Advertisement
TM
Riding tips
If you don't have experience with recumbent tricycles, you may find that for the first few rides you experience noticeable pedal
steer (pushing hard on the pedals makes the trike swerve) and brake steer (grabbing one brake harder than the other causes
the trike to swerve). These two phenomena become much less noticeable as you gain experience. Pedal steer is minimized or
eliminated by pedaling smoothly at a fairly high cadence, rather than mashing hard. Brake steer is minimized by braking
smoothly and evenly...if the trike lurches under braking you're overdoing it (it's like driving your car...you don't stand on the
brakes every time you slow the car; rather, you learn to modulate the pressure so that the car does not lurch).
The smoothest, most enjoyable ride comes when you learn not to over control the trike. The steering is very responsive, and
does not require much input at all to make the trike change direction. The less you try to steer, the smoother the ride will be.
It's possible to get the trike up onto two wheels, but this should be avoided. It puts a lot of stress on the components and can
cause loss of control. Bicycle wheels, hubs and tires are not designed for heavy lateral loads, and if you go up on two wheels
you're asking them to do something they were never meant for. Your Catrike is wonderfully responsive and handles very well,
but it's possible to overdo it. Use common sense. You'll find that the trike stays more firmly planted when going around a corner
at speed if you lean to the inside of the turn.
CAUTION:
The brakes on your Catrike are very powerful. It is quite possible to do a "stoppie" on the Catrike (lock the
front wheels and lift the rear wheel off the ground by jamming on the brakes). In extreme cases, you can hit the chain rings on
the ground and damage them. Use common sense. Don't use maximum braking unless you really need to. (At high enough
speeds, the trike won't lift the rear wheel...it will just skid. And at very low speeds, there isn't enough momentum to hit the
chain rings on the ground.)
CAUTION:
Brake Steering: Our frames are designed for a diminished brake steer effect. However keep in mind that the
trike is not a heavy vehicle such as a car. It does not have hydraulic, electronics or self correcting mechanisms either. It is
instead, a very light recreational vehicle with a mechanical steering linkage that carries a rider sometimes over 8 times its
weight. Therefore the weight & dynamics of the driver can exert total control over the capabilities of the vehicle. It does
demand that the rider develops proper riding skills, such as smooth pedaling, smooth steering and smooth breaking and that it
is always conscious when riding. The Catrike has front brakes only, since in a breaking situation 90% of the weight is
transferred to the front of the trike. The front brakes are also independent, meaning that you can break the right wheel only, or
the left wheel only. Therefore, especially in high speed or down hill situations, it is mandatory that you pull both brakes at the
same time and with the same intensity. If you elect however, to brake only with one brake, this could cause the trike to steer out
of your path and cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION:
our new peace boom and boom clamp is designed for high pressure clamping and has an indexing system
to keep the boom from twisting more than a few degrees. Make sure the boom clamp is tight enough, so the boom will not twist
while you pedal. The indexing tab should be used as a guide; it is not intended to keep the boom from twisting under pressure.
Just like a bicycle seat post clamp, it is the rider's responsibility to check for the boom clamp for tightness. There is a plastic
shim included between the boom and the main frame to eliminate any gap and to increase clamping action. Make sure the
plastic shim is correctly placed before riding your Catrike. If for any reason, you are unable to install or tighten the boom clamp
or are missing the boom shim, please do not ride your Catrike and contact your Catrike Dealer or Big Cat HPV, LLC. Failure to
do so might cause the boom to twist and cause serious injury.
owner's manual - page 08
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
