Tadpole for a "fat guy"

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Date: 20 Sep 2005 19:12:29
From: R.D.S.
Subject: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

I want to get back into biking but I can't ride my mtn bike, it's too
damn painful.

So I've been looking at trikes and would like a "tadpole" type, I even
decided on a Wiz Wheels Tera Trike 3.6 but I'm 6'1" & weigh close to
345lbs.

I have a park 1/4 mile from the house with an excelent bike path, hills
are all small save for maybe one and on saturdays from 8:00am - 6:00pm
the actual roadway is closed to cars and trucks and open to bikes.

Any recomendations? PRICE is a problem also I'd like to keep it under
$2000 (well under would be nice, I'm sure not practical though.)

Thanks

Date: 21 Sep 2005 18:26:32
From: Sunset Lowracer [TM] Fanatic
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

Jeff Grippe wrote:
> Check out the Tricruiser. www.americruiser.com ...

It looks like the dog would drool on the head of all but the tallest
riders.
--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Date: 21 Sep 2005 18:19:29
From: Sunset Lowracer [TM] Fanatic
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

Edward Dolan wrote:
> ...
> I wonder myself what is going to happen to all my many bikes (both uprights
> and recumbents) after I cease to honor this world with my lordly presence. I
> have a vision of a big truck pulling up to the house and taking all of my
> bikes out to the local dump where they will henceforth reside for all
> eternity. This is something for the rest of you to think on too if you are
> planning to spend $2000. or more on a bike. Ask yourself if your city dump
> deserves such an expensive bike....

If there is no will and no obvious heirs, the State of Minnesota would
likely take possession and auction everything off. Depending on who
attended the auction [1], the bikes could go for much less than they
are worth. I know someone who obtained an almost new HPV in this manner
for much less than its ket value.

[1] Government auctions tend to be poorly advertised and held in
obscure locations so only the "right" people will show up - similar to
a kickback scheme in many ways.
--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Date: 21 Sep 2005 20:49:07
From: Edward Dolan
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"Sunset Lowracer [TM] Fanatic" <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1127351969.203606.158420@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Edward Dolan wrote:
>> ...
>> I wonder myself what is going to happen to all my many bikes (both
>> uprights
>> and recumbents) after I cease to honor this world with my lordly
>> presence. I
>> have a vision of a big truck pulling up to the house and taking all of my
>> bikes out to the local dump where they will henceforth reside for all
>> eternity. This is something for the rest of you to think on too if you
>> are
>> planning to spend $2000. or more on a bike. Ask yourself if your city
>> dump
>> deserves such an expensive bike....
>
> If there is no will and no obvious heirs, the State of Minnesota would
> likely take possession and auction everything off. Depending on who
> attended the auction [1], the bikes could go for much less than they
> are worth. I know someone who obtained an almost new HPV in this manner
> for much less than its ket value.
>
> [1] Government auctions tend to be poorly advertised and held in
> obscure locations so only the "right" people will show up - similar to
> a kickback scheme in many ways.
> --
> Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Well, there are heirs (nephews and nieces), but what they know and like
about bikes you could put in a thimble with room to spare. However, I will
try to impress on them that my bikes are worth something. They are all money
grubbers, so that should make them sit up and take notice. Basically, I
would like my bikes to find good homes when I am no longer here to take care
of them. I feel about my many bikes the same way I feel about my many cats.

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Date: 21 Sep 2005 10:41:29
From: Rusty Bucket Bent Triker
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

