TerraTrike Rover
Bentrider Online - www.bentrideronline.com
By Brian Ball - Managing Editor

The Rover has been the target of a very aggressive and unique marketing campaign for the last month. TerraTrike’s numerous teaser pics and videos tossed around words like “Revolutionary” and “Game Changing”. Top TerraTrike dealers and at least one media member were even flown out to the company’s Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters for a sneak peak of the new trike. Guesses on our message board ranged from a full suspension titanium tadpole to a cheap sub $500 delta. The actual trike is somewhere in between but definitely the lower end guesses were closer to the truth. Does the Rover live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

The Rover is definitely a pretty unique design. In it’s cheapest form the trike only costs $799 making it the cheapest high quality tadpole trike I’ve ever ridden. It’s 18” seat height is very high for a tadpole and makes it exceedingly easy to get in and out of. Its high-tensile steel frame uses a combination of square and round tubing that not only keeps the cost down but makes it more adjustable for leg length than any other tadpole on the market. It even fits children relatively easily. It also easily breaks down into a few small pieces that will fit into almost any trunk. It’s the first tadpole I’ve seen that uses no chain idlers at all. It has a 400 pound weight limit. Revolutionary? I don’t know but it definitely is poised to be a very high volume seller.

I can attest that the Rover does look a lot better in person than in pics and that the clean but industrial look does grow on you. I’ve also watched a few members of the Rover’s target audience try out everything that TerraTrike has to offer and walk away with two of these trikes. They never mentioned the looks. But… “Pretty” is probably a word that will not be tossed about much when describing the Rover. Much of this is due to the square main tube.

Square tubing usually equals cheap and to a point this is true of the Rover. Square tubing is cheaper to buy and easier to build with. Therefore it does play a part in the Rover’s low MSRP. However, I have to hand it to TerraTrike for making the most of the material’s attributes. The seat slides over a long area with a very simple seat mount that wouldn’t work as well on a round tube. It also makes taking the trike apart and putting it back together a breeze. And that big square tube does lend itself to all sorts of aftermarket shenanigans. Mounting accessories should be a breeze for anyone with half an ounce of ingenuity. And the trike’s modular design also means that this almost certainly not the last development we’ll see of this basic frame design from TerraTrike.

The Rover comes in two versions. The $799 three speed model uses the venerable, old-as-time-itself Sturmey Archer 3-Speed hub. The $999 eight speed uses the much newer Sturmey Archer 8-Speed. Both of these hubs are about as reliable as taxes. Both models come with Zoom disc brakes and a 32 tooth crankset.

As I stated earlier, the Rover is very easy to get in and out of. If you can get in and out of your average sofa, you can manage this trike. The bottom bracket is a few inches lower than the seat so numb feet and toes should not be a problem at all either. The Rover’s seat frame is the same as the one that comes on TerraTrikes other budget models but uses a different canvas seat cover. It’s not as breathable as the others in the line-up but upgrading is pretty inexpensive if that bothers you. Other than that, it’s just as comfortable as the seat on any other TerraTrike. The handlebars are also at a very comfortable height. Comfort and ease of use were obviously at the top of the Rover’s design priority list.

When you first stomp on the pedals of a Rover, the first thing you notice is… nothing. With no idlers at all, this is by far the quietest tadpole I’ve ever ridden. There’s a quiet whir from the chaintubes but even that is much quieter than usual since the lines are so straight. There’s also not much rattle from the chain or anything else when you hit a bump.

The Rover feels pretty stiff when pedaling hard although there is some flex from the seat mount. At 42 lbs, the Rover is hardly a featherweight and it’s not meant to be a performance machine. It’s definitely not but it did feel a bit quicker than I expected at first glance. The Rover is aptly described as “efficient” rather than “quick”.

With an 18” seat height this trike is also not going to set any records in the slalom but I have to say that I was quite impressed with the handling. Hardish cornering yields a bit of uneasiness but it definitely did not feel at all “tippy”. Extremely hard braking did lift the rear wheel but the adjustability of the trike does let you keep your weight relatively centered to keep this to a minimum. There was virtually no brake or pedal steer and the direct steering was smooth and predictable. In short, there is nothing that should surprise or frighten a first time rider one bit. The turning circle is also the tightest I’ve seen in a tadpole trike. I think that in day-to-day practice this stat is a bit overrated but the Rover can turn on a dime when called upon to do so.

In the past, I’ve not been much a fan of trikes with “only” eight or nine gears. I lived in the mountains. I didn’t know any better. Sales figures of recumbents and uprights alike indicate that hub gears are “the in thing”. Now that I live in a city with bike paths and not as many mountains, I find myself in my middle chainring 90% of the time and am much less down on these simpler drivetrains. I rode the 8-speed for this review and found the 23-72” gear range to be just about pitch perfect for this type of trike. It can get up most hills just fine and it was never meant to be a speed demon. It cruises along at 17 or so miles per hour quite comfortably and that will be just fine thanks. And especially for the first time trikers the Rover is aimed at, it’s pretty hard to argue with the simplicity and reliability of an internally geared hub.

And yes… It comes apart. It’s by no means a true folder but it can be broken down for transport and can fit into the trunk of almost any car. If you can do… well… anything around the house you can manage to break down a Rover.

So there you have it… This is what we’ve all been waiting for. Is it a trike aimed at our core audience of enthusiasts? Not really but I could definitely see owning one as a commuter/utility trike. (It is very visible in traffic for a tadpole and well suited for city riding) Will it bring new masses to the market? I think so. It’s comfortable, easy to get in and out of, simple to operate, handles well, is well made, comes from a company with outstanding customer service and is relatively inexpensive. That’s a pretty good formula for something that is definitely, “very significant” if not outright “revolutionary”.

TERRATRIKE ROVER

Highs - Good handling, Very quiet, Exceedingly useable

Lows - Looks may have to grow on you

MSRP - $799-$999

Ride In Comfort
Tampa Bay Magazine - April 2008

I have two bikes sitting in the garage, since, out of all the exercises that were available to me, cycling appealed to me the most. However, I found that my balance wasn’t what it once was, and even though I had tried a variety of seats, none of them seemed to fit my body parts comfortably. Then, I saw an ad that sounded too good to be true. It was for the TerraTrike, a three-wheeled recumbent cycle for under $1,000. It has a slung mesh seat that allows the body to relax and is as comfortable as can be.When I called to order one, I wanted to know how difficult it would be to assemble it and placed my order immediately when I was told it would arrive fully assembled and ready to ride. Afew days later, a box arrived, and there it was, ready to roll. I topped off the tires with a little air and off I went. Sitting up with my feet forward was just what I needed to enjoy cycling TerraTrike The TerraTrike Path is ideal for riders who are looking for simple, comfortable riding. The TerraTrike is available in a wide range of sizes and a variety of models. and get some exercise. I noticed howmuch easier I was breathing while pedaling; and with my head up, any neck or back pain was eliminated. The slung mesh seat was more than wide enough for my ample expanse. It only took me a few minutes before I was handling the trike like a sports car, due to its disc brakes and Ackerman steering. On the Pinellas Trail, I whizzed along with ease and comfort. Won’t my doctor be surprised when I tell him I’ve been cycling a few hours a week and enjoying it. If only I had found a TerraTrike sooner.

Read article here

WizWheelz TerraTrike Path

Written By Brent Seavers of UtahTrikes.com

The newest member of the TerraTrike family, The TerraTrike Path is priced at just under $1000. With the main focus being to get more trikes to more people, WizWheelz has undoubtedly created a winner here. While interest in recumbent trikes has been growing steadily, the cost of ownership has scared some away. The lower price and ease of use will make it much easier to get the TerraTrike Path into the hands of potential riders.

The TerraTrike Path is built on a proven platform and shares many elements in common with WizWheelz's most popular models. WizWheelz was very careful about making the Path very affordable, while not making any compromises in quality. The TerraTrike Path has a chromoly steel frame painted in a brilliant "Sunset Gold" color. And just like the Cruiser and Tour, comes in four different boom sizes; extra small, small, medium and large (Spacers are available for inbetween or extra-long sizes). Sharing the comfort and adjustability of their other line of TerraTrikes, both the seat position and angle are adjustable.

The most noteable feature of the Path is its internal three-speed hub transmission. Changing gears is very easy, with only one shifter on the trike (shifter can be mounted on the right or left side). This is accomplished by having a single chainring at the front of the trike, and a 3-speed Sturmey-Archer Internal Hub transmission in the rear. For casual cruisers, beginners, and those not needing to deal with a wide variation of terrain, three-speeds makes it easy to enjoy the ride instead of focusing on which gear you are in. The internal gearing solves the issue of only being able to shift while pedaling. With an internal gear hub, you can shift at any time whether stopped or coasting. And, there is no need to worry about getting stuck in the wrong gear due to improper shifting technique. With a simpler chainline the chain stays where it’s supposed to. Also, the front 46-tooth chainring comes with a chainguard on both sides of the chain. This means that you won't need to worry about getting your pants, foot, or leg rubbed by an exposed chainring.

Even with the price being only $999, no sacrifices in quality were made. The TerraTrike Path is still equipped with independant dual disk brakes. The left and right brakes are both operated by brake handles on each side of the handlebar and feature Unique YJ-849 Calipers with 160mm Rotors and Promax brake levers. To ensure your Trike won't roll away, The Path comes with a Velcro parking brake that simply attaches around the exsisting brake lever and keeps it engaged. The natural flex of the chromoly steel frame and the 20" x 1.75" CST 40-PSI tires both help to make the Path a very comfortable ride. Also, like many of the other TerraTrikes, the Path has linkage Steering, a breathable mesh seat, and adjustable handlebars. This TerraTrike is equipped with high quality and durable components like lightweight aluminum wheels, and an RPM alloy crankset. The Path comes stock with platform pedals. Truly, TerraTrike has considered all aspects of the casual rider's needs when designing the Path.

While the technical specifications of the Path are impressive for a sub-$1000 trike, some questions arose when first looking at the Path on paper. Things like, "How fast can I go before I can't pedal anymore?" or "Is it easy to climb up hills with only three gears?". I knew the only way to answer these questions was to get on the trike and ride. First, I wanted to see how fast I could go on level ground before the pedals moved so fast they couldn't get me to go any faster. Using the Garmin 305 GPS cycle computer to clock my speed, I noted that I was able to reach 23.8 mph before I felt like I really started to spin out. Of course that number might vary slightly with the rider, but we're really looking at stretching the limits of the Trike's gearing itself. Honestly, for a three speed hub I am pretty impressed. Next on my test ride, I headed for the closest hill I could find. It wasn't incredibly steep but enough to measure the average hill climb. I took the hill at full speed and found myself having to initially gear down to the bottom gear. I slowed down to about a 7 mph climb and found the bottom gear to be just fine. I didn't feel the need to go any lower but knew on other steeper hills I've taken with my Cruiser that the three gears might feel limiting. But honestly, the Path is isn't aimed for extreme hill climbing. The one thing I did learn when riding is that when down shifting on a climb with this hub it's best to stop pedaling, or ease off the pedals, to more easily change gears. The Sturmey Archer hub has those characteristics. Changing to a higher gear isn't an issue at all, but you do need to ease up on pedaling while downshifting on a climb.

While on the surface it appears that the Path's target audience would be younger kids or older adults who wanted a comfortable, and easy-to-ride trike. After giving hundreds of test rides on the Path, we've found that the Path is desireable to many age groups and personality types. If you enjoy riding more than tinkering with the mechanics of the Trike, the Path may be right up your alley. It's simplistic gearing design will keep you pedalling on the road. But if you still like tweaking your Trike with upgrades and accessories, the Path is just as customizable as any of our other TerraTrikes. You can tow a trailer, add mirrors, carry cargo with a rack and panniers, install a fairing, upgrade to clipless pedals, and add the majority of the other upgrades that we offer. For those looking to make even more radical upgrades to the Path, including modified drivetrain components, visit our TerraTrike Path Customizer.

Whether your goal is to keep it simple while triking, or just to save some money, The TerraTrike Path priced at just $999 is an intelligent buyer's choice.

CRUISING THE ARIZONA DESERT

By John Ganton - Triking Enthusiast

In the winter I ride the ranch roads (think Jeep roads) of the Arizona low desert. This desert is nothing like what you saw in “Lawrence of Arabia”. The ground is mostly flat and is covered with creosote bushes. The soil has a lot of clay and is mostly fairly firm. My first trike is a Terratrike Cruiser. It is stock except for BMX tires and “SLIME” tubes.

With a steel frame and a fabric seat I found the trike comfortable and it put zero stress on my bad shoulder. The stability lets me give minimum attention to small rocks and rivulets. A pleasant surprise was how easy it is to walk a trike even on soft deep sand. Just grab the rear wheel and go.

Compared to my mountain bike the trike is much less capable even on my mild “off roading”. A Jeep road often presents two relatively smooth tracks separated by a soft/rough centre. A trike puts one wheel in the glue. I have learned to use momentum to cross obstacles since while pedalling the approach angle is close to zero. For stability, the trike has the weight biassed towards the front wheels. Even with an aggressive tread the driven wheel often loses traction on hills or sand. I think these limitations are inherent in any trike and suspension would not help. Never the less, I am taking the trike everywhere I took my bike. It just takes a little longer and I get a little more exercise.

If you want to go somewhere off road the mountain bike is better but if you want to relax and enjoy the countryside the trike is much better. On my trike I feel laid back mentally as well as physically. The stability lets me rubberneck and feel connected to the land in a way I never achieved on my bike. I like my trike.

TerraTrike Cruiser: Value Packed, Feature Rich Recumbent Trike

By Bucky Winkler - associatedcontent.com

Recumbent trikes are comfortable, efficient and fast little machines are an absolute blast to ride. With all the choices available on the market, choosing the right one can be a difficult task.

The TerraTrike Cruiser is one of the most popular recumbent trikes.

For this review we'll take a close look at the Cruiser. It is a tadpole style, which means there is one wheel on the back and two on the front. It is a touring style of tadpole trike with a nice wide cockpit. The frame of the Cruiser is made of 4130 chro-moly steel tubing. This trike is lightweight at just 37 pounds, yet very strong and is capable of handling a total weight load up to 300 pounds!

