Making Success - Knowledge is power!

If this is the first time you're looking at one of these then I'm sure you might have a lot of questions. I'll do my best to help.

First of all it's a trike and not a bike. It's called Windcheetah and some people might know it by the name of Speedy.

It's manufactured in the United Kingdom by a company called Advanced Vehicle Design or AVD

The obvious advantage is your aerodynamic shape. Due the the reclined position your frontal area is greatly reduced in comparison to the normal bike. This means you don't have to push as much atmosphere out of the way, making it easier for you to stay at speed and punch through the atmosphere.

If you're not familiar with cycling then you should know that even at the slow speed of only 13mph (20Km/h), the effects of the earth's atmosphere begin to be felt. The maximum speed an untrained adult can get out of a bike is of only 25mph for a very limited time. If you want to achieve those speeds for longer then you have to train really hard or find a nice hill to descend.

With this trike, you can stay comfortably at 18mph even if you're an amateur rider. There is an aerodynamic package that will bring you great advantages. This package will halve your drag coefficient when compared to a road bike, bringing a whole new range of average speeds into play.

It's easy for a new rider to be able to complete huge daily mileages on this trike due to the laid back position not causing as much fatigue. This recumbent position allows the rider to preserve a lot of energy and it's frequent to find recumbent riders aren't as tired as their fellow upright bikers after long journeys. Expect your cruising speed to increase to 20-24mph as you become fitter.

On a bike you use more muscle groups than on a trike meaning you can spread the effort, but you also have to fight with your arms in order to can stay on the bike.. The quadriceps are the ones getting the most work when riding a trike and it literally feels like the only parts of your body doing any work are your lungs or cardiovascular system and your quadriceps.

There are many advantages but there is also a disadvantage with a trike. You see, when climbing a hill on a bike, you can use your own body weight to propel yourself forward and this way you can preserve some energy.

But on a trike you cannot place yourself on top of the front pedal and let gravity do the rest. It is harder to pedal uphill and many people become slower as a result. This disadvantage can be reduced by using a proper pedal stroke where you are basically making circles in your shoes, and using your back against the seat for that extra push leverage. It is also important to include your gluteus maximus in your stroke as it will make a difference.

By consistently developing and focusing on your technique you will become a very fast and powerful "triker". Once you adapt your body to this new form of pedaling, your uphill speeds will improve considerably.

TIP FOR PEDALLING ON A TRIKE

One way to improve your pedaling efficiency is to lay with your back on the floor, and then place your elbows on the ground and raise your legs and move them as if you were pedaling on the trike. Once you replicate this on the actual trike you will be saving energy because you will be pulling as well as pushing.

The steering joystick has all you need under your fingertips. A brake lever that controls both front brakes will hold you and stop you quicker than what you could possibly hope for.

Also on this joystick you have the controls for the front mech and rear mech, making the changing of gears feel more fun than on a car. When stopped at traffic lights, I find it particularly amusing to sprint when the light goes green, feeding the gears until a cruising speed of 22-24mph is achieved.

Steering happens by twisting the joystick in whatever direction you want to go. It feels incredibly effective and precise although many new riders think it's too sensitive. After 200 miles you don't even notice it anymore.

When cornering at high speeds it is important to shift your body weight onto the inside of whatever direction you are turning as the inside wheel might want to lift.

Many are curious about how safe they will be in traffic but the truth is, you will get noticed! Expect other car owners to give you lots of space in traffic! Oh, and expect many questions about it!

If you want an exotic machine that will take you safely to where you want to go, or you want to get back in shape and be noticed more than a Porsche owner, then this is for you!

The model on these pictures is equiped with lycra wheels covers and a Cateye Stadium 3 light.