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Video Transcript Laid-Back Mickey here, going over how to get in and out of a trike properly. We're going to talk about the right way to do it and also the wrong ways to get on a trike. We will also go over some accessories that will make it a little easier to get in and out of a trike. Most trikes are about the seat height of a dining room chair. So, most of them will be pretty easy to get in and out of to start with. Now, there's a few ways to get in and out of a trike and I want to show you them. The first way is to step over it; kind of like you would do a regular bicycle. But the difference is that with a bicycle you have to lift your leg a lot higher while on a tricycle you just lift it one step. Now, the first thing you should have done is locked your brakes. Notice how the trike wants to roll away. You don't want the trike to roll away so, I’m going to actually step back over and put on the brakes. On this ICE trike, the brake is down here at the bottom to lock it, so it doesn’t move. On Catrike’s and Terra trikes, they’re on the brake lever which has a little locking button to lock the trike. On this one here it's down a little lower so now I can do it again and it's not going to roll away. I’m going to step over and I’m going to grab my handlebars and sit down. On the ICE trike, you don't want to put a lot of pressure on the handlebars because they're lightweight handlebars. They actually make grab handles to make it easier to get in and out of it, if you want. These grab handles are an accessory that you can put here on the trike. And then you can lift yourself up and they're super strong. But this trike is pretty easy, and it is pretty high up. I could lean back and just relax and go for a ride. But when I get out what I do is sit up and move towards the center. You could push on the wheels, or if you had the grab handles you could push on the grab handles, or if you got the right strength you could just stand up. I like to get out of trikes just by walking forward and snaking around the crank set. That's another way to get in a trike. Rather than letting your feet leave the ground you could just spread your legs a little bit and back into the trike. Which means that if you have some balance issues you don't have to lift your leg over. You could always keep your feet on the ground, and you would just snake around the crank set. So that's how you get in and out of most trikes. Now some trikes that are lower use those grab handles. And the higher trikes are easier to get in and out of. We classify trikes as low to the ground, medium, and then higher. Most Terra trikes are going to be higher. This is an ICE adventure that's a little higher. We also have the Green Speed magnums that are higher. A Catrike Villager is going to have higher seating, which is easier to get in and out of. And then they have some mid-range trikes along with some really low ones. With these trikes, the lower you go the faster you go, and those are harder to get in and out of. So, maybe you do, or you don't want the grab handles. It all depends on your strength ability to get going. Now I’m going to come over here, step over, make sure it's locked so it doesn't rollaway, sit down, and that is it folks. That's how you get in and out of a trike. I just showed you the right way to get in and out of trikes. But let me show you the bad ways that we learned from the very get-go. People always try to do it this way and I tell them don't do it because you'll fall, and you'll hurt yourself. Let me show you what not to do. Getting out is easy for me. But sometimes I see people that want to come in from behind and they want to step over and do a twister type thing. And this is just going to get you into a trippy situation where you fall forward. So, you don't want to come in from behind the seat because that's going to be more dangerous than anything. That's probably one of the most dangerous ways that I’ve seen people come in, is come in from behind. Or if you come in from the drive side and you go to step over you could catch the chain. My favorite way is just to back in. Either back in, that keeps you the safest, or come in on the non-drive side, where the chain is not, and it is easy to step over. That's the right way, don't step in from behind because that's the wrong way. Laid-Back Mickey and I'll see you on the next video.

