The popularity of three-wheeled cruisers surged during the pandemic. Should you join in on the fun?
TRAINING WHEELS These three tricycles provide a stable, balanced ride, even when you’re carrying a week’s worth of groceries.PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: SERGE BLOCH
By Sarah Robertson
May 11, 2022 8:00 am ET
ARE THREE wheels better than two? Yes, says a growing number of adult tricycle enthusiasts who want more stability and cargo-carrying capacity when they hit the road. According to market research firm NPD Group, U.S. bicycle sales rose to $5.3 billion in 2021, a 60% increase over prepandemic, 2019 numbers. And sales of bikes that help riders enjoy cycling in a safer way and/or overcome mobility issues are particularly on the rise, the firm said.
“Tricycles are right at the top of that list for us,” said Drew Bowman, director of eCommerce for Los Angeles-based SixThreeZero, which introduced its tricycle a year and a half ago. “We’ve discovered the market is really hungry for this.”
Fans cite plenty of reasons for making the switch. Since three wheels provide far more balance, it takes real determination to fall. Mounting is easier because the bar connecting the wheels is pretty low. Riders sit up straighter—pumping pedals positioned in front of the seat—a more ergonomic riding posture that takes pressure off the lower back, shoulders and knees. Others value adult trikes as “suburban cargo carriers,” like a heart-friendly alternative to the golf cart. While expending relatively little energy, riders can haul hundreds of pounds of cargo. And the tricycles typically come with large rear baskets, which let you cart groceries, beach gear, coolers and golf clubs with no risk of denting cans, cracking eggs and scuffing putters due to a spill.
But for some, adult tricycles have an embarrassing image that is hard to move past. To combat the giggle factor and appeal to a younger buyer, manufacturers are updating the old-fashioned frame with the same trendy colors, sleek metals and ergonomic features that high-end, two-wheel counterparts boast.
Some trike companies are also introducing electric versions. Sales of SixThreeZero’s EvryJourney e-trike are growing faster than those of any bike in the brand’s electric segment. E-trikes especially appeal to riders in their early retirement stage, who need help going up hills and don’t especially want to burn rubber.
Longtime biker Rochelle Kornegay, 75, recently bought an e-trike after balancing on a two-wheeler became a little arduous. Her Hoover, Ala., neighborhood is full of people driving golf carts but she still wanted to cycle with her granddaughters. She tricked out her trike with side mirrors, an electric horn, a rearview camera and lights. “When I was telling people I had a tricycle on order, people laughed,” said Ms. Kornegay. “Since they’ve seen me on it, they’re not laughing anymore. Several of my neighbors are very jealous.”
Ms. Kornegay has encountered one downside: The tricycle is too large to fit in her garage. While she plans to build a separate shed to house her cruiser, this might not be feasible for everyone. Tricycles’ wide bases might also make them difficult to use on narrow bike paths and busy city roads. Perhaps that’s why SixThreeZero reports that it ships 90% of its trikes to small towns and beach communities on the East Coast or the Great Lakes.
For Sarah Charles, a 46-year-old financial advisor in Charlotte, N.C., the tricycle was a gateway back to riding a two-wheeler. After a bike accident in her teens, Ms. Charles gave up cycling entirely. So when it came time to select a bike to ride with her husband for the week-long honeymoon in Kiawah, S.C., that the pair took in 2020, she chose a tricycle. “Was it a little embarrassing? Yes, but it was so much fun,” she said. “It was this great bridge to getting my confidence back.”
Training Wheels
A trio of tricycles that provide a stable, balanced ride, even when you’re carrying a week’s worth of groceries.
1. The Starter Trike
Ideal for short trips around the neighborhood, the Trailmate DeSoto Classic comes standard with a single-speed freewheel but customers can upgrade to add more speeds. Part of its stripped-back vintage design, the handlebars are bent to reduce tension on the wrists.
$650, TrailMate.com
2. The Classic Cruiser
The Schwinn Deluxe Meridian Tricycle is suited for easygoing short rides on terrain with gentle hills. A control on the handlebars lets you shift through three speeds and the trike has a large, sturdy mesh-and-fabric cargo basket. Downside: The bike comes in only one color, red.
$900, SchwinnBikes.com
3. The Power Tripper
Think of SixThreeZero’s EVRYjourney 250W Tricycle as a luxurious, ergonomically designed chair with a motor. It comes with an LED display to show speed and motor usage and a foam-packed leather seat. Top speed is 15 mph in full electric and 28 mph in pedal assist.
$2,200, SixThreeZero.com
