The best thing on three wheels

When John Frederick wants to relax for a few hours, he leans back in his comfortable recliner - and heads out for a 30-mile ride.

Frederick, 63, is the man often seen pedaling his tadpole recumbent tricycle on West Valley-area roads, his body encased in a bright yellow shell, only his helmeted head visible to passersby.

He's put more than 14,000 miles on the trike he ordered from Australia's Greenspeed company about five years ago. It's one of five recumbent vehicles owned by Frederick and his wife, Wanda.

Recumbents are bicycles or tricycles with the rider seated on a wide platform with a back rest. The position reduces strain on the body, with no pressure on the neck, hands, shoulders or back that can be associated with traditional bicycles.

Though they may look more unwieldy, recumbents actually hold the world speed record for a bicycle. They were banned from international racing in 1934.

The tadpole recumbent trike is designed for touring, and thus not the fastest model. But Frederick said with the addition of the fairing, he can stick with a rider on a good road bike for a short distance. His speediest average ride was at 21 miles per hour for 20 miles, but he said he usually rides at about 15 mph.

Frederick constructed his trike's fairing out of PVC pipes and the cheapest yellow fabric he could find, which he shrank to fit the frame and painted. Frederick said the cover increases his speed by 30 to 40 percent.

"It keeps the rain off," Frederick said of its other benefits. "In the winter it keeps the cold wind out, and in the summer it keeps me cooler, because I ride in the shade."

The solid, stable tadpole trike, which has one wheel in the back and two up front, was specially ordered by Frederick with suspension to keep the ride smooth. He also equipped the trike with tires wide enough for gravel roads, and the fairing with a tailbox for carrying gear and providing better aerodynamics, and a light for nighttime rides.

In the winter, he also uses a BMX tire on the back, which works as a snow tire and allows him to ride on snowy roads.

Recumbent bikes give the Fredericks an outlet for serious exercise; John Frederick said he can elevate his heart rate to around 130 beats per minute and hold it there for an hour.

Aerobic conditioning opportunities are hard to come by for Frederick, who was ordered to quit jogging and told he could not ride a regular bike after two discs in his neck started leaking. They're also perfect for Wanda Frederick, who has knee, back and shoulder problems, putting most aerobic activities off limits.

"I love it," Wanda Frederick said. "It's the only time I've ever enjoyed bike riding. This is a wonderful way to get exercise."

Since the Fredericks moved to their West Valley home about 18 months ago, they have been ambassadors of sorts for a mode of transportation rarely seen in the Flathead Valley. They're stopped often by passing motorists or bicyclists wanting more information about the odd-looking contraptions speeding down the road.

John Frederick even put together a sheet of information and photos of recumbent bikes to pass out to anyone interested.

Frederick's first bike, purchased in 1999, was a short-wheel base recumbent, which are among the more difficult to ride. He said it took him about three to six months to get used to riding it, as the front wheel is underneath the rider's knees and it requires a hard push on the initial launch.

"I would not recommend this style for a first recumbent," Frederick said. "I got up close and personal with the pavement a few times."

Recumbents are generally more expensive than classic bicycles. Prices can range from $450 for a midwheel base recumbent, which is easy to ride but relatively slow. Most other bikes are around $1,000 and up. A top-of-the-line velomobile, a fully enclosed trike, can run up to $15,000.

The Fredericks have invested a fair amount in their recumbent collection, but it's money well spent, Frederick said.

"It's been our health insurance," Frederick said. "If I had gotten this before I got leaking discs in my neck, I could have saved thousands in doctor bills. And it helps keep my blood pressure down."

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4431 or by e-mail at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com