Riding The Greenspeed GT3 Trike on the Folsom CA Bike Path

[Trikesalot]

One of my favorite trike videos...always makes me want to get out on my GT1, although I'm sure it's slower than your GT3. Say, do you have any pulsing out of your Sturmey Archer drum brakes? Mine have pulsed and wobbled since new!

[theaesthetics]

@Trikesalot Thanks! Nope, the GT3 and GT1 are equivalent in the speed department, with just some gearing differences. The pulsing on the drums brakes doesn't sound normal to me, and I've never experienced it with drums. Did you buy your trike from a dealer? See if you can take it to a local dealer and see what they have to say, or post a question on the trike forum over at bentrider online. I'd guess someone there will know exactly what's going on, and give you some tips to clear it up.

[Rockyjedediah1984]

Great video

[AntiProUltra]

You seem to have some really cool bike trails in the US. In the UK we have cycle routes designated by numbers, but almost all the routes are on roads - mostly small country lanes, towpaths, but not always, so you're sharing space with cars and/or pedestrians. Oh, and did I mention that 99% of British country roads have no shoulder? It goes road -> grassy bank -> ditch -> bank with hedge -> field. It's so much fun when you're crawling up a hill holding up traffic...

[theaesthetics]

@AntiProUltra Are the drivers there respectful of you when you're sharing the road? I would imagine if they're all texting and speeding (like they do here) it might get pretty hairy!

[AntiProUltra]

@theaesthetics It's strange because British drivers love moaning about cyclists, but I have few problems with them (the drivers, that is) actually on the road. They give me a pretty wide berth when I'm out on my Velotechnik Street Machine (wider than when I was on a road bike), usually crossing to the opposite side of the road. It's just that road riding isn't such great fun when I'm having to focus all my attention on the road, with none left over to admire the scenery...

[theaesthetics]

@AntiProUltra Yep, I hear you. My blood pressure rises considerably when I'm out on the road. Riding on the trails, you forget about all the debris and noise you deal with when riding next to cars. Even the back roads around here, which used to be empty and beautiful to ride on have become crowded with commuters. If you're ever in the area, we'll take you for a tour of the trails around here!

[mattyb1500]

hmmm sounded like an airzound to me

[KrunchyJD]

how do they compare speed wise to upright bicycles?

[theaesthetics]

@KrunchyJD It really depends on the trike but typically, after you've built up your recumbent muscles, they're about 3mph slower than an upright racing bike. Something like a Catrike 700 will be faster, and a trike like my Greenspeed GTO, which is a heavier touring model, will be a bit slower. They make up for the loss of speed with comfort, so while you're riding a trike, you really don't care how long it takes you to get there because you're enjoying the ride so much!

[emforty2]

@theaesthetics im thinking with a simple fairing up front you'll recover the 3mph in speed would you think and with a full blown canopy ala velomobile it'll be faster

i agree with the comfort it allows you to be on the saddle longer=distance so an upgright might just be good for short burst of speed and thats it!

anyway enjoy all your videos

[osu411yamaha]

Looks like fun. I am taking a gt3 along the Southern Tier route from Texas to San Diego starting March 12. I wanted to do some filming along the way. What kind of camera are you using, how long is the battery life, and how did you mount it? Also, how does the gt3 perform offroad in case I get caught in some areas with a lot of dirt roads?

[theaesthetics]

This video was shot with a Canon Powershot A710 IS in video mode. I always hand hold during the ride. It really cuts down on vibrations and lets you get all kinds of shots. There's only about 15 minutes of video space with the Canon 710. My later videos were shot with a JVC Everio GZ-mg155. Not very expensive and lots more video time. I've gone off road on the GT3's and they're fine as long as you're not taking any big ditches or berms as they might not have the bottom clearance.

Have fun!

[92chrysler]

I have seen you biking along the Willow Creek and Parkway trails.

[theaesthetics]

Those are great trails! Next time we ride by give us a holler :)

[Blackheartnyc]

wow wish we had path like that here in nyc :(

[dregerclock]

looks like a fun trail.

[jimritem]

This is a very interesting video. Nice job!

[theaesthetics]

Thanks! :)

[itwasdin]

I wrote earlier, I am a trike rider (Logo) for about one year. I ride almost daily 20 miles along the Boise river paths. I even went out yesterday and cold as heck. Nothing in this world is as enjoyable as riding my trike. I just got back from Dana Point area and found a bike trail some told me would let me ride all the way down to downtown San Diego! Imagine what a great ride that would be! Well, happy Thanksgiving to you.

[theaesthetics]

Happy Thanksgiving! I haven't had a chance to ride in the San Diego area yet, but I imagine it would be beautiful! That sounds like a great trail. If it doesn't rain, the whole family will get a chance to take the trikes out on Friday. Hopefully it won't be too cold :)

[theaesthetics]

Hi,

I personally found the QNT cockpit too cramped for me, and I'm a pretty average to small guy. Best bet would be to try both and see what you think. I preferred the Q for its roomy cockpit, added stability and better turning radius (and I've never had a problem passing through any barriers on any bike paths with the Q). I sent you a private message with a more detailed response to your question. Thanks!

