Cycling UK Forum

Thank you for understanding. I suppose my biggest reason for being confused originally, is that walking really hurts quite a lot. Now, I've lived with scoliosis since early childhood, had a hernia in my childhood too, which was operated on on my 13th birthday, of all days, but anyway, the scoliosis gives me constant, 24/7/365 back pain. Nowadays, I only ever really consciously feel the 'constant grumble', as I call it, when I think about it... like now, lol! It's like a nagging toothache. What I'm trying to get at is that I seem to have a rather high threshold for 'internal' pain.

I mean, I kept back and forth to my GP, telling him I'd broken my ankle. It was two years later, when I threatened legal action, that they finally had me scanned properly and it revealed that I'd been walking on a broken ankle all that time, sometimes taking painkillers, but not always! It was mostly just very painful, but they kept telling me it wasn't broken, so I simply muscled through it. This, though, it gets to the point where, if I am walking about for a bit, I'm actively yelping and making sound effects, and that is categorically NOT like me! My back pain has to get so bad as to feel fairly close to the same level as a tooth being drilled before I'll even make a face.

Walking is miles and miles more painful than triking... which is to say, triking doesn't hurt at all! I had the trike unfolded in my flat for a while (when my flat wasn't chock full of stuff from Dad's house, like it is now). I'd often sit on it with my feet up on the drive motor, and all of the leg pain would vanish! Back when the GP told me this was a 'nerve issue', I would go out and ride, and all of the pain was gone completely, not even a glimmer! So I was just confused as to how having my legs low (feet on the ground), with them, albeit gently, pounding the ground, to walk, which also really hurts, would be better than sitting with my legs raised, with no pounding, compressive forces, moving my legs in a similar fashion, and furthermore, for the latter to be downright dangerous. My brain doesn't compute that very well at all. THAT is where I need advice, but I can't deal with being more terrified of my situation than I already am. It's causing me immense distress, causing me to lose loads of sleep and, when I do pass out from exhaustion, I'm having night terrors, mostly related to this, but also related to many other factors in my past contributing to cPTSD.

Also, with all of these stresses, the craziness it's driving me to, being slammed up like this and basically losing what little bit of life I had, has been causing me severe meltdowns. My autism/autistic meltdowns range from just screaming to full-blown flat-destroying, hand and head-shredding throws of manic despair. That's so not-good, I'd go so far as to say it might be bad! (Sarcasm... I CAN do that, lol!)

That's where I'm at most risk of injury, potential brain bleeds (the number of times I've had head injuries from bashing it off of walls, doors, floors, counters, even allegedly smashing items into my head...), this is terrible for me at any time, let alone while I'm on anticoagulants! The prospect of a meltdown terrifies me, which is why I try to let off steam by shouting and screaming, stimming like all balls and singing at the top of my belting voice, when I sense myself getting overwhelmed, overloaded or stressed. Sometimes, it doesn't help at all.

What DID help, always, was triking... all those six times! Well, five, the first was with the dealer, a test ride. Every other ride has been in response to stressors, and it has stopped them worsening every time.

I've just had a thought... the concern here is with heartrate, yes? I got that from a previous reply to this post. If that's the case, can you get smart watches that you can set an alarm on if your heartrate raises above a certain level? If so, this could really help. Also, I've read conflicting information about E-Assist recumbent trikes with all the legal limitations in place etc. The legality of having a throttle which can take the trike up to 15.5mph. I've read that it is legal, so long as this is the limit (plus the power rating, I don't know about that, it's all factory-settings, so I'm assuming it's legal), but there are others who say no; if it's powered without input from the rider, it is classified as an electric/motor vehicle and, at least currently, illegal, due to needing to be registered, taxed etc. If it is legal, perhaps I could go for a leisurely ride around the block and, if my heartrate gets too high, just use the throttle and relax?

I did try to buy the only trainer in the world that appears to fit it, but the people who make and sell it, in the States, messed me about with the order, took months, then said I'd never ordered it, then said I did but it got lost, then refunded me. Ok, they refunded me, but I've still got no trainer.