The seat is very comfortable and made with a breathable, heavy duty mesh. The seat sports a lightweight aluminum frame. A huge benefit of the TerraTrike brand is that their trikes are very adjustable. Sometimes, a small adjustment to your seat can make all the difference in the world in terms of comfort.

The Cruiser seat will adjust from 40 to 70 degrees in recline and approximately nine inches fore and aft. The TerraTrike Cruiser is available in four boom sizes. The riders leg length will determine which boom length that you need. The steering is a linkage system, which provides a very controlled feel to the Cruiser. Handling is nice and predictable, great for all day riding.

The Cruiser is a 24 speed trike using indexed Grip Shift shifting matched to Shimano derailleurs. The wheels are custom built by TerraTrike. CST tires are mounted on the aluminum alloy rims. The disc brakes mounted at the two front wheels provide the stopping power.

Any product is only as good as the company that backs it. The Cruiser is made by TerraTrike of Kentwood Michigan. This company is impressive. The people at TerraTrike are courteous and obviously love what they do. The company offers several models. Their models range from casual touring to racing styles. TerraTrike also has a tandem, or two-seater trike.

The TerraTrike Cruiser is a value packed and feature rich tadpole recumbent trike. The ride and handling is predictable and a pure joy. The comfortable seat and riding position will will make you feel as if you could ride all day long.

When you take to the street or local bike path with this trike, you can't be shy! You will get a lot of looks and shouts from people as you go zipping by. People will want to know what this unique machine is, if it's fast, if it's comfortable and how well it climbs hills. The one thing you can always count on while riding a TerraTrike Cruiser is a big smile on your face!

The WizWheelz TTC (TerraTrike Cruiser)

By Bob Bryant - Recumbent Cyclist News

The TTC TerraTrike Cruiser is the newest and lowest priced trike in the WizWheelz line. Itʼs basically a TT 3.6 with an imported ChroMoly frame and lower-line components; but the deal is not just good, itʼs great. WizWheelz has refined the TT 3.6 over several years before introducing this more affordable version. The mission of the TTC is “Affordable Comfort,” and to provide a trike “great for just cruising around.” The verdict: Mission Accomplished, and incredibly well.

USE: The TTC is NOT a performance trike, a tourer or a commuter; itʼs a recre- ational tadpole trike. However, this same ba- sic geometry is the basis for other WizWheelz models which are more specifically set up for sport riding or touring.

SEAT/COMFORT: The TTC seat is more upright than most other tadpole trikes, AND the seat recline angle is easily adjustable. This is a rare and excellent option for first- time trike owners or those experienced riders who would rather ride in a more upright posi- tion. The seat mesh is soft and comfortable, and is more comfy than many seats for me. The seat position adjusts via bolt holes through the main tube. The seat has a triangu- lar plate underneath with multiple holes. The bolt and nut are a bit clumsy, but do the job. Keeping the bolt tight is very important. The adjustment is not infinite (like a telescoping boom), but a lot easier to use (than a sliding boom). Iʼve always been able to find an ac- ceptable leg length adjustment.

RIDE: The TTC has THE most compliant ride of any (hard tail) trike we know of. The monotube frame design (big main tube, no trusses or triangles), suspension in the seat and fat low pressure tires make for a very soft ride. Even if you upgrade to 100 psi tires, the trike still offers a silky ride. This isnʼt the best-handling or fastest trike, but itʼs a great all-arounder. I rode it on varied terrain including gravel rail trails and hard pack wide singletrack and it handled everything with ease. Itʼs perfect for those who like to ride on varied terrain.

PERFORMANCE: High speed handling is NOT the TTCʼs forte. The 40 psi tires are relatively slow and the non-trussed frame has passive suspension. The ride is smooth and comfy, but this makes it a bit of a handful on descents over 20 mph. This is a casual bike trail cruiser. You could certainly speed the trike up by installing some Kenda Kwests or Primo Comets, but I still wouldnʼt feel comfortable on fast rough road descents, on busy streets or on our rough local roads.

FRAME: The TTC and TT Tour frames are TIG-welded overseas for WizWheelz using ChroMoly tubing. Both models also share the same frame, steering assembly, and seat assem- bly. The frame design and geometry are based on the previous TT 3.6 model (tested in RCN 088). The fabrication quality is fine — while not the finest Iʼve seen. I didnʼt notice any dif- ferences between the US-built and imported frames.

STEERING: The TTC has linkage under- seat steering. The bars are adjustable fore-aft for optimum angle. The bars are stiff and the steering is as solid as can be. The steering ge- ometry is not the best steering geometry avail- able for stability and handling, but itʼs decent and works well. The stock lower pressure tires seem to make the bike more comfortable at low speeds, but not as stable or predictable at higher speeds.

WEIGHT/LIMIT: The TTC is fairly light for an entry-level, steel-framed tadpole. Ours weighed 39.5 lbs. with fenders, rack and ped- als. The TTC can handle 300 lbs. of rider and gear.

COMPONENTS: The component choices on the TTC are mostly very good for a $1,300 tadpole trike. The crankset, brakes and derail- leurs have been downgraded from last yearʼs TT 3.6 (now called the TT Tour). The TTC has SRAM twist shifters instead of Shimano bar- ends; Unique disc brakes instead of Hayes; and a Sora/Altus drivetrain instead of Tiagra. The TTC comes with 170mm RPM cranks with steel rings. Better cranks have alloy rings (at least in the middle and outer). RPM cranks are new to the recumbent scene, and the crank and the all-black generic triple look great. If youʼre considering short cranks, check out our article in RCN 091, and make sure to allow for the extra inch or so in x-seam when you make the change.

The Shimano Altus rear derailleur is rather low end, but shifted great and even looks good. Since youʼre saving so much money on this trike, you can upgrade when it wears out a few years from now.

GEARING: The TTC has near PERFECT gearing for an entry level trike. The road triple works great with a 19.5” diameter (RCN mea- sured) 406mm 20” wheel. The TTC has an 11- 34 eight-speed cassette and a gear inch range of 17-92. You can climb hills at walking speed and pedal up over 20 mph if you care to. Perhaps low by modern bicycle standards, but not low once youʼve ridden the TTC. What weʼre not crazy about is the long crank arms, but that is solved easily enough.

CHAIN MANAGEMENT: Like all Wiz- Wheelz trikes, the TTC has a double power-side and double return side idler system (X-path rear and both chains under the front idler). Wiz- Wheelzʼ designer Jack Wiswell has sacrificed some efficiency (added friction in the system) and drivetrain smoothness in favor of aesthet- ics by having the chain run parallel and just under the frame, from crank to rear wheel. The WizWheelz idlers are improved over previous versions. However, the pleasing aesthetics put more stress on the idlers which could make for a shorter life. Serious WizWheelz riders may want to keep a spare idler set ($60), or perhaps even consider an aftermarket TerraCycles idlers.

BRAKES: The TTC is outfitted with “Unique” brand mechanical disc brakes. I had never heard of them until WizWheelz started using them. The brakes on our test TTC were perfectly adjusted. They were silent, didn't drag and stopped fine. WizWheelz stocks replace- ment pads and rotors. Upgrading to brand-name disc brakes usually costs about $100 per brake (at your local dealer).

The thing you never read about in trike re- views is brake modulation. With independent disc brakes on small wheels, the rider has to carefully place equal pressure on each brake lever. If you donʼt you can veer and even lose control. This could be a very dangerous situa- tion in traffic or at speed. CAUTION is the key word. Ride your trike (or bike) only as fast as The 2006 WizWheelz TTC tadpole is now available for $1299 retail you feel safe crashing (my new motto).

WHEELS: The TTC has imported machine- built wheels with single wall rims. These also came on our TT 3.6 (TTT). We've had no prob- lems with these wheels.

TIRES: WizWheelz ships the TTC with fat “CST” 20” 1.75” tires. At just 40 psi, these are comfortable tires that offer good stability and offer sure-footed handling for new riders. For a fairly basic tire, they are of good quality, actually round, seat well on the rims and have a reflective safety stripe around the sidewall. Those wanting a more performance oriented tire might consider Schwalbe Marathons, Kenda Kwests or Primo Comet 1.5” tires.

UPGRADES/ACCESSORIES: WizWheelz has a complete list of accessories including a rack, flag, trunk, seat bag, mirror, fenders, bottle cages, tires and even a stationary trainer (for 20” drive wheels).

The WizWheelz Planet Bike fenders ($100) are simple, but can be time-consuming to in- stall and there isnʼt much clearance over the stock fat front tires. Here are some tips: 1. Use Locktite on the fender struts and plastic threads. These little wheels cause vibration that makes the fender mounts come loose (particularly on our rough roads). 2. Cold set (bend) the fender struts (remove the plastic nut and bend the strut into position, and then retighten).

I ride on rough roads and the front fenders tend to vibrate and dance around at times, sometimes uncontrollably and I have to reach out and grab them. I finally just removed the front fenders and ran without them. WizWheelz is working on new fenders (which should be available now) with longer stays and better clearance over and around the tires. (This may not solve the vibration problem on rough roads). WizWheelz is also studying a more rigid mount- ing method (which is the ultimate answer).

The Old Man Mountain rack ($65) fits this trike perfectly and worked great. We also got to try the WizWheelz panniers ($90 for the pair) and rack top trunk bag ($65). All are great and are recommended options. The one minor glitch is that the rack top trunk is longer than the rack, and so you have to be creative when attaching the Velcro straps. While not the best bicycle gear, itʼs priced right, works well and is conve- nient to buy for your new trike. The WizWheelz two-piece flag ($20) looks great, but just one little plastic clip holds the flag onto the pole. I was certain mine would fall off, so WizWheelz told me to use some Shoe Goo to fasten it to the pole. Iʼm familiar with Shoe Goo (a great way to fix over-the-hill and beloved shoes), and it should answer the flag problem.

You can also get a Schlumpf Speed Drive two-speed bottom bracket ($500). This is a fine option, but not really suited for this entry-level model.

VALUE/RESALE: The resale on this model should be very good as the value is so high. The downside to any trikeʼs resale is that if you canʼt sell it locally, youʼll have to ship it; and that can cost as much as $100 if you strip the trike down to the bare frame, or double or more that cost if you ship it fully assembled in the original box. (WizWheelz trikes come fully assembled in a giant box.)

ASSEMBLY (direct purchases): For those who purchase from WizWheelz and order the TTC fully assembled, here is how it goes: Randall at WizWheelz emailed me the track- ing number and link via email. A few days later a semi truck rolls up to my house and unloads this gigantic box. I had the box open and put the trike on my work table. I mounted the seat, attached the rack, the rear fender struts and the front fenders to the struts. I checked the brakes and derailleurs and everything was set A-OK from the factory. I installed the flag, did a test sit and went zooming out the door in less than one hour (mostly spent on front fender instal- lation).

Despite the excellent job WizWheelz does in making assembly easy for new owners, you should learn to do basic indexed shifting adjust- ments. After a few miles the cables will stretch and youʼll have to turn the shifter barrel adjuster one half turn (at a time, then test) to tighten up the cable.

WizWheelz sells both direct fully assembled trikes, or through dealers. A local dealer is highly desirable for such tasks as wheel ten- sion after breakin. The WizWheelz website (www.wizwheelz.com) has a list of dealers.

COMPARABLES: The TTT, has the same frame and wheels, but upgraded components. The new Zoomer (see RCN 098) has an alumi- num frame, direct steering and is sportier, more extreme and takes more attention to steer. Sun makes the steel Sun SX tadpole weighs 49 lbs.; the CX ChroMoly weighs 47 lbs. I have yet to ride or test either Sun tadpole. Catrike offers the new Trail, but it's several hundred dollars more. The TW Bents tadpole, sold through various online outlets is more expensive, and must be set up by the buyer. I havenʼt seen this trike, but be sure to check out the shipping and set up costs. (Trike set-up is NOT recommended for the meek or uninitiated).

RECOMMENDATION: WizWheelz has outdone themselves. Everything we wrote about the TT 3.6 last season goes for the TTC; only the components have been downgraded. This is the best entry-level bargain tadpole trike available. A WizWheelz trike that weighs under 40 lbs. for under $1,300. Wow! This is the highest-quality trike at the lowest price-point that we know of. If you want better shifters, brakes and other parts, go for the TT Tour. Having not tried the new brakes, itʼs difficult to comment. However, my advice would be that if you donʼt care about getting the bar-end shifters on the TT Tour, take a chance on the new brakes. The WizWheelz trike are not the fastest or best-handling trikes weʼve reviewed, but they are the best first tad- pole trike. They offer unsurpassed seat comfort, seat adjustability and value for the money. FOR: Excellent value & quality; rides just like our 2005 TT 3.6; sliding seat & adjustable recline; great warranty and guarantee.

AGAINST: SRAM Grip Shifts; extreme chainline/chain management (idler life?); no- name brand disc brakes; low performance tires; tendency to “dance” at speed.

NUMBERS: Wheelbase: 39”. Width/track: 34”/31.5”. Seat height: 9.5”. Weight: 37 lbs.

FIT: 39”-49” X-Seam in three sizes. The TTC uses three different fixed boom lengths and the seat slides for rider adjustment within size ranges. (For definition of X-Seam measurement, check: www.wizwheelz.com/ xseammeasurement.htm.)

FRAME & SEAT DETAILS: Frame: 4130 ChroMoly TIG-welded steel. Chain idler: Double power-side and return side skate- wheel type idlers. Seat: Aluminum frame with breathable mesh (back & base). Handlebar: WizWheelz USS. Stem: WizWheelz. Color: Michigan blue.

