Rain, Canopies, and First Rides: Two Riders Put Our E-Trikes to the Test

Why First Rides Tell You More Than Any Spec Sheet

Some of my favorite footage we capture isn't a polished product walkaround. It's the first few minutes after someone climbs onto an e-trike, switches the power on, and starts figuring out what three wheels and a motor actually feel like. You see the hesitation, the first grin, the slightly-too-wide turn, and then the moment the rider relaxes into it. That's the material that genuinely helps people decide whether a trike is right for them.

This article covers two of those rides. Carara is 61, and she describes herself as more of a runner than a cyclist. She would rather be out on her feet than on a saddle. Her ride happened on the kind of day most people would cancel: it started raining right as she got going, and she was on what she called her deluxe version, an e-trike fitted with a canopy. Brian is 51, and his ride was the very first time he had ever been on an e-trike. He narrated the whole thing as he went, which made it a perfect real-time look at the learning curve.

I'm going to take you through each ride in detail, keep the honest moments in (including the ones where things didn't go perfectly), and then pull out the lessons that apply to anyone browsing our full lineup of electric tricycles for the first time.

Two riders who weren't sold on bikes

What struck me about both of these riders is that neither one came in as a cycling enthusiast. Carara said it plainly during her ride: she doesn't like biking as much as she likes running. Brian joked that he doesn't have to worry about that pesky cardio anymore, and that his young-man days of going fast are behind him. These aren't people looking for a race machine. They're people who wanted to see whether riding could be enjoyable again, or enjoyable for the first time.

That's a huge part of who our customers are. A lot of folks shopping for electric trikes for seniors and mature riders haven't been on a bike in years, or never felt fully comfortable on two wheels to begin with. The question in their head isn't how fast the trike goes. It's whether they'll feel safe, whether it'll be comfortable, and whether they'll actually want to use it once the novelty wears off.

By the end of her ride, Carara said the e-trike made her want to ride a bike. Coming from someone who'd rather be running, that's about the strongest endorsement I could ask for. Brian finished by saying it was a great, smooth ride and that he highly recommends it. But the interesting part is everything in between.

What three wheels change

Before we get into the individual rides, it's worth naming what's different about a trike, because both riders bumped into it. On a two-wheel bike, you balance constantly and you lean to turn. On a trike, the bike holds itself up. You don't need to balance at a stop, you don't need to put a foot down, and you don't lean into corners the way you would on a bicycle. You steer with the handlebars, much more like driving a car.

That sounds simple, but it rewires a habit that a lot of adults have had since childhood. Brian picked up on it within the first minute, and he kept noticing himself leaning even after he knew he didn't need to. Carara, who had ridden one of our trikes before, mentioned the turning felt nice and easy. Watching the two of them side by side is a good illustration of how quickly the adjustment happens, and how it isn't instant for everybody.

The other big change is the motor. Both riders had pedal assist and both talked about how quickly the trike moved once the motor kicked in. Carara deliberately kept her assist level low so she'd work harder. Brian leaned on the throttle to get rolling. Those are two completely valid ways to ride, and seeing them both in action is useful if you're trying to picture how you'd use a trike day to day.

Comfort comes up again and again

If there's one word both riders kept returning to, it's comfortable. Carara called her seat super comfortable and really easy to adjust. Brian mentioned the seat being very comfortable at least three separate times, and he also called out how the handlebars sweep back toward the rider. When people first come to us, comfort is usually their top concern, and that's why we've grouped together our most comfortable electric trikes for riders who want to start there.

Comfort on a trike isn't just about the seat, though. It's about your riding position, how far you reach for the bars, whether your back is supported, and whether you feel calm enough to enjoy the ride. Both of these riders landed on a position that worked for them, and they did it in very different ways. Let's start with Carara and the rain.

Carara's ride had some built-in drama, because it began raining right as she set off. Most people would call it a day at that point. She was thrilled. She was on the canopy-equipped version of the trike, and she took the weather as the perfect excuse to see what the canopy could actually do.

Her first reaction when she got moving under it was pure delight. She said it felt fancy, and she pointed out that it shows you can get these bikes with a canopy that covers you when the weather turns. A few minutes into the ride, she wasn't even sure whether it was still raining, because the canopy was keeping it off her.

Weather protection that changes when you can ride

Carara made a point that I think a lot of people overlook. Most of us assume bike riding is a nice-weather-only activity. If the forecast looks iffy, the bike stays in the garage. Her take was that a canopy opens up some of those borderline days, letting you ride in rainy weather and possibly in rougher conditions than you'd normally consider.

