My New Catrike Expedition - Pics

My New Catrike Expedition

I picked up my new Catrike Expedition from Bent Up Cycles. I traded in the ICE Sprint 26fs for the Expedition. Now I'm setting it up to get it ready for longer rides and the rough roads of the Central Coast. I have no regrets giving the Sprint a try but in the end I feel the Expedition is the better choice for me.

Expedition and 700 are now sharing space in my garage

New Life for Catrike Expedition

Kevin (aka Dkevdog at Bent Rider) recently bought my old Catrike Expedition and gave it a new life with this awesome makeover. Kevin striped it down and put on 4 new layers of powder coat. My old plain silver Cat is now a dark cherry metallic clearcoated beauty that Kevin's wife gets the pleasure of riding. Now Kevin's wife can ride alongside Kevin on his VTX (he takes it slow for her).

My old Expedition gave me a lot of good times but she never looked as good as she now does with her makeup on.

My Catrike Expedition For Sale

Update 6/27 SOLD

I'm setting up a new Catrike 700 to replace my Catrike Expedition. So I'm selling my Catrike Expedition frame. Click here for information or click on the FOR SALE tab on the title bar above.

Some Catrike Expedition Tweaks

In addition to some earlier modifications I made on my Expedition (Expedition Upgrades) I recently lightened up the Beast, installed a new Tubus Logo Evo rear rack and tweaked the front derailleur mast. I also run 1.35 inch Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on all three wheels (front 35-406 and rear 35-559). They make a noticeable difference in the handling and speed compared with the old 1.75 inch Marathon Plus tires I had on before. These are nice tires and I'm not sacrificing puncture protection for better performance.

I eliminated the trunk bag and now I put my daily ride stuff in the side bags with plenty of room to spare. I usually ride with the Ortlieb panniers so I can stop and pick up some groceries or whatever while on my leisurely rides with the Expedition. I also eliminated the boom bag. It was just a place to put junk I didn't need on a day ride.

Rear view of the Tubus Logo Evo (link to Bike Bag Shop) rack. The side rails of the rack lean inward at the top bringing the load (in my case groceries) closer the center line of the trike for better stability. With my old rack the panniers would lean out at the top when loaded. The panniers are mounted low on a secondary bar. The lower mounting position allows for the load to be carried lower and more stable. The top platform of the Evo is narrow and doesn't work well with most trunk bags. Most trunk bags may wobble a bit. I solved that problem by simply realizing I don't need a trunk bag. Now's there room to lash down another bag or two like an Ortlieb Rack Pack (link to Bike Bag Shop) on top of the rack. The Evo is rated to carry 88 pounds (40kg).

The Tubus installation is easy. The attachment bars can be ordered in different sizes. The clamps on the seat bar are from the Hostel Shoppe.

Not only have I reduced the weight of the Beast I think it looks better.

My view from the picnic table at the park. On the post is a barn owl nesting box.

I also tweaked the derailleur mast to better accommodate the MTB crank I use on the Beast. I had to grind off the cable stop to allow the derailleur to slide down the mast to line up better with the smaller size of the MTB chain rings. I added a "clamp on" cable stop lower down on the mast. The "clamp on" cable stop needed a little machining to get it to line up better with the derailleur. It's not perfect but it works well, for now.
I use a MTB crank to get lower gears for climbing without using a mechanical drive such as a Schlumph Mountain Drive. 

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BTW - This is how to fully load a Tubus Logo Evo rack. Just throw stuff on it.

Climbing with the Expedition

I took the Expedition out today without Betzi to get some climbing in. The low gears on the Expedition are better for climbing hills while still breaking in the new hips. Slow and steady was the plan for the day. I'm good with  moderate hills but I found out that the steep grades, no matter how short, are still not a good idea for right now.

I forgot how much fun it is to ride the he Expedition without the added weight of a trailer and a dog. In the past almost every one of my rides on the Expedition has been with Betzi in tow. Without her extra weight the Expedition can really move.

A stop at the park for a lunch break.

Expedition Upgrades

It's time that I treat my Expedition with the same respect I've given to my 700. The Expedition has served me well for five years but the 700 has received all the upgrades. 

