About 30% of customers who purchase a tricycle and assemble it themselves, have the following question after their first ride….
“I struggle with riding a tricycle, often finding it difficult to steer straight. It feels like the tricycle is pulling to one side and not responding to my commands”.
This experience is actually quite common with older customers who have not ridden in a long time, it primarily affects customers who have assembled the tricycle themselves and not benefited from test rides in our premises where we can help them through the first few test rides, gain confidence and help them with support and suggestions.
Many people who are accustomed to riding bicycles, regardless of age or physical ability, encounter this issue. The cause lies in your sense of balance, which has been fine-tuned for bicycle riding. This skill, essential for balancing on two wheels, is not only unnecessary, but can even be a hindrance when riding a tricycle. Unlike a bicycle, riding a tricycle doesn’t require you to shift your weight or lean into turns. Steering a tricycle is more like driving a car; you simply turn the handlebars in the direction you want to go. People who have never ridden a bicycle before can normally hop on a tricycle and ride them perfectly on their very first ride.
If you think you can’t manage riding after a disappointing first ride, remember that you likely rode a tricycle effortlessly as a child before learning to ride a bike. For toddlers, a tricycle maintains balance for them, allowing them to ride confidently and safely without needing to balance themselves. To overcome this “brain programming” from years of riding a bicycle will normally take about 30 minutes of riding on a flat area. It sometimes helps to have somebody walk alongside as you ride slowly holding the front basket, this will give you the confidence of knowing that a tricycle cannot steer itself and if it is pulling to one side it is only your riding style that is affecting the stability.
Once you have 15 to 30 minutes on the tricycle you will have the necessary skills for years of safe riding and enjoyment. The secret is to just take it easy on your first few rides.