Love your Catrike but hate sharing it because everybody needs a different boom length? Catrike is answering your frustrations with the release of a chain tensioner this June.  It was initially revealed at this year's Catrike rally, but information and a photo was recently posted to the Catrike forums.  Here's the word from Catrike:

Yes, we have designed a new chain tensioner as Devious and others have seen at our last Rally. It works great and will retrofit on all Catrikes 2005 and newer (2005 and 2006 may need new boom clamp) and is being manufactured by TerraCycle for Catrike. It will be anoodized and have our Catrike logo lazer etched on it.

It will be great for multi-rider Catrikes [...] and especially useful for test rides at our dealers. It will be available in June.

Just a side note - don't ever call TerraCycle and try to order trikes.  Sometimes having two companies named "Terra" in speed dial is a bad thing.

Tags: tricycle | recumbent | tensioner | chain | catrike

Hits: 30

TerraTrike tried something new today. They did a live streaming reveal of their new Zoomer SL trike, which they claimed to be the lightest trike on the market at 28-29 pounds (without pedals).

The trike has:

• an all aluminum frame
• horizontal handlebars
• the usual adjustable TerraTrike seat
• a carbon FSA SLK Light crankset
• SRAM Force front derailleur
• Velocity wheels with Aeroheat rims
• Schwalbe Durano tires
• SRAM XO shifters and rear derailleur
• KMC X9 chain
• 26" rear wheel and 20" fronts
• 30" wide
• 250 lb weight limit

When asked how it compared to a Catrike Red, the answer was that the the Zoomer SL is a "different animal". At that point, it was mentioned that a Catrike Red as spec'd would likely be $5000, which then led to the Zoomer SL price reveal of $3499.

The trike is available for order now.

Tags: terratrike | zoomer | sl | recumbent | tricycle | trike | unveiled | stream

Hits: 88

I guess when people think of Obama, they think of a charismatic intellectual, so naturally they'd imagine he'd ride a recumbent.  But when The Daily Show suggested Obama would ride "Recumbent One" and then illustrated it by turning 'BentRider Online's Bryan Ball into the President himself?  Well, that's downright weird.

Tags: the daily show | recumbent | obama | bentrider | photoshop

Hits: 112

Big Cat HPV, makers of the Catrike line of recumbent tricycles, would very much like each and every Catrike owner to register their trikes, no matter when you bought it.

The registration/feedback form is currently available only as a PDF to print and mail, but Paulo says they'll have an online form up as soon as they can.

If you purchased your Catrike from RBR, you're going to mark the dealer assistance question as "Outstanding", right?   Okay, sure, it's better that you be completely honest.  It was worth a shot, though.

Tags: catrike | big cat hpv | registration | feedback | form | data | information | gather | marketing

Hits: 83

We're trying something new here at RBR. In addition to providing tons of photos of new bikes, we're going to start doing videos on occasion. We're not entirely sure yet whether these are helpful or desired, so please feel free to log in and leave comments here to tell us whether or not we should do this more often.

Tags: video | tricycle | delta | recumbent | trizard | rans

Hits: 279

If you're a fan of us on Facebook, you saw these photos a day early.  Those are the rewards of social networking.  But we don't think any less of you because you're looking at them here.

What was that?  Oh yes, the RANS Trizard.  We got one in the shop, assembled it, stood back, looked at it, and thought, "Well, that's different."  A low rider delta trike with all the stability of a tadpole and a tendency to rub the skin off your elbows.  Some might call that painful.  We call it exfoliating.

Take a look and see what you think!

Tags: trike | delta | trizard | rans

Hits: 377

Razors Edge announced back in February that the resurrected Koosah was shipping out to retailers.  And now it's here in the shop!  The step-through frame on the long wheel base recumbent Koosah makes it a breeze to mount.  But really, I just take the pictures when new stuff comes in, so here they are:

Tags: photos | burley | koosah | edge | razors

Hits: 2843

The ultra-observant will notice that none of the foliage in the background of these photos is in bloom.  That's because these photos have been sitting around, just waiting for me to post them.  Their time is now.  Their place... is here.

Wow, that was sort of dramatic!  Now I'll do it in the tone of a movie trailer: In a world... on a road... with a chipseal surface... One trike dared to defy the rough ride... And dared all to suspend their disbelief.  The HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs, folding and springing to a recumbent shop near you (like RBR) now!

Tags: suspension | folding | trike | recumbent | fs | scorpion | velotechnik | hp

Hits: 222

Sorry, I don't mean to suggest that Bob "The Bike Man" Swaim is a monkey, but how else can one quickly describe his custom Bilenky for two stokers and a captain?

Coincidentally, Bob is in town this week for back-to-back bike events.  One could consider his visit to RBR to be the "middle" of his stay.

And with that, I bid you adieu with these photos before Bob arrests me while wearing that bobbie hat.

Tags: bob swaim | bilenky | custom | tandem | back-to-back | push me pull me

Hits: 150

Adventure Cyclist has their 2009 touring bike buyer's guide available for download and wouldn't you know it, we got a mention on page 8 in the recumbent sidebar and are the only recumbent specific dealer listed.

I wanted to take credit for it by claiming my incredible blogging skills were responsible for the mention, but I'll back off and give the credit to Rob for running a very friendly operation.

And my blogging skills.

Tags: adventure cyclist | recumbents | touring | press | guide

Hits: 761