On the Expedtion I recently went from a 9 speed cassette and chain to a 10 speed cassette and chain to get the lower gear a little lower. I thought that I could get by with the existing 9 speed Shimano Dura Ace 7700 bar end shift levers since I have always had them set on friction rather then the 9 speed index setting (to call the Dura Ace 7700 an "indexed" shift lever is a joke, their indexing is terrible). With the extra cog on the cassette (giving me ten gears on the back end) the friction shifting has made shifting pretty sloppy. The indexed shifting on my 700 is solid with it's SRAM TT 500 shift levers. I decided that the Expedition was deserving of the same quality shift levers.  Now the Expedition has the SRAM TT 500s.




Along with the shift levers I upgraded to a 10 speed SRAM X9 Type 2 rear derailleur.

While in upgrade mode I  upgraded the brake levers on the Expedition from Avid FR-5 levers to the Avid Speed Dial 7 levers (the same as on my 700). I like the ability to adjust the action of the brake lever.

With a little help from my REI dividends both my Catrike 700 and Catrike Expedition share some of the same quality components making for a smooth riding transition between Cats.

Expedition Upgraded to 10 Speed

Every gear inch counts when towing 100lbs of dog and trailer with my Expedition with it's 26" rear tire. Upgrading to a 10 speed cassette gave me an extra gear inch on the low end. To get my gear inches lower and get back some of the lost gear inches on the high end I would have to go to an internal gearing mechanism like the Schlumpf drive. Right now I prefer a setup that is user and local bike shop friendly if a repair is needed while on the road. 

Old

New

Riding Again With My Trik'n Buddy

First ride with Betzi since I had my hips replaced. During hip recovery I've been riding the 700, it's light and oh so fun. Towing Betzi is a big step up in weight. It's been exactly 8 weeks since getting my new left hip and 4 and 1/2 months for the right. It's time to get my triking buddy back on the road so I took her out for a short ride today. So good to have the ole girl join me on a ride!!

Ma Doggie

My rig...Catrike Expedition and Doggyride trailer.

Happy dog working off a few lbs she gained over the last few months.

Happy dog...happy triker...that's all folks.

Busted Front Derailluer

I wanted to take Betzi on a short easy ride with my Expedition. She's been very patient as I've been riding the 700 rehabbing my right hip.  I was all ready to go and and the front derailleur busted after less then a mile. I decided to take advantage of the situation and change from a 9 speed set up to a 10 speed set up. I ordered a new front derailleur, 10 speed cassette (11/36) and a 10 speed chain. I'll gain an extra gear inch at the low end without sacrificing gear inches on the high end with a the 10 speed setup. With a little luck I'll get it before I go in to get my left hip replaced December 23rd. Sorry girl.

The derailleur has only 2000 miles on it. 

Not exactly top of the line.

Catrike 700 / 20 vs Catrike Expedition

Let's get to the bottom line first...choosing a Catrike 700 or Catrike Expedition is a matter of personal choice. Both the 700 and the Expedition  are solid trikes, built to handle tough riding and backed up by Catrike costumer service. The  700 and the Expedition are both stable at speed and share the same handling characteristics. 

Catrike 700 / 20  (new for 2013,  700 with 20" front wheels)

The 700 is an awesome trike, it looks fast and is fast. It's a ride best suited for getting an adrenalin fix. The 700 should be kept light and geared for speed on the flats and downhill runs. Grinding up long roads with extreme  grades takes some effort, but then there is the sweet downhill. Exceeding 40mph on a downhill is par for 700. The fun comes trying to find a road that is long, steep, reasonably straight and has good pavement so the 700 can show it's stuff going over 50mph. I do suggest when exceeding 50mph that you are acquainted with the road so there are no surprises and wear a helmet! On the flats I generally pass more DF (diamond frame) riders then pass me. In recent memory I don't recall ever being passed on a downhill. Even the young, fit and properly attired lads with advertising plastered over their lyra bodies fade away in my rear view mirror. Riding a 700 is a prescription for an old fart like me to feel the thrill of an endorphin induced high.

That endorphin high comes at a price. The 700, when set up for speed, is a hard ride that given the conditions of some our streets it can shake your fillings out. On long rides the seat being laid back at 25 degrees may be uncomfortable for some folks on long rides. I don't consider it a touring trike. The 23C tires (if you want speed) are going to get flats. The skinny 23C's trade puncture protection for performance. Of course some of these setbacks can be mitigated with different tire selection and putting a rack on (which I did at one time) to carry more stuff. 