You might also want to look at the SUN EZ-Tadpole SX.
--Russ

Jeff Grippe wrote:
> Check out the Tricruiser. www.americruiser.com
>
> If you call you will be able to speak directly to Sid who builds them. It is
> a tadpole but it is higher off the ground than most which is great for large
> guys. Sid has a "heavy duty" option but I'm not sure what the weight limit
> is. He'll be happy to talk to you about it when you call him.
>
> The only neg. is that he doesn't use great components and if you ride a lot
> you will find yourself upgrading them at some point. You can get a 21 speed
> setup with disc brakes and "heavy duty" frame option for around $1,400.
>
> I have been quite happy with mine but I only use it for commuting so my
> rides are always under 15 miles.
>
> Give sid a call. Tell him Jeff Grippe referred you and if you buy one he
> will donate $50 to the American Diabetes Association (normally he pays
> referral fees to the individual but he knows I want my referral fees to go
> to ADA).
>
> Jeff
>
> PS There are pictures of me with mine on the web. Let me know if you'd like
> the URL posted.
>
> "R.D.S." <no@way.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1d9a615d324d7ad69896db@news-central.giganews.com...
> >I want to get back into biking but I can't ride my mtn bike, it's too
> > damn painful.
> >
> > So I've been looking at trikes and would like a "tadpole" type, I even
> > decided on a Wiz Wheels Tera Trike 3.6 but I'm 6'1" & weigh close to
> > 345lbs.
> >
> > I have a park 1/4 mile from the house with an excelent bike path, hills
> > are all small save for maybe one and on saturdays from 8:00am - 6:00pm
> > the actual roadway is closed to cars and trucks and open to bikes.
> >
> > Any recomendations? PRICE is a problem also I'd like to keep it under
> > $2000 (well under would be nice, I'm sure not practical though.)
> >
> > Thanks

Date: 22 Sep 2005 07:31:38
From: my news
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

If you get the sun tadpole sx you will want to upgrade the tires to the
Kenda Kwest 100psi. They will handle the weight much better than the tires
that come standard.

Date: 21 Sep 2005 06:00:43
From: Jeff Grippe
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

Check out the Tricruiser. www.americruiser.com

If you call you will be able to speak directly to Sid who builds them. It is
a tadpole but it is higher off the ground than most which is great for large
guys. Sid has a "heavy duty" option but I'm not sure what the weight limit
is. He'll be happy to talk to you about it when you call him.

The only neg. is that he doesn't use great components and if you ride a lot
you will find yourself upgrading them at some point. You can get a 21 speed
setup with disc brakes and "heavy duty" frame option for around $1,400.

I have been quite happy with mine but I only use it for commuting so my
rides are always under 15 miles.

Give sid a call. Tell him Jeff Grippe referred you and if you buy one he
will donate $50 to the American Diabetes Association (normally he pays
referral fees to the individual but he knows I want my referral fees to go
to ADA).

Jeff

PS There are pictures of me with mine on the web. Let me know if you'd like
the URL posted.

"R.D.S." <no@way.com > wrote in message
news:MPG.1d9a615d324d7ad69896db@news-central.giganews.com...
>I want to get back into biking but I can't ride my mtn bike, it's too
> damn painful.
>
> So I've been looking at trikes and would like a "tadpole" type, I even
> decided on a Wiz Wheels Tera Trike 3.6 but I'm 6'1" & weigh close to
> 345lbs.
>
> I have a park 1/4 mile from the house with an excelent bike path, hills
> are all small save for maybe one and on saturdays from 8:00am - 6:00pm
> the actual roadway is closed to cars and trucks and open to bikes.
>
> Any recomendations? PRICE is a problem also I'd like to keep it under
> $2000 (well under would be nice, I'm sure not practical though.)
>
> Thanks

Date: 21 Sep 2005 12:17:56
From: Don Boring
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 06:00:43 -0400, "Jeff Grippe" <jeff@door7.com >
wrote:

>Check out the Tricruiser. www.americruiser.com

That is a hot looking trike for the money
for my needs but how about the fact that
it looks like it is 'bolted' together.

Does the frame need to be continually
checked before each ride to make sure
it won't fall apart on you while you are
riding? Seriously.

How does it compare with riding say an
EZ-1 Sun Supercruiser as far as speed
and handling? The components on that
bike are fine for my needs.

And isn't the tadpole design more dangerous
than a Delta trike?

Looks hot and I may inquire about one. I need
something I can take to the ket that will
hold a weeks worth of groceries and the price
is right!

I only weight 175 lbs. Do you think I would
wear it out in 10 years?