Video Transcript  Laid Back Mickey here and today we're going over the difference between a recumbent trike and your regular everyday bike.This is one of my favorite bikes that I used to ride for years. I got this back in ’95 and this bike I have over 30,000 miles on it. It's a great touring bike but after a while, time caught up with me and this bike didn't work for me anymore. It hurt my back and the balance issue kind of threw me off a little bit. I tried to do certain things to make it fit better. I put some riser bars on it, a riser neck, and I tried to make it fit my body, but it was still uncomfortable. I even put a squishy seat on it and that was uncomfortable after about five miles. As we get older our body doesn't work the same way and so if you go to put your leg up right on your bike it's a little harder. And when you go to stop and pull over and put your feet down you know it's more clunky. This thing was good to me and I loved it. But you know what, I think I’m done with the unstable and uncomfortable leaning over, hurting my wrists, and hurting my back bicycle. So, I got rid of that one. We'll put that one to the side because we don't need it anymore. Now this is what I like. This is easy to get into, I can just step over and it's not as high as the bike. I could grab my handlebars, sit back in that nice cushy seat, and now I don't have to worry about balance. I come to a stop and I don't have to get off the trike. I could stay on my trike and I can just pedal with ease down the road. My hands no longer feel pressure and there's no pressure on my wrist. They just rest right here. My back feels comfy and if I want to, I can get a head rest and relax. Or even if I want to fall asleep, I could do that too. So, why is a trike to me better? Well, I don't have to worry about laying my trike down weirdly. It's always stable on three wheels, and it is comfortable, and I can just cruise around. That's why I believe you should get a trike over the old school bike. You've been good to me bike but I’m riding my trike. Peace, Laid Back Mickey out.Laid Back Mickey here! Thanks for watching the video. Hey, if you liked the video go ahead and like it below. If you want to see more, subscribe, and if you have any comments or questions go ahead and put those below and we will be sure to answer those and we'll see you on the next video!

Who Are Recumbent Trikes Good For? Recumbent trikes or recumbent tricycles are 3 wheel bikes with a lower profile and a reclined seated position. As a result, they offer a far more comfortable, stabler ride than your traditional bicycle. Their unique ergonomic design offers an alternative for older cyclists, those with balance challenges, and those who want to keep active, but don’t want to use a traditional bicycle. Here we look at who recumbent trikes are good for and why. People Who Are Getting Older As we age, we might become less confident riding a traditional bicycle. Issues such as sore joints, as well as balance challenges, can also make it difficult to ride a traditional bicycle. However, the design of the recumbent trike provides more stability so you can cycle with confidence. First, the three wheels mean your skill level to ride a traditional bike becomes a non-issue. So even if you have never ridden a bike in your life, this offers an excellent option for getting around town and staying active.  Next, being lower to the ground and the added balance of the third wheel reduces the risk of falls you can experience riding an upright bicycle. As a result, you not only reduce your risk of getting injured but also enjoy riding in a more comfortable position. The comfort is thanks to the reclined seat. The seat also allows you to exercise your thighs, calves and glute muscles without as much strain.  Last but not least, the additional wheel makes it safer to avoid unexpected obstacles such as a dog or child running in front of you when out enjoying your favorite park trails. If you are worried about becoming less active as you age, it’s worth your time to take a recumbent trike out for a test drive. People with Disabilities or Physical Limitations If you have limitations or disabilities, the recumbent trike could be a good option for you. Of course, it depends on the type of disability and limitation. Because of the unique configuration of the trike, many people find it can work well for limitations such as joint pain. This is because a recumbent trike’s reclined position puts less strain on the knees, especially on the anterior cruciate ligaments.  So, for those who suffer from arthritis of the knees, the recumbent trike is an excellent option for exercise. The reclined position ensures the weight of your body is evenly distributed so no single area of your body receives extensive pressure while you ride. Benefits for those with disabilities and limitations include: Improved blood circulation Proper support for the neck, shoulders, back, and buttocks Reducing weight and pressure on the wrist and hands Reducing the load on the buttocks and spinal cord Traditional upright bikes put all the pressure on your buttocks and spinal cord, while also causing neck strain. There’s no need to worry about pain due to this unnecessary pressure.  