I just remembered, you asked whether I could use an indoor bicycle, and the short answer is no, not really. The reason the trike works is because, with scoliosis, which is getting worse as I age, I can't even sit upright in a chair for a few minutes without it really starting to get to me. Riding an upright, even static, would do my back in. Just one day's washing up, I have to have at least two goes and recline in between. I also have old injuries in both wrists, long story, jumped off a bridge like an idiot, anyway, the pressure on my wrists would wind up being a barrier as well.

Yes, it would be an idea to keep a food diary... I mean, I usually remember what I've eaten, as many of my days are set on traditional stuff (tonight, sorry, chippy dinner because it's Friday!). Autism rule-following and routine, lol! I suppose, really, Friday and Sunday are my only true ritual days (Sunday roast), so I could be flexible at other times.

As an example of a 'lazy' meal I make, and they're always a bit different, I call it a 'Bung-In', because it began life as something I'd make when we didn't have a full portion of anything to eat, so I just slung it all into my Crock Pot and stewed it. Anyway, here are the ingredients to my last one, this last week:

Corn
Petits pois
Artichoke hearts
Broccoli
Kale
Spinach
Mixed beans
Aduki beans
Marrowfat peas
Red, brown and salad onions
Carrot
Parsnip
Celery
Bell peppers
Seitan
Veggie World roasted duck
Knorr vegetable stock pots
Vegetable bouillon
Fennel seeds
A concoction of herbs
Turmeric
Garlic
Basil
Ground rainbow peppercorns
Extra virgin olive oil

It was a bit bean/pulse heavy this time, I know. I don't usually use too many, as it can make it stick and burn.

last summer I did the Way of the Roses on my Kettweisel Delta trike. 170 miles from Morecambe to Bridlington. There are a couple of tricky level crossing gates at each end but not a problem if someone holds them open for you. beware there are a few 1:5 hills that I couldn't have done without my e-assist. If you try it, go for a week with a bit less torrential rain than us!

if you can, go to Europe- no barrier issues there. and better weather!!

skelo wrote: ↑4 Jun 2023, 6:39pm Probably not for the 'purists' but anything that broadens the choice in disability cycling has to be a good thing.

.It looks like a slight 're-engineering' of a Van-Raam or Hase. So hardly ground-breaking

I doubt this helps with the biggest barrier to disability cycling-the price (i guess we don't know details yet?)

Think I saw a figure of from 5,990 euros which seems pretty good. Options might bump that up in a big way though.

EDIT: Got that wrong, the press release says from 5,990 euros. I thought 4990 was surprising low

Probably not for the 'purists' but anything that broadens the choice in disability cycling has to be a good thing.

.It looks like a slight 're-engineering' of a Van-Raam or Hase. So hardly ground-breaking

I doubt this helps with the biggest barrier to disability cycling-the price (i guess we don't know details yet?)

pete75 wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:29pm

mjr wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:19pm

pwa wrote: ↑5 Apr 2023, 6:20pmIt is the daft suggestion of using an angle grider that is funny.

Are you recommending the OP to go out with an angle grinder? Please say so if you really are recommending that. My own advice would be to not do that because if they got caught they could be in trouble. Yes, they could engage a smart lawyer and fight it in the courts, but I doubt most of us would want to go down that path.

I wouldn't recommend it unless the OP is confident that they can do a tidy job, safely, and not get caught. But cycle campaigners have definitely been doing it for years. I know two barriers that I believe were removed by mystery men (for it is usually men) with angle grinders and hi-viz in King's Lynn, hastening their removal by years. I also know of one where money was wasted putting the barrier back, with minor modifications which still don't make it legal but do make it more difficult to remove (whether legally or not). And I seem to recall John Grimshaw likes direct action. So it's a proud tradition. I expect CTCers used to be a bit more direct-action-y before it became known as Cycling To Cake.

Compare that with the glacial pace of council work. Back in November, ours announced the removal of five barriers. They actually only removed four and forgot one. They said then that the remaining one (about four-fifths of the way along the route) would be removed imminently. It was still there last week.

I'd wager lots of money the early Clarion clubmen would have ripped them all down.