Catrike Expedition

Ahh my faithful and trusted ride. The Expedition is a versatile ride. It can be setup to ride fast or loaded down to tour the world in comfort laid back in it's 37 degree reclined seat. Keeping the the Expedition light and adding high performance tires would bring the Expedition close to matching the the performance of the 700. I prefer to ride in comfort when not screaming down a hill on the 700. I've loaded my Expedition up with Marathon Plus tires all around, heavy duty rack, rack bag and panniers, extra tools and other goodies that give me confidence that I can survive the apocalypse with nothing but my Catrike Expedition. 

Another benefit, for me personally, I'm inclined to enjoy the world around me more as I meander with Betzi in tow and on a solo ride. The 700 makes me feel like I have to ride hard and fast whereas the Expedition is telling me to take it easy and smell the roses. Trike, body and mind are about 20% slower when riding the Expedition compared to the 700. Also the Expedition is geared for climbing and not speed. But even on this beast I still pass my share of DFers and that's a fun blog post for another time.

Cool Autumn Day

Finally the cool of Autumn is here and I can get out and ride...ride...ride. I spent the morning meandering around the hills of home with Betzi. With a total gain of 1,840 feet and averaging a whooping 7.2 mph I spent three hours on the rode towing 90 lbs of dog and trailer...loved it! The morning sun started to soak up the fog just as I was putting the longest and steepest stretches of climbing behind me. 

Last week I rode the 700 three times. When the forecast is for heat followed by more heat I take the fast 700 out so I get some miles in before the sun kicks into high gear.

The shrouded hills of home.

The wide open and foggy road that leads me into the hills.

Betzi gets to walk this one.

Snack time at the amphitheatre in the park in the cool sun.

Taking a long cut on a dirt path .

Central Coast Vacation

The Expedition is strapped to the top of our car and we're ready to head off to Cambria for some family fun and a little riding along the central coast of California...for me at least.

DAY 1 

As is my custom no matter where I  may be I start off my day with a cup of tea. This morning, at a respectable 6:30am, I become one with the fog at  Moomstone beach watching the harbor seals laying on the rocks doing what they do best...nothing.

Eventually I got my rear end off the sand and prepared for a ride up the coast. By 9am, with the fog still hanging around, I pedaled away form our digs at the Fireside Inn. It's a nice motel adjacent to the beach. I took a straight shot up the coast to the old abandoned Piedras Blancas Motel aptly named after the local historic light house. Tours of this old historic lighthouse are offered through the Piedras Blancas Light Station Association. 
The sun is finally starting to show itself and I can start taking off layers. I headed back after hitting the Piedras Blancas Motel. Going North beyond the remains of the old motel brings you to the hills of the Los Padres National Forest and eventually Big Sur. This is a challenge for another day. On the way back I stop to take a look at the elephant seals in all their blubbery glory. Next stop the pier at San Simeon State Beach. for a quick break to relieve myself of my morning tea..

After a few more stops to take in the awesome coast views I finally make my way back to the Fireside Inn and spend the rest of the day with the Carrie and the kids.
The ride ended up to be 27 miles of easy coastal riding with gentle hills that accounted for a little over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. 

Enjoying my first early morning on the beach.

Heading north along Highway 1.

The old abandoned Piedras Blancas located just South of the steep hills of the Central Coast.

Only the best facilities. This is a common place for cycle tourists to take a break. It's also a popular spot for us day riders to take a rest stop and then head back down the coast.

Headed South.

Done for the day. Charging the DiNotte lights on the patio of our humble motel room.

Day 2
Family day, no riding. I'll get one last ride in tomorrow...or so I thought... before heading home.

My usual morning tea before waking up the kids.

At a beach near Hearst Castle I mark my territory with a cairn (man made pile of rocks used to mark a trail or as a monument). 

Oh yeah...the kids are impressed.

Kids and Carrie

My turn to get in the pic.

The kids on the boardwalk at Moonstone Beach.

End of the day.

Day 3
I was all ready to get a ride in this morning before heading home. The fog gave way to clouds that were starting to make the morning a little damp. So we called it a weekend, packed our bags and headed home.

Last morning on the beach.

Mini cairns marking my preferred tea drinking rock. I built these four little jems up over the course of three mornings while having tea and no one knocked them down. Au contraire someone had actually added their own cairns to my collection on top of my tea table rock.
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Ride with GPS