Open road, biking, vagabonding, health

[Cinletharwi]

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/rrmodel.htm

Does anyone have any long-distance travel/tour experience with one of these trikes?

I urgently need to lose a lot of weight (27 years old, obese and deteriorating rapidly), and just as urgently, need to travel - to reclaim my health by leaving an unhealthy environment, and do what I want most: travel. I was going to set off by bus/foot until I saw this trike and got hooked by the idea of comfortable biking.

Here at home I have no motivation to do anything, walking around the block is boring, normal bikes hurt, insanely fed up with "normal life," but out there on the road I wouldn't have any other choice but to "do it."

Any long-distance tour bikers here? Any veteran vagabonders here?

[BiggJawn]

1. Nice looking, but why a Trike?

Used to be able to get some very fast 3-speed trikes from some English makers. THOSE really looked sharp!

That's a nice looking rig. I'm thinking about trying to get a trike at work. makes more sence than driving a 15-passenger van across campus with just me and a VCR in it....

[Cinletharwi]

2. Why trike?

Comfort, stability, and capacity mostly. I'm a pretty big guy. It would just be more convenient and comfortable for me.

I also live in a small area with no public transportation that would provide plenty of chances to use it. Eventually it will have paid for itself with savings from less gas use, plus incalculable savings in improved health from being active with something that doesn't hurt to do - I have a normal bike I don't use because it hurts my ass and back.

Eventually, when I regain my health, I would like to vagabond and doing it by a bike seems like a good idea.

That's what I imagine anyways, I'd like to get some input from tour bikers on what the open road is like.

[loveable liberal]

3. what about a recumbant? its a nice option for heavier riders.....

and nice on a long trip, or so i've been told

[Cinletharwi]

4. The Roadrunner Trike is recumbent, yes

It looks fun and comfortable, kind of like a motorcycle except you get lots of exercise.

I would like to start riding locally, then outwards as my health and stamina improves. It would be quite an adventure to do a multi-state tour I imagine. I've always wanted to see the Grand Canyon and deserts of the SouthWest, and San Fransisco..

[Kashka-Kat]

5. biking is way to go!!!!!!!!!

I can't encourage you enough to do this. You will love every minute.
On a bike you meet all kinds of people who wouldn't otherwise give you the time of day if you drove up in a car. You can stop and see things you'd otherwise miss whizzing by at 70 mph.

Actually the first hour you think "I must be crazy, why am I doing this" But then the endorphin buzz kicks in and you're hooked. For me it is a form of meditation, and focusing on the present moment, and as such it gives you all the same benefits of relaxation and less stress (I never could meditate sitting still.)

I have done some long distance touring, around Wis., maybe longest was 4 days and about 250 miles. Mostly shorter trips 2 or 3 days long. Would love to do longer if/when I have time. I like to take it slow, I stop to check out interesting things and if I'm tired I walk up the hills. Don't pay any attention to the bike jocks who will try to tell you how you "should" do it. However many miles you do in a day is fine, if you like to wear flip flops and shorts instead of expensive bike gear, that's fine. If that means getting the trike iinstead of 2-wheeler, then so be it! The important thing is you're up and out and moving! Can you rent one for a weekend just to make sure that's what you want? I imagine they aren't cheap. Keep us posted, hope you and other people post your bike tours this summer.

(Have you ever seen the movie "The Straight Story", the guy who rode his lawn mower thru Iowa? That guy is my role model!)