Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
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Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
Got this delivered on Friday..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180714957083? ... 1438.l2649
and got around to tyring out it today. Everything seems to work just fine but it takes a bit of getting used to the difference in handling from a normal bike. I have only riden it solo and just round the car park at work - I want to get a bit more used to the handling before going out on public roads. I guess it will handle differently with someone on the back - have to try and get one of my colleagues at work to give it a go. Any handling tips welcome.
I also want to make a few improvments - mudgaurds, disc brakes and if not too difficult two wheel drive.
My hope is that I can persuade Mrs Lab Rat to try riding as stoker and the three wheel stability means we can take it gently without lots of wobbling.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180714957083? ... 1438.l2649
and got around to tyring out it today. Everything seems to work just fine but it takes a bit of getting used to the difference in handling from a normal bike. I have only riden it solo and just round the car park at work - I want to get a bit more used to the handling before going out on public roads. I guess it will handle differently with someone on the back - have to try and get one of my colleagues at work to give it a go. Any handling tips welcome.
I also want to make a few improvments - mudgaurds, disc brakes and if not too difficult two wheel drive.
My hope is that I can persuade Mrs Lab Rat to try riding as stoker and the three wheel stability means we can take it gently without lots of wobbling.
Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
Think you'll need a set of mirrors with something that long, also it may be difficult getting along cycle paths with bollards.
There is one in Fareham i always have to get off the bike just to get round, any time i go out with my cycle trailer.
There is one in Fareham i always have to get off the bike just to get round, any time i go out with my cycle trailer.
Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
What a gorgeous bit of kit. I hope you enjoy riding her
Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
Don't forget to lean into the corners Unusual looking machine
Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
That's a beaut. If you want to ride on cycle paths, I suggest you take a stoker plus a couple of spare people to lift it over the gates.
- martin biggs
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
how much differant is it to a normal tandem to ride
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
No useful tips sorry, but what a cracker of a bike that is, damn cheap for a two wheeled tandem never mind a trike!
I'd love one of these or even an ordinary 2 wheel tandem so I could help some weaker, older[1]/wobbly cyclists out on some of the social rides we do.
[1] 82yo and still good for 55miles [2]
[2] If I push him up the hills
I'd love one of these or even an ordinary 2 wheel tandem so I could help some weaker, older[1]/wobbly cyclists out on some of the social rides we do.
[1] 82yo and still good for 55miles [2]
[2] If I push him up the hills
- hubgearfreak
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
a beauty, and what a bargain
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
martin biggs wrote:how much differant is it to a normal tandem to ride
Never riden an ordinary tandem so I can't compare. My only other tandem exerience was as a stoker on an Ortleib back to back recumbent - cycling facing backwards is a very interesting experience indeed.
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
delport wrote:Think you'll need a set of mirrors with something that long, also it may be difficult getting along cycle paths with bollards.
There is one in Fareham i always have to get off the bike just to get round, any time i go out with my cycle trailer.
Good point about mirrors - I have them on my other bikes, need to fit a bell as well. Have to think a bit about where to ride initially but as you say a lot of paths won't be doable. Hopefully it's size and unusual appearance will make it OK for road use as cars slow down for a look.
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
£100 has to be a record for delivery costs even for SJS!
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
stewartpratt wrote:£100 has to be a record for delivery costs even for SJS!
I factored that in to my bidding - I think of it as having bought it for £600 was still seems like a reasonable deal.
Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
For two wheel drive try Trykit - but it will cost you a bit. There were mudguards on my solo trike when I bought it, but I took them off; they aren't as useful as on a bike, because you aren't in the line of fire from the wheels, and they can be a bit of a nuisance owing to the compromises in fitting (I write as a convinced user of guards on bikes, but not on trikes). Obviously you want a guard on the front.
Also have a look at the Tricycle Association. Have fun! I've never tried a tandem trike.
Also have a look at the Tricycle Association. Have fun! I've never tried a tandem trike.
Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
stewartpratt wrote:£100 has to be a record for delivery costs even for SJS!
On ebay in the past it wouldn't be unheard of for the postage to be £500, and the item cost £100.
Ebay clamped done on the fee avoiders who were loading the postage.
Buy a laptop for 99p with £300 postage for example.
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Re: Tried my recent e-bay purchase today
drossall wrote:For two wheel drive try Trykit - but it will cost you a bit. There were mudguards on my solo trike when I bought it, but I took them off; they aren't as useful as on a bike, because you aren't in the line of fire from the wheels, and they can be a bit of a nuisance owing to the compromises in fitting (I write as a convinced user of guards on bikes, but not on trikes). Obviously you want a guard on the front.
Also have a look at the Tricycle Association. Have fun! I've never tried a tandem trike.
Thanks for the links. I will definitely look into the trykit conversion - had a look on there just now and Longstaff 1wd to 2 wd is £285, doubt I can get something decent for much less than that. Riding it again today with a friend on the back did alter the handling slightly but it is still quite hard to handle and this does feel like it is down to the 1 wd giving off-centre pushing. Of course as we were both Tandem novices that didn't help much either