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That bike has some interesting history. I bought it new in 2004, a 2005 model, for $300, plus about $40 for misc. other stuff like a bike computer, a roll of orange reflective tape, some basic lights, etc. By 2010 it had 13,000 miles on it and I had worn out the cheepo components they put on it to keep the selling price low. So during one our late night hours long discussions that we called Pillow Talks, Cindy and I discussed my options. I could buy another bike, which would have been another minimum of $300, likely more, plus the cheepo components would last about as long as this one had. Or I could do a basic rebuild of this bike, which my bike mechanic Nick said I could do for about $400.
The thing that throws most people (pun intended) is in how they steer. Turn too fast and it will drop you like a hot rock. The keys to remember are Trike are top heavy, which contributes to falls, and that it's a Trike, not a Bike. Oddly enough, Golfers do very well with trikes if the drive 3 wheel golf carts.
Bobby and I have talked about getting those motorized ones that work with a battery. He has good balance still, so he could ride and actual 2-wheel bike, but I would need one of the safer ones that has 4 wheels, so I don’t tip over. I would LOVE to do that, and be able to take rides together and know it had the battery assist if I needed help with the pedaling.That bike has some interesting history. I bought it new in 2004, a 2005 model, for $300, plus about $40 for misc. other stuff like a bike computer, a roll of orange reflective tape, some basic lights, etc. By 2010 it had 13,000 miles on it and I had worn out the cheepo components they put on it to keep the selling price low. So during one our late night hours long discussions that we called Pillow Talks, Cindy and I discussed my options. I could buy another bike, which would have been another minimum of $300, likely more, plus the cheepo components would last about as long as this one had. Or I could do a basic rebuild of this bike, which my bike mechanic Nick said I could do for about $400.
This bike, that I named after my great grandmother Bessie, saved my life as far as I am concerned, as when I started riding every day (unless there was some compelling reason not to) my A1c dropped from 12.4%, with an average glucose level of 309 to 5.6%, and an average of 114. As long as I kept riding, it stayed near that level. In addition to that, I originally bought the bike with part of my very nice severance check from Rob Cheng, the CEO of PC Pitstop. (Plus a sweet new computer, and numerous other stuff...) She's sentimental to me, so I decided on a rebuild.
I talked to Nick and he made me a sweet deal on all the components, which were top of the line Shimano components, and rebuilt it personally. When he was finished, I was stand at the cash register paying him, a Trek sales rep. comes in and saw my bike leaning on the counter. The first thing he noticed were the Shimano components. He asked if it was my bike and I said yes. I told him we had replaced everything. By the time it was finished, it only had one original part left, the front fork. He said if it wasn't for the original frame, I would have turned this entry level mountain bike into a top of the line Trek bicycle. Why didn't I just buy one? It probably would have cost me less. So I said "A new bike didn't save my life. This one did."
In the end, I spent $750 to rebuild it. But that was in January 2011. I haven't taken her for a ride since 2022, but at that time the only thing that needs to be replaced is the "Bottom Bracket", which is basically the axle of the crank and fixing it can wait until it actually breaks in half. I had planned on doing that after Christmas in 2022, but as you may recall, that was when I got Covid and it almost killed me. All that made my balance issues worse, and the last time spoke to my Doc about it, he sad "Give a few more months before you try riding."
The thing that throws most people (pun intended) is in how they steer. Turn too fast and it will drop you like a hot rock. The keys to remember are Trike are top heavy, which contributes to falls, and that it's a Trike, not a Bike. Oddly enough, Golfers do very well with trikes if the drive 3 wheel golf carts.
Here's a way you can get used to them. This thing is a blast to ride. It's called a Zipp-e truck. They're made in South Africa so I assume these new ones cost a fortune. A friend of mine in Eureka had one that was probably a 2015. Driving it was so much fun.
E-bikes are great if you can afford them. The minimum price for one that will last is about $2,500 to $3,000. I strongly suggest that you don't buy one that is less than that, or the maintenance costs will end up making the bike cost you more. Quads are even more expensive, and e-quads are astronomically expensive. So before you do that, remember this... Before 2022, I couldn't take 6 steps without something to help me keep my balance. But on my bike I was good to go. Because when I stopped, I stood on the ground with my hands on the handlebars.