COMPONENTS: Rear derailleur: Shimano Altus. Front derailleur: Shimano Sora triple.Shifters: SRAM MRX Comp twist grip. Crank: Alloy 30/42/52 triple. Bottom bracket: Square spindle cartridge. Cassette: Shimano Mega-Range 11-34 eight-speed. Chain: KMC Z. Brakes: Unique mechanical disc (two front). Brake levers: Promax. Hubs: Shimano Alivio. Rear rims: WizWheelz 20” 36º. Spokes: 14g stainless steel. Wheel build: WizWheelz ma- chine-built. Tires: CST 20” x 1.75”. Pedals: Platform.

WizWheelz TerraTrike Cruiser

By BRYAN J. BALL
Managing Editor | Bentrider Online Magazine | 04 September, 2006 12:21

A couple of years ago, WizWheelz was the brand to beat in the sub-$2000 trike market. As other trike makers jumped into that pricepoint WizWheelz lost a bit of attention. Over the past 12 months, the company has made some major steps to try and put their name back in the collective conscious of American recumbent trike enthusiasts. Their first move was to make their machines available through dealers. The second was to introduce a trike at an all-time low price point of $1299. This new trike is called the TerraTrike Cruiser.

Anyone who has any experience with previous WizWheelz models will immediately recognize the Cruiser as one of the family. WizWheelz does do a couple of things differently than many of their contemporaries do. They still use bushings on their kingpins while others use headsets now. The steering is also a cross-over "Self Centering" indirect set-up that is becoming increasingly rare. The Cruiser's large footprint (31.5" track and 39" wheelbase) is also a throwback to the days before "compact" tadpoles were all the rage. This is all just fine with me. As you'll read below, all of this "old-school" tech seems to work just fine.

The budget-priced Cruiser uses the same chromoly frame, seat and handlebars from the $1899 TerraTrike Tour. The bike is available in only one color (a slightly metallic "Michigan Blue") but I like it. WizWheelz quality was never what I would call "poor" but it has improved over the years. Some of the welds on our Cruiser weren't as clean as those on a Catrike or an ICE but they definitely looked tough enough to do the job and were still better than those on anything else in this price range. The seat, handlebars and other custom made pieces were all very well executed and all looked to be of very high quality.

WizWheelz reached the $1299 price point by choosing some low-end and occasionally esoteric components. The Cruiser uses the same basic RPM crankset found on the Bacchetta Café and the trike's 24 speeds are managed with a Shimano Altus rear derailleur and a set of SRAM MRX twist shifters. A pair of off-brand "Unique" disc brakes takes care of the stopping. WizWheelz uses their own wheelset and all three wheels are shod with CST 40 psi tires with reflective sidewalls.

I'll be the first to admit that most of these components can now be found on higher-end department store mountain bikes that retail for $200. But you know what? They all worked great. Eight-speed shifting is pretty much perfected and even lower-end systems tend to work pretty darn well. The same can be said for cable-actuated disc brakes. About the only drawback to choosing a cheap disc brake over an expensive one is ease of initial set-up. An expensive Avid is a breeze while some lower-end brakes are a nightmare. Since WizWheelz ships their trikes fully assembled this is not a concern. Our Cruiser's brakes were drag-free out of the considerably large box and stayed that way for the duration of the test.

Ergonomically the Cruiser is identical to most other WizWheelz offerings. You won't hear any complaints from me in that regard either. I've always found the WizWheelz seat to be pretty comfortable. It's also adjustable for recline angle which isn't too terribly common in the contemporary trike market.

The bottom bracket height is also very agreeable to me. The handlebars are lacking adjustment compared to some other current options but I found them to be just fine. The cockpit is pretty roomy for a tadpole (thanks to the wider track). The Cruiser also has a pretty high 300 pound weight limit so it may be a good choice for clydesdales. No matter your size, the Cruiser definitely has the "all day comfort" that most trike customers are looking for.

The handling on this trike is just as good as it is on any other WizWheelz offering. In our review of the alloy trike that Wiz now calls the "Access", we called its handling "Light and predictable". The same description applies here. It doesn't have the same quick point and shoot feel that many other tadpoles have. It's much more relaxed. I would say it's more like a Mercedes or a Lexus than a Porsche or a Ferrari.

Quick slalom turns were a lot of fun with the Cruiser's light feel and the nice wide track helped keep the trike on all three wheels during even the hardest cornering. At high speed, the Cruiser again wasn't quite as precise as some other trikes but I never felt a need to hit the brakes out of fear. WizWheelz calls its steering "self-centering" and that's a pretty accurate description of how it feels. There is just a touch of brakesteer but nothing to get excited about.

With a curb weight of 37.5 pounds, the Crusier isn't a performance machine and it's not meant to be. The 40-psi tires also slow it down a bit. However, with a set of 100psi Primo Comets, the Cruiser performed a bit better than I expected. It is certainly faster than any of the Sun Tadpole offerings (even with the stock rubber) and should be able to keep up just fine with trikes like the ICE Q, Greenspeed GTO or Trimuter.

One nitpick I've had with almost every WizWheelz trike I've tested and reviewed is the chain routing. The company uses better idlers than it used to and the drivetrain definitely feels more efficient than before. However, it still makes more noise than a lot of other trikes do. It's not a deafening roar or anything like that but a low whirring sound is your constant companion as you pedal along. Wizwheelz does offer an idler upgrade that will cure most of the noise.

WizWheelz also offers an impressive range of accessories for their machines. You can order everything from upgraded tires to a complete $999 "Ultimate Touring" package direct from the company. Nearly all of their accessories fit on the Cruiser. With a generous selection from the options list, you could make the Cruiser into a very nice commuting/touring trike and still spend well under two grand.

Which brings me to something else I wanted to say about the Cruiser… When we arranged for this test WizWheelz seemed a bit concerned about how us "enthusiasts" would take to the Cruiser since it's really meant to be an entry-level machine. After riding the Cruiser, I think that Wiz is really selling itself short. The Cruiser is a very nice trike in its own right and an outstanding trike for $1299. No, the components aren't too flashy but they're good enough that you can let them wear out before you upgrade. And the frame is definitely worth the upgrade. This is a trike that you can buy into cheaply and ride for years.

One of the best things about buying a WizWheelz is actually "buying" the trike. If you can't find one at your local dealer you can order direct from the manufacturer. If you choose to go that route, you can opt to have the trike shipped to your door fully assembled. You practically just kick out one end of the box and roll the trike out. No set-up and assembly issues required.

There seems to be an ever-increasing number of Taiwanese trikes available from a plethora of importers. A lot of these trikes are priced very close to the Cruiser's asking price. Some of these trikes are a good value but they don't come with a dealer support network or the muscle that a major manufacturer can provide. If you feel uncomfortable going with one of these importer companies, you can opt for WizWheelz TT Cruiser and know that you have a full-time manufacturer backing you up. And you can sleep well at night knowing that you bought a very nice trike.

The WizWheelz Zoomer

By Bob Bryant - Recumbent Cyclist News

The Zoomer and Zoomer Elite are new models from WizWheelz. Both use a new lightweight aluminum frame, direct under-seat steering, and have an adjustable boom. The Zoomer has one other design attribute that makes it unique č an adjustable seat recline angle combined with a fixed position seat base. The Zoomer also has a very attractive price.

USE: This is a sport touring trike for sporting day rides.

SEAT & COMFORT: The WizWheelz seat is quite comfortable. The mesh is firm, but there are adjustment straps on the under-side to relax or tighten the tension. The seat base is an integral part of the frame. The seat back hinges at the base offering an adjustable recline (via seat struts with ball detent pins). The reclining seat back is a real plus č especially to those who've found other similar trikes too reclined, or if you want the ability to experiment with different seat back angles. WizWheelz mesh seats don't have a lumbar support. Some riders prefer this, others do not.

FRAME: The Zoomer has a 6061 T6 heat-treated aluminum frame that is built overseas for WizWheelz. The Zoomer has the stiffest WizWheelz frame to date č because it’s aluminum and the seat base cross supports stiffen the frame. The Zoomer has a telescoping boom for rider height adjustment (other WizWheelz models have sliding seats and fixed booms). Many riders feel that adjustable booms improves weight distribution. The Zoomer has direct steering. Gone is the mainframe pivot and under-seat bars. The Zoomer has “L” bars mounted to each kingpin headset and a linkage that connects the two wheels. One added touch was the welded on cable guides that don’t require zip-ties.

RIDE: Thanks to the low pressure stock tires, the ride isn't as firm as you'd expect from a sporty aluminum framed trike. The steering wants to self-center č you push/pull the handlebars to change course. The stock tires make the steering feel heavy and requires more effort than need be. A quick tire change should solve this.

The Zoomer is lighter and stiffer than the WizWheelz TTC and TTT. It's a fine performer, though not quite as comfortable riding as the WizWheelz steel and carbon fiber framed trikes.

COMPONENTS: The component package is no frills and basic, but the parts have been proven on the popular TTC model. If you prefer an upgraded package, see below for the Zoomer Elite.

GEARING: The gear range of 19.5”-92.2 gear inches is somewhat low, but works well. If you need taller gears, you could opt for the Schlumpf drive (internal 2-speed crankset) or have a specialist refit the trike with a Shimano Capreo 9-26 rear hub, cassette and rear derailleur.

CHAIN MANAGEMENT: The WizWheelz trikes have a somewhat extreme, though aesthetically pleasing, chainline that follows the main frame tube. The forward idler is a double under/under idler and the mid-idler is an double x-path. TerraCycles idler kits are also available. It would be a good idea to keep an extra set of idlers in your spares box.

BRAKES: The Zoomer has WizWheelz “Unique” disc brakes from the TTC. They stop just as good as the previous Hayes and seem fine to me. Our trike has no disc drag and braking power is equal on both levers. WizWheelz stocks replacement discs and calipers.

WHEELS: The Zoomer is spec’ed with WizWheelz “Silver” wheels which are imported machine-built wheels. The aluminum hubs are built for WizWheelz by the same maker that Velocity uses and have cartridge sealed bearings. The spokes are 14 guage stainless steel. The rims are single wall aluminum which look good, but a double wall rim would be more robust. The top-of-the-line Velocity wheelset is available as an option ($499).

TIRES: The stock tires are ChenShin nylon 406mm 20” x 1.75” 40 psi recreational tires. They are soft riding and make the trike forgiving. Honestly, I couldn’t tell that I was on an aluminum trike (usually stiffer than steel trikes) with these soft tires. Performance oriented enthusiasts should defininitely upgrade to the faster higher pressure Kenda Kwests or Schwalbe Marathon tires. Marathons are comfortable and fine handling tires and Kenda’s are more affordable.

UPGRADES/ACCESSORIES: WizWheelz flag; Mirrcycle mirror, seat bag, rear rack, Fenders, TerraCycles idler set, Lexan fairing/frame and Schlumpf drive (2-speed bottom bracket).

VALUE/RESALE: The Zoomer is an excellent buy and WizWheelz trikes have fine resale value (especially models under $2000). The downside to reselling any trike is the shipping cost, which will be higher for you than it is from WizWheelz.

COMPARABLES: The Zoomer is the most affordable WizWheelz aluminum trike, priced between the TTC and TTR. Keep in mind that the Zoomer is a direct-steering, quick-handling sports trike, not a touring trike like a TTC/TTT.

The Zoomer offers lower priced competition for the more expensive direct steered performance trikes. The biggest difference between the Zoomer and other brands is the reclinable seat back.

The Zoomer Elite comes as a 27-speed with bar-end shifters, an LX rear derailleur, Tiagra front derailleur, hollow forged RPM cranks (by FSA) and Avid disc brakes. The Elite also has the “Silver” wheelset.

DIRECT PURCHASE: Fully assembled shipping is available ($129) to your local Con-Way service center; to a business ($139); and to a residence ($179).

RECOMMENDATION: WizWheelz is serious about selling lots of recumbent trikes. Their line is extensive and they are growing at a rapid pace. In 2005 we saw the refinement of the TT 3.6 (now TTT). In 2006 we saw the new TTC (budget tadpole based on TTT) and for 2007 they are taking on the entry level sport trike market. WizWheelz writes, “You will not find another aluminum trike of this quality at such an aggressive price.” To this we would totally agree. That said, the Zoomer won't take over the TTC and TTT sales. They are both more comfortable and easier to ride.

The Zoomer is 5" narrower than the TTC/TTT models. The direct steering works very well and seemed more refined than it did on our test Edge model a few years ago. The new Zoomer fixed base/ reclining seat will be a very important design feature for some riders.

The Zoomer is a sweet new trike that takes WizWheelz into new territory — entry level performance. The Zoomer is an excellent new trike at a price that can’t be beat. Like the TTT and TTC, the Zoomer will be a tough act to follow.

FOR: Seat base stiffens frame, seat back has recline adjustment, lowest price for a sporty aluminum direct steered trike.

AGAINST: Stiffer ride than TTC or TTR, more steering effort required, low psi tires, 5" narrower than TTC/TTT and we'd like to see double wall rims.

NUMBERS: Wheelbase: 36”. Track/Overall Width: 27.5”/30.25”. Seat height: 9.5” (RCN). Bottom bracket height: 15.5” (18.5” for me). Weight: 34 lbs. Weight limit (rider & cargo): 275 lbs.

FIT: One-size fits most (37-51” x-seam, approx 5’-6’5”).

FRAME & SEAT DETAILS: Frame: One-size first all 6061 heat-treated aluminum. Chain idler: WizWheelz delrin. Seat Back: Reclinable mesh. Seat Base: Fixed. Handlebar: WizWheelz Independent direct. Color: Ultra Banana powdercoat.

COMPONENTS: Rear derailleur: Shimano Altus. Front derailleur: Shimano Sora. Shifters: SRAM Grip Shift MRX Comp. Crank: Alloy 30/42/52. Bottom bracket: Sealed square spindle. Cassette: Shimano 11-30 8-speed. Chain: KMC. Brakes: Unique disc. Brake levers: ProMax. Wheels: WizWheelz Silver. Hubs: Alloy cartridge sealed. Rims: Alloy single wall. Tires: ChenShin nylon 20” x 1.75” 40 psi. Pedals: Platform.

