Not mine–I have a tadpole [a Catrike 700 known as Silk]. So, what the difference between a delta and a tadpole? A delta trike or tricycle has one wheel in front and two behind, where a tadpole trike has the reverse.
Here is the new guy on the block: The RANS Trizard. Read Randy Schlitter’s Into the Ride Article #73 for information on this interesting trike. So you ask, are there other delta trikes available? Yes!
My Facebook friends and BROL members Jennifer Lang & Bobby Baxmeyer [her fiancé] [cellolang & bbax] and Mary [TrikeDiva] have Kettwiesel Trikes. I also rode with Parky (a Kett owner) in the Face of America ’08 Ride.
Then there is the Greenspeed Anura, introduced in 2007. I do not know an Anura rider. Both the Kett and Anura offer a differential option. The Trizard does not. The Trizard uses the left wheel as a drive wheel.
There are other delta trikes [see this BROL Interbike '07 article]. These three are frequently discussed on BROL.
This post is to introduce the RANS Trizard and generally comment on two other popular delta trikes. Deltas are but one of many recumbent cycles. Ride what works for you. You see that I ride road bikes [DFs] as well as recumbents [an LWB, an SWB, and a tadpole trike] and a MTB. I hope to add a Crank Forward later this year. It fits between a ‘bent and a DF [also known as an upright].
Here is the BROL Thread started by Nanda [BROL Member Stradavarius] that informs BROL readers of Randy Schlitter’s [RANS Founder] Into the Ride Article #73 on the Trizard.
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I am an Anura rider, it is my first trike, although I have ridden a number of tadpoles and a Kettweisel while picking which one to buy. My daughter also has an Actionbent tadpole.
The good and the bad from my perspective.
Good – all of the reasons to ride a trike, comfort and balance and fun. Anura has a coupling that allows a second Anura to be attached to form a tandem. This was the feature that sold us on a delta. The price was better then a Kettweisel (in Australia at the time of purchase, 12 months ago,I could buy 3 trikes for the price of 2 Kettweisels). I’m also a little happier sitting up higher on my ride to work in traffic. The differential makes riding very smooth. I tested the Kettwiesel on a wet day and found myself shuddering sideways on take off.
Bad – The Anura was not designed as a quick commuter, it is heavy and relatively slow (in my case average speed is about 7 kph slower then my upright). Part of this might be the gear range which is a little low for me on the open road, however, that is going to be difficult to change. It’s harder to find on bike carrying options, most tadpoles have racks and take standard panniers. The Anura needs a seatbag.
Overall I like the Anura, but it has taken an adjust in thinking for me. It is a case of accepting that it’s slower but a good ride.
Thanks McKeti for your perspective-a welcomed addition to this blog. Should I get a tandem, I’ll certainly consider delta trikes, because they can be ridden singularly or in a train. There will soon be a ‘BentRider Online review of the new RANS Trizard. I hope it can also be connected as the Anura and Kettweisel. THANKS AGAIN! –jim