TerraCycle Acquires Windwrap

TerraCycle and Mueller Human Power, two leading companies in the design and manufacture of accessories for recumbent bicycles, have announced that TerraCycle has acquired Windwrap Fairings from Mueller Human Power and will expand its successful line of fairings and fairing mounts.


"I've always had an interested in practical human power", said Mueller Human Power founder Mark Mueller. "I started Mueller Human Power back in '98, after experimenting with fairings and aerodynamics and becoming convinced fairings offered big improvements in speed and comfort" said Mueller. "Since then, we've come to produce a really wide range of fairings and fairing mounts which are sold around the world."

"We've grown a lot over the years, and the demands of the business require increasing time and resources," said Mueller, who is also a transportation engineer for CalTrans. "I am proud that Windwrap fairings are in use around the world. Now its time someone who can make these an even better product to take things from here. We've been working with TerraCycle for years and believe they will be a great company for this."

"We're looking forward to this", said TerraCycle president Pat Franz, "because fairings are a fun challenge, and Mueller Human Power's Windwrap products are a natural complement to TerraCycle's idlers, racks, accessory mounts and stems. Mark and Carl at Mueller Human Power have developed a really great system of fairings, mounts, and production methods, and we're excited about all the things we can now do."

"Both companies make high quality products that meet the unique needs of recumbent riders," Franz explained, "Both companies have a strong history of listening to customer needs, and of developing products over miles and miles of real world riding."

"We plan to expand the Windwrap fairing line and keep working on improvements to performance and fit. With our in house CNC capabilities, we are looking at several upgrades right away", says Franz.

Trident Trikes Stowaway I & II

The self-proclaimed "New Kid on the Block" Trident Trikes has caused a big stir in the recumbent world. When Tom Flohr, the founder of Trident Trikes first called me and told me what he had in planned I wondered if he could really pull it off. He said he was producing a folding trike with good components for only $1299. My first thought as a trike reseller was "that's way too low of a price," and my next thought was "I wonder what kind of compromises he's going to make to get the price down." Well, I eagerly told him to put my name down as a dealer and send me some trikes as soon as he got them. The emails and calls started coming in almost immediately. Unfortunately, I couldn't really answer the questions regarding quality until almost 2 months later. When we finally got the aptly-named Stowaway trikes in stock it was an exciting day.


There are two foldable models from Trident Trikes, similar trikes with a few key differences, named the Stowaway 1 and Stowaway 2. So, what do we think? Does the Trident Stowaway live up to the hype? Read our review and see what we think.

New TerraCycle Idler Kit for KMX

We had the pleasure of having Robert from TerraCycle spend the weekend with us and we decided to take advantage of his expertise. So, what happens when you get two guys together that love clean and smooth chainlines with a minimum of chain tubing? You get some incredible idler kits. One of our best modifications is the new KMX Idler Kit. This kit eliminates almost 5 feet of chain tubing while keeping the stock chain routing. And anyone that has ever broke the side plates off the stock rear power idler kit will be extremely happy with the quality of TerraCycle's idlers. These idlers will last a lifetime. The result is a smooth running chainline that is much quieter and more efficient than the stock setup.

The Kit is available with the TerraCycle Sport Idlers for $149.95 or the new Elite Idlers (Titanium and Ceramic bearings) for $249.95. The Kit includes all the parts necessary to Kustomize your KMX. For more pictures view our KMX Idler Page.

Catrike Wheel Extensions

All of our SolidWorks training has paid off and we have created a very nice extension kit that will allow you to put a 26 inch or 700c wheel on your 20-inch Cat. Catrike owners have been asking for these from us for a couple of years and we have finally finished the prototypes. The results are fantastic.

So, what am I talking about? Well, let's suppose that you bought a Catrike Road a few years ago and then the Expedition came out. Well, you really like the Expedition with its longer wheelbase and larger rear tire, but you have a lot invested in your trike. Up until now your only choice has been to sell the road (or give it to your significant other) and then buy an Expedition for yourself. While there is nothing wrong with that (after all, we are more than happy to sell you an Expedition) it may not be in your budget.

Our kit includes the machined extensions and bolts. We are working out the exact parts for each kit, as some will require additional chain routing modifications. Our extension kit is setup with the OEM mounting for a Rohloff hub and we'll have many other wheel choices.

Our Catrike Wheel Extension Page shows our last prototype. We are going into production within the next two weeks. The final version will appear a little different in that it has disc brake dropouts and is black anodized with lazer engraving. We are trying to estimate how many to make on our initial run, so please let me know if you are interested. We should have pricing for the different kits up by next week.

