Recumbent Trike
We went to the bike show to get the Middlewife a new helmet today, as the one she's been using is over twenty years old and starting to flake. While there, I looked around at the new bikes. But it was the Middlewife who found one. After trying lots of alternatives, she decided she wanted the Sun EZ-3 USX recumbent trike. Her key requirements were that it had to be easy to get a leg over, and mustn't fall. The Sun met both requirements easily, and includes a shock absorber that make bumps kind of fun.
Sadly, fitting in our car was not one of its virtues, so I rode it the two miles home, after which the Middlewife and I went for a good ride, her on the Sun, and me on a Dahon folder (Jetstream P8.) Once she was done for the day, I put another 12 miles on the Sun. I really enjoyed its relative immunity to headwinds, and how utterly stable it felt even at speed. I also liked being able to easily steer with one hand.
Someday when we are too old to drive a car safely, we may still be using this "adult trike" for grocery runs. Meanwhile, it's great for daily exercise.
Update: Here's another review of the EZ-3 USX, and a link to a Yahoo group devoted to it.
Update2: Unexpected bonus: The new bike is usable in light rain. I noticed a lot of folks jogging and walking without umbrellas today, even though it's been raining lightly off and on all day, and decided to test the Sun EZ-3 USX in the wet. Result: passed with flying colors. Even though I haven't installed the optional fenders yet (ordered today), I still didn't notice any water getting thrown up from the path by the wheels. Two of the wheels are beside me, and the front one is behind the frame, so the fenders are likely to do more to protect the bike and others nearby than they are to protect the rider. I wore wind pants, a Gore Tex raincoat, and rubber gardening shoes, and got along just fine.
Something I read last night said your choice when riding in the rain is between getting wet from the inside out, or outside in, and that seems about right. My shirt was wringing wet (from the inside) after 14 fast miles, but I was neither too hot nor too cold during any part of the ride.
I was warned by others with this bike that it is possible to flip by turning too sharply at speeds above 7 MPH, so one needs to lean into fast turns. I practiced that today on a steep downhill that ends in a turn, and it makes sense.
Long term, if we ever get serious about taking this bike places for rides, we'll likely have to trade our VW Passat in on a wagon, minivan or SUV, but I'm guessing that decision is a long way off. For now we can have all the fun we need in our own neighborhood.
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