How about durability? You
Don Boring
Glendora, CA. USA
Easy Racer EZ1-SC http://www.easyracers.com/ez_1_sc.htm
Lightning Thunderbolt http://www.lightningbikes.com/thunderbolt.htm

Date: 21 Sep 2005 20:47:54
From: Jeff Grippe
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"Don Boring" <don.boring@ispwest.com > wrote in message
news:96c3j1pe49nltm6phtlk97lad7sbicdndk@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 06:00:43 -0400, "Jeff Grippe" <jeff@door7.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Check out the Tricruiser. www.americruiser.com
>
> That is a hot looking trike for the money
> for my needs but how about the fact that
> it looks like it is 'bolted' together.
>

It is bolted together. Sid's (the builder) experience was with building hang
gliders. He builds the way he knows how to build.

> Does the frame need to be continually
> checked before each ride to make sure
> it won't fall apart on you while you are
> riding? Seriously.
>

It needs to be checked periodically but not before each ride. I have not had
a problem with loosening although I do check it on a regular basis. I would
say I check some things monthly and most things every couple of months.

> How does it compare with riding say an
> EZ-1 Sun Supercruiser as far as speed
> and handling? The components on that
> bike are fine for my needs.
>

I have never riden an EZ-1 but I have owned an EZ-3. I like it better than
the EZ-3. My experience with trikes leads me to believe that none of them
are particularly safe above 30 MPH. This trike is not built for speed. It
handles fine but you shouldn't expect it to handle like a bike.

> And isn't the tadpole design more dangerous
> than a Delta trike?
>

I don't know the answer to that. Ed Dolan would say yes but the deltas I've
riden I didn't like. The only one that I think would be interesting is the
new one by Hase that uses a differential to supply power to both wheels. I
know some other Hase owners who love them but they also own tadpoles and
love them too. Most tadpoles are much lower to the ground then the
tricruiser. The tricruiser is as high off the ground as most deltas. This
makes it easy to get into and out of but it probably makes it less stable. I
enjoy riding it.

> Looks hot and I may inquire about one. I need
> something I can take to the ket that will
> hold a weeks worth of groceries and the price
> is right!
>

It is built like that. The rear rack that Sid sells is this big heavy thing
that can hold a lot. During the summer I put two folding chairs (the kind
that fold into a bag) and a big cooler on the back and rode it to our local
swimming pool. It was a great pack rat.

> I only weight 175 lbs. Do you think I would
> wear it out in 10 years?
>
> How about durability? You

These two questions are really the same. I don't know about the ten year
life. Sid does not use premium components so I am changing some things now
after only one year but I am making these changes because I want better
performance and not because they need to be changed. I don't think Sid has
been building them for 10 years yet. He is in San Diego and he'd be happy to
have you come visit and try one out. You can see it and then decide for
yourself. I plan to use mine for riding to and from the train station. For
longer tours I use a different trike.

> Don Boring
> Glendora, CA. USA
> Easy Racer EZ1-SC http://www.easyracers.com/ez_1_sc.htm
> Lightning Thunderbolt http://www.lightningbikes.com/thunderbolt.htm

Date: 21 Sep 2005 23:23:01
From: R.D.S.
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

In article <11j3vm3cb9fle24@news.supernews.com >, jeff@door7.com says...
> "Don Boring" <don.boring@ispwest.com> wrote in message
> news:96c3j1pe49nltm6phtlk97lad7sbicdndk@4ax.com...
> > On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 06:00:43 -0400, "Jeff Grippe" <jeff@door7.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Check out the Tricruiser. www.americruiser.com
> >
> >
> >
> I have never riden an EZ-1 but I have owned an EZ-3. I like it better than
> the EZ-3. My experience with trikes leads me to believe that none of them
> are particularly safe above 30 MPH. This trike is not built for speed. It
> handles fine but you shouldn't expect it to handle like a bike.

I don't need it to be fast or expect it to handle like a bike.

First I need it to be comfortable, I've broken my tailbone two times,
the first 25 years ago and the second 8 years ago and I still feel pain
when sitting unless the seat is comfortable (unlike a bike seat).

