Front wheel drive?

[brindledog]

I'm trying to change from 2 wheels to three. Total failure. New steed is a sit-up-and-beg, 20" wheel, tilting steering column, nearside rear wheel drive. I can't master steering the thing. Steering in a straight line is near impossible, as, sadly, is going to right or left in anything like a controlled manner. Perhaps the problem is with the one-sided rear wheel drive? Would changing to front wheel drive be a simple solution? I've managed two wheels for 70 years! Help, please. 36v10amp power.

 

[flecc]

This is normal on Trikes with single rear wheel drive, you need to adopt a completely different riding technique. Firstly don't expect to ride at anything like normal cycling speeds, you'll need to ride much slower, especially on bends.

Right hand turns will be much easier with the nearside drive assisting the turn, but left hand turns need you to approach at the normal speed but slowing into the turn as its commences to avoid the one sided drive fighting the turn.

Overall reduce the cycling effort you put in, the harder you try, the worse you'll be fighting the steering. Some can never get used to it while others manage with practice.
.

 

[brindledog]

This is normal on Trikes with single rear wheel drive, you need to adopt a completely different riding technique. Firstly don't expect to ride at anything like normal cycling speeds, you'll need to ride much slower, especially on bends.

Right hand turns will be much easier with the nearside drive assisting the turn, but left hand turns need you to approach at the normal speed but slowing into the turn as its commences to avoid the one sided drive fighting the turn.

Overall reduce the cycling effort you put in, the harder you try, the worse you'll be fighting the steering. Some can never get used to it while others manage with practice.
.

Thanks, flecc. A change to FWD wouldn't help?

 

[vfr400]

It's the same as riding a motorbike withe a sidecar. It takes a bit of practice to re-educate your brain. On a bicycle, you turn the handlebars right to steer left, but on a trike. you turn them left to go left. The first time you try a trike, your arms instinctively steer the wrong way, which gives the impression that it won't steer.

Also, you need to lean your body over to the side to which you are turning. That makes turning a lot more stable and stops the trike from toppling.

 

[brindledog]

It's the same as riding a motorbike withe a sidecar. It takes a bit of practice to re-educate your brain. On a bicycle, you turn the handlebars right to steer left, but on a trike. you turn them left to go left. The first time you try a trike, your arms instinctively steer the wrong way, which gives the impression that it won't steer.

Also, you need to lean your body over to the side to which you are turning. That makes turning a lot more stable and stops the trike from toppling.

Thank you, I'll try this!