People Who Want to Be Comfortable Cycling Recumbent trikes are designed for comfort. They make cycling a more relaxing activity, while also preventing pain in the back, shoulders, and wrists. Many people find they can cycle greater distances because their body is so relaxed. Because the seat is ergonomically correct, recumbent trikes keep your head in a natural, erect position. You enjoy greater visibility, a bonus when touring new areas or taking in the beauty of nature on cycling trails. Facing forward also means you are more aware of your surroundings so you are less likely to have accidents. You can sit back and enjoy a comfortable ride.  Since the trike has a lower center of gravity you have better handling when taking corners or when you have to stop suddenly. All of these comfortable features allow you to cycle further and faster. The trikes also tend to have more storage capacity than traditional bicycles so you can head out prepared with additional clothing, water, food and other supplies to make a day of it. If you plan longer trips often, electric-assist models are the perfect choice as you can reduce extending your own energy thanks to the motor. Other Benefits of the Recumbent Trike If you are finding getting enough exercise is becoming more difficult, the recumbent trike is your key to leading a more active lifestyle. This is very important at any age, but the older we get the more important it becomes. This is because activity uses our muscles and improves blood flow. As the saying goes, motion is lotion. Cycling on a recumbent trike is an excellent way to improve tissue elasticity in the joints so we maintain a healthy range of motion. You can maintain an active lifestyle without a high risk of injury and added stress on your joints.  Cycling is also an excellent cardio workout, so your heart is pumping, and you can enjoy improved heart health. You can increase muscle strength without the strain of things such as weightlifting. Instead, you exercise your muscles from a comfortable position, reducing strain and allowing you to remain active. Cycling on a trike allows you to target several muscles including your glutes, hamstrings, calves and quadriceps. So instead of allowing your body to reduce its level of mobility, you can choose to continue living an active lifestyle. You can get outdoors and reap the benefits of being close to nature without feeling vulnerable to injuries. What Types of Recumbent Trikes are Available? In addition to basic models the most common types of recumbent trikes include: Folding: Whether you have limited storage space or want to take your trike along on a trip, the folding recumbent trike is the perfect solution. Electric Assist: As already mentioned, the electric assist recumbent trike offers hours of power for longer trips, or for those with physical limitations. Suspension: Suspension trikes are designed for the path less travelled offering better traction and a smoother ride on rough terrain. They also allow you to gain more speed with better control. As you can see, recumbent bikes offer an excellent option for people who want to stay active at any age or when faced with limitations and disabilities. You can also cycle further and faster in comfort with this adult tricycle. If you are interested in learning more about recumbent trikes, reach out to our team to request your free trike buying guide today.

Video Transcript LaidBack Mickey here going over the top 4 trike brands, so let's check them out. So, I came into the scene in 2010 and I was looking for a nice trike for myself. I came across a brand that I knew and that I’ve heard of which was Greenspeed. I refer to Greenspeed as the godfather of the modern-day trike. Greenspeed originally was over in Australia and a lot of innovations came from them. They made one of the first folding trikes, the first crossover steering, and had a seat designed by a chiropractor. There are a lot of cool things that make these high-performance trikes comfortable, easy, and fun to ride. Ian was the main engineer and the founder of Greenspeed. He was a super nice guy, loved him, and he passed away sadly a few years ago. I remember calling Ian once, and for me it was the middle of night but for him it was in the morning. We'd have long conversations about trikes, the trike world, and just enjoying life. So, they're one of my favorite brands because of that. For years I loved my Greenspeed, and I rode it every day. I had a GT3 and it was an amazing trike. They came around in the 1990’s. Ian was actually doing some design before 1990, but Greenspeed as a company started around 1990. A lot of these companies: Greenspeed, Terratrike, Catrike, and Ice all came around within a five-to-ten-year period. Ian was an engineer; he wasn't a marketer or anything like this. So other companies that had more grasp on how to get the word out there came along and now it brings us to TerraTrike and Catrike. These are the two American companies in the trike world. TerraTrike has their frames done over in Taiwan, similar to Ice, HP, and some of the other companies. Catrike actually makes their frames in America and they're the only company that does it. They came around probably in the 2000’s. Paulo and Mark are the current owners of Catrike and they're about engineering, speed, and passion. They love making things better. Whether it's about getting a faster or smoother ride they're always trying to innovate and they're always thinking about the customer. The neat thing about Catrike is that they're the only American-made trike company. They're always making the best engineered trike that they can and getting that out to