Second I need it to be enjoyable, all I ever read is how much "fun" a
trike is and that's what I need.

After the accident's I've had, that have caused me to become the "spud"
I am today, I need some motivation to get out there and walking won't do
it.

I walk a couple miles a day normally when working and when I get home
walking isn't real high on my list of things to do.

I've always loved riding and have a road bike and a mountain bike but
like I said, the accidents were debilitating and I became unable to
ride, then depression set in and that's more debiltating than the
physical injuries. The one thing I could still do was feed my face.

Anyway thanks for the input.

Date: 21 Sep 2005 23:02:55
From: Edward Dolan
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"R.D.S." <no@way.com > wrote in message
news:MPG.1d9bed9f301e317f9896dd@news-central.giganews.com...
[...]
> After the accident's I've had, that have caused me to become the "spud"
> I am today, I need some motivation to get out there and walking won't do
> it.
>
> I walk a couple miles a day normally when working and when I get home
> walking isn't real high on my list of things to do.
>
> I've always loved riding and have a road bike and a mountain bike but
> like I said, the accidents were debilitating and I became unable to
> ride, then depression set in and that's more debiltating than the
> physical injuries. The one thing I could still do was feed my face.
>
> Anyway thanks for the input.

Sorry, but you need to walk more than anything else. That is what we humans
were designed to do by our evolution as walking primates. By choosing not to
walk, you have elcted death. I encourage you to elect life and to get
walking. You may want to start out with water walking in a swimming pool,
but eventually if you want to live you will have to walk. there is simply no
susbstitute for it.

When winter sets in here in Minnesota, I forget about my bikes and I walk
for a couple of hours every day. Hey, if I can do it, so can you. We wil al
be dead soon enough,so let's live as long as possible.

Date: 21 Sep 2005 17:48:27
From: DD
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

R.D.S. wrote:
> I want to get back into biking but I can't ride my mtn bike, it's too
> damn painful.
>
> So I've been looking at trikes and would like a "tadpole" type, I even
> decided on a Wiz Wheels Tera Trike 3.6 but I'm 6'1" & weigh close to
> 345lbs.
>
> I have a park 1/4 mile from the house with an excelent bike path, hills
> are all small save for maybe one and on saturdays from 8:00am - 6:00pm
> the actual roadway is closed to cars and trucks and open to bikes.
>
> Any recomendations? PRICE is a problem also I'd like to keep it under
> $2000 (well under would be nice, I'm sure not practical though.)
>
> Thanks
If not a Greenspeed, Logo or some other good and proven trike then I
suggest that you ensure that whatever you choose is strong, comfortable
and sturdy.

My brother weighs the same as you but can't fit my GTS as he can't fit
between the handlebars. I'm a wiry 230 pounds and had Greenspeed build
me a beefed up trike as I'd already broken 5 bike frames through various
(mis)adventures, racing, offroad touring and the like, so it is a
consideration, you can ask for this and most recumbent makers can do it.

My brother had been mountainbiking for years but I'd had to keep
replacing spokes, plus had to double up the rim tape to stop the rim
rotating more than the tyre and snapping off valves. We ran with a spare
wheel set up for quick change over but even this didn't help much. So I
opted for a recumbent with bomb-proof 20" wheels, Maxxis Hookworm tyres.
Works a treat and no wheel/tyre/tube/spoke problems. BTW it wasn't a
trike, it was a BikeE clone, far easier for him to get on or off and
easier to handle. The comfort factor is also enormously better than with
his old MTB which I notice is now gathering dust.

So it can be done.

P.S who gets Ed's recumbents when he goes?

P.S A 340 pound guy on a SWB coming towards you feet-first is an unusual
looking sight. My brother looks like the Michelin man laid flat but
floating a few feet off the ground and coming at ya. Traffic respect him.

Date: 21 Sep 2005 13:22:05
From: Edward Dolan
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"DD" <me@u.com > wrote in message
news:43312c74$0$11748$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
[...]
> P.S who gets Ed's recumbents when he goes?

