ICE Sprint X Tour FS experience

[UpWrong]

Bought with e-assist in mind, however I'm enjoying it so much that I'm putting the conversion on hold. I saved £447 by opting for 8-speed gearing rather than 11-speed. After a few rides I realise I need lower gears so have bought a 9-speed Alivio M3100 shadow derailleur for £22 and 3 KMC x-9 chains for £36. I have a 9-speed bar end shifter and 9-speed 12-36 cassette. The cassette has better spacing than the current 8-speed 11-32 as well, though I shall lose a bit of top end.

I don't have front mudguards and experienced the downside of that decision when riding through puddles today. It would help to change the front tyres to slicks to get less spray. The current Maxxis DTH tyres were splashing and spraying extensively.

I've solved the flag gradually working its way out by wrapping some plastic tape around the pole. Whilst disliking flags, I have to say that with today's SUVs and tall Cross-overs, there is some reassurance in sporting a flag. I am really noticing how much more careful drivers are when overtaking compared to what happens when riding a recumbent bike.

[Skids]

I'm glad you are enjoying your new trike. I ride my Q NT with mudguards all year as I don't mind water but being soaked in a slurry of gravel and cow pooh is not to my taste. I also fitted a piece of cloth from the seat to the axel beam designed to catch most of the spray from the front wheels and this makes a difference.

[UpWrong]

I'm glad you are enjoying your new trike. I ride my Q NT with mudguards all year as I don't mind water but being soaked in a slurry of gravel and cow pooh is not to my taste. I also fitted a piece of cloth from the seat to the axel beam designed to catch most of the spray from the front wheels and this makes a difference.

The problem with fitting mudguards with FS is that the mudguards are not suspended so you need to leave an ugly gap. You have me thinking that some kind of splash guard might be possible.

[hercule]

ICE do mudguards for trikes with front suspension , they mount on the non-suspended part. They are a bit coy about how much they cost though….

https://www.icetrikes.co/products/acces ... ategorised

[UpWrong]

ICE do mudguards for trikes with front suspension , they mount on the non-suspended part. They are a bit coy about how much they cost though….

https://www.icetrikes.co/products/acces ... ategorised

There have been rumours of price increases in June. I'm sure the price is astronomical, and the aesthetics are really bad on trikes with full suspension.

[UpWrong]

I did a longer, hillier ride yesterday which confirmed to me that the current 8-speed gearing is a bit gappy and that I need lower gears. So I am motivated to upgrade to 9-speed. Apparently the 3 chains have now been dispatched!

I found I was often pushing the gear lever in the wrong direction. ICE reversed the bar-ends a few years back and I am finding it counter-intuitive, so I shall go back to how they used to be configured.

Finally, there's something not right about the brake balance between my drums. I've adjusted the cables (at the lever end) so the drums start to bite at the same point when moving the levers, but the right lever moves further and is spongey - as if it has more leverage. I'll look into how the drum brake arms are set, there might be a disparity at that end.

[nobrakes]

I think mudguards are essential in the UK on a tadpole trike. I found even with the ICE mudguards on my Sprint, my arms still got sprayed with decent amounts of water, but significantly less than without the mudguards. If I bought another trike I would definitely work on a solution that stops water getting onto your arms altogether. It gets quite annoying after a while. Also in monsoon conditions you need to either use a rear rack and rack pack or get used to lifting your side pod bags up while riding no handed when you go through puddles.

[UpWrong]

I think mudguards are essential in the UK on a tadpole trike. I found even with the ICE mudguards on my Sprint, my arms still got sprayed with decent amounts of water, but significantly less than without the mudguards. If I bought another trike I would definitely work on a solution that stops water getting onto your arms altogether. It gets quite annoying after a while. Also in monsoon conditions you need to either use a rear rack and rack pack or get used to lifting your side pod bags up while riding no handed when you go through puddles.

I didn't get a problem with spray on my old ICE T, but that had a wider track and a higher seat. I don't mind my arms getting splattered but dislike getting a wet bum which is what happened the other day. I think slick tyres would make a big difference.

[squeaker]

I didn't get a problem with spray on my old ICE T, but that had a wider track and a higher seat.

it also had mudguards on it when you sold it to me

[UpWrong]

I didn't get a problem with spray on my old ICE T, but that had a wider track and a higher seat.

it also had mudguards on it when you sold it to me

I think I ran it without the mudguards and without the rack when I discovered it reduced the weight by 5lbs

[Tilley]

I recently bought a pair of suspension mount mudguards for my Ice Adventure from Kevin at Dtek cycles. They were shop soiled ie old stock and at a very reasonably reduces cost.

[Skids]

The problem with fitting mudguards with FS is that the mudguards are not suspended so you need to leave an ugly gap. You have me thinking that some kind of splash guard might be possible.

You are only half correct : Older front suspension was fixed to the top of the steerer meaning the mud guard has to be set high enough to allow for wheel movement ; I have this on my 2017 Adventure. On newer trikes the mud guards are fitted to the lower suspension mount meaning that they move with the wheel. I'll post some photos once I find a camera.

S

[Skids]

Some images:
Red splash guard tied to cross tube : stops the jet of water hitting upper legs when going through puddles. Note how the mudguard is not fitted to the top of steerer/ left headset.

Shot looking at the mudguard mounting

The sharp eyed of you will have noticed that the splash guard is tied on using cord :

"If string works use string" ------ Mike Burrows.

S

[UpWrong]

Thanks for the posts. I was unaware that the mudguard now moves with the axle. And I like the splash guard.

[Skids]

Thanks for the posts. I was unaware that the mudguard now moves with the axle. And I like the splash guard.

Your welcome, the mudguard now moves with the wheel removing the need to leave a large gap between tyre and mud guard as its attached below the spring.

S