Seniors: Why is it So Hard to Ride a Tricycle the First Time? Overcoming the Trike Learning Curve

Seniors, why is it so hard to ride a trike or e-trike for the first time out?

Hey everyone, I'm Dustin. I have 20 years of experience in the bike and e-bike industry. And today I'm going to talk to our senior audience and explain why it may be so hard to ride a trike or e-trike for the first time out. All right, I've got three awesome e-trikes here from sixthreezero, our Simple Glide Fat Tire, our Easy Transit Fat Tire, and our Relaxed Body e-trike. This week, I've done a handful of test rides here in San Clemente with all different types of riders and a few over-60 riders coming in looking at getting their first e-trike, specifically wanting something with a more comfortable seat, also not wanting to have to worry about balancing and tipping over. Now, one thing I wanna say is that of all the riders I encounter here for the first time, e-trike riders or first-time trike riders, a lot of them, I wanna say 70, 75%, they get it within the first zero to 10 minutes. They get on, oh, it feels different, but then they figure it out, no problem. Now there's another 25% where that first ride was quite difficult. And a couple of reasons for that are, well, several reasons.

So number one, trikes drive differently or steer differently than a two-wheel bike. So if you are somebody who has been riding bicycles for 10, 20, 30, 40 years, and now all of a sudden you're switching to a tricycle, it's totally different. You have to steer a trike, a bike, you lean kind of flow with it. So for some, it's a natural progression. For others, you have to retrain your mind, and you have to, you know, think about the fact that you're on a three-wheel bike now, not a two-wheel bike. So there is an adjustment. And even for the people who pick it up quickly, they still comment, oh yeah, it is different. It is different, you know, but they can figure it out. So number one, it drives differently than a two-wheel bike. Number two, there are a lot of people's brains that can't accept the fact that they're on three wheels and they're not just going to fall over. So one thing you do have to get used to as you start riding a trike is you have to realize that you're not innately going to just tip over, right? And you do have to, depending on whatever trike you get, you kind of have to figure out what the limitations of that trike are. Now, I'm not saying you tip it over, and you push it to the farthest limitation you can until it tips. What I'm saying is, as you start to get a feel for how you steer and how it balances, you'll start to understand the limitations of the trike you're on.

For many people, when they get on that first time, they're very on edge, and they feel like even if they just turn the wheels a little bit, they're going to tip over. Now, I'll say this. No matter what trike you're on, if you just take it slow and turn slowly, the trike is not going to tip over. Now, if you're driving slowly on a steep hill across it, you're going to tip over in that situation. But if you're just on flat ground, going slow, taking turns slowly, you're not going to tip over. But I've seen it where I've had riders come here, and they are going slow, and for whatever reason, they just all of a sudden feel like they're going to tip. And I think it's just because their mind is not used to the sensation of sitting on these three wheels balanced, they're used to being on a two-wheel bike, and they're used to their brain and their body having to work to keep it balanced. And so when all of a sudden they're on a three-wheeled bike, and their brain's like, well, you're not keeping your balance. And then you feel like you're gonna fall because you're not trying to be balanced. So it's getting used to the fact that you'll stay balanced regardless of the effort you put into it mentally or physically. And having that trust and that faith in a tricycle. Now, again, this may take some time for you. What I'll say to that, though, is don't give up the first time you go out. Give yourself some grace, take your time, and you will get used to it as you practice, as you ease into it.

Because if you're somebody who has lost your balance and you want to still be out riding a bicycle, well, not a bicycle, but a tricycle or a quad cycle, you're gonna have to learn to adjust to either riding a three-wheel or a four-wheel bike. Now, some options are a little more intuitive and easier to steer if you're transitioning from a two to a three wheel. The Simple Glide Fat Tire and all the test rides I've done, this is one of the more intuitive trikes in terms of how it feels and how easy it is to steer. So is the Relax Body. The Easy Transit Fat Tire is still fairly intuitive, but it feels more like a trike, and it's going to feel a lot different than a two-wheel bike. Again, you have to understand that as you go out and test ride different e-trikes or tricycles, each trike may also feel a little different. Yes, some models may be more intuitive and easier to steer for you straight out of the gates, and as I said, there are some four-wheel options. We have our AnyTerrain four-wheel e-bike, which is another good option if you just don't feel comfortable on a three-wheel bike. So those are the two main reasons why that first trike or e-trike ride may feel difficult or confusing. Number one, that they do actually steer and turn differently. And number three, your mind is thinking you need to do something else than you actually need to do. which maybe is putting you into a fearful mode, and you might feel like you're going to tip over. So once you overcome both of those, you learn how to steer, and you can learn to train your mind that you're on a three-wheel bike.

I guarantee you, you're going to pick it up. No problem. So if you have any other questions or comments on the topic, please put them below or reach out to us at theteam@sixthreezero.com or call us at 310-982-2877. Don't forget, all these e-trikes are linked in the description if you want to check them out. In addition to that, we offer a 30-day test ride and your e-trike policy. If you don't love it in the first 30 days, send it back. No questions asked, no money out of your pocket. We're also going to warranty everything for one year. Anything goes wrong in the first year, we'll take care of it, parts and labor. And if you want to come out for a test ride, try any of our e-trikes before you purchase. Come on out. We're in San Clemente, California, at 1046 Calle Rocoto, Unit K. Test ride any of our e-trikes to make sure you're making the right choice. Also, join our community before you purchase. We have a Facebook group called Sixthreezero Pedalers. There are thousands of members in the group. Join before you purchase to talk to existing riders, to, again, ensure you're making the right choice. Then, when you have yours, post in the group, make friends, and finally download the app to track your rides and compete on the leaderboard. So thanks for sticking around, and don't forget, it's your journey or experience. Enjoy the ride.