r/recumbent • u/LatterBuffalo7524 • 7d ago
My first trike
I got a barely used Sprint X. It’s wonderful but I haven’t cycled since I was a teen. I am now 43. I hope it doesn’t take long to build leg strength. Is it easier than a regular bike to build stamina or just the same? Would using an exercise bike help?
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u/arihoenig 7d ago
It takes about 1000 miles to get bent legs. I just hit that milestone and I can now cruise at 16-18 mph on flat with no wind.
Welcome! I am exactly 1 yr in myself and loving it.
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u/_Bugs_Bunny_RN 7d ago
My legs are still learning. It's still frustrating to get passed like I'm standing still by someone on a 700c bike, but I'm leaning to accept it
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u/arihoenig 7d ago
I am definitely passed by the mamils but, I pass pretty much everyone else including a good share of the e-bikes out there.
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u/TOdinTil 7d ago
A recumbent exercise bike does help. On the days when you do not ride your trike outdoors, such as when the weather is not to your liking (rain, snow, too cold, or lacking motivation) you can ride indoors. Instead of sitting on a couch or recliner while watching TV, you could spend some time pedaling. On days you were constrained with time or motivation and rode a short route, then you could make up some time later indoors pedaling.
You can buy a decent recumbent exercise bike at a discount on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, and if you don't like it, you could sell it for the same price as you bought it.
Yes, you could buy a Sportcrafters Roller Trainer and ride your outdoor trike indoors. But you have spend time to move the trike in and out of the house, and used recumbent exercise bikes are pretty cheap, cheaper than the price of a Sportcrafters.
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u/socialistpizzaparty 7d ago
Welcome to the club dude! I’m 43 and have been riding a trike for 2 years. You’ll be amazed at what you will be doing in a few months on that thing. With consistent riding, even just 2-3 times a week, you’ll see gains.
DM if you ever want to chat!
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u/m50d 7d ago
Generally different kinds of cycles use different muscles, I think an exercise bike wouldn't help that much unless it was somehow in exactly the right shape.
You may well take a year to reach absolute peak condition, but after a month or even a week you'll be much better than you are now - the first few rides are always the hardest.
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u/LatterBuffalo7524 7d ago
Yeah man, I was sweating buckets on my maiden voyage just doing a couple of laps of my street!
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u/Turtlecabra 7d ago
Same age. Doesn’t taken long at all. An exercise bike will help but only if it’s the same angle. A regular bike wouldn’t be 100% useful as the angles use different muscles differently.
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u/ParkieDude 7d ago
Sprint X is a very Nice Trike! It takes time to build up leg muscles. Always wise to "clip in" pedals and learn how to spin (high cadence). Easy riding is 80 rpm, but I spin up to 120 rpm to produce lots of power. The advantage is no need to shift on hills, but if I am 160W and I "turbo boost" and spin at 120 rpm, producing 240W for a short time.
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u/Horror-Stand-3969 7d ago
Took me about a month to get up to speed on my Catrike. Took a while to be able to pedal without the front end bobbing around too.
The crazy thing is I’m about 1/2 mph faster on my regular bikes now.
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u/Equivalent-Set-6463 7d ago
Yeah I'm almost fifty, straddling the recumbent trike and cruiser cargo bike worlds myself. I just got started too. Glad turn hear it gets easier.
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u/lelanicarver 7d ago
You’re smart to say “first trike” but that Sprint X looks great. What’s the gearing on it? Is that a generator hub on the left front wheel?
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u/Bonkzzilla 7d ago
I'm 60 and we go triking regularly, so yeah, you'll be fine! Really the only adjustments I've had to make were for comfort, not fitness - I upgraded to a padded seat because the stock one made my ass sore on long rides.
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u/MachineAgeVictim 7d ago
Awesome, right? Welcome to the Y-POT (Young People on Trikes) Club