Wizwheelz TerraTrike TT 3.6 (now named the TerraTrike Tour)
"You've come a long way, baby!"
By JOSE A. HERNANDEZ
BROL Co-Founder & Contributor

The first of the TerraTrike tadpole species rolled out of Jack Wiswell's garage in September 1996, only 9 months after Jack drew a rough sketch of his dream trike on a cocktail napkin (during a Christmas party) and showed it to two of his high school buddies. These three long-time friends consequently decided to pool $3000 to form the company we know as Wizwheelz Inc. By March of 1997, the Terratrike 1.2 made its debut as their first production trike. Things didn't always move this quickly or this smoothly.

The early years were tough. Wizwheelz endured the kinds of trials and tribulations that often knock young companies out of business. But fueled by the belief that "failure is not an option", the newly founded company overcame the many obstacles in their way. "We really wanted to design a machine that would be safe, comfortable, and tough enough to commute under human power in Michigan where having to deal with snow in the winter ruled out any two wheeled design", says Jack Wiswell as he remembers their original goals and objectives. Eight years, 23 version upgrades and three models later, Wizwheelz thrives on two performance oriented tadpoles (the Aluminum TTR & the Carbon Fiber Edge) and the TT 3.6 version, which is meant to please the great majority of folks looking for a safe & comfortable package for leisure riding, fitness, commuting and touring.

As some of our readers suspect, my being assigned to review the TT 3.3 a couple of years ago, greatly contributed to turning me into the trike fan I am today. Needless to say, I was more than willing to accept my new review assignment and see how the new Terratrike TT 3.6 compared with its TT 3.3 predecessor. Wizwheelz was also keen to show me how much they had improved the TerraTrike over the years.

As soon as the enormous box containing the fully assembled TerraTrike TT 3.6 was delivered to my front door, I hurriedly opened it to reveal its contents. I quickly noticed that a lot of care had gone into the shipping of this trike. It was very wrapped and perfectly immobilized to prevent shipping damage. As I rid the trike of its protective coverings, I couldn't help but admire its phenomenal red metallic powder coat and the even distribution of its glittery metal flakes. The trike's decals were sealed under a clear coat and looked as if the Wizwheelz emblem had actually been painted on the trike's frame. Unquestionably, the paint job was light years ahead of that on the TT 3.3 and was actually one of the best paint jobs I've seen on any trike. The trike's welds also looked pretty good with the possible exception of a couple of welds around the cruciform lug which were a bit too wide to qualify as artistic but all in all, the attention to detail and good workmanship was quite striking. I then went over the whole trike purposely looking for imperfections, scratches, or any evidence of shipping damage but found none.

Once I was done admiring, eh, I mean inspecting the trike, it was time to ride it, something I was able to do within a few minutes. All I had to do was attach the seat stays to the dropouts, adjust the seat angle, pump up the tires and away I went! Shipping a fully assembled, ready to ride trike is really a stroke of genius and is in sharp contrast with the way the TT 3.3 had been shipped to me. I remember that it took me a full week to put that trike together and make all the necessary adjustments.

Like all of its predecessors, the new TT 3.6 is a tadpole trike with a two-dimensional cross-shaped chromoly steel frame, a non-triangulated configuration that relies on frame tube length, diameter, thickness and the strength of its welds to ensure adequate rigidity. Like other Terratrikes, the TT 3.6's chain stays are braced with a supporting tube to reduce rear wheel flop during hard cornering. But unlike previous models, the TT 3.6 incorporates a stiff cruciform lug to join the cross members to the frame's main tube, a detail that adds rigidity, strength, and enhances the trike's stability in the process. The TT 3.6's frame is beefier, stronger but a bit heavier than that of its ancestors. Though I have no way of testing the manufacturer's claimed rider weight limit of 300 lbs, it did support my 195 lb body with zero complaints or excessive frame flex.

The TT 3.6's steering geometry provides for Ackerman adjustment and center point steering. Two stiff yokes secure the kingpins forcing them to yield 13 degrees of caster (a bit more caster than previous models) and zero wheel camber. The yokes are visibly strong and servicing them is as simple as replacing their oil impregnated bronze flange bushings which are readily available in most hardware stores. It didn't take a long time for me to notice that the TT 3.6' steering felt a lot more refined and tamer than that of the 3.3. It tracked very well at all speeds, felt steady and firmly planted during hard cornering. Though I could consciously lift a wheel during a fast turn, I had to work at it. In fact, it felt so stable I just had to do a few of those infamous Larry Varneyish no-hands stunts as I zoomed down a few of our South Florida bridges. The steering was unaffected by bumps (no bump steer) or by my pedaling input (no pedal steer) but it did exhibit some brake steer. Not an excessive amount, though. Its turning circle is about 20 feet in diameter, which is tighter than the TT 3.3 but not as tight as other trikes on the market. The turning circle is affected by the seat position, and thus, your own measurements may be different from mine.

The TT 3.6' aluminum frame/mesh seat is also more comfortable than that of previous models. The mesh tension, with its individual straps and buckles is easier to adjust than it was when it relied on lacing a single cord. The seat frame has a downward bend so the seat mesh didn't rub against the bottom of my leg, something I really appreciated as I like to recline the seat almost all the way back. Adjusting the seat recline was quite easy and fast. Unfortunately, in spite of braze-on spacers on the main tube that eliminate the need for washers between the seat mount bracket and the frame, the seat's aft/fore adjustment is still a time consuming and somewhat frustrating process. This is because you still have to perfectly line up the seat mount with the frame holes, a difficult task for me because I'm mechanically challenged. This detail however won't be an issue unless you need to make frequent aft/fore adjustments. Like other TerraTrike models, the 3.6 boom is NOT telescopic. As the result, it is imperative that buyers measure their X-Seam and choose the appropriate boom length.

The TT 3.6 comes with a pretty nice list of components. The drive train consists mostly of reliable middle-of the-road Shimano components. The front idlers are independent, each capable of rotating in a different directions. The Sachs chain rolls fairly silently over the front dual and rear cross-over idlers but the chain path is rather tortuous and presumably less efficient than one with a straighter trajectory. Nonetheless, this setup is visually harmonious with the trike's clean lines. The chain does seem to bite a little into the power side idler so it might be a good idea to inspect this part for wear and tear. Replacement idlers are relatively inexpensive and readily available from Wizwheelz. Alternatively, TerraTrike owners might consider the Terracycle power/return side idlers currently available from WizWheelz as they might prove to be a longer lasting, though more costly, solution.

The Terratrike's wheels look great and the Hayes mechanical disc brakes functioned flawlessly. Our test trike came with Shimano bar end shifters (our preferred type of Under- Seat-Steering shifters) but some units may be equipped with twist shifters. Out of the box shifting and braking was better than expected. It required no immediate adjustments but after a few rides, we noted a few instances of automatic shifting, something that was easily cured by fine tuning the shifter cable tension

Wizwheelz has come up with a plethora of optional accessories that can be ordered from their web site. Our test trike came with a very nice looking rear rack with pannier hooks, a great set of fenders, a computer or accessory mount, a seat bag, a Velcro mounted mirror and a flag. Other accessories include replacement idlers, inner tubes, tires, a speed drive, T-Shirts and a trainer. I really liked most of the trike's parts and accessories but I wasn't impressed with the Velcro mirrors or with the trike's no-name 40lb Max pressure tires.

This new Terratrike is not the one you'd choose to win an HPRA race or keep up with a fast group of roadies. It was not designed for that purpose. It was designed for the silent majority of riders who are not interested in racing or trans-globe tours. As such, I did not expect it to be a speed demon. However, even though I was able to ride it at 14-15 MPH for short distances, maintaining that speed on a 30-40 mile ride felt a bit more difficult than normal. Also, I noticed that the trike's acceleration was somewhat sluggish and the fact that my wife would have to wait for me at the tops of our Florida bridges pretty much suggests that the TT 3.6 is not a climber.

All of this came as a surprise to me because, although I didn't think my old 3.3 was a great climber, it did seem to be a lot faster on the flats. A test was needed for me to understand the reason for the difference in performance. I could only think of two variables: (1) The TT 3.6 is about 5 pounds heavier than the TT 3.3 which would explain the slightly slower acceleration and (2) the standard low pressure tires have high rolling resistance. Obviously, I couldn't do anything about the trike's weight and losing body weight via a strict diet was pretty much out of the question (I like to eat as much as I like to bike) but I could swap the tires to see if they were at fault. Our friendly editor quickly facilitated my test by giving me a set of Continental Sport Contacts. As I expected, the high performance tires did the trick! They immediately gave me a 2-3 MPH boost and the trike felt livelier. Sure, the ride wasn't as soft as before but the frame's passive suspension and mesh seat absorbed the road vibrations well enough to ensure a pleasant ride. Furthermore, the handling character of the trike wasn't at all affected by the use of high end tires. It still tracked and cornered beautifully and felt as stable as ever. According to Jack Wiswell, the softer tires were chosen because most buyers want comfort over speed performance. As equipped, I think the standard tires are fine for leisure, fitness, short commutes and light touring. They're also fine for folks who must have a soft ride. However, for serious touring or very long rides, I think that riders would be better served with better tires. In my book, a high pressure tire is also more versatile. You can pump it hard for a fast ride or let the air out for a leisure ride. Thankfully, buyers can specify an optional tire upgrade with their Wizwheelz TT 3.6 order.

I really enjoyed the trike's soft ride, its comfort, and the peace of mind its stable ride inspired. Mostly, I was impressed with the obvious improvements in workmanship, handling and overall level of refinement. The one thought that hit me when I first received the 3.6 was the very same one that hit me each time I rode it: "You've come a long way, baby!"

The WizWheelz TerraTrike Race (Now the Sport Elite)

By Bob Bryant - Recumbent Cyclist News

The WizWheelz Race is a decked out 3x20" aluminum-framed tadpole trike. WizWheelz is well known for their affordable TTC and TTT trikes. I wanted to review the Race because of the upgrades spec: a Mega Exo crank (outboard bearings), bar-end shifters and the upgraded Velocity wheels. The Race arrived fully assembled in a huge box by semi-truck. I lifted the trike out of the box, adjusted the seat position, aired-up the tires and was riding in just a few minutes.

COMFORT: The full mesh WizWheelz seat is quite comfortable. It is popular with riders who prefer to sit upright, although it will recline to a very laid back position. The reclining seat option is one of the unique features to the WizWheelz tadpole trikes. The price you pay for this convenience is a bit more flex and sway in the frame when you push the trike hard into the corners.

The Race’s seat is the same aluminum seat that comes on all WizWheelz models except the Zoomers. The seat mounts to the frame via one hex bolt through the frame. The seat recline is set by ball-detent pins.

RIDE: As compared to the TTC and TTT, the Race has 1/2” shorter wheelbase, 1” narrower track and overall width, a 1” higher bottom bracket, the seat heights are (9.5”) but the Race weighs six pounds less than the TTC.

The handling is very similar to the TTC, TTT and Accent. The Race is perhaps a tad quicker steering, but these trikes ride very similarly. The difference is in the weight. This lightness of the Race is definitely noticeable when you are climbing hills. I would have liked to try the Race with some Kevlar Primo Comets to see what it would do.

FIT & FINISH: Frame: The TIG welded 6061 T6 aluminum frame was very nicely made, though the quality of the weld beads was not the finest we’ve seen.

One negative on the Race is that the frame does not have a bolt on derailleur hanger, which is commonly found on most aluminum bicycles these days. The Race has thick aluminum drop outs. We asked WizWheelz why no bolt on hanger, “We’ve never had one break, and no reports of misalignment,” replied WizWheelz designer Jack Wiswell.

Steering: The Race steers just like the TTC, TTT and Accent trikes, with linkage that runs from frame mounted handlebars out to the kingpins. The handlebars are wide “U” shaped and are not width adjustable. They can recline fore and aft.

Paint and colors: The Electric Green trike was stunning — if you like bright greens. I have been known to buy bikes just for electric green paint. It was a tough call to choose between this and the orange, which is my other favorite bike color. A pewter exists for those who need something, well, less bright.

Weight: The Race weighs just a scant 31 lbs. The aluminum Accent model weighs 34 lbs and the TTT weighs 36 lbs. So the aluminum frame saves about three pounds, and the high quality components saves another 2 pounds.

COMPONENTS: The spec package on the Race is exceptional. Velocity wheels, Hayes disc brakes, Gossamer MegaExo crank, SRAM X.9 or Deore XT/Ultegra derailleurs and your choice of X.9 twist grips or Dura Ace bar-end shifters.

GEARING: The gear range is 19-96 gear inches. While a bit on the low side, I think this is ideal for this trike. WizWheelz does offer Schlumpf 2-speed bottom brackets. We’d like to see them offer the Shimano Capreo 9-26 cassette and hub.

CHAIN MANAGEMENT: The Race has the same double power-side and double return side idler system (X-path rear and both chains under the front idler) that comes on other WizWheelz models. Designer Jack Wiswell has sacrificed some efficiency (added friction in the system) and drivetrain smoothness in favor of aesthetics by having the chain run parallel and just under the frame, from crank to rear wheel. The pleasing aesthetics put more stress on the idlers which could make for a shorter life. WizWheelz dealer Utah Trikes has an optional and more direct chain idler kit that uses TerraCycles idlers. This is something I've always wanted to try on a WizWheelz trike.

BRAKES: While the Hayes discs are not widely used in the recumbent world, they work quite well. I had to spend less than one minute making a slight adjustment to the brakes. What is missing on WizWheelz trikes is a parking brake to keep your trike from rolling away from you.

WHEELS: The Race comes with Velocity wheels which were perfect throughout our test.

TIRES: The Race comes with 20” x 1.5” Schwalbe Marathon tires. While a fairly robust tire, they are not racy enough for a trike named the Race. WizWheelz tends to outfit their trikes with oversize and comfortable riding tires. All of the WizWheelz models can benefit from an upgrade to more performance oriented tires. If this is your first recumbent trike—wait until you are accustomed to your new trike before you make the tire switch.