[prooc]

What's the point of buying a trike? Is it more comfortable?

[theaesthetics]

Trikes ride very differently than their two wheeled brethren. Because of the extra wheel, they feel more like a pedal powered go cart. You don't lean your trike in the corners like you do on a bike, you lean your upper body and feel the G force. You don't balance on a trike, so stopping and starting is much easier. They are very comfortable, but the main reason I ride one is because they're fun!

[pedalcarpusher]

Love those cute drum brakes.

[CrashevilleNC]

What camcorder did you use? Awesome vid! I've narrowed my 2 trikes down to the greenspped and catrike. Hope to see you on the trail!

[theaesthetics]

Thanks! That was a Canon Power Shot A710is, which is really a camera with a movie mode, but it works nicely because of it's small size. Hmm... both the Greenspeed and Catrike trikes are very nice. Have fun deciding!

[pedalcarpusher]

Great vid.

Can't wait to run my Catrike 700 down that trail. I've got big plans to put a full fairing on it this winter. We'll see how that works out.

[PatrikMacGoohan]

I love that trail. The curves, tunnels and river make it interesting. Looks like the perfect spot for one of those trikes with the tilting wheels. Back east there's a trail similar to this near Stowe, Vermont. It too follows a river, crossing it many times. It has great scenery too. Almost all the other trails around here are straight. Still nice, but not as nice as these.

[theaesthetics]

Trikes seem to really shine on the twisty trails like this. There are long straight trails in the area also, but they're not nearly as much fun with trikes.

[multimedia0000]

Wonderful use of video. Really conveys a lot of the experience.

[JamildewProductions]

i live here and i always love biking on these trails

[CoolBalla15]

Awesome bike trail! I wanna visit there!

[rongpockle]

What a great trail!! Maybe even more fun in the rain for a little drift on the corners. Epic handheld camera!

[theaesthetics]

Funny you should say that! A few weeks ago we did it in the rain and it did add some excitment with the bits of sliding thrown in :)

[grabmax1]

Great video guy's! great trail and cooooool trikes.

Gra

[theaesthetics]

Thanks! This trail was made for trikes :) We've taken the lowracer on it a few times, but the tight turns and quick twists make it tough to navigate with a bike that has a wide turning radius. The trikes work much better here!

[Artevist]

What a great trail. How long is it?  Was it New Year's day or something? It absolutely deserted.

[theaesthetics]

Hi,

That part of the trail is about 9 miles long and during the week it's almost always empty. A few folks use it on the weekend, but it's off the main trail and the entrance is hard to find, so that keeps the traffic way down.

[theaesthetics]

I went with the GS GT3 because it folded (the Cats don't fold) and I had limited storage space. For sheer sexiness, I think the Catrikes take the award with the 700 leading the pack. The solid steel Greenspeeds win the "built like a tank" award for heavy duty construction. A GTO feels like it's built to gov spec :)

You're right about the bell helping on all those blind corners. Certain parts of that trail, and especially that bridge can surprise you if someone is coming the other way!

[MewFushisDad]

I get the Hostel Shop catalog. Bike porn plain and simple....LOL

I like the set up of the Greenspeed steering. I like what you say about the GTO feeling like it was built to government specs. I'm 220 lbs and have been to break stuff.

What type of drive train do you run? I lust after a trike with a Rohloff 14 speed hub and a Schlumph drive in the bottom bracket but that would add a couple of grand to the bike.....BIG SIGH....(-;

[theaesthetics]

I don't have any of the special drives; Just the standard triple crank that comes on the GT-3. So far I haven't had a problem with too little gear range. Seems to be just fine for me on both ends. Yep, I know what you mean about the Hostel Shoppe catalog. Imagine how much worse it would be if you could go to a shop and see all those bikes and trikes in person. :)

[theaesthetics]

Hi and thanks for the comment! My brother owns a Catrike! The Catrikes are aluminum frames and made in the U.S.. I believe, but I'm not sure, that the Catrikes are all now direct steering while the Greenspeeds are indirect. The Greenspeed's are steel frames made in Asia and the high line custom models are made in Australia. Both companies make great, high quality models for speed, touring and just having fun. They each have their own feeling and I don't really prefer one over the other.

[MewFushisDad]

Catrikes are made in Florida. A great company.

I've been looking at the Catrike Expedition with the 26" wheel in the back and 20" in front.

Presently I'm riding diamond frames, a Santana Triplet, a Burley Tandem, a 14 year old Litespeed mountain bike and a 35 year old Bob Jackson road bike.

I'm thinking a recumbent trike would be a great addition to the stable.

As you may know, one can never have enough bicycles regardless what configuration they come in.....(-;

[MewFushisDad]

Very cool. I don't own a recumbent trike but have built up a number of Catrikes in the shop where I work.

How would you compare Catrike to Greenspeed?

Looks like you have some great MUPs there.

When you were going over your favorite bridge I was thinking that the ringing of that bell was a good idea as with all those curves on the bridge and high railing others might not see you.

Though I could see it "getting annoying"

Great Video, Great MUP's.