Indeed.

My suggestion of issuing a battery powered angle grinder was tongue-in-cheek (hence the emoticon) however there is a more serious point that you can campaign all you want but it will be a long wait for action. Perhaps the Kinder Scout ramblers should have been good citizens and not broken the law to obtain the access to the hills that we all enjoy?

On a pragmatic level, a barrier that is removed by direct action will probably stay removed (costly to replace) and by the same token, one that is not removed will probably stay there for a long time (costly to take out). As for community service- well the polis have to catch the remover first, and given how good the polis are at catching bike thieves and the miscreants who ride motorcycles through the anti-motorcycle barriers, I cannot see much chance of that.

I'm not normally one to contemplate breaking the law but sometimes the total ignoring of a community who only wants fair access is justified, so I'm not going to criticise those persons who have removed the barriers. I WILL strongly criticise anyone involved with Sustrans and any council cycle officers who condone these barriers, given that they present a significant barrier to any type of cycling except that done by fit persons (normally males) on standard DF bikes- so no tandems, cargo bikes, trailers, cargo trikes, hand cycles etc- in fact any form of cycle that makes the cycle a car replacement in fact.

Incidentally, I ride a trike by preference and am no longer strong enough to lift it over all types of barriers. However, for the record, I don't possess a battery powered angle grinder nor do I have access to one.

TPO

Jdsk wrote: ↑12 May 2023, 10:14am Common problems with barriers, unfortunately:
search.php?keywords=trike+barrier

But do you mean lanes without barriers, in which case:
search.php?keywords=trike+width+lane

Jonathan

I am referring to lanes like the following which are common in edinburgh. Would make me feel very guilty if I couldn't use it as would be holding up all the traffic behind me.

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@55.9 ... X6nabQTrvA

Common problems with barriers, unfortunately:
search.php?keywords=trike+barrier

But do you mean lanes without barriers, in which case:
search.php?keywords=trike+width+lane

Jonathan

pete75 wrote: ↑8 Apr 2023, 3:19pm

pwa wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:30pm

mjr wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:19pm
I wouldn't recommend it unless the OP is confident that they can do a tidy job, safely, and not get caught. But cycle campaigners have definitely been doing it for years. I know two barriers that I believe were removed by mystery men (for it is usually men) with angle grinders and hi-viz in King's Lynn, hastening their removal by years. I also know of one where money was wasted putting the barrier back, with minor modifications which still don't make it legal but do make it more difficult to remove (whether legally or not). And I seem to recall John Grimshaw likes direct action. So it's a proud tradition. I expect CTCers used to be a bit more direct-action-y before it became known as Cycling To Cake.

Compare that with the glacial pace of council work. Back in November, ours announced the removal of five barriers. They actually only removed four and forgot one. They said then that the remaining one (about four-fifths of the way along the route) would be removed imminently. It was still there last week.

It has been a bit quicker around here, possibly helped by the motorcycle menace being less prominent than it once was. See the example i gave above. Fairly typical locally.

My suggestion to the OP to seek out an Ice trike that fits is pragmatic, given that they intend getting an Ice trike and some of them do fit A frames. And they may not see themselves as a have-a-go angle grinder warrior. Pressuring the local council is also an option, but likely to be slow to yield results.

Motorcycle menace? The biggest selling motorbikes in the UK are large adventure type bikes, headed up by the BMW R1250GS and high performance sports bikes like the Ducati Panigale. I can't see the owners of such machines wanting to use cycle paths. Just who are these motorcyclists councils and Sustrans think are itching to ride on cycleways? As a long time motorcyclist I imagine it's a myth. Most motorcyclists are getting on a bit, motorcyclists like myself who've kept it since their youth and new riders who've taken it up later in life , didn't start out properly, riding an old, knackered British 250 on L plates and haven't taken the proper motorbike test.

I'm not talking about most motorcyclists. I'm talking about a sub culture in certain working class areas, who use unregistered, uninsured off-road motorbikes in public areas that include rugby fields (several damaged this last winter in this region), streets, footpaths and shared use paths. Nothing to do with a 50-something year old bloke riding his shiny motorbike on the roads on Sundays. If you read what I said as criticism of motorcyclists in general, my wording was at fault.

