What little I know of tricycles is here rendered. It is an acquaintance which began precipitously on Key Largo one November at a time when I was anticipating knee replacement surgery in the upcoming months upon our return to Canada at the end of April. The day of our arrival on Key Largo I bought a Sun tricycle (which I have since sold to the neighbour next door from Boston). It was in my opinion a good tricycle though it had only one gear. The limitation was acceptable at sea level when everything is flat.  Otherwise I would recommend a minimum of 8 gears which is what I have on my current Evo Latitude tricycle. I hasten to note however that even with the 8 gears the instrument is not transformed to a racing machine. A tricycle is by any account a ponderous vehicle. The larger seat of the Sun tricycle was an advantage.

Sun

Evo Latitude

The Eco Latitude is foldable though I have never used that feature. Frankly I can’t imagine that folding the front wheels would make a useful difference for transporting. Nor have I ever tried to transport it. Nor will I.

My experience with the 8-gears of the Evo Latitude is that even the slightest incline makes it an effort to pedal uphill. If I were doing it again I would definitely consider an electric tricycle especially if one were interested to employ the trike for grocery shopping or mere visits to the bakery or coffee house; or, if one were anxious to have a toy to scoot about town for the mere pleasure of performing effortless activity.  Naturally the resulting athletic approbation would thus ensue.

Having recently fallen from my Evo Latitude it bears repeating that the three wheels, while affording stability when immobile and flat, nonetheless suffer the blemish of instability if one wheel (especially a rear wheel) is lower than another. The elevation distinction (and the exposure to tipping) arises pointedly when crossing from a higher sidewalk to a lower roadway. Don’t try doing that sideways; rather, head on at right angle to avoid the balancing issue. And speaking of conduct upon the device, it is inherent that the steering of the tricycle is accomplished solely by turning the handlebars without leaning from side to side (as is normal upon a bicycle). The moment one leans, one inadvertently alters the course of the handlebars (predictably in the opposite direction to which one prefers). Aside from a directional issue, it exposes one’s carcass to toppling. It took me an afternoon’s ramblings and undignified experiments upon the tricycle fully to quell the inappropriate movements.

The rear carriage basket is useful. I have carried my stick in it as well.

For me the unmistakable advantage of a tricycle is that is operates as a lounge chair when stopping to chat with others along the pathway (although the custom is extraordinarily inconsiderate of the other chap who must stand). Storage of the tricycle is a moderate issue in the apartment building.  Without entitlement I have expropriated to myself a corner of the garage. Meanwhile our bicycles are stored in the allotted garage cage.

No doubt there are varying sizes of tricycles.  I prefer a larger tricycle though I am uncertain whether finding something larger is possible given what I presume to be the limited manufacture of the machines. Raising the seat is normally a matter simply of twisting the security feature beneath the seat. Lifting the handlebars may also help accommodate a higher stance. I suspect the recommended height of the seat while seated is where one’s feet remain flat on the roadway when one’s legs are fully extended.

One last suggestion.  Have a bell installed on the handlebar.