Are Trikes Bikes?
#74
08-15-2009, 10:17 AM
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Location: Buffalo, Minnesota
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In winter I ski. Lots. And I work as a ski instructor (PSIA L II, also adaptive certified). I work with many skiers with a variety of disabilities who have to use a wide range of adaptive equipment: sit-skis, outriggers, bi-skis, etc. These guys can *shred* and do some amazing things on snow. Their stories of how they got their disability are tragic, but their lives aren't. These guys are out there, doing it. They are skiers. No question.
But the kind of skiing they do cannot be compared to the traditional kind, and they would be the first to admit it. It takes a different technique, different equipment, different physics in the turn, etc., etc. etc. That's why they have different races for skiers with disabilities.
I hope no one tries to classify the rider as something less, just like on the mountain we don't classify skiers with disabilities as non-skiers.
But we do recognize that the skiing they do is not the same. It is so different, in fact, it has its own Olympic category.
A trike is a trike, not a bike. But the rider is still a rider.
But the kind of skiing they do cannot be compared to the traditional kind, and they would be the first to admit it. It takes a different technique, different equipment, different physics in the turn, etc., etc. etc. That's why they have different races for skiers with disabilities.
I hope no one tries to classify the rider as something less, just like on the mountain we don't classify skiers with disabilities as non-skiers.
But we do recognize that the skiing they do is not the same. It is so different, in fact, it has its own Olympic category.
A trike is a trike, not a bike. But the rider is still a rider.
#76
08-15-2009, 02:21 PM
I'll bet if we posted the question about the rider being a rider, the discussion would go about the same way as this one has.
The guys who have tunnel vision would say that if you aren't on two wheels you aren't a rider. Others would say if you start your bike with a button, you aren't a rider, and so on and so on....My friend's bike was able to have the "trike" part taken off pretty quickly, converting it back into what we have come to know as a "motorcycle." We told him he had training wheels, but never referred to his bike as a "trike." It was an FXD with two wheels added to it. His actually had four wheels, with the conversion in place, technically making it a car. This should really confuse the purists among us who count the number of wheels as the only indicator as to what the vehicle actually "is".
#77
08-15-2009, 02:25 PM
I am not necessarily opposed to them, and I understand that when you get wicked old or injured that it might be better than a car, BUT are trikes motorcycles?
I would think I would but a nice sidecar rig first ... and I know that a sidecar rigged bike is still a bike.
But, dont hurt me, I dont think a trike is a bike.
Mike
I would think I would but a nice sidecar rig first ... and I know that a sidecar rigged bike is still a bike.
But, dont hurt me, I dont think a trike is a bike.
Mike
Last edited by SamStone; 08-15-2009 at 02:28 PM.
#78
08-15-2009, 02:33 PM
State law requires you to have a motorcycle DL. I think they are great for people who wish they could ride a 2 wheeler and cant. There is a guy around here that has one. He only has one arm. Think of the Vets who wouldnt be able to ride a two wheeler, but are able to ride a trike. It may be for one person but not the next. If we all did the same things, it would be a pretty boring world.
#79
08-15-2009, 07:06 PM
Club Member
Edit: I didn't see Mr. Wizard's post before I posted this.
