Rain, Shine and a Canopy: A 61-Year-Old Runner Falls for the Recumbent eTrike

Sixty-One and Ready to Roll

Carara opens her ride video the way most of us wish we could open a Monday morning: with a grin and a little bit of swagger. She introduces herself as sixty-one years young, and before the wheels have turned a full rotation it’s clear she means it. There is no hesitation in how she settles into the seat, no nervous glance at the controls. She is simply excited to be there, and that excitement turns out to be the most honest review of the whole afternoon.

What she is riding is not a traditional bicycle. It sits low, it has three wheels, it has a reclined seat with armrests, and on this particular day it has a full canopy overhead. If you have only ever pictured cycling as hunching over drop handlebars in tight shorts, this is a very different picture. It is closer to sitting in a comfortable chair that happens to move when you pedal, with an electric motor ready to help whenever you ask for it.

That combination matters a great deal for riders in their fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond. Balance gets less forgiving with age. Knees and hips start to file complaints. A long ride on a narrow saddle can leave you sore for days. The recumbent electric trike answers a lot of those concerns at once, and Carara’s ride is a useful look at how that plays out in real life, on a real street, in less-than-perfect weather.

This article walks through everything she noticed: the canopy, the seating positions, the core workout she sneaks in, the pedal assist levels, the reverse function, the cargo and passenger potential, and how quickly she hops on and off. Along the way we’ll add some practical context for anyone weighing whether a trike like this belongs in their own garage.

When the Rain Showed Up

Every outdoor video has a weather plan, and every weather plan eventually gets ignored by the sky. A few seconds into the ride, the rain starts. Plenty of people would have called it a day, packed up, and tried again tomorrow. Carara does the opposite. She points out that she happens to be on what she calls her deluxe version, the one with the canopy, and announces that this is the perfect time to put it to the test.

It is a small moment, but it captures something important about why a covered trike appeals to so many riders. Most of us treat cycling as a fair-weather activity. We check the forecast, see a forty percent chance of showers, and decide the ride isn’t worth the risk of getting soaked halfway to the coffee shop. Over a year, those skipped days add up. Fitness routines stall. Errands go back to the car. The bike sits.

Carara’s reaction to the rain is pure delight. She calls the setup fancy, and she isn’t wrong. There is something genuinely fun about being out in a passing shower and staying mostly dry while the street around you turns glossy. Later in the ride she admits she can’t even tell whether it is still raining, because the canopy is doing its job so well that she has stopped noticing.

That is the real test of any weather accessory. It is not whether it looks impressive in a showroom; it is whether you forget it is there because it simply works. A light rain shouldn’t be a reason to stay home, and for Carara on this ride, it wasn’t.

A canopy sounds like a luxury add-on, and in some ways it is. But once you think through how riders actually use their trikes, it starts to look more like a practical upgrade. Carara mentions that many people assume bikes are only for nice days, and that the canopy opens up the option of riding in rainy weather and possibly in more rugged conditions too.

The obvious benefit is staying drier. Rain falling on your head, shoulders and lap is what makes a wet ride miserable. A cover overhead takes care of most of that. Your hands stay drier on the controls, your display is easier to read, and you arrive somewhere looking like a person who rode there rather than a person who swam there. If you pair it with fenders to cut down on spray from the wheels, you have handled the two biggest sources of wet clothes on a rainy ride.

The less obvious benefit is psychological. When you know you are covered, you stop treating clouds as a reason to cancel. You plan rides with more confidence because the weather is no longer the deciding factor. For people who ride for health, that consistency is worth more than any single feature on the spec sheet.

If you already own a trike and like the idea, it is worth browsing the sixthreezero canopies to see what fits your model. If you are shopping for a new ride, keep the canopy in mind from the start, because it may change which frame style makes the most sense for you. A cover tends to pair especially well with a reclined seating position, since your whole body sits comfortably beneath it.

