At long last I am the proud owner of a tricycle!!
I have been looking for just over a year and, as you know, have considered and failed to purchase a range of three wheeled cycles. I have deliberated and searched for something that has the potential for style and the 'cool' factor, and then I spotted this on Trademe .... how could I resist!
It is Kiwi through and through, born and bred. It is a knock-off Raleigh 20 that has been converted into a tricycle - probably in a kiwi bloke shed. In the best tradition of number 8 wire, it has BMX forks, a freewheel crank (the back cogs are welded onto the axle), a strange welded on piece of frame from mounting the gear change mechanism and pieces of pig iron from Mitre 10 welded on to secure the mud guards .... she's a thing of beauty!
Interestingly, the large cog was added so that a petrol motor could be added
It has 10 gears - presumably purloined off an old 10 speed. The concept is truly terrifying ... I managed to use only the bottom 5 gears and believe me this is enough!
Once I had taken ownership, I did a quick check to ensure that it would indeed go in my lift, then treated it to a quick wash down to remove the worst of the cobwebs, then it was straight up to Tim at T.White's. The journey up was huge amounts of fun, even with no brakes and serious wheel spin from the bald tyres. I let me hair blow free in the torrential rain (this was my first LEGAL helmet free cycle ride in many years - a little rain wasn't going to stop me!)
Tim and Brian were speechless! But after admiring the sheer 'workmanship' of the trike ... Tim said in a slow and carefully measured tone ... "this could be really cool"!
After that, like a a top notch plastic surgeon and his client, we went over the extreme makeover that was required ... a little nip and tuck here and there ..
I left Tim riding around and around in the shop, and whist waiting for the bus, I saw Tim ... and Teva ... tricycling merrily around on the side road next to the shop!
This tricycle thing could catch on!!
