Peter Ross Interview

Paul Lowing's illuminating interview with Trice designer Peter Ross is now published on the Tricerider blog.  Please click here to read this page.

Veltop...What's it really like?

I've just found this interesting piece of kit from France.  As far as I can tell, there are versions for both upright (Upwrong) bicycles and recumbent trikes.  I'm not aware that a recumbent bicycle version is available at this time.  I'd love to test the Veltop with my ICE QNT...Does anyone have the recumbent trike version that I can borrow for a road test and product review on this blog? 

Crystal Engineering

I am trying to research the history of Peter Ross and Crystal Engineering.  Unfortunately, there seems to be very little information available on the Internet.  If you have details or pictures of Peter and his machines, either two or three-wheeled, please get in touch.  I also require details of the later Orbit produced Speed Ross recumbent bicycle...Many thanks

'Not too impressed with the Video Bar!

For now I've finished the Tricerider blog revisions.  Generally I'm quite impressed with the new look, but I'm a bit hacked-off with the provided Youtube Video Bar.  The videos go in a circle, which is to be expected because I chose to link to two separate channels.
However, what I didn't expect was "undefined" content.  One of these undefined videos is a lady with a rather prominent cleavage.  Unless someone can suggest a solution which will effectively block content of this kind, I plan to remove the video bar in a very near future.  Doing this would be a great shame because the featured Trice videos are excellent…

500 days with a Trice

I have now owned a Trice* for just over 500 days. As of four days ago, it has covered 2717 miles (approximately 4300 Km). This equates to about 5.5 miles per day or 38 miles ridden for every week since purchase. I don't think this is a bad average, but it does have a downside. As we all know, the downside of using pedal power is the wear and tear that can be inflicted on the machine, it's component parts and the rider! So last week and purely out of necessity, I replaced the tyres and drive chain. My total spend was 60GBP (90USD or 70EUR). Costs were kept to a minimum simply because the chainset and derailleur block are still quite serviceable.

Helping to keep expenditure down was the fact that back in September 2009, I purchased two complete sets of almost new Schwalbe Marathon Racers from ICE designer Chris Parker. The cost of these tyres was negligible (5GBP per tyre including inner tube) so what hurt, was the cost of a new recumbent drive chain. Bought directly from ICE in Falmouth, this essential item set me back almost 46GBP (67USD or 52EUR) excluding postage. Initially I did think this was a lot to pay for a chain. However when I sat and considered the situation, I realized the chain had actually cost less than 1.7p for every mile of use. Apart from a Trice, or any other recumbent trike for that matter, where else can you have so much fun whilst getting fit for less than 2p a mile?

*My trike is a 2005 model ICE QNT which carries no Trice branding

O lucky man!

This happy looking chap is a regular ride partner.  He also happens to be the guy who introduced me to the recumbent trike world.  As you can see, he has recently taken delivery of a brand new Trice Vortex 2.  This version of the Vortex is fitted with a Carbon fibre hardshell seat.  It is a fabulous bit of kit which weights substantially less than my QNT.  If he ever wants to give this machine away, I sincerely hope he thinks of me!  NB:  On the day I took this picture, the trike was so new that mudguards were still to be fitted...

New ICE website online

Inspired Cycle Engineering (ICE Trikes) launched their new website this evening. The 2010 Trice comes in three distinct flavours, Adventure, Sprint and Vortex with lots of variation on each theme. Prices range from £1899 to over £3000 for a top of the range full suspension machine. The revamped website is well worth a look, there's lots of lovely stuff on there...There are 16 different models in the new Trice range and as before, each one can be customised to suit individual requirements...

Trice and Loke

This link will take you to an interesting blog about a Trice QNT rider and a Husky called Loke.  The lady concerned is actually American, but lives in Sweden with her husband...Well worth a read!  Thank you to nobby on tricerider the forum for bringing this to my attention. 

Folded folding Trice

I recently discovered these pictures on the internet:

It seems the unfortunate rider was cycling uphill directly into the sun. Because of the very bright conditions, a motor vehicle travelling in the same direction did not see the Trice and struck the machine from behind. However, I'm told this horrific accident resulted in only minor injury...Whoever you are and wherever you are, I trust you are ok!

Pictures anyone?

If any readers have pictures of the 2009 Great Chatwell Trice event that they would like to include in my flickr set, please let me know…