UPGRADES/ACCESSORIES: WizWheelz offers a host of options at their website, including the standard rack, fenders, bell, bladder, mirrors, TerraCycles idlers, a trunk pack, safety flag along with an assembly stand and hitch mounted car rack. We’ve used their rack, and it fits well and works great. The fenders are fairly light duty and we had fit and vibration issues with them. Perhaps the Race doesn’t need fenders at all, or at the very most, a rear fender.

COMPARABLES: In the WizWheelz line, there is the TTC/TTT in CroMoly and the Accent/Sport and Zoomers in aluminum. All have lower level components and are more affordably priced. WizWheelz also offers the lower priced Sport (aluminum frame, $2499 and the carbon fiber Edge, $4499).

RECOMMENDATION: The reason we chose the Race for this review is that it is the lowest level model in the line that comes with the Velocity wheels (or wheels with double wall rims). While they Velocity wheels are wonderful, they add hundreds of dollars to the price. All of the WizWheelz trikes deserve double wall rims. They are more durable, keep you from getting flats and the wheels hold true longer.

The Race is one of the sweetest models in the WizWheelz line—our favorite of the aluminum trikes, but a lot more greenbacks than the value-added TTC, TTT and Zoomers. Despite the “Race” name, which conjures up images of Lance Armstrong racing up the Pyrenees, the WizWheelz Race is more just a upscale and lightweight all-around recumbent trike for a rider who wants a fairly casual sport touring trike—but with upgraded component specs. There are no cheap parts on the Race č and we love to write that about any recumbent. Also, did I mention that it is metallic “Electric Green”? WizWheelz is a friendly company and they are a pleasure to do business with.

HIGHS: Beautiful paint. Excellent components (bar-end shifters & Mega Exo crank/BB). Friendly company.

LOWS: Wide turning radius. Seat is not an integral part of the frame (side-to-side flex). Needs faster tires. Not as sporty as the 16” wheel tadpoles. No bolt on chain idler.

NUMBERS: Wheelbase: 38.5”. Seat height: 9.5”. Bottom bracket height: 14”. Width: 33”. Track: 29.5”. Seat Recline 40╝-70╝. Weight: 31 lbs. Weight limit (rider & cargo): 250 lbs.

Thoughts On the EDGE.

David Lawson June 8, 2005

The EDGE is an incredible machine--one that has raised the standard of what a recumbent should offer a rider. No explanations are necessary when I’m introducing this incredible creation to either the general public or to those who live and breathe cycling and certainly no excuses are necessary either when offering a test ride to members of either group. This trike looks and feels right and pretty much makes whoever try it out look and feel right. There’s no geeky quality or awkward adjustment needed—the trike fits the rider and the rider becomes one with the trike. And whether for long century rides or short commutes, this trike is incredibly fast, supremely comfortable, and refreshingly convenient to ride, to pick up and to pack. Basically, there are very, very few shortcomings to this latest truly inspired design from WizWheelz. The company has taken the best of the TerraTrike legacy and moved it to the EDGE.

Positive first impressions are almost universal with this machine. This is the first recumbent trike that doesn’t require any explanation—I merely ride up in it and people are impressed. And once they take it for a spin, they’re busy trying to think of an excuse for not having one--so far the only one is the cost—which is only natural considering the rarified atmosphere that carbon fiber-framed cycles occupy.

Fast? At 28 pounds, this trike can sprint with anything—two or three wheeled. It’s a whole new sensation of not just going fast, but accelerating fast, too. In fact, it hustles so quickly that I’m reminded of skateboard riders on campus that can suddenly accelerate off in almost effortless fashion. And the trike is not only quick in a straight line, it’s quick in turns . . . truly the first trike that should come with a seat belt as an option! There are several other reasons that the trike transforms power to action very efficiently besides its low weight. One is the EDGE’s multi-adjustable seat: it moves back and forth with two quick releases, it allows for reclining through a range of angles with just the turn of an allen wrench, and finally there’s selective support levels offered by the easily adjustable seat straps. WizWheelz trikes have always had adjustable seats, but now the EDGE brings convenience and micro-refinement to the adjustment process. And with the rider in his or her optimum reclining position, they’re able to make the most efficient use of their energy to making the trike move.

The other reason that this new design is more conducive to quick and productive movement is the EDGE’s direct steering design, which provides rock-solid center point tracking—which greatly reduces the energy needed to concentrate on keeping the trike on track. Merely point this three-wheel missile in a direction and go! And when the terrain starts downhill the EDGE really shines—providing reassuring control without tension thereby saving more of one’s energy for the next climb.

I’ve done several 100 mile century rides on this trike and found that all these design elements: weight, seating, and steering contribute to the enjoyable experience of pedaling away the miles all the while reclining in the comfort that is the hallmark of recumbency. And I’m sure that the carbon fiber frame contributes its own shock-absorbing qualities, as I’ve finished both of these two centuries feeling less fatigue than usual. Which leads me to the last general point I’d like to make about the EDGE: this trike is the most convenient I’ve ever ridden. Starting with its lightweight that not only makes it lighter to lift and carry than other trikes, but also easier, should one want to--to pull a bike trailer. In other words, this trike works very well in all situations—not just racing.

Adding to this flexibility is the trike’s overall physical dimensions that make for ease of passage through a normal doorway opening or for transporting the trike in the back of a vehicle. The small envelope of space this trike requires to transport or store amazes me. ‘Hard to believe that this nimble trike is a full size one with 20 inch wheels all around! And one more thing: when I need to lift it off the ground, I don’t get chain lubrication on my hands or the transport vehicle as much since much of the chain travels through one of the frame’s tubes. Very convenient—and a design found only in the EDGE. Having covered the generalities of the EDGE, I’d like to comment specifically on the trikes specifications, starting with:

1. Total weight. While a recumbent trike’s weight is IMHO less important than that of a non-recumbent cycle, it is always a thrill (particularly deep into a long ride) to experience that magical “leap forward” a lightweight trike will make when downshifting and pouring on the power up a hill or out of a turn. Not having as much trike weight to move also means not having to shift down as much either, since I’ve found my legs to be much more willing to accelerate even at low rpm. WizWheelz first lightweight trike, the TTR, was a very pleasant introduction into this experience when I rode it in 2002 in the National 24 Hour Challenge and the EDGE is even lighter.
2. Material. Carbon fiber—need anymore be said? Only to add that in combination with beautifully crafted machined aluminum fittings the cf tubing makes this trike truly a work of art. The seat design and its material are also notable: the combination nylon and cordura make for the most comfortable and breathable seat and seat back that I’ve experienced. It cradles me like a sport car’s and with 13 buckle seat straps, also allows me to dial in the exact support I want—lumbar particularly.
3. Steering. I’ve already mentioned the stability and quickness of direct steering, but the EDGE’s design goes far beyond that with a number of adjustable features, both in the handlebars and in the uniquely adjustable steering hub pivots. The latter not only allow one to dial in their own particular camber settings, but the entire pivot structure is designed for very low friction and very long durability. This feature in itself is a huge contribution to the field of recumbent trike design.
4. Components. This is an area where I’ll just quote my local bike shop people who’ve told me that they’re impressed with the quality level of shifters, derailleurs, etc. that come on the trike. In conclusion, I believe that WizWheelz, in creating the EDGE, has moved the standard for recumbent performance trikes to a new level of performance, comfort, and convenience. Performance is one aspect that’s relative, but there can be no doubt that this trike will be among the fastest that one can buy—at any price. Personally, I now feel no “hill handicap” when out riding with my bike club roadie friends, and being able to say that speaks volumes. Comfort has always been one of the standards of WizWheelz design from the very beginning and the EDGE continues that tradition in a very refined manner. As for convenience, this trike is easy to ride, easy to lift and carry, and easy to transport and store . . . and all at a price that is as or more “convenient on the wallet” than the competition’s.

The WizWheelz Edge A Carbon Fiber Trike

By Bob Bryant bob@recumbentcyclistnews.com

“Yes, This IS Rocket Science: The Edge has been in development for well over a year. The Edge has a full carbon fiber frame with machined aluminum intersections and is truly a work of art that was co-designed by Advanced Composites (Wound Up), the carbon fiber experts. We have an exclusive agreement with them and their input has been invaluable. They make consumer products such as bicycle forks but they also make torpedo tubes, missile launching tubes, and rocket launching systems for the defense department so yes, you can certainly tell your friends your trike IS rocket science.”

The WizWheelz Edge is just about the most high-tech trike we’ve ever had here at RCN. Compared to other trike makers, WizWheelz seemed happy to build trikes for average folks. Well, this has changed. For the past year WizWheelz has been quietly developing the high-tech car- bon-fiber Edge tadpole trike. Rather than do it completely on their own, WizWheelz sought out the expert help of the folks at Wound Up/Advance Composites. The result is an incredibly light, fast and beautiful en- thusiast trike. It’s not only the smoothest trike I’ve ridden. It’s also an exceptionally good buy.

SYSTEMS “The Edge has a perfectly straight and true frame because there is not one weld on the entire main frame and there is no need for heat treating after the fact. No applied heat means no frame distortion. For example, you don't have to pry apart the chainstays; the rear wheel just drops in place perfectly aligned with no hindrance.” — WizWheelz

FRAME WizWheelz has always been known for keeping its designs simple and clean. With the new Edge, they have both the chain and the cables running inside the carbon fiber main frame tubes (see Chain Management section).

The frame is made up of several custom car- bon fiber tubes. The tubes are connected with custom CNC machined aluminum lugs. The Julie Lester on the WizWheelz Edge lugs and tubes are then joined with Hysol ep- oxy (made by Loctite). According to WizWheelz’ Jack Wiswell, “The carbon-fiber tubes are custom wound from micro filament for their size and purpose. The angle of the fiber winding even changes orientation within each tube. This way, we can make the tubes more torsionally rigid on one spot, and more laterally rigid in another. This is how we are able to make the frame so strong and so com- fortable at the same time. We can actually con- trol the amount of flex and orientation of a single tube.” Jack went on to say, “The frame should last virtually forever, and should any- thing happen, it’s easy to repair.” The Edge frame comes in three sizes, one color (natural clear coated black carbon fiber) and with your choice of yellow or green graphic logo decals.

Steering: The Edge has direct under-seat steering. Each handlebar is mounted directly to the corresponding kingpin assembly. The Edge’s independent handlebars are adjustable fore/aft and can be angled inward or outward. This is a very simple set-up. In contrast, the TerraTrike (TT) 3.6 has a “U” shaped under- seat handlebar that pivots on a bushing with steering rods connected to each kingpin. The TT 3.6 has a more relaxed steering.

Fabrication/Finish: The Wound Up/ WizWheelz frame is among the highest qual- ity frames we’ve seen here at RCN. It is surely the most finely crafted carbon-fiber recumbent we know of.

Weight: The Edge weighs 28.9 pounds and is quite light for a recumbent trike (our preproduction model weighed 30.6 pounds).

COMFORT The seat frame is heat-treated aluminum and the material is a fully breathable Nylon and Cordura mesh. There are 13 seat straps to ad- just the tension and customize the fit to your personal preference. The forward edge of the seat frame has been curved down more to take pressure off the backs of your thighs. The seat has a unique sage green material and a black partially see-through mesh appearance and is very comfortable. While seat comfort is sub- jective, the new WizWheelz seat is larger than some of its competitors and fit me perfectly. It was an absolute pleasure to ride.

The Edge seat has basically the same dimen- sions as the newly redesigned TT 3.6 seat, but differs in its mounting system. The Edge seat slides on twin carbon fiber tubes, with twin quick release levers making for easy adjust- ment. That means no messing around with chain lengths or boom settings. The recline is adjusted between 40º and 70º with two adjust- able seat back braces (not quick release).

FIT Most average size adults and older kids can be fitted to the Edge in a few minutes from the time the box arrives at your house. WizWheelz is the best trike to own if you have multiple riders sharing a trike because the seat, rather than the boom, is adjustable. A switch will take just a minute or two.

DRIVETRAIN The Edge components are excellent. All parts appear to be carefully selected to suit a high-end purpose. From the Velocity wheels to the FSA Gossamer crank and Ti bottom bracket to the Dura Ace front derailleur and shifters (optional, Dura Ace bar-end or X.9), it’s a sweet set-up.

Shifters: Our Edge came outfitted with SRAM X.9 twist grip shifters. While they are the most popular type of recumbent shifter, I don’t like them on trikes. The twisting motion on the slightly angled steering sticks (handle- bars) is counter-intuitive and has the ability to cause unwanted steering movements. This is especially so on quick-maneuvering direct- steered trikes. Additionally, the twist shifters take much more effort to twist than the op- tional Shimano bar-ends (my favorite shifters) that are available at no additional cost.

Gearing: The Edge has a gear-inch range of 19-95. This gearing was nearly ideal for me, but may be considered a bit low for a perfor- mance trike. I could have used a lower gear for steep climbs or when hauling cargo. In- stalling a smaller inside chainring would do the trick. The shifting quality is good, although the jump from the middle 39-tooth to the out- side 55-tooth is a big one, and is not the easi- est shift. I think bar-end shifters would improve this (lower and easier effort than a twist grip). For those who need higher gearing, the Schlumpf Drive (2-speed bottom bracket/ crankset) is the way to go.

The crankset on our Edge has 175mm crank-arms! With current trends moving to- wards shorter cranks, you may want to con- sider this upon purchase. I plan to try out 145mm and 155 mm cranks this season. (I am currently using 170mm-175mm.)

Chain Management: The Edge’s chainline is a bit extreme, and is routed this way for aes- thetic reasons (because it looks cool). The chain routes from the crank down to a double idler and into twin chain tubes that run through the right side carbon fiber mainframe tube. Yes, the chain runs internally. This is a simple, yet very elegant design feature. The power side chain rolls over another idler out the back to the cassette. This system is reasonably quiet, looks great and works even better.

While in the large chainring, the chain runs at a fairly intense angle from the idler to the crankset. One way to improve this routing would be to opt for the Schlumpf 2-speed bot- tom bracket/single chainring instead of the stock triple crank. WizWheelz has recently re- designed the idlers and they seem more robust and quiet. It would still be advisable to keep a set of spares in your parts kit.