But the problem is a real one. Police action can help, but the police can't be there all the time. And they can't protect members of the community who supply them with names. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49960337 There are lots of stories like this one. But as I say, I think this menace has declined a bit in this area recently. Fingers crossed.

pwa wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:30pm

mjr wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:19pm

pwa wrote: ↑5 Apr 2023, 6:20pmIt is the daft suggestion of using an angle grider that is funny.

Are you recommending the OP to go out with an angle grinder? Please say so if you really are recommending that. My own advice would be to not do that because if they got caught they could be in trouble. Yes, they could engage a smart lawyer and fight it in the courts, but I doubt most of us would want to go down that path.

I wouldn't recommend it unless the OP is confident that they can do a tidy job, safely, and not get caught. But cycle campaigners have definitely been doing it for years. I know two barriers that I believe were removed by mystery men (for it is usually men) with angle grinders and hi-viz in King's Lynn, hastening their removal by years. I also know of one where money was wasted putting the barrier back, with minor modifications which still don't make it legal but do make it more difficult to remove (whether legally or not). And I seem to recall John Grimshaw likes direct action. So it's a proud tradition. I expect CTCers used to be a bit more direct-action-y before it became known as Cycling To Cake.

Compare that with the glacial pace of council work. Back in November, ours announced the removal of five barriers. They actually only removed four and forgot one. They said then that the remaining one (about four-fifths of the way along the route) would be removed imminently. It was still there last week.

It has been a bit quicker around here, possibly helped by the motorcycle menace being less prominent than it once was. See the example i gave above. Fairly typical locally.

My suggestion to the OP to seek out an Ice trike that fits is pragmatic, given that they intend getting an Ice trike and some of them do fit A frames. And they may not see themselves as a have-a-go angle grinder warrior. Pressuring the local council is also an option, but likely to be slow to yield results.

Motorcycle menace? The biggest selling motorbikes in the UK are large adventure type bikes, headed up by the BMW R1250GS and high performance sports bikes like the Ducati Panigale. I can't see the owners of such machines wanting to use cycle paths. Just who are these motorcyclists councils and Sustrans think are itching to ride on cycleways? As a long time motorcyclist I imagine it's a myth. Most motorcyclists are getting on a bit, motorcyclists like myself who've kept it since their youth and new riders who've taken it up later in life , didn't start out properly, riding an old, knackered British 250 on L plates and haven't taken the proper motorbike test.

mjr wrote: ↑6 Apr 2023, 8:19pm

pwa wrote: ↑5 Apr 2023, 6:20pmIt is the daft suggestion of using an angle grider that is funny.

Are you recommending the OP to go out with an angle grinder? Please say so if you really are recommending that. My own advice would be to not do that because if they got caught they could be in trouble. Yes, they could engage a smart lawyer and fight it in the courts, but I doubt most of us would want to go down that path.

I wouldn't recommend it unless the OP is confident that they can do a tidy job, safely, and not get caught. But cycle campaigners have definitely been doing it for years. I know two barriers that I believe were removed by mystery men (for it is usually men) with angle grinders and hi-viz in King's Lynn, hastening their removal by years. I also know of one where money was wasted putting the barrier back, with minor modifications which still don't make it legal but do make it more difficult to remove (whether legally or not). And I seem to recall John Grimshaw likes direct action. So it's a proud tradition. I expect CTCers used to be a bit more direct-action-y before it became known as Cycling To Cake.

Compare that with the glacial pace of council work. Back in November, ours announced the removal of five barriers. They actually only removed four and forgot one. They said then that the remaining one (about four-fifths of the way along the route) would be removed imminently. It was still there last week.

It has been a bit quicker around here, possibly helped by the motorcycle menace being less prominent than it once was. See the example i gave above. Fairly typical locally.

My suggestion to the OP to seek out an Ice trike that fits is pragmatic, given that they intend getting an Ice trike and some of them do fit A frames. And they may not see themselves as a have-a-go angle grinder warrior. Pressuring the local council is also an option, but likely to be slow to yield results.