the consumer. So that's a really cool thing about them. I love going over to Florida and checking out their factory and hanging out with Mark and the crew over there. They are super great guys who will take me around the factory and just show me how they build them. Now TerraTrike really grew the market when Jack and Wayne asked the question: how do we make trikes affordable? I remember looking at my trikes about 13 years ago and saying these are more expensive than a bike because they were about 3 to 5 thousand dollars. And I know there's been a lot of inflation, but I knew that they were not cheap. But I bought it because it was what fit me right and it was what I loved. Jack and Wayne at Wiz Wheels said, “we want to get a trike out there that anybody can afford.” So, they came out with the first trike under a thousand dollars. There were already some cheaper brands at Walmart, such as Mobile, that had a wooden seat with some vinyl over it and some other really cheap stuff. But we don't even classify those as real recumbent trikes. But the TerraTrike people wanted to get a trike under there for cheap and they did. At first it didn't have a lot of gearing it was like a 1 or 3 speed. They found out that the people buying recumbent trikes wanted more speeds. So, they went up from 1-3 speeds up to 8 speeds, or NVLO. Now those are going to cost anywhere from you know 16-17 thousand and up. They started out creating mid-price range trikes and then they said "we're going to go to the masses", and so they came out with a lower price range. Today they are making their nicer trikes, like the spiders, Gran Tourismo's, and the GTS's that you can get for value because they do so many thousands of them that they can actually produce at a lower cost. TerraTrike can get you great quality and performance at a lower price point. The next one that we just started carrying a few years ago is Ice trikes. And they come from the UK. Chris and Neil are the current owners of Ice. The company was originally founded around 1986 by a guy named Peter. So, Chris and Neil are the ones I deal with now. What they do is they make a very refined trike. Chris has a background in design and Neil has a background in engineering, dealing with jets and stuff like that. So, they have the engineering know-how and the design know-how to make beautiful trikes that are engineered very specific down to the micron. They make really nice trikes. Try them out along with all the different manufacturers to really see which one works best for you. You want to make sure that you ride and sit in one to make sure it feels right. I love cars, but I can't fit in a Porsche 911. And it doesn't matter what price you tell me it is; I don't fit in it. It’s like if I gave you a shoe that was too big or too small. You want to make sure that it fits properly because if it doesn't fit you, you're not going to ride it. These are the top 4 manufacturers that we carry. I recommend going to your local trike shop or coming to ours. But anyway, this is the top 4 trikes at Laid Back Cycles. Thanks for watching this video. If you want to learn more about each individual trike manufacturer watch the videos for that and we'll see you on the next video.

For one reason or another, traditional bicycles may just not be working for you anymore. Recumbent trikes offer cycling with comfort and ease while maintaining stability and often remedying your pain points. Our belief is that three wheels are better than two! Video Transcript: Laid Back Mickey here and today we are going to go over why a recumbent trike is right for you. We will also answer the question: Why do you want one? Why should you get a three-wheel bike over a two-wheel bike? Many people you know love their two-wheel bikes. I even loved my two-wheel bike. However, the challenge is that sometimes in life you may find out that a two-wheel isn't working for you anymore. There are many reasons as to why the two-wheel doesn’t work for you. For me, it was the leaning over part that eventually started to hurt my back. I would also mountain bike a lot and even owned mountain bike shops in the 90’s. Because of the mountain biking, my wrists began to hurt because of all the pressure I placed on them. So, leaning over and having the neck in an unnatural position made it difficult to mountain bike. And so, with the trike you’re leaned back and you're in a laid-back position. You're laid-back in a reclined seat and so it takes away those pressure points that normally you would have on a regular two-wheel bike. As I am standing up right now, all the pressure is going down through my spine, through my hips, down through my knees, and on my ankles all the way to my toes. If you have bad knees, maybe you're putting a lot of pressure downward on them when you ride a two-wheeler. Compare that to a trike, and now those knees come up and it is like they are like floating out in the air. It’s a lot more comfortable. And a lot of people as they get older, including myself, know that balance is not there the same way it used to be. Simple tasks like stepping over a bike frame is not as easy anymore. Or even coming to a stop is challenging. With my bad back issues, I’ll get a pinch and then when I come down it'll want to throw me down to the ground. So, having three-wheels is better than the two-wheels and the stability challenges that a two-wheeler can bring.Now I have a lot of people asking whether or not trikes