Brakes: This was my first experience with the Hayes MX1 mechanical discs. The left caliper is inverted (discs were designed for MTBs, and nobody makes a left side front disc brake for a tadpole trike). WizWheelz has done testing and came to the conclusion that there are no problems in doing this. The brakes stop very well and were easy to adjust. WizWheelz uses a velcro strap on the brake handle as a parking brake. I’m happy that it has something, but I prefer the spring loaded pin on our ICE trike’s brake handle.

Wheels: The Edge comes with Velocity 20” wheels with Aeroheat 32º rims, and Velocity disc hubs. The rims are black and look great. After about 100 miles we had some spokes creaking, so it was time to get the wheels in for their break-in truing.

Tires: You can tune a trike’s ride by select- ing the right tires. Some tires are fast and twitchy, and some are slow and cushy. Jack Wiswell writes, “I chose the IRC Metro 20 x 1.25 for the Edge. It is my personal favorite, has a good tread life, though it is a little heavier than some.” The Metro is a good, tough and affordable all-around tire, which I found to be quite fast. I must say that I can’t wait to try the new Greenspeed Scorcher trike tires.

If you look over this trike, there is no skimp- ing on the components. WizWheelz even uses a SRAM PC-89R hollow pin chain.

RIDE The ride of this trike is phenomenal. It is the smoothest trike I’ve ridden. I’m sure that it is the carbon fiber that is deadening the road shock. It also seems that the twin tube frame has a bit of suspension, according to Jack Wiswell, “The Double Barrel” frame design allows the Edge to be very stiff torsionally, and nicely compliant vertically.” The frame feels very stiff and I can’t feel much flex, but I know there must be some give somewhere because it rides so smoothly.

The Edge’s frame feels torsionally stiffer than the WizWheelz Chromoly TerraTrike 3.6 as the rear end did not wag (pedal steer) as much under heavy pedaling. (I believe this has something to do with the rear end of the frame being stiffer and more triangulated than the TerraTrike.)

Everybody always wants to know if a trike has brake-steer. I think they all do and direct- steering trikes seem to have it more than indi- rect-steered trikes. The trick is in the ability to do a controlled (and safe) one-brake stop while you are signaling a turn. With its direct steer- ing, the Edge isn’t as good at this as the TerraTrike, but it is commendable. The sim- plicity and ultra sporty feel of the direct steer- ing does have its price. Also, the Edge has more brake steer than the TT 3.6.

Direct Steering: The direct steer handling is a bit quick, and will take some time getting used to. The handling is noticeably quicker than the TerraTrike (TT) 3.6, though if you respect it, the handling can be very smooth. Where I notice the quickness is if I turn very sharply and the inside front wheel wants to lift off the ground.

Once you are out on the open road the steer- ing is so easy that you can almost ride with no hands, or with your palms on the end of the bars. The Edge is well within the riding abili- ties of anyone at bike trail speeds. Those who want to push the trike harder will need to learn the limitations of the Edge, or how far you want to push it. The Edge steering compares favor- ably to any direct-steer trike and there are cer- tainly quicker handling trikes than this one.

Handling Dynamics: The WizWheelz seat is fairly wide, and the track width is fairly nar- row (The Edge’s gross width is 31.63” and the track width is 28.75”, compared to 34” and 31.5” respectively on the TT 3.6). With the direct steering, the handlebars are very close to the front wheels. You can adjust them back and forth, angled toward the seat or wheels. If you angle toward the wheels, tolerances are tight. If you angle towards the seat, the bars hit the seat frame and you limit your turning circle. I did find a happy medium where I could turn around in a one-lane road, yet still not worry about getting my fingers being too close to the front wheels.

WizWheelz describes the Edge as a “no- compromise speed machine.” I think it’s more of a high-end all-around trike. I rode it on my daily commute in December, and even in the rain on several occasions. What I liked best about it was the smooth ride (over our very rough roads) and the light weight. So I think the Edge could best be described as a narrower, sportier handling and lighter version of WizWheelz’ popular TerraTrike.

The performance of the Edge is very good. The light weight is noticeable every time you put power to the pedals. I was slower up hills compared to a performance two-wheeler, but faster on the flats anytime I encountered wind on this low trike. The performance limits of the Edge will be based upon the gearing (high gear is rather low) and your riding ability.

OWNING
Purchase Details: WizWheelz has been in the business of building recumbent trikes since 1996. For 2005 they will start selling through dealers. I would guess that the Edge will be difficult to find on dealers’ showrooms, and most will be ordered.

Normally, assembling a trike can take half a day or more and there are always questions. But the WizWheelz Edge arrives in a giant box about 98% assembled. You split the top of the box, lift the trike out, fill the tires, set the seat position and hit the road. My box arrived at 4:00 p.m., the trike was out of the box at 4:05, and I was on the road at 4:10. Having assem- bly done for you really makes the experience much more pleasurable. The shipping cost was $179 (to a home address) or $119 (business address). If you don’t like your new trike, WizWheelz has a 30-day money back guaran- tee (on direct sales).

Options & Accessories: WizWheelz has several options for their trikes: The Schlumpf two speed bottom brack ($320), WizWheelz safety flag ($29), rearview mirror ($20) and a small seat back bag that is large enough for a small tool kit, your wallet and keys ($65). A rear cargo rack is also available ($65). Try to make do with as few options as you can to keep this baby lightweight.

The Edge was here during our rainy season. WizWheelz provided a custom fender set ($99). They take Planet Bike fenders and cus- tom-fit struts to mount to the trike. WizWheelz has done an excellent job in the modification. However, the Planet Bike fenders are not the most robust. I managed to shatter the plastic of the rear fender at the lower mounting hole (and I’ve done it on other test bikes as well). So be gentle when you're mounting the fend- ers.

MARKET Nothing even comes close to the Edge. There are no other carbon fiber trikes that we know of. Most other American, European and Australian performance trikes use steel or alu- minum frames and smaller tires — so the Edge is unique. See our TT 3.6 review in RCN 087.

SAFETY I felt very safe riding the Edge in most situ- ations. In fact, I’ve sort of changed my tune about trikes. In most cases, I received more respect on the road than I usually do on any two-wheeler. The one concern is riding at high speeds among cars. I never had a close call, am much more cautious on fast decents. I never felt vulnerable under 20 mph, but riding over 20 mph takes skill, practice, alertness, and a relaxed hand on the bars — especially when braking. I limited my downhill speeds to 35 mph (and it took me weeks to feel comfort- able with this).

VERDICT WizWheelz really snuck up on us with the Edge. Most riders just wouldn’t expect such an advanced trike from them. I know many of you might be thinking that this trike may be too good to be true. It is very cutting edge, yet it’s new and has no track record. However, WizWheelz sought out a respected carbon-fi- ber expert to help design and build the Edge. So if you are judging them by what you know about early TerraTrikes, think again. That would be like judging Honda by the 600 coupe or a Lexus by a 1972 Corolla.

Do I think it’s perfect? Not quite. I’d like to see WizWheelz continue to refine the handling and relationship between the seat base frame, front wheels and handlebars (which can be tight) and I’d like to be able to steer a tighter circle. I also couldn’t help think about what this trike would be like on three 349mm 16” wheels. This is all relatively minor stuff — a wish list if you will.

The Edge is a very sweet trike. The look, design, tubes, chainline, cable routing are great and it has to be one of the best looking trikes on the road. The seat is superbly comfortable and the component picks are mostly spot on. This is one very cool trike — and it is Rocket Science.

WizWheelz TerraTrike Edge
By John Axen / RTR Magazine

When I was a kid the ultimate experience was riding a go-kart. Being low to the ground made me feel I was going a lot faster than the 5 MPH the deafening Briggs and Stratton engine could manage. As an adult my environmental consciousness, health awareness, and hearing loss have all conspired against me. No longer can I enjoy the thrill of owning and riding gokarts. However, those long-lost experiences resurfaced immediately once I got on the Edge Terra Trike from WizWheelz.

The Edge is an extremely well put-together tadpole trike, with two wheels up front and one in the back. It puts you low to the ground at higher speeds than a go-kart, all under your own power and without worsening your hearing.

Its large diameter tubes are made of carbon fiber with a shiny, natural carbon finish. These tubes are connected to each other with black anodized aluminum blocks. The wheelbase length on the Edge is 37 inches and the overall length is only 69 inches. The short wheelbase gives the Edge a relatively small turning radius. The track width is 27 and 3/4 inches and the overall width is 31 and 1/2 inches.

The Edge weighs only 29 lb. making it the lightest Terra Trike available. It was easy to lift and carry and setting it on top of my minivan or hanging it from my garage ceiling was a breeze.

The Edge can support a combined (rider plus gear) load of 225 lb. Of the lighter trikes (aluminum and carbon fiber), the Edge supports the most weight. Their 4130 Chromoly Steel trikes support significantly more weight, but are also heavier by 7-8 lbs.

If you want to carry more weight than the maximum, you can tow any trailer that attaches to the rear axle. WizWheelz recommends the B.O.B. trailer. Generally, I prefer a twowheeled trailer to minimize the impact on the bike I’m riding, but this is not an issue with a trike.

The Edge trike supports riders with an X-Seam Range of 35 to 48 inches (corresponding to heights of approximately 5'-0" to 6'-3"). This range is covered by four frame sizes: Extra Short for a 32–35 X-Seam, Short for a 35–43 X-Seam, Medium for a 37–45 X-Seam and Long for a 42–48 X-Seam. To determine your X-Seam, wear the shoes you would typically use for riding. Sit against a wall with your legs outstretched on the floor in front of you and the soles of your shoes perpendicular to the floor. Sit comfortably but with your "belt" just touching the wall. Measure the distance from the wall to the soles of your shoes.

The Edge comes with Velocity AeroHeat hand built 32-spoke 20” wheels running Schwalbe Marathon w/reflective strip Hi pressure 20 x 1.5 (406) tires. The wheels are plenty strong for lateral forces and with the standard BMX tire, you have a large selection of tires available. The front wheels do not have to be removed in order to fix a flat, thanks to the disk breaks being on the inside.

The Edge comes with Hayes HMX-1 mechanical disc brakes and Hayes HML brake levers. These brakes worked very well on the trike. I could modulate the braking easily and could apply sufficient force with just my pinkies if I moved my hands up the handlebars (in the normal hand position, my pinkies are closest to the brake lever pivot point which provides the least amount of leverage). Since the left and right wheel each have a brake controlled by separate brake levers, it’s necessary to apply brake pressure evenly, otherwise the trike may pull in the direction of the wheel receiving the greater braking force. Uneven brake pressure can be used to help control the bike as well. Whizweelz can set the brakes up such that both brakes are controlled through a single lever. You’ll want to do this if you have a significant disparity between the use of your left and right hand. I found hard braking at speed would easily lift the back-end of the bike off the ground. This seemed to happen any time I locked the wheels. Fortunately with provide, it was fairly easy to apply the brakes without unintentionally locking them up.

There are three gearing options for the Edge trike. Each uses the same Sram X.9 11-32 9-speed cassette. The stock setup uses a 30/42/53 triple crank set providing 27 speeds with a gear-inch range of 18-92. The Speed Drive setup uses the Schlumpf Speed Drive 36/46 double crank set with a 1:1/1.65:1 internal gear, providing 36 speeds with a gear-inch range of 21-130. The High Speed Drive setup uses the Schlumpf High Speed Drive 27 single crank set with a 1:1/2.5:1 internal gear, providing 18 speeds with a gear-inch range of 16-116.

The stock gearing provides a pretty decent range for both climbing and high speeds, slightly favoring the climbing. My top speed on level ground was about 25 MPH. This low number is partly due to my not having ridden much this winter. I’m guessing the top speed for most fit riders would be around 30 MPH before they spin out. For climbing, I was able to maintain speeds as low as 1.5 MPH without feeling like I was mashing on the pedals. And of there is no need to worry about balancing. If you will be doing a lot of climbing or pulling a heavy trailer load, the High Speed Drive setup might work better for you. If you are into going fast the Speed Drive setup is your ticket. One important thing to note regarding the Schlumpf drives is that additional chainrings cannot be added to them. More information on the Schlumpf drive can be found at their web site: http://www.schlumpf.ch/.

The bottom bracket is located at the end of a fixed-length carbonfiber boom tube and sits about 12- 3/4 inches above the ground . The length of the boom depends on the frame size. I found the position of the bottom bracket to be a very comfortable height such that my feet and legs didn’t tire easily even when I rode without clipless pedals. There was no issue of heel strike with the front wheels or the ground (there wouldn’t be with the front wheels anyway since they are to the side).

One of the cool features of the Edge is most of the chain travels thus the only parts that are exposed are near the derailers. This makes for a cooler looking machine, but also a cleaner one to handle when having to carry or lift it off the ground. It keeps the chain a lot cleaner too. Since some of the chain is still exposed it is possible to give yourself a chain tattoo, but you would almost have to try to get one. Having the chain inside the tube also increases the ground clearance and allows the trike frame an overall lower center of gravity. This minimized the impact of riding on sloped surfaces, such as at the edge of a road with a high crown in the center.

Installing a chain isn’t difficult – you simply let gravity pull the chain through the tube. During one of my first rides, I broke the chain while riding up a very steep hill. I was in my lowest gear, but probably only pedaling at a rate of 20-30 RPMs. I’ve gone up steeper hills since repairing the chain and have not experienced any other problems, so I suspect perhaps a pin was not properly seated on the chain.

The gears are controlled using Sram X.9 Grip Shift shifters controlling a Shimano Ultegra front derailer and a Sram X.9 rear derailer. The shifting was smooth and crisp, but took some getting used to since it was backwards from most of the other bikes I’ve ridden. This is due to the handlebars pointing straight up. The natural position for the hands would be the same as grabbing a flat bar on a mountain bike from the bottom which reverses the wrist direction when shifting.

