A decade ago, it was almost impossible to find an tricycle for adults on sale. But in the intervening years, adult tricycles have undergone an explosion in popularity, resulting in a extensive range of options for those wanting to ride on three wheels.
Now, you can find tricycles with different wheel configurations, off-road tricycles, electric tricycles and disability tricycles. In this guide, we explore the world of tricycles for adults and everything you need to know if you’re looking to buy a tricycle.
What is an Adult Tricycle?
Quite simply, an adult tricycle is a cycle with three wheels. Adult tricycles have a single wheel and a pair of wheels, either at the rear or the front.
The sitting and steering configuration and drivetrain vary little from a standard two-wheel bicycle, with the rider atop a saddle and powering the cycle with their legs.
There are many reasons why adults ride tricycles as opposed to two-wheel cycles. Some adult tricycle riders have moved across to three-wheel cycles due to balance or health issues.
Who is Buying Adult Tricycles and Why?
On the 2nd of May 2022, Sarah Robertson in the Wall Street Journal reiterated about adult tricycles and indeed many adults of different ages require more balance and carrying capacity when they are going out for a bicycle ride whether for recreation, chores, or as a form of exercise. As the article discusses, U.S. bicycle sales rose to 5 billion dollars. Attaining $3 billion in 2021 is 60% higher than the previous years prior to the pandemic.
These steadying vehicles make cycling safer, or as safe as it can be, especially if one intends to carry something of any considerable weight. It also has innumerable advantages, one of which is that it enables the disable or those who cannot move around easily because of health issues to exercise without the possibility of getting seriously hurt.
Some Tricycle for Adults
Skyshalo
SKYSHALO 20″/ 24”/ 26″ Adult Tricycle Folding Tricycle, Aluminum Alloy Brakes & Fast-Assembly, 3 Wheel Bikes 1 Speed Trikes with Shopping Basket for Seniors Adult, Vibrant Orange (24 Inches)
Dextrus
Dextrus Adult Tricycle, 24 Inch 3 Wheel Bikes, 1 Speed Trike Bike for Adults with Removable Baskets, Cruiser Bike for Seniors Women Men Shopping Picnic Outdoor Sports, Green
Lilypelle
LILYPELLE TK1 Electric Folding Tricycle for Adults & Seniors,with 500W Motor & 48v 14.5Ah Detachable lithium battery, 20*3in Fat Tires,Cyan
How to Choose the Best Adult Tricycle
Regardless of physical ability, everyone can enjoy the benefits of physical activity. As an exercise, cycling contributes to improved cardiovascular health, increased muscle mass, improved coordination, and weight loss. For an adult with strength, balance, or mobility challenges, the stability and comfort of an adult trike provide the opportunity to reap the benefits of cycling, without much of the tip-risk associated with a conventional two-wheeled bike. Let’s learn about how to choose the best adult tricycle.
A Brief History Of Tricycle For Adults
While there might be individuals out there who believe that the adult three-wheel bikes just came into the market, reports show that they have been around since the late eighteen century. The Tiller & Treadle Adult Tricycle was invented. Manufactured and marketed in the 1870’s and 1880’s as a human powered alternative to the velociped or bicycle. It was the first successful cycling machine from the middle of the nineteenth century and till forward.
Popularly called velocipedes, three wheel bicycles were made of wooden spokes and wheels with iron-strapped tires following the wheel sets of horse carriage. These were not the bicycles of today, which are often light structures. And you can therefore understand why the initial users of the wood and iron bicycles were young, energetic men.
Well they sure as hell were not the comfort driven machines which are the blessing of today. These tricycles had sometimes a higher rear wheel or a front wheel which was even higher and that added more problems with riding this one. Certainly no elderly person or women would seen riding them out of anything other than desperation.
In 1881, the Salvo tricycle was built and presented to Queen Victoria as a gift; nevertheless. Queen Victoria never ventured to ride the hand-steered tricycle as this was still a machine not yet ready to accommodate the era’s comforts and security to passengers besides healthy men.
Simply Turn Your Own Bike into An Adult Tricycle
If you already have a bike and want to switch to a cargo adult tricycle, without investing in a full-on tricycle. And/or don’t have much room to store it at home, we have the solution!
Remove your bike’s front wheel and change it with the AddBike+ frame: you now have a cargo tricycle, it’s that simple! This reversible system can be adapted to almost any bike on the market, including electric bikes.
Conclusion
Since physical activity is so important to overall health and well-being. It makes sense to try to find ways to stay active throughout adulthood, not just for your body, but for your brain. As people get older, and their physical abilities change. Riding a three-wheeled adult tricycle accommodates a range of motion, strength, and balance challenges. A rider can safely work hands, legs, muscles, heart, and brain on an adult trike. Higher activity levels lead to better mobility. And trike riding is a great activity to help maintain good health and mobility.