are comfortable. The answer to that is yes! If you like recliners, like lazy boy chairs, then they're super comfortable. I always say that trikes are lazy boy chairs with wheels. They're comfortable, stable, and you can get them in all the cool models they have to offer. Just like road bikes you also have your road trikes that are fast, low to the ground, and you can keep up the speed. You also have your mountain bikes with the handlebars like this, which is similar to the one I have behind me, and that's a different grip style so you can grip horizontally or vertically. They also have the road bike style or off-road style. You could even have your cruising around the town trike that comes with eight gears versus thirty. Some people like the big thing right now, which is the electric bike. There’re electric mountain bikes, electric hybrid bikes, and you can get those same styles in a trike. Basically, everything you can get in the bike world you can also get in the trike world, but now you're more stable and more comfortable.When a customer comes into our shop the first thing we ask is: Why a recumbent trike over a two-wheeled bike? We ask this because if I could ride some of my two-wheel bikes, such as my fast carbon fiber road one or my full suspension off-road mountain bike going single track, I still would. But there's a reason why a recumbent trike would work better for you today. If you want some help figuring out what trike is going to work for you then give us a call or send us an email and we'll help you sort through the 30-40 different models out there. It usually comes down to road bike, mountain bike, or the hybrid cruiser. But we can help you narrow it down and help you figure out why a recumbent trike is right for you and which one will work out best for you.Laid Back Mickey here. Thanks for watching the video. If you enjoyed watching it, go ahead and hit the like button below. If you want to see more videos, then hit the subscribe button as well. If you have any comments or questions, go ahead and put those below and we will be sure to answer those. I’ll see you in the next video!

1 Myth of a Trike’s Impact on Your Body Riding a recumbent trike offers many benefits that are attractive: exercise, weight loss, being in nature on the roads or trails, improvements in mental health and mood, being a part of a larger community, and more. Over the last decade of business, we have seen our customers seek out riding recumbent trikes to achieve these benefits but also to alleviate some of their pain points. For one reason or another, a traditional bicycle just doesn’t cut it for them anymore. Whether it be lack of balance, back pain, mobility issues, knee pain, stroke recovery, or just hindrance or pain in general, riding a trike offers a comfortable way to stay active that doesn’t put all that pressure of a traditional bicycle on your body. After hundreds of customers over more than 10 years, Laid Back Cycles has experienced what an amazing solution riding a recumbent trike can be to alleviate pain. However, there is one misconception, or myth if you will, that we have seen about the impact of riding in correlation to your body. – Schedule a Free Test Ride – Let’s start off with a quick disclaimer: we are not medical professionals, however, our knowledge of the body comes from years of analyzing movement, pain, and fitness with recumbent trikes. Often, the “why”, or the reason people decide to ride Laid Back is to cycle with more comfortability and less pain. Sometimes, pain can be a limiting factor for people. Let’s dive into an example for this. Someone comes into the shop because they have been experiencing knee pain for several years and decided it’s time to pursue some activity and fun through triking. They hop on a trike for a test ride, ride it around the parking lot for a while, and start experiencing soreness. After experiencing some pain in their knee, they decide a trike isn’t their magic pill. The Myth is that their pain can’t be eased by riding a trike. Pain can’t always disappear the moment you start pedaling, however, riding a recumbent trike is regenerative.       “[Exercise is] like your own personal regenerative medicine,” says Michael Joyner, an exercise physiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. At Laid Back Cycles, we like to parody Newton’s Laws of Motion: “A body in motion stays in motion.” We say this because we have seen just how extraordinary continued exercise can be for people. Ask around a community ride and surely you’ll meet someone who has drastically improved in pain, stamina, strength, or all three! We may be as enthusiastic to say that a trike is like a fountain of youth! Just last week, we saw someone go from having pain just riding around the block before she had her trike, to riding several miles with her buddies that same weekend! Riding your trike consistently over time has compounding health benefits. Through riding, you can reduce pain, increase stamina, and gain strength. We see most of our customers have the ability to ride for longer and longer distances because of the regenerative nature of riding a recumbent trike. Everyone has their individual experience so it’s certainly not a “one size fits all” type of solution. With many brands and models, choosing your perfect trike is just one test ride appointment away. Get some regenerative exercise under your belt in a fun and comfortable way, and ride Laid Back.