Tilley wrote: ↑27 Sep 2022, 9:27pm I ride an ICE Adventure which is slightly narrower than the HD version you are looking at. I also run a Facebook group and organise group rides. Some of the members ride the HD Adventure. Many of the barriers are accessible. Some require a careful approach. Occasionally the chicane type barriers are to short to allow the trike to turn. The A frame style barriers are generally ok, but we have encountered a few which have been set up too narrow even for a narrow track trike. I test ride every route before running a group ride so that I know that any barriers can be negotiated or avoided. I hope this answer is useful.

They can be installed badly and not to specification by mistake, so it is worth letting "the powers that be" know if you find one that is suspiciously narrow. If you can see an ID on a barrier you may be able to find specs online. Eg https://centrewire.com/wp-content/uploa ... AILS-1.pdf is a very common example. Depending how high the wide bit of a recumbent trike is, it might well get through that particular design, if installed to spec. You might have to fold any mirrors in.

squeaker wrote: ↑11 Mar 2023, 1:24pm

pwa wrote: ↑11 Mar 2023, 11:15amWhat problems do you have with access barriers, using your trike?

Locally, not a lot as most bridleways have a fairly wide zig-zag barrier, which in some cases can be easily ridden under I do recall one under a block of flats in Brighton that I had to carry the trike through on its side 'cos there wasn't room to get the necessary approach angle (This was following a cycle.travel route on gps - I stayed on the road next time I went that way )

Yes, half the problem is not knowing what you will find on routes new to you.

pwa wrote: ↑11 Mar 2023, 11:15amWhat problems do you have with access barriers, using your trike?

Locally, not a lot as most bridleways have a fairly wide zig-zag barrier, which in some cases can be easily ridden under I do recall one under a block of flats in Brighton that I had to carry the trike through on its side 'cos there wasn't room to get the necessary approach angle (This was following a cycle.travel route on gps - I stayed on the road next time I went that way )

I ride an ICE trike, too. Those barriers are a right PITA, aren't they? Usually I do get through, but it usually calls for a dismount, some wriggling of the trike and fingers crossed that there's enough space. It usually works. Sometimes, as an addition to the barrier, the well-intentioned planners insert a "step" in the middle. This can be as troublesome as the barrier, requiring lifting, dragging and catching the underside on the top of the step.

HOWEVER ........ the good news is that I've never actually been halted in my journey. The one time I thought I would be (crossing a footbridge across the river Aire south of Leeds, on a NCN route) two young, strong cyclist (they all look young to me through my 73 year old eyes !!) simply lifted it up above their heads, camping gear and all, and walked down the steps.

I go, cross my fingers and trust that I can get round problems as they arise. It helps that I'm not precious about the looks of the trike (scrapes and scratches, etc). But, I guess, one day this approach may not work.

Huntress_Amelia wrote: ↑27 Sep 2022, 7:10pm Hello, I just found out today that I haven't been on this website in 7 whole years, well I am back, and really thinking about getting one of those cool ICE Trike recumbent tricycles, Specifically the Adventure HD.

My main concern are the bike barriers that seem to be on all trails, paths, and other such routes I would normally cycle down, my bicycle I can sometimes get off and push through, lift over, but a tricycle is heavier and a lot more bulky to lift, sure this specific model can be folded, but who wants to fold and unfold just to clear a barrier?

I know some, I could possibly ride under, but the A-shaped ones would seem to be too narrow even at the bottom for something this wide, it almost seems like the government doesn't even want cyclists to be using the cycleways it builds at times.

I also wish that Bikemap would give information on upcoming barriers on the map when you are riding, so you know about it before riding for thirty minutes up a path you can't access later due to your trailer being unable to get through the barrier, something I will contact them about.

The reason they are there at least the ones I come accross is to stop motorbikes, some make getting an ordinary bike through a bit of a challenge, you'd have no chance with a tricycle unless you could hold it over your head.

Ion the bright side the motorbike lads have a habit of coming back with angle grinders and removing them and eventually the council gives up

I'm not sure how they could stop scramblers and not trikes