For some people, riding a bike isn’t a pleasant experience. Something as simple as pedaling can be a great challenge for those suffering from severe muscle and joint pain. However, turning a bike into a tricycle is the best solution to that problem.
Tricycles are more stable than bikes, so you won’t have to worry about losing your balance and falling to the ground. Also, they generate more traction on the rear wheels for a better performance on slopes. Best of all, the space between the rear wheels is wider for carrying more cargo.
Making your own tricycle may be an interesting personal project considering a brand-new adult tricycle is beyond your reach. It isn’t as difficult as it seems and you don’t need too much money to do it. Today, we’ll show you the steps using a conversion kit.
First of all, put your bike upside down and support the top tube of the frame on a pair of hardwood blocks. Then, remove the chain and the rear wheel using a pair of nut wrenches.
If you have a multi-speed bike, remove the derailleur from the rear wheel. Depending on the kind of braking system the bike has, remove the disc or the side-pull brake. Also, remove the braking cables.
Carefully read the instructions of the conversion kit. Make sure all the required parts are included in the kit. Then organize all parts and fasteners so you don’t waste too much time trying to find each one during the installation process.
Insert the rear axle through the rear sprocket following the instructions. Then install the rear axle on the rear fork. Finally, use a nut wrench to install the spacers and the lock washers to fix the axle in place.
Install a pair of wheels on each extreme of the axle and use nuts to secure them. Then, lift the bike and support it on its wheels. Store the hardwood blocks in a safe place.
Reinstall the old derailleur or the new one included in the conversion kit. Then, reattach the cables from the braking system.
Open the chain by removing its master link. Then, install the chain on the rear and front sprockets. Close the chain and reinstall the master link. Finally, reinstall the chain guard.
Put the bike upside down and support it on a pair of hardwood blocks. Then, remove the front wheel, the front brakes and the braking cables.
Carefully read the instructions included in the conversion kit. Make sure there aren’t missing parts or fasteners in the kit. Then, organize the pieces so you don’t waste too much time trying to find each one during the installation.
Using a nut wrench, remove the front fork and disassemble the steering headset. Then, install the special forks to transform your bike into a 3 wheel bicycle. Use the removed cap nut, washers and spacers to fix the forks in place. After that, install the front axle on the forks.
Install both wheel plates on each side of the front axle. Then, install the steering arms between the front forks and the corresponding fittings on the spindles. Install the bushing of each connection if needed.
Install the inner bearings of each spindle. Then, put one wheel on each spindle and then install the bearing retainer and the external bearing of each wheel hub. Secure the wheels to the front axle using the axle nuts. Finally, apply pressure on the protecting caps of the bearings inside the wheel hubs.
Now you have your own adult trike ready! It’s time to look cool and enjoy your new freedom with no bounds.
Born and grew up in Colorado, I chose to work in the field of what I liked most, biking. I’ve been working as a full time mechanic in the cycling industry for over 13 years. I started BMXing when I was just a 6-year-old kid and got hooked from the very first day. Then I started riding and not a single day went by since then that I didn’t touch my bike.
