Posted 29/05/03

Like Zach Kaplan and Bryan Ball, I, too, just received a new ICE XXL, which
I have ridden 600 miles so far. For comparison, the other trikes I own
include an ICE Micro, Greenspeed GTS, and Greenspeed GTT tandem. Although I
like all four trikes, I like the XXL the best for my purposes. YMMV, as they
say.

My XXL has all-derailleur gearing - 24/42/52 chainrings and 11-34 cassette
on an XTR hub, with 406 Stelvio tires (effective diameter 18.25"), for a
gear inch range of 12.9" - 86.3". Yes, there are a few times that I would
like a higher top end, but I'm not willing to sacrifice the low end to get
it, since I live in a very hilly area and do not have the strength of a
20-something guy (I am a 54 year old lady). The big jump between the 24 and
42 chainrings is OK, since I double shift simultaneously. I don't think the
gear inch range can be stretched any further without an internal hub or
Schlumpf, which I don't want.

I prefer my XXL's all-derailleur set-up to the gearing on my Micro (39/53
chainrings and 11-34 cassette on a Dual Drive hub, with 349 Primo Comets
[effective diameter 16.25"]) and GTS & GTT (39/53 chainrings and Rohloff
hub, with 406 Tioga Comp Pools [effective diameter 19.5"]). The XXL set-up
is much quieter and feels like there is less drag without the Dual Drive or
Rohloff. Hopefully less maintenance will be required on the XTR rear hub. I
prefer 406 rear wheels now, since an all-derailleur set-up with a wide gear
inch range is not possible with a 349 or 355 rear wheel, at least not until
the Capreo hub and cassette become available.

My XXL does not have suspension, unlike my Micro. I have never ridden a
Micro without suspension, nor an XXL with suspension, so I can't comment
other than to say that on the roads I ride, I'm quite comfortable on the XXL
without suspension. But maybe my roads are smoother than others, as I live
in the boonies where there is no traffic.

My XXL has thumb shifters, which I prefer to the twist shifters on my Micro
and GTS & GTT. The least satisfactory shifters are the Rohloff shifters on
the GTS & GTT, as Rohloff still has not come out with a longer shifter.

My XXL has Avid mechanical disc brakes, which are easy to adjust, and for
which new cables can be easily obtained. My Micro has Hope mini hydraulics,
my GTT has Hope hydraulics, and my GTS has Hayes hydraulic brakes. I did not
like the drum brakes on the GTO I tried belonging to a friend.

My XXL has the composite seat, while my Micro has the carbon seat. Since I
carry around a ton of tools anyway, I couldn't justify spending the extra
money for a carbon seat on the XXL (it now costs extra), just to save one
pound.

My XXL is wider and longer than the Micro, but that has not been a problem.
Yes, it is a bit harder for me to lift it into the car, but I don't do that
often. No, I haven't weighed any of my trikes. I don't travel light.

I have the seat halfway reclined - don't know the exact angle. This seems to
be better for me than fully reclined (I tried that on the Micro at first)
because the sun doesn't get in my eyes as much. It's less aerodynamic that
way, but I need help getting UP the hills, not going faster down the hills.
Being more reclined won't get me up the hills any faster, nor would a
fairing.

I have the lighter rear rack, painted black (you can request that), to which
I attach front roller Ortlieb panniers. The one thing I requested but didn't
get was a cable stop on the boom for the front shifter cable so that I don't
have to adjust it when changing the boom length. I have that cable stop on
my Micro. Should be standard option, IMO, not something you have to ask for
specially. I ordered the XXL as a frameset.

I REALLY like this trike and recommend it highly. Anyone nearby is welcome
to see it, although I never adjust the boom for different size riders. Yes,
I'm keeping my other trikes, because my husband has claimed the GTS, so the
Micro is my "spare" trike now. The GTT is a tandem.

Many thanks to Zach Kaplan, my dealer in California, for his extensive help,
and to the folks at ICE for building such a nice machine.

Franny Yerkes
Salisbury, CT, USA