The Commute - how to cycle a recumbent trike to work - terratrike

This is my 1 hour, 13.5 mile commute to work, condensed to 10 minutes. I ride a recumbent trike (TerraTrike) on the streets of Orange County and the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) to get to my office. I wanted to give people an idea of what it is like. It is a lot more fun to commute by trike, plus I get exercise, and it costs me nothing in gasoline. In this video you will note that I ride streets where there is bike lane, where there is no bike lane and how I handle those areas. There is a segment where I ride the wide sidwalk, but only because there is no side lane at all on the right side of that street. using hand signals, and taking lane control when there is need is also demonstrated. Notice when I get off the trail and onto the last street portion near my office, I wait for an 18 wheeler and a few other cars to pass before entering the bike lane. That truck and those cars were driving VERY close to the right almost on the bike lane stripe. But later as I rode that lane and cars approached from behind you can see they do see me and keep good distance from the bike lane. Because the Trike is so unusual, most cars notice and give me more room than I ever got on a conventional bike.

I shot two other videos of my commute in HD here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-DzmaQsQas

and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJG6G-xaIwU

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• bike commute
• commuter
• recumbent
• trike
• terratrike
• tricycle
• tadpole
• commute
• street
• trail
• bike
• bicycle
• orange county
• garden grove
• SART
• river
• Santa Ana River
• cyclist
• commuting
• HPV
• human powered
• vehicle
• saving gas
• economical
• safety
• driving
• cars
• alternative
• transportation
• terra trike

[AdrenalFueled]

Why are you riding on the sidewalk? People like you make cyclists look bad.

[dregerclock]

@AdrenalFueled - Thanks for that commment. Actually this is from 2 years ago when that stretch of road was intimidating to me. See my updated videos of my commute. I dont ride the sidewalk anymore.

[luvyesmusic]

You seem very fortunate to be able to commute this way with the trails, paths and bikelanes. I'm jealous.

[dregerclock]

@luvyesmusic - yeah, although there are some areas around here that are not the best for riding... there really is a lot of good routes and trails here. Just so happens that one of the longest best trails (the Santa Ana River Trail - SART) is not only the easiest and safest route for me from home to work... it is literally the shortest and fastest too. I have tried to see if I can find other shorter route... just to change up my route. but it really is the best. ;-)

[shonenarts23]

can u sleep on it?

[dregerclock]

@shonenarts23 - ha... welll i have relaxed on it at breaks... never actually fell asleep... but...

[Xbellatri50]

awesome...a trike my next purshase!!!!!

[dregerclock]

@CullyJ - ha! Enjoy! I think I have 60+ videos that I have uploaded now. More recent ones in HD video.

[XRayCam]

Thanks Man...enjoyed your ride :-)

Looking into getting a "Tour" Model Terra Trike this Spring unless I can't wait. Winters come early here in Iowa.

[w3bguru]

great video - love the music!

[va3ks]

Oh, that looks like fun! Thanks for sharing your commute.

[dregerclock]

@darkeyce02 - Oh yeah, Several people do long distace, even cross country tours on trikes. They are no as fast as high end road bikes, but are great for comfort and endurance of long rides. Check out two of my most recent videos... I and several of my friends and I just did a century (100 mile) ride on our trikes.