Do hills end your ride before you're ready?

You don't have to quit. A motor on a trike gives you a push when the hill shows up or your legs run out. You still pedal. You just stop dreading the way home.

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I ride with a bad knee myself. When it hurts, I bump up the power, and I'm not pushing so hard on the pedals.

Kay

Kay had a trike she loved, but hills had started to beat her, and her feet kept slipping off the pedals. She didn't need to start over. We added a motor with automatic shifting, so she doesn't have to think about gears, plus heel straps to keep her feet in place. The motor takes the hills, and she keeps riding the trike she already loves.

How a trike helps with hills and fatigue

On a trike you can go as slow as you want up a hill, and it won't fall over like a bike does. Add a motor and that climb gets a lot easier. Some setups also have a throttle, so you can rest your legs for a bit and keep rolling.

The seat matters too. You're sitting back, supported, so you're not burning energy holding yourself up on the handlebars.

I'm Laid Back Mickey, owner of Laid Back Cycles. 15 years, over 6,000 trike clients. You can watch me talk trikes on our YouTube channel.

Questions riders ask me

Do I still have to pedal with a motor?

On most setups, yes. The motor adds to what you put in, so you pick how much help you want.

Can you add a motor to the trike I already have?

Often, yes. It depends on the trike. Tell me what you ride and we'll see what makes sense.

What's a throttle for?

A throttle lets the motor move you without pedaling for a bit. It's handy if you tire fast and need a break mid ride.

How far can I go on a charge?

40 to 60 miles on average on one charge, depending on the rider, the hills, the assist level and how much you pedal.

Let's find your trike

Grab a time with me for a free Dream Trike Session. It's one on one, and we'll figure out what fits your body and where you want to ride.