Reverse order: Most recent was a 2009 Trice Q recumbent tadpole trike, set up for touring, day-tripping and commuting duty. Sold it in the Philippines prior to returning to RSA. 2 x 27.5 litre 'banana' saddle bags, rack for tent etc, wide-range gearing (10.9 / 112 gear inches, chain rings were 22 / 36 / 48, rear cassette was a 9/34 with 20" 406 wheels all round). Lights front and back, mirrors on both bars, computer, GPS / phone mounts, rear isolastic suspension. I was riding this last in the Philippines, after buying it in the USA. The gearing worked great for really steep hills, I could spin the rear wheel climbing a few of the hills to my house. We had a store that was 30 km from the house so I used it to check on that, also did a weekly milk run of 75 - 90 km into the mountains, coming back with 12 to 18 litres of milk. Plus a weekly coastal day or lunch ride of 105km to 180 km. Set up to spin, so as to minimize knee and hip damage (not that I had major issues there once I was fit. Bare weight was about the same as mountain bikes, but carried a full set of tools, spares, spare tubes, snacks, and 2.5 to 5 litres of water (tropical climate). In the time I had this 'bike', I dropped from 99kg down to 63kg, which also involved a move from the USA to Philippines... Average speed went from 16km/h over 30 km to 24+ km/h over 60 km in this period., with the loads noted. Superbly comfortable, really fast descending mountain passes in the Philippines as I could slide either end through the corners without losing control. http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z463/tshelver/Trike%20Travels/IMG_20131030_122929_zps90d833c6.jpg Bike before was a SUN Sport AX long wheelbase recumbent. I got this as I was finding the hypermarket MTB somewhat uncomfortable and hard on my legs after a long layoff and significant weight gain. After I got the SUN, I realised that the MTB was a few sizes too small. Modified the SUN gearing from standard road gearing to more touring gearing, making it significantly easier to ride on hills in northern New England (USA). I should probably have stuck with this bike. I originally got annoyed with it as I was having issues climbing hills (have to walk the steeper ones, and wobbling all over at low speed), so I ordered the trike from the UK. While waiting for the trike, I changed the gearing on the SUN making hill climbing a lot easier, and a combination of easier spinning and many more miles virtually eliminated the wobble. It looks slow, but as a tourer with saddlebags, rack and seatbag, is comfortable and not a whole lot different to most touring bikes. A bit slower on climbs due the weight and riding positon, but faster on descents. http://www.nomadcyclespdx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DSC_7061.jpg No more pics from here: Generic Target (USA hyperstore) MTB, too small, never put on more than a few hundred km. Generic MTB from Pick n Pay that I left in Zimbabwe when I returned to SA in '94. DHL 5 speed that lasted me from varsity commuting (Maritsburg '76) to prior to going to Zimbabwe in 92. Some gravel road trips that were really hard on the butt . Have no firm recollection of what happened to it, but I think the ex disposed of it to family while i was gone... . Raleigh single speed 'standard' that took me from early high school through to starting work. Rode it around the farm, around East London to the beach and fishing spots and so on. Next bike? Now that I am back in SA for a while, not sure. Maybe a hardtail MTB, maybe a standard commuting / touring bike, maybe I will try to build or buy a short or long wheelbase recumbent.