TERRACYCLE INTRODUCES XTRACYCLE COMPATIBLE CARGO EXTENSION

TerraCycle, Inc. of Portland, OR, the leading manufacturer of recumbent bicycle parts and accessories, has announced a new cargo hauling option for recumbent trikes, bikes, and nonstandard upright bikes. Their new "Cargo Monster" is a heavy-duty redesign of the popular Xtracycle Free Radical cargo concept for use with a much wider range of bicycles -- including recumbent trikes, recumbent bikes, folders, and other unusual bikes.

The Cargo Monster attaches in place of the rear wheel, and extends back with a generous cargo module that includes new dropouts for the rear wheel. The cargo module accepts all the standard Xtracycle cargo accessories, including platforms, rails, and bags. "Xtracycle has revolutionized cargo hauling by bike", said Robert Johnson of TerraCycle, "but there has been nothing for recumbents or any other unusual kind of bike. This meets the need for cargo hauling and touring capability on all kinds of things".

The Cargo Monster is built around a new, torsion resistant main frame with bolt on, interchangeable mounting subframes. Interchangeable mounting parts attach to 20 and 26 inch rear wheeled bikes and trikes. "We are focusing on the recumbent trike market at the moment", said Johnson, "and will be working on bikes of various kinds over the coming months".

Recumbent trikes make a great load hauling platform because of their inherent stability. "With three wheels, you can carry loads and not worry about falling over", says Johnson. It is also possible to carry large and very long loads as well, since the entire area from the seat on back is available for cargo. The Cargo Monster easily carries 4 bags of groceries, or a ladder, or even a couple bags of concrete. You can leave the car at home for all but the biggest loads.

"We expect that this will radically change touring by trike, too", says Johnson, "since you now have a convenient way to securely carry all your gear on a trike".

The Cargo Monster is specially designed to meet the load hauling needs of recumbents and unusual or difficult to attach to bikes. The frame uses oversized tubing and custom laser cut lugs for strength. Special CNC machined clamps attach the Cargo Monster to your frame, and bike/trike specific adapter plates ensure a perfect fit. Fender mounts are provided, and a 203mm disk brake tab is provided for extra braking. Motor mount tabs are included for a forthcoming EcoSpeed electric mid drive. Idler mounts are built in for those bikes and trikes that need them.

The Cargo Monster system retails for $1049, including an Xtracycle Long Tail kit (side rails, bags, and top deck). This includes mounts specific to your bike or trike, as well as a cable extender, cable, and housing for the rear deraileur. Cargo Monsters are made in Portland, Oregon, USA.

StreetStrider - Elliptical on Wheels

One of the most exciting things that I saw at this years InterBike convention saw the StreetStrider. And I immediately knew that we would have to bring these in.

While technically a trike (it has three wheels after all), the StreetStrider is unlike anything else we carry. The StreetStrider ETX is an elliptical machine that you can actually ride in the street. It was developed with the Biggest Loser TV show and has been field tested by them.

The cool thing about the StreetStrider is that you get a full body workout while riding outside. It's quite efficient too! Bryce got it up to 27MPH on flat ground on his first ride.

The StreetStrider ETX model is foldable and can be used indoors with a trainer for double duty. Steering is done by leaning which is about the only thing that takes a little getting used to.

At $1999 it is not inexpensive, but the quality and the utility definitely justify the price.

The 30 Day Triking Challenge with Sonia Guy Day 30

Today is day 30 of my Triking Challenge. I went for a trike ride every day for 30 days. Today was a cloudy day, but it was quite lovely. It was not windy in the morning and it wasn't freezing. I stopped and took a few pictures of my favorite sights on my ride. When I started 30 days ago it was so warm still and the fields were full of alfalfa and corn. Summer is long gone and we're in the middle of autumn now. Some days it feels like winter in a warmer place.

The reason I started this challenge was so I could get some exercise without hurting my body so much. I had a sore hip and knee from doing aerobics. I put on quite a bit of weight this year and I can't jump up and down as much without hurting. I got a hot pink Catrike Villager as a gift from Ashley and I love it. This was the trike that I used for most of the 30 days. My knee and my hip don't hurt as much and I've lost 7 pounds. I feel better about myself and I feel healthier. I've also gained a better appreciation for the world we live in. It's so beautiful and serene outside. Getting exercise outside is so much better than indoors. I've had a chance to be alone with my thoughts and nature. I appreciate where we live a lot more, it's really quite breathtaking in this little part of the world.

I know winter is on its way, but it hasn't arrived quite yet! I still have a few weeks of triking before the snow sticks. I'm already looking forward to next spring and to riding all next summer. It's good to have something to look forward to. To everyone who is riding their trike every day or almost every day, keep it up! Triking is good for your body, your mind ,and good for the environment. I'll be checking in with you soon.