This
page will tell you something about the tricycle.
The C21
has
been developed from the succesful Newton tricycle conversion.
Unlike
the conversion however, the C21 uses a purpose-built tricycle frame,
which
has been designed to meet a variety of uses. The frame is mostly
built from Reynolds 525 tube, and construction is by bronze
welding. The absence
of the traditional top tube makes the machine easier to mount, which is
especially important to those with partial disability, while the use of
a specially modified large-bore tube gives ample rigidity. The
C21
shares with the Newton conversion the centre rear wheel drive, which
allows
the use of almost any conventional bicycle gear set and gives
unrivalled
traction as the rider's weight is directly over the driven wheel.
It also has the same steering arrangement which gives excellent
stability and good handling.
The C21 can be built in a variety of frame sizes - both length and
height
can be varied to suit your preference. The frame is made with a
fixed
seat tube and head tube angles of around 72° - the head tube isn't,
in fact,
a head tube but it's in the same place as a bicycle head tube would be
from the rider's viewpoint.
Equipment can be specified for
various cycling activities, the one shown above is a fairly small frame
set up as a light touring machine. The frame is obviously heavier
than a bicycle, but the overall weight is not excessive with
lightweight wheels, tyres and equipment. The machine can be
specified with almost any normal cycle equipment. Standard front
brakes are Avid mechanical discs on Hope hubs, which are fitted with
our own design of 20mm quick-release axles; this makes it much easier
to get the machine into
a car.
Prices depend very much
on equipment specified, but start at about UK£1750 for a good but
not too expensive setup, using mostly mid-range equipment. We
don't see the point in having a custom-built frame and fitting cheap
parts to it! Specifying a top-of-the-range groupset together
with, for example, Hope or Magura disc brakes can easily add another
UK£1000 to the price.
The design of the C21 has recently been extended to make a tandem
version. We've not really decided what this is called - The C21
started out as "a new tricycle for the 21st century", and the name
stuck. In any case, the tandem shares its basic frame design with
the C21 although it is obviously stronger, heavier and has an extra
seat! Using the same layout and geometry as the Newton tandem
conversion, is has unrivalled stability compared with a "conventional"
tandem trike, while the advantages of traction and drive remain the
same. The picture below shows such a tandem: this one is a
small frame fitted with ATB size wheels, which makes the machine lower
and
improves stability even more.
The principal visual difference is that the tandem comes equipped as
standard with front mudguards. These are not normally necessary
on a solo, but on the tandem, the front wheels tend to splash the
stoker, which is obviously unpopular. The tandem is fitted as
standard with Aivd disc brakes, which are
suitable for most peoples' use of the machine. For heavier use
including touring, we can supply larger disc brakes for better
cooling. The tandem, as with
the C21, can be supplied with a wide variety of equipment. Prices
for tandems start at about £2200.
tricycle.