None of this means you should go looking for thunderstorms. Lightning, high winds and heavy downpours are reasons to stay in no matter what you ride. But for the ordinary drizzle that ruins so many good intentions, a canopy turns a cancelled ride into just another ride.

Sitting Upright for a Core Workout

One of the more interesting details in Carara’s ride is how she chooses to sit. The trike is built so that you can lean all the way back against the seat and rest your arms on the armrests. That is the classic recumbent posture, and it is wonderfully relaxing. But for part of the ride, Carara deliberately sits a little forward and upright, away from the backrest.

Her reason is simple: she wants a better workout. Holding yourself upright without leaning on the seat back makes your abdominal muscles do some work to keep you stable. It is the same principle as sitting on an exercise ball instead of an office chair. Nothing dramatic, nothing that will leave you aching, but a steady, low-level engagement of your core while your legs do the pedaling.

This is a smart way to think about a recumbent trike. The design gives you support when you want it, but it doesn’t force you into a single position. You can ride the first stretch sitting tall and working your midsection, then settle back when you are tired or simply want to enjoy the scenery. The trike adapts to the kind of ride you are in the mood for.

For older riders especially, core strength is no small thing. A strong midsection supports your lower back, improves posture, and helps with balance in everyday life, from getting out of a car to carrying groceries up the steps. Building a little of that strength while you are out enjoying the fresh air is an easy win.

If you try this yourself, start with short stretches. Sit upright for a few minutes, then lean back and rest. Pay attention to your lower back; if anything feels strained, go back to the supported position. The goal is gentle engagement, not endurance.

Later in the ride, Carara scoots back into the seat and lets the backrest take over. She notes that even in this position, her core still feels supported. That is the beauty of the reclined design: the seat cradles your lower back and spreads your weight across a much larger area than a traditional saddle ever could.

On an upright bike, almost all of your weight rests on a small seat and your hands. Hours of that can lead to numbness, saddle soreness and wrist fatigue. On a recumbent trike, your weight is distributed across your back and seat, your arms rest naturally, and your legs extend forward to the pedals. Many riders find they can stay out much longer simply because nothing hurts.

There is also a stability benefit. A low, reclined trike has a low center of gravity, and three wheels mean you don’t have to balance at stoplights or when moving slowly. You can come to a complete stop without putting a foot down. For riders who have had a fall, or who worry about one, that alone can be the difference between riding and not riding.

If comfort is your top priority, it is worth looking at both the recumbent eTrike lineup and the broader collection of most comfortable electric trikes. Recumbent models aren’t the only comfortable option, but they are one of the most forgiving for people with back, knee or balance concerns.

Carara’s experience suggests you don’t have to pick one riding style and stick with it forever. Lean back when you want to relax. Sit up when you want to work. The seat is there to serve you, not the other way around.

A Seat That Adjusts and Armrests That Help

Carara calls the seat super comfortable and really easy to adjust, and she says it twice. When a rider repeats a point like that unprompted, it usually means it made a real impression. Seat fit is one of the most overlooked parts of choosing a bike or trike, and it has a huge effect on how much you will actually enjoy riding.

A properly adjusted seat puts your legs at the right distance from the pedals. Too close and your knees bend sharply with every stroke, which can lead to knee pain over time. Too far and you overextend, rocking side to side and losing power. On a recumbent, you want a slight bend in the knee when the pedal is at its farthest point. Being able to make that adjustment quickly, without tools or a struggle, means you are far more likely to get it right and keep it right.

Easy adjustment also matters if more than one person in the household will ride the trike. Partners of different heights can share a single machine as long as switching the seat position takes seconds rather than a wrestling match.

The armrests are another quietly helpful feature. Carara puts them to use and folds them down when she gets off at the end. They give your arms somewhere natural to rest, reduce tension in the shoulders, and make the whole experience feel more like sitting in a favorite chair. They can also offer something to push against as you get up from the seat.

If your current seat isn’t working for you, browsing the sixthreezero seats is a good place to start. And if you are not sure what size or style suits your body, the Get Fitted tool is designed to match riders with frames based on their height, needs and riding goals.

