Born to be wild

I’m in love. Unfortunately, it’s with an expensive piece of kit that stretches beyond the realms of my piggy bank and won’t fit in my car boot. Happily, there are other ways to experience the joy of recumbent tricycling.

Last month I went to the Sport Parkinson’s Try-Athlon at Twickenham Stoop, home of Harlequins rugby. This isn’t a swim-bike-run thing, but a chance for active people with Parkinson’s to try lots of different sports and activities. To meet new friends and renew friendships with people I’ve met at the three previous events. To learn new stuff from experts. And to test out new kit.

Getcha motor* running

The highlight of the Try-Athlon, for sure, was playing walking rugby with two British Lions legends – Gavin Hastings and Rob Andrew – on my side. I’ve only been playing for three months (see World in Union, March 1) so when Gavin said ‘Good hands!’ I knew I was doing something right.

Head out on the highway

On my way from the pitch to the exhibition hall, something caught my eye. Shiny. Bright green. New. A recumbent tricycle. It looked remarkably like one I had booked for a day of our holiday in Cornwall later in the month.

I’ve loved trikes since I was little: Here I am in my Nana’s garden c1954 and my family garden c1956. The sharp-eyed among you will observe in the second picture that there is no chain – I was content to sit there pedalling for ages without turning the wheels.

In a later encounter with three wheels, here I am on Channel 4’s roof on London Marathon day in May 1987.

In my role as kit review editor for Running Magazine, I was invited to test drive what was claimed to be the first-ever all-terrain baby buggy in the UK. Well, you can’t test a baby buggy without a baby, so my daughter Rosie came along for the ride.

I noted at the time that while it was clearly fit for purpose out on the trail, and she seemed very comfortable in it, would be a bit cumbersome in, say, Boots the Chemist. In those days the go-to buggy for bus and supermarket was the Maclaren. If I started a trend for big buggies that clog up every aisle and leave no room in the car for child or picnic, then I’m deeply sorry.

Looking for adventure

Fast forward to 2026 and I found myself eyeing up the ICE (Inspired Cycle Engineering) Adventure Trike.  ICE’s Phil Zschiesche confirmed that this was indeed the same model I had booked to tackle the Camel Trail between Padstow–Wadebridge–Bodmin the following week. It was good to have a little try out before our holiday. Phil showed me how to strap into the pedals and operate the handlebar and parking brake. And I was off! I pedalled up and down pitchside, turned around and didn’t knock anyone over. I loved the sensation of pedalling horizontally instead of vertically, and of having a wide, comfortable seat to accommodate my, er, wide, comfortable backside. And no fear that I would wobble or fall off.

So when we got to Bridge Bike Hire in Wadebridge, I knew what I was doing. Robin and I had a wonderful day on the Camel Trail, cycling a total of 21 miles.

I found it hard to steer in a straight line. Over my seven parky years, I’ve worked hard on my walking gait to strengthen up my weaker left side and swing my arms evenly. So I was surprised to find I was constantly weaving to the right because my right arm was pulling just a little bit tighter. With lots of other people on the trail, I had to keep reminding ‘leftie’ to straighten up.

As I touched on last time (By the time they get to Phoenix, May 13), serial adventurer Bill Bucklew has just pedalled a recumbent on large stretches of the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Phoenix for the World Parkinson’s Congress. (Yeah, I know, it makes my 21-mile stroll through Cornwall look a little tame!)

I know that when Bill is running tired, he leans a bit to one side (Every which way but loose, 5 November 2021). I’ve asked him how he manages to keep a straight line on the trike – I’ll let you know.

…and whatever comes my way

I won’t lie – I was reluctant to give the trike back! I can’t afford to buy one, but I can hire one locally if I want to.  Currently you can hire trikes at five National Trust estates, and to my delight, three of them are in East Anglia. There are more in the pipeline. Look out for orange pins on the map.

I do look forward to more pedalling adventures with my family and friends – I’ll keep you posted.

*no motors at all – all under my own steam