I'd add a little common sense here: a canopy is about keeping you more comfortable, not turning a trike into an all-weather vehicle. Wet pavement still means longer stopping distances and slower turns, so ride accordingly. But being able to finish a ride when a shower rolls in, instead of getting soaked, is a real quality-of-life improvement. If that idea appeals to you, take a look at our sixthreezero canopies to see what's available.

She also noticed a benefit I hadn't heard many riders mention: the canopy helped keep her a bit warmer. Blocking the wind and drizzle makes a difference on a cool day, and she clearly felt it.

Sun protection for warmer months

Rain was the headline that day, but Carara said the feature she personally loves is sun protection. She's thinking ahead to when it gets a lot warmer, and having shade over her head while she rides is a big deal to her. For riders who are sensitive to the sun, or who simply want to stay cooler on a long summer ride, that overhead cover can be the difference between riding at midday and not riding at all.

Sitting upright for a core workout

One of my favorite details from Carara's ride was how intentional she was about her posture. The seat on her trike lets you sit all the way back against the backrest, and there are armrests you can use. She knew all of that. But for most of the ride she chose to sit a little more upright, without leaning back, because it made her engage her abdominals and get more of a core workout.

Later in the ride she showed the other option: scooting back into the seat so her core was supported. That's the beauty of a seat like this. On a day when you want to work, you sit up tall. On a day when you want to cruise, you settle back and let the seat hold you. Her verdict on the seat was that it was super comfortable and really easy to adjust.

At the end of the ride she put the armrest down and climbed off, and you could tell she appreciated how quick it was. Getting on and off, in her words, took about two seconds.

Pedal assist: choosing your effort level

Carara spent most of her ride in pedal assist level one. At one point she bumped it up to level two, and she immediately commented on how quickly the trike just took off on its own. Even while you're pedaling, she explained, the assist lets you go faster or slower depending on what you like.

Then she turned it right back down to level one, on purpose, so she could get a stronger workout. I love that, because it's the opposite of the stereotype that e-trikes are only for people who don't want to exercise. For a runner like Carara, the motor isn't there to do the work for her. It's there so she can decide how much work to do.

Reverse, and the joy of not pushing

Near the end of her ride, Carara showed off one feature she clearly loved: the trike reverses. She called it super cool, and she backed up with a big smile. Anyone who has tried to push a heavy trike backward out of a parking spot or a tight garage knows why this matters. If that's something you'd use, we've collected our reverse gear electric trikes in one place.

Thinking about passengers and cargo

While she rode, Carara wondered out loud whether she could put a passenger in the back, and figured she could probably carry a lot of stuff with her. I want to be careful here, because she was musing, not testing, and not every trike is built to carry a second person. If bringing someone along is part of your plan, start with trikes that are actually designed and rated for it, like our e-trikes built for passengers, and check the specs on the product page before you buy.

Her overall take

Carara said she was really digging the ride, that it felt very classy, and that it made her reflect on how much the technology has changed. She also mentioned that she'd tried another one of our models earlier and was madly in love with it, so she might lean toward that one for herself. And then she said the thing I think every shopper should hear: there's something for everybody. You can pick the kind of trike you actually want. A canopy, a reclined seat, armrests, a sportier upright position, each of those suits a different rider, and the right choice is the one that fits how you want to ride.

Brian's ride was a completely different experience. He's 51, and this was his very first time on an e-trike, any e-trike. He was riding our Relaxed Body, which he described as the relaxed-style e-trike, and he invited viewers to come along with him if they'd never done this before either. That's exactly why I wanted to write it up. Watching someone go from zero to comfortable in a single ride is the best preview you can get of your own first ride.

Turning it on and getting rolling

Brian's first observation was that it's super easy to turn on. He switched the power on at the side, and then he noted that he had to actually start pedaling to get it going. A moment later, he felt it kick in. Then he found the throttle, and suddenly he was moving at four miles an hour.

Four miles an hour doesn't sound like much, but for a first ride it's the right place to start. He was in a parking area, getting a feel for the controls, and he took it slow. When he rolled onto a slight downhill, he noticed he didn't need to push the throttle as much, and he eased off. That's a good instinct. Let gravity do some of the work, and keep your speed manageable while you learn.

If you like the idea of being able to get going without pedaling hard from a stop, browse our electric tricycles with throttle control. For a lot of riders, the throttle is what makes that first push-off feel easy.

Steering like a car, not a bike

Within the first minute, Brian put his finger on the biggest adjustment new trike riders face. He said you're really steering it like a car, almost, rather than leaning into it like a bike, and that it's something to get used to. He also realized he didn't need to pedal at that moment. He could just control his speed with his hand on the throttle.

