Yeppur! I am sold on Tadpole Trikes …

Here is a picture of me on my current trike:

Steve Newbauer, Age 67

Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A.

My first tadpole trike was one which I made myself. I then bought a factory made trike. My original factory made trike was a silver 2009 Catrike Trail but now I have a 2013 green frame as a result of Catrike replacing my original frame under warranty as it developed a hairline crack in the weld on the underside of the crossmember. I also renewed nearly everything on the trike when I got this new frame so for all practical purposes it is a 2013 model.

I started riding recumbent bicycles as a result of wanting comfort and painless cycling. I got into riding a trike as a result of wanting to be able to keep riding during the winter time. I made my first tadpole trike out of mild steel so it was heavy compared to my Catrike Trail which is made of aluminum. Here is a picture of it. I sold it to a guy who said he intended to motorize it.

Once I rode a tadpole trike I enjoyed it so much more than a bike that I prefer it now over a 2 wheeled bike. They are just so much fun to ride and far safer than 2 wheels. They are also more comfortable than a recumbent bicycle. They are like driving a sports car or go cart as they handle great. My 2 wheeled recumbent bike just sat around no longer ridden so I eventually sold it.

I thought I would mention further that most of my riding is on our local paved trail system. I first started riding on these trails on a mountain bike back in 2005 I think. In 2007 I made my first 2 wheeled recumbent bike and rode it on the trails followed by my factory made 2 wheeled recumbent bike and then my homemade tadpole trike in Nov. 2007. In late May 2009 I bought my Catrike Trail. From the start of it all in 2005 until now in May 2014 I have ridden a total of about 28,000 miles … mostly on the local trail system. I became a volunteer Greenway Ranger in Oct. 2010 for our trail system. I thought I might as well make it official since I was already heavily involved doing the job of a ranger. Here is a picture of a few of the rangers from last year. There is about 80 or so total.

The website for our local trail system is HERE:

We have excellent trails and they are hard at work expanding and connecting them together in a master plan which will be awesome. Of course, with the current economy and forced government cutbacks things are challenging.

Here I am riding along on the Maumee Pathway which is my favorite Ft. Wayne Trail.

I used to take our dog along with me sometimes. He would ride in the basket as well as walk and run alongside of me. He has developed a physical problem and can no longer go out with me like this. This picture below was taken by a local newspaper and was part of a FEATURE STORY in the paper. Much to my surprise it appeared on the front page.

And here is another local news coverage … channel 15 television (I appear about 40 seconds into the video)

And yet another newspaper story …

And one last one local tv news story where I was there and interviewed (about 45 seconds into the video) …

I like to have fun (that is one reason I ride a tadpole trike) and awhile back I did so with some photo editing …

My first moon ride!

I am back down to earth now though and will probably remain so … at least for now.  So if ever you are around the Fort Wayne area you might see me riding along out there.