The handlebars are L-shaped and connect directly to the front wheels, providing direct steering (i.e., there are no steering linkages). The bars have significant range of adjustment both forwards and backwards as well as inwards and outwards tilt. The outwards tilt is limited by the front wheels. The most comfortable hand position for me put my hands fairly close to the wheels, but I never had a problem with hitting them. The inward tilt is limited by the rider’s body and possibly the seat as the trike is steered by moving the handlebars to the left or right, nor forward or backward.

Because of the direct drive steering, riders with weak arms may find it more difficult to turn the trike. Leverage can be increased by positioning the handlebars farther back, but this will reduce how far the wheels can be turned as the handlethrough bars will hit the rider sooner. It may also affect comfort as the rider’s hands will be positioned farther back. I was able to comfortably steer the trike while holding the grips with only my fingertips, but was not able to make minor steering adjustments by moving just my fingers. The direct drive steering also means more effort may be required to prevent over-steering. This happened to me during my first few rides but diminished with more experience.

The recumbent seat consists of a T6 aluminum frame w/ breathable mesh and sits about 9-1/2 inches off the ground. The seat bottom can be adjusted forwards and backwards around 19 inches by loosening two quick release levers on the plastic clamps that attach the seat bottom to the carbon tubes. It can also be reclined from 35 to 80-1/4 degrees by loosening two Allen bolts on the seat stays. Both adjustments have infinite increments (i.e., there are not set positions). Be careful not to adjust the seat too far forward and too reclined. Doing so could result in the plastic clamps snapping – especially if you are teetering on the high end of the max weight limit – this happened to me.

The seat itself is very comfortable. The mesh does not fully cover the seat frame on the bottom and back so lots of gear can be attached in both places. I attached water bottles to the seat bottom and to the back using both water bottle brackets that attach to tubing as well as zip ties. WizWheelz offers a seat bag that attaches to the seat back as well, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to devise attachments for other appropriately shaped bags.

The Edge trike is simply a joy to ride. Since I do not regularly ride a tadpole trike, there were some things I had to get used to – especially since the Edge likes to go fast. The main thing is having to lean into turns. The sharper the turn (and faster the speed) the more leaning required. At first it seemed like a lot of extra work, but over time I found the exercise quite enjoyable. It reminded me of races I had seen of motorcycles with side cars.

Another thing that took some getting used to is not having any directional control using my body. On the other hand, the ease of not having to balance while riding slow or with a heavy load more than makes up for it.

To test the trike at high speed, I pedaled to the top of one of my local streets that basically ends at the foothills. My downhill speed exceeded 43 MPH on this hill. It would have been faster, but I had applied the brakes as it was becoming too fast for my comfort. The trike was extremely stable at this speed, but it was clear that a hard, uneven application of the brakes or an unintentional oversteer would have easily caused me to lose control. Everything was fine so long as I concentrated almost solely on safety. While I find it quite thrilling to go this fast on any bicycle, the risks (to me) are simply too great. Being so close to the ground on the trike made it feel like I was doing closer to 60 MPH.

Towards the end of my test run, the road was quite bumpy – something I forgot about. While the trike bounced around a bit, I was able to keep it under control and slow down for the upcoming stop sign without much difficulty. It was quite a rush. If you like high speeds and want a trike, the Edge would be a good candidate for you.

As I’m sure with most trikes, slow speed handling was a piece of cake. It was really nice to be able to go as slow as I wished and enjoy my surroundings without having to worry about keeping the bike balanced and upright. On very steep hills, starting and stopping a recumbent bicycle can be quite hairy if you are not able to push off perpendicular to the hill. With the trike, it was no effort at all to stop and then start up again – all without changing my direction. It’s the first time that I’ve road (a 20 lb rock) without getting off the bike.

Under most circumstances, the trike wanted to go straight ahead. Minor inputs from one or both hand were sometimes necessary to make minor corrections to my direction. Otherwise, my arms and hands were pretty much at rest. Riding with a single hand was a breeze. The trike was stable enough to ride with no hands on the handlebars, but only so long as steering corrections didn’t need to be made. There was no than the steering. At high speeds, the steering corrections were easier once I learned not to over-correct.

A significant amount of vibration was transmitted to my body with the wheels at 80PSI and riding over rough surfaces. If I were to be riding over rough surfaces on a regular basis, I would likely opt for lower tire pressure gaining comfort at the expense of speed. Having the three wheels did tend to lessen the impact of bumps and holes, providing I didn’t hit the bumps or holes with both front wheels simultaneously. The same phenomenon can be experienced in a car going over speed bumps: if both front wheels hit a speed bump at the same time, the car is greatly affected, but if the speed bump is hit at an angle, or one wheel misses the speed bump entirely, the impact to the car is greatly diminished.

In general, trikes are more difficult to transport than a twowheeled recumbent bicycle due to their greater width. The easiest (and most protected) way to transport the edge is inside a motor vehicle. However, if you don’t have room inside, you can place it on rooftop racks or trailer hitch racks either specifically defined for trikes or have at least two adjustable wheel wells for the front wheels. You can also use a trunk rack by placing the trike on the rack sideways with the seat facing rearward (the WizWheelz web site has a picture showing this). When I rode alone, I placed the trike inside my minivan, but when I took my kids riding with me, I simply placed the trike on top of the roof and secured it to the roof luggage rack with a couple of bungee cords. If I were to travel on the freeway, I would also secure it with straps or ropes. Placing the trike on the roof or taking it off was easy since it is not very heavy.

Walking the trike is more of a challenge since it is so close to the ground. Probably the easiest way to do so would be to hold the trike by the pedals and pull it in the forward direction (rolling it backwards causes the pedals to move). But since the trike can be ridden at extremely slow speeds, the only time it’s really necessary to not be riding it to move it is when there are obstacles in your way, such as posts or a tightly packed garage. In these cases, carrying the trike sideways takes up the least amount of horizon-effort thanks to its light weight.

WizWheelz offers an extensive line of accessories for the Edge trike, such as:

Fairing - It is a Windwrap GX fairing with the Forward Swing Classic Mount System. It hinges forward for easy entry and comes complete with all mounting hardware.

Safety Flag – A Safety flag that comes with streamers which attach by Velcro for improved rear visibility. The pole is easily attached to the trike by sliding it into the seat tube after punching a hole in the seat tube cap. There is no hardware needed and the seat bag will not interfere. The trike seats can hold two flags. WizWheelz recommends putting one on each side for maximum visibility and safety.

Rack Trunk - A handy, durable container that attaches to the top of the rear rack using four built-in Velcro straps. It has a main compartment measuring 13" x 7" x 5" providing 455 cubic inches of storage along with two side pockets measuring 1" x 5" x 10" for 50 cubic inches of storage each. The trunk can be used in conjunction with the seat bag, and the panniers.

Rack Panniers - A set of two durable saddle bags with plenty of storage volume. Great for touring, commuting to work, or getting groceries. Each pannier has a main compartment measuring 9" x 5" x 13" for 585 cubic inches of storage and a side compartment measuring 1" x 8" x 8" for 64 cubic inches of storage. The panniers also have mesh outer pockets for additional small items. The panniers attach easily to their rear rack and can be used in conjunction with the seat bag and the trunk bag.

Water bottle cage mount - Using this bracket, you can mount a cage on your handlebar, chainstay tubes, or your seat stay tubes (with an extra shim). The Edge is the only Trike for which WizWheelz doesn’t offer a bottle cage.

Locking Brake Lever - This Promax brake lever set includes a standard left hand brake lever and a locking right hand brake lever. The lock acts as a parking brake. Just press the button and you won't have to worry about your trike rolling away. This eliminates the need for the Velcro strap parking brake supplied with all trikes. WizWheelz will install these on new trike orders or you can install them yourselves.

Indoor trainer mini-rollers - These mini-rollers have an attached mini-fan to simulate road resistance. Just put your rear wheel on the rollers, lock your brakes with the Velcro strap.

Fender kit - The fender kit comes with one rear fender, two front fenders, and the mounting brackets and hardware. The rear fender will not interfere with the rack.

Seat bag - At 135 cubic inches, the seat bag is large enough to hold your wallet, keys, bike tools, etc. It will even fit most standard size water bladders. The bag slips over the back or bottom of the seat and can easily be removed and carried by a handle on the top. It has a zipper closure under a protective flap. It will not interfere with the rear rack, trunk bag, or panniers. Two seat bags can be used simultaneously (one under the front of the seat and one on the back of the seat).

Aluminum Rack - The rear rack will accommodate panniers made to fit over 20" wheels. The rack will not interfere with the fenders.

Rear View Mirror – A bar-end mounted mirror can be attached to the left or right handlebar. WizWheelz recommends using both a flag and one or two mirrors for your safety.

Accessory Mount - The accessory mount is attached to the end of the derailer tube to provide a place to attach common bicycle accessories such as a headlight or bike computer. Not having this adaptor, I opted to make my own using PVC pipe, a hose clamp and a glue gun. First I split a 3/4 “ PVC pipe at one end so it would slide over the front derailer post. I then secured it using the hose clamp. I glued a smaller diameter section of PVC pipe to the other end in the shape of a T and then mounted my GPS receiver to it. The result was crude looking (an insult to the beautiful frame), but functional. Mounting the GPS or any bike computer in this manner puts it close and change while riding. Initially I had mounted the GPS receiver on the rod that connects both wheels together for steering. This put the unit close enough to manipulate but not easy to see since it was between my legs and lower than the seat. Another alternative might be to mount the unit on the end of one of the handlebars – this would be easier to see and put it within easy reach. For viewing, the front derailer is the optimal location.

If you buy a WizWheelz trike direct from WizWheelz, they offer a buy back guarantee since you will not have had the opportunity to test ride before purchasing. If you end up not liking the trike, you can send it back to WizWheelz for a full refund, less shipping and a $100.00 restocking fee, provided that the Trike is received by WizWheelz, Inc. in the same condition as shipped within 30 days of the original shipping date.

WizWheelz is currently working on providing the Edge trike with anodized aluminum tubes instead of carbon fiber. The price will be $400 less than the carbon fiber Edge.

While I haven’t ridden the trike with other riders other than my kids on the local bike path, I don’t think the Edge (or any trike for that matter) jells well with two-wheeled bikes. First of all, it’s so low to the ground that it’s nigh impossible to draft off of it. I doubt I’d get much draft benefit by following two wheeled bicycles either. This plus having the wider girth would seem to make it easier to get tangled up with another bike.

The WizWheelz Edge trike is a wonderful machine and should be considered if you want a lightweight or like to ride fast tadpole trike. While I do like riding fast, I am finding as I get older the risks outweigh the enjoyment of high speeds. This means my max speed threshold for a twowheeled recumbent is about 30- 35 MPH (and falling). For the Edge, my max speed is about 25 MPH. The lower speed is due to the increased level of concentration and focus required for keeping a tadpole trike under control. Not having ridden any other tadpole trikes, I don’t know if the same lower threshold would apply. For delta trikes (two wheel’s in back) my max speed threshold is under 20 MPH. I also personally prefer to be on two wheels when riding for fun or distance. I prefer trikes for more utilitarian purposes like hauling heavy loads of goods or people. Being a performance machine, the Edge is overkill for me, so I would opt for more of a heavy-duty steel trike.

TTT

“I Love a Parade”

By LARRY VARNEY

Staff Writer

There are things in life that we regret doing, but there are also those things that we regret not doing. One of the latter for me the Fourth of July Parade in Carmel, Indiana in 2002. Mike McDowell of Valley Bikes in Carmel had announced it on the web, inviting everyone to stop by his shop and participate as a group.

This seemed like it would be a fun thing to do. And, there would be the bonus of stopping by his store. There are three types of stores that I love to wander around in – computers, books, and bikes. Toss in the fact that this is a bike store with lots of recumbents – and quite possibly more recumbent trikes on display than anywhere else in the country – and, it’s located literally beside a rail-trail that makes it great for test rides. So, it’s hard to believe that I passed up the chance to participate.

So when the word went out about this year’s parade, I made plans to attend. Those plans looked like they were going to be for nothing when I found out that I would be heading north into Michigan to pick up a WizWheelz TerraTrike 3.4 and a late-prototype WW tandem trike for testing. It seemed like it was going to come down to a choice between attending the parade or picking up the test trikes in Michigan.

I was talking to a co-worker about this problem, and he suggested that I drive up to Michigan the day before, the 3rd of July, rather than Friday the 4th. I hadn’t realized that we had both days off for the holiday! So, off I went on Thursday, six hours from my house to the WizWheelz factory, chat with Ike Trikeman about the trikes, current and future, take some pictures – especially of the fenders, just to prove to people that yes, WW is going to be selling front fenders for their trikes – then head southwest for about 4 hours to Carmel, just north of Indianapolis. Lots of driving in one day, but that night when I finally went to sleep in the Red Roof Inn, I was happy: my van contained the new WW TT 3.4, and the even newer tandem trike – and, I was going to be in the parade!

My friend Walt Smith also attended the parade. He’s a lot like me – almost any excuse to go to a bike store is a good excuse, and he was interested in the tandem trike as well. So, he was my stoker. The recumbent group organized by Valley Bikes was huge – there were at least two or three dozen of us out there. Most people brought their own recumbents, but Mike offered his trikes and 2-wheelers for those who wanted to use this opportunity to ride something new. The weather was warm and sunny, the crowd was loud and appreciative, and I had my first chance to ride the WW tandem trike. This was one weekend that I wasn’t going to wind up regretting some things that I hadn’t done.

When I got home I began testing the two WizWheelz trikes in earnest. The 3.4 report is elsewhere in this issue. The tandem proved to be very popular – I know several couples who are interested in recumbent trike tandems, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to compare my observations with those of others. I love it when people agree with me, of course, but it’s often insightful to examine those cases when they don’t.

One of those volunteer couples was David and Karen Martin. They are both strong riders, have ridden tandems before, and an interesting twist was that they are upright riders. Not only was I going to hear what they thought of the tandem as a tandem, but also what their feelings were about recumbents! Incidentally, I had given them one of those single-use cameras so that they could have people take some pictures of them on the tandem, but later I found out that the camera was faulty – the subjects showed up when you used the flash, but were almost completely invisible otherwise. And yes, all of their pictures were in the daytime, without flash.