A little later he learned another lesson the honest way: you can't overturn it. Turning is more subtle on a trike. You don't crank the bars hard and lean through the corner. You turn the handlebars smoothly and let the trike follow. Once he figured that out, his turns cleaned up quickly. On one of his first bigger turns, he described accelerating gently into it the way you would in a car, and he said it was a lot of fun.

He also admitted that a few times he caught himself leaning anyway. Old habits. He said that when you accelerate too fast, you can feel the trike lean a bit, but it's very easy to get back under control and he never felt out of control. I appreciate that he said it. It's a normal part of learning, and it fades quickly with practice.

Two rear wheels and a lot more confidence

The thing Brian kept coming back to was balance. He said he really liked having the wheels on the back, because he felt like he had more balance. As someone who'd never done this before, he felt it was easier to stay steady on the Relaxed Body than it would be on a bike. Later on he said it again: he felt so confident with those two wheels behind him.

He also noticed that when you come off the throttle, the trike slows down on its own. He called the bike intuitive in that regard, and that's a big part of why first rides tend to go well. You aren't fighting to stay upright, and letting go of the throttle naturally brings things back down to a calm pace.

Building speed, one mile an hour at a time

After a few loops, Brian started nudging the speed up. He hit five miles an hour, then on a short straightaway he watched the display climb through six, seven, and up to eight. Coming into a turn at around seven, he said he could see how you might take things a little too fast, but he felt that turn was perfect.

His top speed in that first session was about ten miles an hour, and he was honest that it felt pretty fast to him. He knows these trikes can go faster, but he chose to keep it slow, laughing that at 51 he isn't trying to relive his young-man days. That's exactly the right mindset for a first ride. The speed will come once you trust the trike.

Brakes, seat, and handlebars

Brian called the braking system really easy. He pointed out the two brake levers on the left and right of the handlebars, one for the front and one for the back, and said it was pretty simple to use. If stopping power is a priority for you when you shop, we also have a dedicated collection of electric trikes with disc brakes worth a look.

He mentioned more than once that the seat was very comfortable. He also liked how the handlebars lean back toward the rider, saying it meant he didn't have any trouble reaching the brakes or controls. That relaxed reach is a big part of why the Relaxed Body feels so approachable for a first-timer. You're sitting comfortably, your hands are right where they need to be, and nothing feels like a stretch.

His summary of that first loop was simple: this was his very first e-bike experience, and he had to say it was a lot easier than actually riding a bike. Then he decided it was time to get a little more adventurous.

A parking-lot loop is one thing. Brian wanted to see how the Relaxed Body handled the real world, so he headed out onto the street and the sidewalks around an office area. This part of his ride is where a lot of first-time riders get nervous, and it's where his narration is most useful.

Mind the curbs

Brian immediately flagged something that's easy to forget when you're new to trikes: with the wheels set wider at the back, you have to make sure you don't clip a curb. On a bike, your back wheel follows right behind your front wheel. On a trike, the rear wheels sit out to either side, so your path is wider than it feels. He made a point of being mindful of that as he moved between the road and the sidewalk.

This is a simple habit that pays off. When you're passing close to a curb, a post, or a parked car, give yourself a little more room than you think you need, especially in your first few weeks.

Sharing space with people and cars

As he rolled along, there were other cars around, and at one point he went to get up on the sidewalk and spotted a person, and then a child. He adjusted his route and went a different way. It's not a dramatic moment, but it's a real one, and it's exactly what riding in a neighborhood looks like. A trike's stability helps here because you can slow right down, even creep along, without worrying about tipping over. You don't have to keep your speed up just to stay balanced.

He also handled a bit of downhill on this stretch, easing off so he didn't pick up more speed than he wanted. Again, that's a good habit for new riders. Your trike will happily roll faster on a slope, so stay in control of it.

Different surfaces, same stability

Moving between the street, sidewalks, and transitions in between, Brian noticed he sometimes found himself leaning as the terrain changed. But he said the trike was very sturdy on its own, and that you really don't have to do much to hold your balance on it. That, he added, is something to get used to. It's a funny thing to have to learn, that you can stop working so hard, but it's true for a lot of people coming from bicycles.

He was also impressed by how smooth the transition felt going from the road up onto the next surface. And when he turned around, he found it easy. That's a meaningful point for anyone who rides in neighborhoods with narrow paths or cul-de-sacs.

Where the fun really starts

Once he had a long, clear stretch, Brian finally opened it up. He watched the display climb from ten to eleven to thirteen, and then he said something I completely agree with: at these speeds is where the e-trike really gets exciting. He hit fifteen, then made another pass and reached thirteen, fourteen, fifteen again, commenting on how quick the acceleration was to get there.

