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Wearing The Right Clothing When Riding A Tricycle

Wearing The Right Clothing When Riding A Tricycle
Written by Mad Triker
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Wearing The Right Clothing When Riding A TricycleEvery beautiful day brings new opportunities. So is riding on three wheels. Adult trikes are great fun tools which in bring all the good emotions. But wait! Did you know that being on three wheels does not guarantee safety and protection? That’s why you need to be wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle. From the clothes to the machine you have; it should be all-around.

Wear Colors That Are Easily Seen

Pay attention to the colors that adorn your shirt or jacket. It’s essential that people should spot you from a distance before it’s too late. Reflective attire is most preferred as it shines during the day and at night it gets illuminated when motorists flash their headlights on them.

If you can’t get hands on a reflective jacket, use attire with a reflective strip. Better still, a vest with a reflective triangle can also do the trick for wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle.

Wear the Right Clothes for the Weather

The clothes you choose should be comfortable and protect you from skin grazing upon impact. You also want to be warm and dry during drastic weather conditions such as in rainstorms and cold autumn and winter conditions.

Give some thought to the fabric of your clothes. Keep in mind that when riding in a saddle, you tend to attract heat in the all the wrong places. That’s why it’s even more important to wear attire that wicks away sweat.

Choose fabrics that are breathable so you can stay cool. If it’s hot, you want to the cloth to move with you and not stick on your body when you sweat. Stores with sporting goods are a good place to start your search for the appropriate trike riding gear.

Look for pants that can withstand heavy windy conditions without ending up in the tires. They should be dense enough with an insulating layer that keeps away the cold when wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle.

Face Protection for wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle

If you happen to go out when it’s windy and rainy, you’ll need to take eye and face protection. You can choose from either a face shield or goggles. Before you take one of these protective gears home, check to see that they are:

  • Robust and won’t shatter when snow gushes against the glass or plastic surface
  • Clean at all times without developing scratches after a short period of use
  • Secure on the face to prevent them from being blown off
  • Clear to give a full view of all the sides you look
  • Well-ventilated to avoid fogging up from the inside

Wear Gloves

Gloves are great to provide a firm grip on the handlebars. Other than that, they keep you warm and dry in wet weather. Not to mention, they are also very functional in case you fell off the trike. They keep you from getting severe abrasions when you head down hands first.

They also prevent the occurrence of dry, chapped hands which could cause tingling and loss of sensations in the fingers. If your nervous system is affected by the cold, you may not be able to squeeze the brakes. They should not also absorb water or become slippery when you sweat in hot weather.

Gloves should also allow you to operate the trike brakes and gears at all times

The Right Footwear for wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle

You need to keep balance on the pedals at all times when wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle. As such, the right shoes must provide the right traction to avoid constant slippage. Wear shoes that cover the ankles such that the heel will not slip off without warning.

You should never ride a trike barefoot. At worst, you’ll slip every 20 yards, or you’ll even cause some severe foot chapping from holding onto the pedals for too long. Look for shoes which have excellent traction and wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle.

Also, avoid flip-flops and shoes that have heels to prevent the feet from losing their grip now and then.

Protect Yourself with Extra Gear

Knee pads and elbow pads are a crucial entity for a rider’s attire when wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle. They give that extra protection when you need in case you fall off the trike. Many people agree that their knees and elbows are the most susceptible to severe bruises and scratches during a crash. Keep in mind that knees give you the ability to pedal, so if you love being on the trike, make sure you have added this vital safety gear.

Wear A Helmet!

A helmet is perhaps the most invaluable gear you can have. It is at the center of preventing head injuries as well as it avoids fatal injuries. The most notable injuries are those where riders did not wear any head protection gear. As such, helmets should not be seen as an optional item.

Things to look for when buying a Helmet

  • Look for a helmet with an ASTM or SNELL Approved Mark. This means it meets all the safety standards set forth by the authorities. It also indicates that the helmet has been tested vigorously to withstand crashes.
  • Fluorescent and bright colors show up on a helmet. They clearly indicate your presence on the road. Other drivers and cyclists will pick you out before making a wrong turn even when your trike has a much lower profile.
  • Check out for ventilations

As much as the helmet should be solid, it should also have many air holes.  You don’t want to be all sweaty as it may make you lose focus or blur your eyesight if sweat trickles down your eyes.

  • It should fit securely
  • The helmet must sit on the head.
  • It should not tilt forward or backward
  • The straps must be wide enough such that they do not dig into your skin when you fasten the bands. Feel that the helmet is tight enough not to go flying when someone pulls on it.

And, remember to replace your helmet every time it sustains a crack from a crash. It will also need replacing if it has loose padding, exposed metal, or frayed straps.

How to Fit a Helmet

  • Bring a mirror to see how well the helmet sits on your head
  • The side straps should be forward and below the ears
  • The straps should join in a V position below the ears
  • Push two fingers inside the straps to see that they do not fit too tightly
  • Move your head back and forth to ensure it does not shift to expose your forehead or fall off forward
  • Allow two fingers to go between the helmet and the forehead for a correct fit

To clean a Helmet

Helmets are not immune to dirt just because it appears like a hard shell. Instead, use some soapy water and a cleaning cloth from time to time to spot clean it. Avoid the use of methylated spirits and petrol since they may weaken the fibers that make the interior lining.

What NOT to Wear when Riding a Trike

Avoid Jeans

For one the material is tight enough that it limits movement. Another disadvantage of riding in jeans is that they tend to press in all the wrong places when sitting in the saddle. Cycling leggings, pants, and shorts make better options than jeans.

Shoes with laces

If you can’t give them a proper lockdown, then it’s time to give them a switch. When loose laces get caught in the chain, it just gives room for an accident waiting to happen. Go for shoes that are water resistant with Velcro fastenings.

Dark and black clothes

This includes camo colors which confuse other motorists. Wearing the right clothing when riding a tricycle doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s too bad that there are drivers who choose to sideline and ignore trike riders. But don’t make it effortless for them. Dark clothes will give them an excuse to say they didn’t see you. Choose bright colors like red, blue, orange, lime, and yellow.

Dangling Attire

Avoid things like hanging jewelry, scarves, and strings. You don’t want them to get caught on the chains and potentially cause accidents. If you wear a scarf, tuck it away in a jacket. For lose pants, they are better off in your socks. Leg bands also come in handy if you are not in socks that can hold down the pants.

If you carry a backpack, ensure that it comes with a waistband where you can tuck in the straps. Otherwise, they could get into the trike’s spokes.

Follow Local Rules and Regulations

Here are essential directives that should guide you when you head out on an adult tricycle:

  • Obey traffic lights and stop at STOP signs just like other motorists
  • Yield to pedestrians and do not ride on sidewalks
  • Check for traffic from both directions before crossing the road
  • Always ride in the same direction as traffic
  • Be extra careful when crossing on intersections
  • Avoid riding on edges where there are parked cars
  • Never hug another vehicle even when riding uphill
  • Use hand signals when making turns
  • Do not share a trike with a friend or ride when standing with someone else on the handlebars
  • Walk the trike when crossing train tracks and when using busy crosswalks

Conclusion about Wearing The Right Clothing When Riding A Tricycle

We cannot understate the importance of protective gear when riding an adult trike. They are crucial in keeping you safe. They also give you confidence among other motorists. As such, you’ll want to invest in the right clothing. We hope you can use the information above to make your rides enjoyable, safe, and worth it each time.


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About the author

Mad Triker