I am expecting a stroke or heart attack any day now. I blame all my woes on
Jeff Grippe. He is driving me to an early grave by his improper posting
style. I think I am going to have my estate sue him for contributing to my
death.

I wonder myself what is going to happen to all my many bikes (both uprights
and recumbents) after I cease to honor this world with my lordly presence. I
have a vision of a big truck pulling up to the house and taking all of my
bikes out to the local dump where they will henceforth reside for all
eternity. This is something for the rest of you to think on too if you are
planning to spend $2000. or more on a bike. Ask yourself if your city dump
deserves such an expensive bike.

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Date: 20 Sep 2005 20:02:28
From: Sunset Lowracer [TM] Fanatic
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

Date: 20 Sep 2005 19:02:46
From: Edward Dolan
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"R.D.S." <no@way.com > wrote in message
news:MPG.1d9a615d324d7ad69896db@news-central.giganews.com...
>I want to get back into biking but I can't ride my mtn bike, it's too
> damn painful.
>
> So I've been looking at trikes and would like a "tadpole" type, I even
> decided on a Wiz Wheels Tera Trike 3.6 but I'm 6'1" & weigh close to
> 345lbs.
>
> I have a park 1/4 mile from the house with an excelent bike path, hills
> are all small save for maybe one and on saturdays from 8:00am - 6:00pm
> the actual roadway is closed to cars and trucks and open to bikes.
>
> Any recomendations? PRICE is a problem also I'd like to keep it under
> $2000 (well under would be nice, I'm sure not practical though.)
>
> Thanks

Holy Freaking Cow! Surely you meant 245 lbs, not 345 lbs. Hey, Jeff Grippe,
move over. We have got a new champion in the weight class here on ARBR.

However, if 345, I strongly suggest you begin a walking program. Forget
about cycling. In fact, at your weight, I recommend that you do the water
walking in your local swimming pool. Once you lose about 100 pounds, you can
begin to think about cycling.

Frankly, I do not think there is any bike made that will take 345 lbs. I
just do not know how anyone gets to 345. I have always weighed 145 my entire
adult life until recently when I shot up to 165. But I am old and getting
ready to die, so what the hell difference does it make. However, I would
like to know how you get to 345. I hope RDS will tell us so we can all avoid
his fate.

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

PS. All the jerks on this newsgroup will advise you to get a Greenspeed as
they are built very strong. But I think the entry price for this tadpole
trike is more like $3000. I find the mesh seats very uncomfortable, but with
all your fat you won't even feel the seat.

PS2. Damn, I am getting nastier and nastier as I get older. Best wishes and
good luck in your endeavor to lose weight.

Date: 21 Sep 2005 05:59:47
From: Jeff Grippe
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net > wrote in message
news:5eWdnYdALqW1Pq3eRVn-1w@prairiewave.com...
>
> PS2. Damn, I am getting nastier and nastier as I get older. Best wishes
> and good luck in your endeavor to lose weight.

Excuse me Dolimite. PS2 is a computer if you are old or a video game if you
are young. A second postscript would be PPS. I think you are going to have
to resign from your job as ARBR correctness police.

Date: 21 Sep 2005 13:08:09
From: Edward Dolan
Subject: Re: Tadpole for a "fat guy"

"Jeff Grippe" <jeff@door7.com > wrote in message
news:11j2bmm981fqlfb@news.supernews.com...
>
> "Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net> wrote in message
> news:5eWdnYdALqW1Pq3eRVn-1w@prairiewave.com...
>>
>> PS2. Damn, I am getting nastier and nastier as I get older. Best wishes
>> and good luck in your endeavor to lose weight.
>
> Excuse me Dolimite. PS2 is a computer if you are old or a video game if
> you are young. A second postscript would be PPS. I think you are going to
> have to resign from your job as ARBR correctness police.

I take certain liberties with the language from time to time since I am so
Great. Only the Great like me can do this however. The rest of you should
observe all the rules of good writing all the time.

I use PS2 because I think I may sometimes have to go to a PS3 or PS4. My
every thought deserves its own paragraph, unlike some of the rest of you who
run everything together.

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota