Posted 04/04/05

Hi Neil,

A quick note from Holland: Today I bought my first trike: the ICE Q (narrow track). After I drove the Q for a whole weekend for some 140 miles. Here are my first impressions.

Let’s face it: De ICE Q (NT) is a dangerous bike.

O sure, it’s a nice bike to see, it runs wonderful, the steering is terrific, the performance impressing. But still: It’s a dangerous bike.

Consider yourself on the Q. The sun is shining, it’s a lovely weather, you sit somewhat slumped, your hands loosely on the bar ends. Look out! You’re about to fall asleep!

Riding the Q is so comfortable, so relax. You will close your eyes, and…

On the other hand: If the road ahead is straight on, and free, don’t worry about fallin’ asleep. The steering geometry of the Q is perfect. The trike will follow its course, no matter what. You can sleep for hours, without getting off the road.

Still, the Q gives a fine handling off-road too. There’s no rear suspension on the bike – which is really a pity – but you may find yourself a real mountain biker on the Q, once you’ve experienced how the trike behaves itself off-road.

After a long consideration I bought myself the narrow track-version of the Q. Riding a ‘normal’ recumbent was a bit too painful because of some problems with my hip. The mesh-seat of the ICE Q turned out to be perfect for me.

Giving up the orange Challenge Fujin-recumbent I once had, was hard. Would I ever get a bike which would give me so much fun? Now I know the answer. The Q does!

But three wheels instead of two? On my first ride I passed some youngsters who we yelling. Till one of them said to the others: ‘Come on, stop it. The man is handicapped’.

Which I’m not. Did I feel embarrassed? Or angry? No way. Everyone may say what he or she likes. I now know what they don’t know: that driving the Q gives so much fun, so much satisfaction, that I would go on, driving for hours and hours and hours…

Yes, the Fujin-recumbent was a fine bike. But not comparable with the Q. It’s like you try to compare a motorbike with a car. The Q is so comfortable; it’s the car among the recumbent.

The coming days and weeks you’ll find me mostly on the road. With the Q. After that I’ll post my experience with this great trike again. For now: The ‘ICE Guys’ did a great job.

Eric Leijenaar, Zeewolde (Netherlands)