His fastest moment of the day was about sixteen miles an hour. For a first ride, starting at four miles an hour in a parking area, that's a huge jump in confidence in a short time. And notice that he didn't get there by forcing it. He built up gradually, one loop at a time, until the speed felt natural. That's the path I'd recommend to anyone.

He also noted that when he was turning at those speeds, he didn't have to lean. He just steered. That's when you know the trike-riding habit has clicked. If you want to see the specs behind that acceleration, the Relaxed Body is part of our 750W electric tricycles collection, and the product page has the full details.

Powering down safely

At the end of the ride, Brian showed how easy it is to power down. He also gave a good safety tip: before you get off, make sure things are set so you don't accidentally hit the throttle while you're climbing off. A throttle is great when you want it, and a surprise when you don't. Turning the power off before you dismount is a habit worth building from day one.

Brian's verdict

His final words summed it up. It was his first time ever, it was a great, smooth ride, and he highly recommends the bike. He joked that he hoped he didn't make a fool of himself on camera, which, for the record, he didn't. Then he said that if you're looking for an e-trike and you haven't tried this one, he guarantees you'll absolutely love it.

What I take from Brian's ride is that the learning curve on the Relaxed Body is short. He had a couple of moments where he leaned when he didn't need to and took a turn a bit eagerly, but within one session he was riding on real streets at a confident pace and enjoying himself. That's what a first ride should feel like.

Carara and Brian rode different trikes, on different days, with different goals. But put their rides side by side and some clear lessons come out. These are the same points I end up talking through with riders all the time.

1. Steering takes a few minutes, not a few weeks

Both riders mentioned turning. Brian had to unlearn leaning and learned that you can't overturn a trike. Carara, who'd ridden before, just called the turning nice. The takeaway is that the steering adjustment is real but short. Start in an open, quiet space, turn the handlebars smoothly rather than sharply, keep your speed down in corners, and resist the urge to lean. Most people settle in within one ride.

2. You choose how hard you work

The most common misconception I hear is that an e-trike means you stop exercising. Carara proved the opposite. She stayed in pedal assist level one so she'd work harder, and she sat upright to engage her core. Brian, on the other hand, used the throttle freely and enjoyed the ease of it. Neither of them is doing it wrong. The motor gives you a range, and you pick your spot in it on any given day.

3. Getting on and off matters more than you think

Carara's two-second dismount and Brian's easy power-down both point to something people underestimate: if a trike is a hassle to mount, you'll ride it less. If you have any concerns about lifting a leg high, start with our easy-to-mount e-trikes with a low step-thru frame and work from there.

4. Seating position is personal

Carara liked having a backrest and armrests available, even though she often chose not to lean on them. Brian loved a comfortable seat with handlebars that sweep back toward him. If back support is high on your list, our recumbent electric trikes are built around a more reclined, supported position. If you prefer to sit up and steer from a more traditional posture, an upright trike will feel more natural. There isn't a single right answer, which is exactly Carara's point about there being something for everybody.

5. Think about how and when you'll actually ride

Carara's canopy turned a rainy day into a riding day and promises shade when it's hot. Brian's ride was about getting around a neighborhood with curbs, sidewalks, people, and cars. Before you buy, picture your typical ride. Will you be out in changing weather? Running errands and carrying things? If cargo is part of it, our electric tricycles with a large basket are a good starting point. The features that matter are the ones that match your actual routine.

6. Build speed gradually

Brian went from four miles an hour to about sixteen in one session, but he did it in small steps. He kept saying he was easing into it. That approach is the safest way to learn, and it's also the most fun, because each step up feels like an accomplishment rather than a scare. Start slow, let the trike earn your trust, and the speed will come.

7. Be honest about the learning moments

I like that Brian talked openly about leaning when he didn't need to and about feeling the trike lean when he accelerated too quickly. Those moments are normal. Nobody rides perfectly on day one. The important thing is that he felt in control the whole time and got more comfortable with every loop.

Finding the right trike for you

The best way to know which trike suits your body and your riding is to get properly fitted. Our Get Fitted page will match you with options based on your height, needs, and the kind of riding you want to do. And because nothing replaces actually riding, we back our trikes with a 30-day test ride so you can find out at home, on your own streets, whether it's right.

If you're near us, you can also visit our store and do what Carara and Brian did: climb on, switch it on, and see how it feels. Both of them started a little unsure and finished smiling. Carara, the runner who doesn't love biking, said it made her want to ride. Brian, on his first ride ever, said you'll absolutely love it. I've watched enough first rides to know they're not unusual. Most people just need that first few minutes to find out.