Delta Trike (Kettwiesel) Questions

I am considering buying a Kettwiesel and was hoping for comments from someone with even a little experience with delta trikes. I’m 60+ and do mostly trail riding & shopping. A friend thinks I'm crazy to spend this kind of money on a "bicycle" but he spent 4 times as much on a motorbike and didn't even get any exercise thrown in! Can you believe it?

Some questions, please.


1) I would like to get out of the derailleur maintenance business & wanted a Schlumpf 2 Speed Drive at the front and a Shimano Nexus 8 hub at the rear, giving 16 gears? The HASE catalog shows both as options on the Kettwiesel if I’m reading it right. A top-shelf recumbent dealer advised against this, citing increased friction. But I wonder how an internal hub setup can have any more friction than a derailleur & cassette?

Can anyone comment on how this would compare to the standard Schlumpf + 9 speed derailleur drive train, or if it’s actually available?


2) So let's say you're pedaling uphill & get a little tired. Hey, that can happen, you know! You decide to walk…, ah, I mean change exercise modes. How do you push/steer/pull this USS trike up a hill?


3) So I’ve walked a little bit and want to sit down again. With 3 wheels, I should have no trouble getting started uphill again, right. Or is it true the front wheel might lift/skitter if you have no added weight (pannier) up there?

hi there Mapletrail
You could have written that for me. I'm looking at Ketts, Ride, normal with diff/Nexus/Schlumpf. Comes quite expensive, but wonder whether it would be too heavy for me, I'm 5'3" female and quite active 61. Have you had any replies I would be interested to hear from other folk on this site. Have seen really good report of the Ride on this site but of course the difference is between a strong/fit/male and me is tremendous.

hi there Mapletrail
You could have written that for me. I'm looking at Ketts, Ride, normal with diff/Nexus/Schlumpf. Comes quite expensive, but wonder whether it would be too heavy for me, I'm 5'3" female and quite active 61. Have you had any replies I would be interested to hear from other folk on this site. Have seen really good report of the Ride on this site but of course the difference is between a strong/fit/male and me is tremendous.

Catminder,

No, I haven’t received any answers yet. My wife & I plan to share this trike if we get it. She is 5’ and I am 5’11 but we hope we won't to add/remove chain links to trade off. She prefers a more upright pedaling position and so we are also looking into the Lepus model.

If by “too heavy” you were referring to the trike, I don’t think this would be a problem for you since they weigh 37 to 45 pounds, not so bad if you’re not racing! Consider the Penninger Voyager specs at ~52 pounds. The Hase catalog also features the Lepus Comfort for “Seniors”, not to say you are in this category : ).

You can find a detailed (albeit technical at times) discussion about the usefulness of the geared hubs vs. derailleurs here (I have also posted there):



http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=1590283#

__________________
MapleTrail

Thanks Mapletrail
The KW Ride is 45 lbs without nexus and schlumpf. No I wouldn't consider the Lepus for Seniors yet! I can see how it would be advantageous eventually though. I think either the Lepus (ordinary) or the Kettwiesel would be preferable. Another one I'm trying to find information about is the Sinner Comfort, from Holland. The website is not in English though. I find it easier to look at the German version because I haven't a clue of Dutch. I