Partway through the ride, Carara mentions that the trike has nice turning capabilities. It is a short comment, but anyone who has ridden a three-wheeler knows why it matters. Trikes behave differently than bicycles in corners, and a well-designed one should feel predictable and easy to steer.

On a two-wheeled bike, you lean into a turn. On a trike, you stay upright and steer, and the frame does the rest. That feels strange for the first few minutes if you have ridden bicycles your whole life, and then it starts to feel natural. The big advantage is that you don’t need to worry about balance at low speeds, which is exactly where a lot of bicycle tumbles happen: slow U-turns, tight driveways, crowded paths.

A good turning radius makes everyday riding easier. You can turn around at the end of a cul-de-sac without a three-point maneuver, swing into a parking spot at the grocery store, or navigate around a parked car on a narrow street. It is the kind of thing you don’t notice when it works and notice immediately when it doesn’t.

As with any trike, the golden rule is to slow down before a turn rather than in the middle of it. Three wheels give you stability, but physics still applies, and a sharp turn at speed is never a good idea. Ease into corners and you will find the trike responds smoothly.

If you are comparing styles, note that there are also front wheel (tadpole) eTrikes, which place two wheels up front and one in back. Each layout has its own feel, and trying them, or reading up on the differences in the Choosing A Bike section of the blog, can help you decide which suits you.

A Runner Who Didn’t Love Bikes

Here is one of the most revealing parts of the video. Carara admits that she doesn’t really like biking as much as she likes running and being out on her feet. She is, by her own description, a runner at heart. And yet, riding this trike, she says it makes her want to ride a bike.

That is a genuinely meaningful endorsement. It is easy to win over someone who already loves cycling. It is much harder to win over someone who prefers a completely different activity. When a dedicated runner climbs off a trike talking about how much she is enjoying it, it says something about how different the experience is from the cycling she had tried before.

Part of it is comfort. Part of it is the electric assist, which takes the edge off hills and headwinds. And part of it is just fun. Carara laughs her way through the ride, cheers when the canopy works, and narrates every new discovery with obvious pleasure. Exercise that feels like play is exercise you will keep doing.

For runners specifically, a trike can be a wonderful complement rather than a replacement. Running is high-impact. Joints take a pounding, and as we get older, recovery takes longer. A low-impact ride on a recumbent trike gives you cardiovascular work and leg strength without the jarring impact, so you can stay active on the days your knees ask for a break.

If you have always thought of yourself as someone who just isn’t into bikes, Carara’s experience is worth keeping in mind. It may not be cycling you dislike. It may just be the kind of bike you have been riding.

Midway through the ride, Carara demonstrates the pedal assist. She starts on level one, then bumps it up to two, and remarks on how quickly the trike takes off on its own. Then she drops it back down to one so she can get a stronger workout.

That little sequence explains pedal assist better than any brochure. You are still pedaling the whole time. The motor adds power on top of your effort, and the level you choose decides how much help you get. Lower levels give you a gentle boost and leave most of the work to your legs. Higher levels make pedaling feel easy and let you cruise along with less effort.

The real value is flexibility. On a day you want exercise, keep it low and work for it. On a day you are tired, heading uphill, or carrying a load, turn it up and let the motor carry more of the burden. You can change your mind at any point during the ride with a press of a button.

For new riders, a few tips help. Start on the lowest level in an open, quiet area, because even a small assist can surprise you the first time it kicks in, just as it surprised Carara. Get comfortable with how the trike responds before you try higher levels. And remember that higher assist uses more battery, so on long rides it pays to save the bigger boosts for when you really need them. Keeping your battery and charger in good shape will help you get the most range out of every ride.

Some trikes also offer a throttle that moves you forward without pedaling at all, which can be useful for getting started from a stop. If that matters to you, the collection of electric tricycles with throttle control is worth a look. Either way, the whole point is that you decide how hard the ride is, not the hill in front of you.

