Catrike

I spent so many years of my life riding a motorcycle that some folks have reasonably inquired whether I have anything but saddle sores to show for the first half of my life. Motorcycle riding requires total concentration, and as such serves as a meditative therapy, a shortcut to states of mind that otherwise require the sort of quiet disciplined work that now engages me. I racked up hundreds of thousands of motorcycle miles around the country and around the world, contributed bike reviews and travel pieces to a several top motorcycle rags, and kept right on riding until my son reached his third birthday. At that point the risk/benefit analysis said quit, so I did.

I’ve been looking for a good substitute ever since. The speed of a bicycle is closer to the stop-and-smell-the-roses pace of life I prefer, and in that way suits me better than the speed of a motorcycle these days, but while I love bicycling it doesn’t love me. My neck and elbows hurt (perhaps it’s all those crotch rocket miles) and my nether regions grow numb. All the same I embrace the simplicity of cycling and the peace and quiet and the efficiency, the exercise, and the “greenness” of the whole activity. I see human power as one good answer to many of the world’s energy ills, not to mention what it does for the cardiovascular system and the waistline, so I’ve tried paddle boats and kayaks and recumbent bicycles and rowing shells all in quest for the right machine for my needs. These include a relaxing riding position, a light, responsive machine, and something that is just plain fun to ride.

I finally found the ideal get-out-there tool—the Catrike. It’s a tricycle, but any similarity to a child’s toy ends at the third wheel. It’s a high-tech, lightweight piece of equipment built around a simple aluminum frame, a go cart you power with your legs. The components are top-shelf bicycle bits, and the fit, finish and design are absolutely brilliant. There are several variants to choose from, emphasizing speed, practicality, touring, etc. I chose the best handler of the lot, the Speed model. I researched human powered vehicles extensively before choosing it. It’s not cheap—about the cost of a better quality mountain bike but thousands less than a competition machine for on or off-road—but you get what you pay for. Relaxing the upper body really allows a focus on the muscles being worked, and pushing it to a brisk pace sure gets your heart pumping.

In the short time I’ve owned it, I’ve been on it every single day, riding around the neighborhood and on the city bike paths. I’ve not done more than 20 miles at a sitting yet, but I plan to work my way up to more and faster miles, smiling all the way.