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Power Assist Made Easy Its no secret that most of us who ride recumbent trikes have put our youthful days behind us. Recumbent trikes are a blast to ride and these days we have so many wonderful bike trails to ride on. True that the third wheel adds some drag and weight. Climbing hills can be a bit of a chore, particularly in regions with rolling hills or mountains. Those who prefer a fast trike like the ICE VTX or Catrike 700 sometimes like to ride with a group of roadies but often find themselves at a bit of a speed disadvantage. Both problems are most easily solved with electric assist. Its not cheating; its merely a boost, and once you've dialed in the right system, there will be no regrets. Choosing a system that fits your needs and budget can seem overwhelming when you look at all the product offerings and prices. Its a lot like choosing a first trike; you'll want the features that are the best match to your needs and liking at the best price. Unlike a trike there are some variables that may be difficult to consider such as what kind of motor control you'll want or how to size the battery or even which class of drive will work best for your needs. As an engineer with over 30 years of experience designing electric powered machines I've taken considerable time and expense to research, purchase, and test various systems and my findings are published here for the trike community. Defining your needs is an iterative process where you'll want to consider these key elements:
The process is iterative because you won't have all the answers at first, however as you learn about the 3 classes of motors, the control systems, and system components you'll begin to be able to make informed decisions to configure the system most suitable to your needs. We'll begin with a summary of the 3 classes of motors. Click on the image for more detail. To skip directly to the "Perfect Beast" and video click here! |
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