They made several rides over the following few weeks, with the longest being about 60 miles. I suspect that they would have wanted to keep it longer, but Karen was heading off to France – she was on a tour that included climbing Mt. Ventoux! And I was anxious to get it back and do some more riding myself. So, let’s talk about the tandem.

Two things you notice immediately: this is a long vehicle. (Since this was a pre-production unit, the exact specifications may not be the same as the current, shipping models. Please check with the WizWheelz website for exact weight, measurements, etc.) And, the paint. It is a deep, dark shade of red, and everyone who saw it loved it.

Some people have asked how I manage to transport it. Ignoring the obvious “just ride it”, I found that putting it in the rear of my regular-sized Chevrolet Venture mini-van was not a problem, so long as the rear seats are removed. I discovered that I could leave the boom on, as well as the rear wheel, and all I had to do was remove the bolts holding the rear seat “stays” so that the seat would swivel forward, then roll the trike in so that the rear wheel was between the two front seats in the van. I even had room left over the TT 3.4 and my luggage for the weekend.

The tandem is quite similar in construction to the 3.4. But just lengthening the boom and adding a second seat wouldn’t have made for a very stable mount. So, upon closer inspection you’ll notice where WizWheelz has “beefed up” the tandem. I’ve included two pictures that show in particular the cruciform fronts of both trikes.

You’re probably thinking, yes, they’re similar but different, but how did it ride? To put it simply, great – but not perfect.

The seats are comfortable enough, but I think they either need to have a stiffer bottom or be elevated just a bit more above the boom. On some bumpy stretches of road, you could feel that boom. Of course, a simple solution for those who encounter this relatively minor problem would be to insert a small piece of foam rubber underneath the seat, or just a pad of some sort on the seat itself.

And speaking of seats – right now the tandem is constructed so that small, medium or large people – as measured by their x-seams – can be accommodated in the captain’s position, but the stoker is limited to small and medium. If you’re nearing six feet or above, you may find the rear seat to be a bit cramped. If you’re considering this trike – and from what I’ve heard and read, many people are – check with WizWheelz to make certain that it will fit.

Out on the road you notice one thing that is common to almost all tandems: they’re heavier than a single bike or trike, and that’s noticeable when climbing long or steep hills. On the flats, it’s not really much of a concern. This tandem will move along at a pretty good pace. There is no independent pedaling option, so you’ll have to coordinate your efforts with your partner.

Speed is one thing, but how about stopping? The disc brakes are more than up to the task. There’s nothing quite as reassuring as knowing that the brakes will not only stop you very quickly, but they’re not going to be bothered by rain or heat-induced fade, like rim brakes are.

One of my concerns about the tandem were the idler wheels. The chain passes on the underside of the idlers in both directions, and it seemed like there was a lot of friction. I’ve been told by WW that new idler wheels are on the way and will ease my worries. I would think that independent idler wheels for both directions of the chain would be a good idea.

My first attempt at turning this tandem was in a small parking area behind Valley Bikes. And, let’s just say that while you do not need “40 acres to turn this rig around”, you won’t be doing u-turns on bike paths. On the road the turning circle is quite adequate for 90-degree turns. Let’s face it – this is a long trike! It’s on a par with other recumbent tandem trikes. And, check with WW again on this: word is that they’re working on something that will make the turning radius much sharper.

There are provisions for two water bottles on this tandem. Perhaps I drink more than most people, but I’d like to see at least four. But with two seats you do have the option of adding at least one bladder, so that will help. And for carrying that bunch of stuff that I seemingly can’t live without, I recommend getting a rear rack as well, though WizWheelz does make a nifty bag that will hold your essentials – and maybe a bit more – and it fits on either the back or the underside of the seats.

As I mentioned in my review of the TT 3.4, there are provisions for inserting a flag into the seat frame. One will fit in either the left or the right side – or both. And in this case, you could have four flags mounted! The provided flag is the same, stylish-but-invisible flag that is issued with the single trike.

Everyone who rode the tandem enjoyed it. Like any tandem, it takes some getting used to, what with the increased weight and turning circle as compared to singles, and you need to work on communicating with your partner. But when you’re out on the road, it’s really enjoyable. I can understand why some people prefer the “freedom” of riding on their own, but now I can appreciate just how much fun it is to literally ride with a companion, and not have to worry about either having to slow down or speed up because of that other person. Throw in the tandem-specific benefits of having someone taking care of monitoring the cue sheets, handing the captain things to eat or drink, and so on – I can see where I would enjoy riding a tandem. And a tandem trike – what more could someone want!

Bottom line: I highly recommend this trike. If you’re thinking of getting a recumbent tandem, it might be worth your while to check with WizWheelz about a test ride – you may find that a trike may suit you better than a 2-wheeler. And if you’re already a trike fan, compare the price and features of this tandem trike with others on the market. I suspect that one of the first questions you’ll ask is how soon can you expect delivery!

WIZWHEELZ TTT

Highs – Price, Handling, Paint and general appearance

Lows – Turning circle, Seat bottoms, Drivetrain friction, Flag is difficult to see from the rear

More Info – www.wizwheelz.com

WIZWHEELZ TERRA TRIKE TANDEM
By John Axen / RTR magazine

Unless you have been stranded on desert island for the last couple of years I am certain you have noticed the popularity of recumbent trikes has been phenomenal. They allow people with physical limitations or balance issues to enjoy the benefits of getting out in the fresh air and riding with other cyclists. Then there are those of us who have no limitations, other than mental, who are totally fascinated by recumbent trikes as well.call it the "Big Wheel Syndrome". I was always envious of the little kids roaring up and down the sidewalks on their big wheel trikes because they appeared to be having so much fun. The fact that I was fully grown limited any participation. Whatever the reason, recumbent trikes are definitely "in"!

Recently, there have been two trends that have captured the attention of trike enthusiasts all over the world. The first trend has been focused on simplicity such direct steering and lightweight frame materials. The second trend has been the development and increasing numbers of recumbent trike tandems. I am not certain who built the first trike tandem but up until recently there were just a couple companies offering them. The most recent entry into unique niche is the American made TerraTrike Tandem from WizWheelz and we have had the opportunity to play with it for the last couple months.

Once the TerraTrike Tandem was delivered I took the time to take a walk around it and appreciate the craftsmanship and components. Yes, I truly had to walk around its 121.5 inch length and 35 inch width while it took up half of my two-car garage! The frame is constructed of large diameter 4130 TIG welded tubing and coated in a flashy metallic red with just a hint of gold flakes. Like the TerraTrike singles, the seat frames are separate from the main frame and are secured by a single bolt and a pair of adjustable seat struts.

The TerraTrike Tandem has under the seat bars and center point steering by way of tie rods to the spindles. All three 20 inch wheels are built by Velocity, with Shimano cable operated disk brakes on the front. The cranks are FSA Gossamer Tandem triple 32/44/55t and FSA ISIS bottom brackets. The drivetrain is a combination of Shimano Dura Ace, 105, and LX components while the cassette is the Shimano 11-32t, 9-speed. I did not measure how many miles of Sachs PC59 chain was required but it must be considerable. Alloy brake levers and Shimano bar end shifters complete the controls. Our tandem came with IRC Metro tires but the specs now call for Kenda Kwest recumbent tires. By now I am sure you realize that this is a proven package of components. Let's see how they function as a whole.

Because the TerraTrike Tandem arrives at your doorstep fully assembled all you have to do is air up the tires, adjust the seats and bars before your first ride. Just setting up the chains alone could take hours so you have to be happy about that! Let me share something with you about tandem setup. After 34 years of riding all types of tandems I have learned that if you have a happy stoker you will be a very happy pilot. An unhappy stoker can make your life as the pilot quite miserable. So, you want to make sure your stokers position is properly adjusted first! Simply remove the single bolt that holds the seat to the frame and move the seat to the position that gives proper leg extension. Be careful to keep track of all the washers and replace them exactly where they were. You can make fine adjustments by the angle of the saddle as well. The last thing you do is set the angle of the rear bars to the most comfortable position and you will have a happy stoker!

As the pilot your set up procedure is nearly the same but even more crucial in terms of access to all the controls. You don't want to be searching for shifters or brake levers when the going gets tough! A good sturdy mirror is important and many tandem pilots use either eyeglass or helmet mounted versions. With both you can sneak a glimpse at your stoker and see if there is a smile back there. The TerraTrike Tandem comes with a pair of simple platform type pedals which may be adequate for riding around the block but I suggest you install your favorite pedals. Mount a pair of bottle cages and you are ready to roll!

In one of our earlier issues we reviewed the 3.3 version of the TerraTrike single which we had an overall good impression. We did have some issues with the seat but I am pleased to tell you they have changed the shape just enough to make it much more comfortable. I was very thankful as I had rubbed a couple of raw spots on the back of my thighs and was not looking forward more raw meat! While sitting stationary all of the controls are easily reached and feel quite natural. The real test is out on the road.

My son, Seth and I navigated the TerraTrike Tandem out of the garage the street and we aimed it in a straight line before settling into the seats. There is a reason for this. A wheelbase of 92 inches and a total length of 121.5 inches does not allow for sudden slow speed maneuvers. In fact, we soon discovered that the sharpest turns require a 16 foot radius. We could not do a U turn within the width of our own street! Once seated, feet secure in our clipless pedals, and mirrors properly adjusted, we headed down the road. It was immediately evident that this tandem likes to accelerate even though it weighs in at 60 pounds. Before we got to our first turn I goosed the disk brakes a few times to scuff the rotors. Initially they feel solid but the stopping power increases as the glaze worn off the rotors. We both thought was great that neither of us had to remove out feet from the pedals at the stop sign we did not have to balance the trike. was surprised that it did not take much effort to make that first 90 degree turn even though it does require more real estate than our two wheeled tandem. You simply have to pull out ahead a little bit before you tighten your turn in order avoid running your stoker up against the curb. Keep your stoker happy!

After a couple of blocks and running through all of our gear range, which taps out at an anemic 102 inches, we caught up with a few of our fellow recumbent riders. Although it took a little bit more effort than a two wheeled tandem, we were able to keep up with them. The TerraTrike Tandem has a fairly sturdy feel to it even while under heavy pedaling and takes up the imperfections of the road quite well. We both thought the drivetrain to be a bit noisy but considering the length of chain and the number of idler wheels just to keep the tension I guess it isn't that bad.

Nearly 7 miles into our ride and climbing our first short but steep hill we had a mishap. Halfway up a ramp two of our idler wheels decided they wanted to go their own way and flew off the tandem! This was bad! Here we were stopped in the middle of the hill, facing uphill, and trying not to roll back down! One of our friends held us in position as we dismounted and then we picked up the tandem to take it to the side of the trail. Once the wayward idlers were retrieved we discovered that they had been installed backwards and had no way keeping the rubber part of the wheel attached to the cartridge bearings. After reinstalling all of the idlers the proper way and re installing the chains we were off again. Starting off on a hill isn't so bad on a trike but it definitely was not as fast as our two wheeler!

It did not take long to recover from our little mishap and soon we were wishing for bigger gears on the flat sections. This tandem likes to fly! Although our first ride did not take us into the mountains we did get up to 35 miles per hour on one short descent and the TerraTrike Tandem felt quite stable and tracked in a straight line. In fact, I prefer how the Tandem handles over the 3.3 and 3.4 single models. I felt their wheelbases to be on the short side and a bit skittish at speed. The 92 inch wheelbase of the TerraTrike Tandem definitely tames the beast.

During those initial rides we found that we had a difficult time navigating the entrances and exits of our bike path system. We had to dismount and carry the 60 pound behemoth through the access gates. This is no problem for a couple strong guys but may pose a problem for a child or small lady. We realized one more problem as we rode the bike trails. Quite often other riders would pay so much attention to us that they would veer off the trail. Fortunately no one was hurt!

Once we had become accustomed to working together on the TerraTrike Tandem we ventured off the trails in favor of a more challenging route. As I had previously mentioned, the Tandem gets up to speed quite well on the flats. When we began to gradually climb we felt no noticeable major frame flex but we were aware of the drivetrain noise. This was no problem as we rode into the first major climb as our labored breathing soon masked whatever noise came from the chains! We were in the last gear, crawling up the pass, and thankful we could concentrate on pedaling and not balancing! At 60 pounds you will never set any speed records on mountain climbs. At the summit we began to roll down the other side with apprehension as this was the first major descent of any distance more than a hundred yards. I have to admit that I did not let our speed get over 37 miles per hour because we had 4 miles to descend and I was not sure how the Tandem would handle. Because of its length it does have some delay in responding to slight control inputs and you can get into a sway situation if you are not careful. I decided that our maximum comfortable speed should be 35 miles per hour as I felt I had fairly good control and could favorably react to most situations. I think we both had dry mouths at the bottom of those long hills. Admittedly, we have descended those hills much faster on our two-wheeled tandems.

After riding the TerraTrike Tandem for a while I would like to share our impressions. The overall performance was quite good once I adapted to a very long trike. It rides quite smoothly, shifts and brakes well, and has relatively good comfort. Even though we never experienced any major frame flex we both felt that the seats had some minor side movement. Check your drivetrain often and carry the proper tools for repairs on the road. You will also want to have your wheels checked for proper spoke tension and make sure they are true, especially after you have some decent mileage on them. Here is perhaps the most important consideration before you purchase you own TerraTrike Tandem. You must have accurate X-seam measurements for both you and your stoker. There are 3 boom sizes available for the captain and 2 different sizes for the stoker.

If you order your Tandem with a boom that is too short you will be sitting on the support tube for the stokers cranks and that is not comfortable. Another thing to consider is how you might want to transport your trike tandem. It will fit into most vans and even in some of the minivans if you remove the rear wheel. You can even carry it on a roof rack but that requires two strong people to muscle it up there. If you and your riding partner would like to spend some quality time together and don't worry about speed records the TerraTrike Tandem from WizWheelz could be a decent choice. There are other tandem trikes available that may give slightly better performance but at $3,999 and fully assembled to your door, the TerraTrike Tandem is a good value.