Jim,
Sorry to hear of your trouble. I have often fear; after permanently injuring my Quadriceps muscle which causes great pain with exertion, that I might find myself with another malady that curtails or prevents cycling all together.
I have a Ken Bird Adult trike conversion kit (very classic now) which I have used on many long rides and I must say its a great deal of fun. For balance problems it would seem that a low slung recumbent trike would be ideal. The issue you might encounter on a classic British style racing trike is that center of gravity is quite high and the trike can be very tippy at speed!
There are plenty of old drawing of trikes upside down in the ditch! It would seem from the quantity of drawing I have seen that the old Hi-Wheel Penny Farthing is a far safer if not more manageable machine. Comments?
What might make more sense is a lightweight (relative term) upright trice with small wheels and a low center of gravity? I import several models of Pashley adult trikes with 406/ 20 inch wheels. The cost starts about $1000.00 plus some shipping and their are models with Brooks saddles as standard.
Over the last 10 years they have also manufactured several large wheel (27 inch?) trikes but sales were light and they were discontinued. I have found a few newish (shop worn perhaps) models that I may import if there is interest. I have no idea of the cost at this time. Pashley also makes a very fun performance recumbent trike and at least 3 tricycle delivery / transport vehicles suitable to carry just about anything. In short a Trike friendly company, and very colorful.
The 20 inch wheel trikes are much easier to master as the ride much more like you would expect them too and are not as prone to tipping as there large wheel cousins. I do believe that part of the appeal of large wheel trikes is their learning curve and challenge to keep upright at speed. The smaller wheels with today's technology and high pressure tires are lighter than most of their big wheel counterparts and faster accelerating as well.
Except for the large wheel trikes (to be acquired soon) you can view the low center gravity trikes weighing in at a light (no record breakers) 19 kilos or so at:
Models are the Picador and Tri1.
List mmbers, thank you for you indulgence. Please contact me off list if anyone has an interest in these products.
Regards,
Gilbert Anderson
The North Road Bicycle Company your bicycle outfitter 519 W. North St. Raleigh, NC 27603 USA pH toll free in USA: 800/321-5511 Local pH: 919/828-8999 E-mail: cyclestore@aol.com
PS: Dale, I hope this has enough classic content as the Pashley company has been in continuous operation since the 1920's and they make thousands of lugged and other classic products every year.
In a message dated 11/19/01 12:07:46 AM, superbepro@yahoo.com writes:
<< Hello All
Would anyone have any leads of anyone with a used
British racing trike for sale. I have devoloped an
inner ear problem which effects my balance (read have
none). It has gotten to be impossible to ride two
wheels any longer, I'm going to wind up road kill:-)
I do have a recumbent trike coming, but sure would
like to be able to still ride an upright if I wanted
to. I have had contact with quite a few upright trike
folks from the UK so I know all the little quirts with
this type of trike.
I know about Longstaff and the Newton conversions, but
can't go the price of a new frameset right now. I
would really appreciate any leads, contacts, anything
you all might have
It's really is killing me no not be able to just go
take a ride anymore whenever I want to.
The bent trike should be here this week and maybe I'll
learn to like it, I hope. But it sure would be nice to
still be able to sit on my favorite Brooks again too.
Best Regards to All
Jim Smith
Catskill NY >>