The new TerraTrike Spyder has been designed for performance. Some of the main design points when in production for this trike were stiffness and aerodynamics – so that accelerating up to speed comes with ease and staying at speed is even easier. Speed may be the key word for this trike, but comfort was not sacrificed.  The Spyder’s frame is made up of a two-piece aluminum Y-frame design. Both the front section and the rear triangle are using 7000 series aluminum. The frame of this trike embodies rigidity, lightness, and power transfer. While sitting low to the ground, the Spyder is aerodynamic by design. Due to Covid and supply chain challenges, there are limited quantities available. Order now, soon to be sold out! The Spyder‘s drivetrain, comprised of premium components including a Shimano 105 double crankset, bottom bracket, and derailleur, supplies power that will be sure to get your heart racing. A Spyder-specific boom supports these upgrades in tech.       Download our Trike Buyers Catalog A Shimano XT derailleur in combination with a 10-speed wide range cassette sits on the 700c rear wheel. For increased rigidity, these are connected via a through axel. The new and innovative idler pulley improves chain engagement and power transfer, while deep profile TerraTrike rims, Schwalbe Kojak tires, and TerraTrike alloy hubs cleanly propel the trike. Breathable mesh and an adjustable upper-back support section make the Spyder’s new Sport Touring seat a true experience in comfort and control. The vertical handlebar steering and bar-end shifters give you more room and improve aerodynamics, while the Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes give you total control over the trike. Finally, the internal cable routing gives a sleek and aggressive look to your ride.           

24 Months Same As Cash Financing PLUS, Get A $200 Visa Prepaid Card On Purchases Of $2,500 Or More! You can purchase a recumbent trike with no interest for 24 months! Waiting to buy a trike? Now is the time with this special offer through Synchrony financing! If you already have a trike, the same deal applies for adding an electric assist motor!   For a limited time when you open a Synchrony Sport credit card and make a qualifying, same day (single-receipt) purchase of: $1,000-$2,499.99and earn a $100 SynchronyVisa® Prepaid Card* by mail $2,500 or moreand earn a $200 SynchronyVisa Prepaid Card* by mail Rebate form required and must be postmarked or submitted online at syfrebatepromotion.com with promo code 21-56221 by January 30, 2022. See associate for details. Apply for Financing on your Recumbent Trike here!

TerraTrike has just introduced its brand new E.V.O. (Electric Vehicle Option) with tons of features. The E in E.V.O. is powered by the Bosch Performance Line Cruise motor and the PowerPack 400Wh battery, a very powerful pair. This Bosch motor, capable of 65Nm of torque, is nearly groundbreaking with a motor as quiet as a whisper. With only a few clicks on the Kiox display, you can ride “all day long” in Eco mode, or turn up the speed for a thrilling ride in Turbo mode. Speaking of the display, the new E.V.O. combines power with design, controlled by the full-color Bosch Kiox display. It not only controls your ride but puts all your riding information right at your fingertips. The Bosch battery unit is lightweight and strategically mounted to the frame. The trike is so well balanced you’ll forget the battery is even there. The E.V.O. was designed with premium features packed into a tried-and-true platform so it can drift into the background and you can simply enjoy the ride. Upgraded Frame – Robust Chromoly. Sleek Design. Optimal Strength. Bosch Performance Line Cruise – Natural Pedaling. 65 Nm of Torque. Virtually Noise Free.   Bosch PowerPack 400 – Lithium-ion. Lightweight. Seamlessly Integrated.   Kiox Display – Full Color. Performance Snapshot. Charging Statistics.     Due to Covid and supply chain challenges there are limited quantities available. Order now, soon to be sold out!