their trike as compared to their two wheeled bikes. Upon approaching a trike, drivers will slow down to look at the trike out of sheer curiosity, wait for a safe opportunity to pass, then give the trike a wide berth when they do pass. Often a "thumbs up" or a "cool" comment will be awarded as well. Many customers tell us they feel much safer on their trike than they do on their upright bikes. If you use your own common sense, choose your rides carefully, and of course wear a helmet, you will be safe on a TerraTrike. The best advice is to ride defensively and assume you are invisible. TOP What is the ordering procedure and return policy? To place an order, you can phone us, email us, fax us, write us a letter or use our secure online ordering system (just follow the links from the products page). All we need is your credit card # and expiration date, your contact information and shipping address, your x-seam measurement(frame size), and the accessories desired. If the trike is not in stock, we take a $500 deposit when you place your order. We then bill the remainder just prior to shipping your trike. Cashiers checks are welcomed. Personal checks are OK too, but can take 14 days to clear before shipment. We do have a 30 day return policy. If you order a trike, and are unsatisfied for any reason, we will buy it back from you for just 5% off your original purchase price less any shipping charges and damage. The returned trike must reach us within 30 days of our ship date. Please see our fine print page for more details. TOP How do I measure my size (x-seam measurement)? Please see our x-seam measurement page for details.
TOP We can ship single trikes fully assembled within the continental US. You will only need to pump up the tires and adjust the seat and handlebars to your liking. If you are recieving a Tandem, you will also need to attach the two halves of the frame with the coupler wrench(supplied), attach the chain at the masterlink(no chain tool required), and connect the cable at the quick-attach joint(no tool required). The Tandem is pre-assembled but ships in two separate boxes. For overseas shipments we can ship the trike in kit form with an assembly manual included. This will reduce the shipping cost. Call us for a quote if you are outside the continental US. Check the shipping and handling page for pricing. TOP How much assembly is required? Trikes are now shipped fully assembled and only require the tires to be pumped up and the seat and handlebars to be adjusted to your liking. If you are recieving a Tandem, you will also need to attach the two halves of the frame with the coupler wrench(supplied), attach the chain at the masterlink(no chain tool required), and connect the cable at the quick-attach joint(no tool required). This takes only about 10-15 minutes. The Tandem is pre-assembled but ships in two separate boxes. TOP Is the width of the Trike a problem? TerraTrikes are not significantly wider
than the shoulder width of a normal rider. So, it isn't really that
much more obtrusive on the side of the road as far as the cars are
concerned. But, the "track width" of the wheels is obviously
wider than a 2-wheel bike. This means that any path that you might
ride on needs to be as wide as the front wheels are apart. Although,
it is usually not a problem if you need to ride with one tire on
gravel. The wide stance means any rough terrain won't upset you.
You also have to keep in mind that there are three wheels to be
aware of when riding over obstacles, including the one right behind
you in the center!
What about accessories for touring, hauling gear, night riding, etc.? We offer plenty of trike specific accessories on our accessory page. The TerraTrike has braze-on mounts for a water bottle. For pulling a trailer, again we recommend
the Bob
trailer system.
YES. We now offer a front fairing. Please check out our accessories page for details. To see what one of our customers has done in relation to fairings, click here to check out his some photos on David Lawson's web page.
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