Reverse: The Feature You Didn’t Know You Needed

Carara points out that the trike also reverses, and she sounds genuinely thrilled about it. If you have never ridden a trike, you might wonder why anyone would care. If you have, you probably already understand.

A trike is wider and longer than a bicycle, and you can’t simply pick it up and turn it around the way you might with a lightweight bike. Backing out of a parking spot, getting out of a tight corner of the garage, or reversing out of a dead-end path can be awkward without help. Riders end up climbing off, grabbing the frame, and dragging or pushing the trike backward, which is the last thing anyone with a sore back wants to do.

A reverse function takes care of that. You stay seated, move backward under control, and carry on. It is especially useful on heavier trikes, trikes with cargo on board, and trikes with features like a canopy that add a little size. For older riders and anyone with mobility limitations, it removes one of the most physically demanding parts of trike ownership.

If reverse is high on your list, the reverse gear electric trikes collection gathers models with this feature in one place. As always, go slowly when backing up and check behind you, the same way you would in a car.

Room for a Passenger and Plenty of Stuff

As she rides, Carara starts thinking out loud about what else the trike could do. She feels like she could put a passenger in the back. She guesses she could carry a lot of stuff with her if she wanted. It is the kind of thought most new trike riders have within the first few minutes, because once you see how stable and roomy these machines are, the possibilities start to multiply.

Trikes are natural haulers. Three wheels mean the trike stays upright even when it is loaded, and the rear area offers space for baskets, bags and other storage. Running errands becomes realistic in a way that is awkward on a two-wheeler: a weekly grocery trip, a stop at the post office, a visit to the farmers market with room to bring the produce home.

Before loading up, check the specific model’s weight limits and passenger guidelines. Not every trike is designed to carry a second person, and those that are will be clearly built for it. If riding with a companion is something you want, start with trikes designed for passengers or consider a tandem model, where both riders can pedal together.

If cargo is the priority, look at cargo electric trikes and models with a large basket. Heavier riders, or anyone planning to carry substantial loads, should also browse trikes with high weight capacity to make sure the frame, wheels and brakes are rated for the job.

Accessories round it out. Bags and panniers keep items secure and protected from the weather, which pairs nicely with a canopy on a rainy errand run.

The canopy isn’t just about rain. Carara is quick to point out that she loves sun protection, and that the cover will give her more shade when the weather gets warmer. Anyone who has ridden on a hot, bright afternoon knows how quickly the sun can wear you down. Shade over your head and shoulders makes long summer rides more pleasant and helps reduce your exposure.

That said, a canopy is not a substitute for sunscreen. Light reflects off pavement and water, and the sun comes in at an angle in the morning and evening. Keep applying sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and bring water on hot days. The canopy simply makes the whole experience more comfortable.

Near the end of the ride, Carara notices another benefit: the cover keeps her a bit warmer. On a cool, damp day, blocking rain and some of the wind from above makes a noticeable difference in how chilly you feel. It won’t turn a winter ride into a spring one, but it can take the bite out of a gray afternoon.

Put those three things together, protection from rain, shade from the sun, and a bit of warmth on cooler days, and you have a trike that is usable for far more of the year. That is really the canopy’s biggest gift. It stretches the riding season so you aren’t limited to a handful of perfect days.

If you live somewhere with long summers or rainy winters, think about which kind of weather keeps you indoors most often. The answer might help you decide whether a canopy is a nice extra or the feature that will get you riding regularly.

Getting On and Off in Two Seconds

Near the end of the video, Carara demonstrates how easy it is to get on and off. Her description is cheerfully brief: two seconds, boom, boom, boom. She stands, steps away, and folds the armrest down. Then she sums it up with one last word for the whole package: classy.

Ease of mounting is one of the most important and least discussed parts of choosing a trike. If getting on and off is a struggle, you will ride less. It is that simple. Every ride starts and ends with this motion, and if it involves awkward leg swings, careful balancing or pulling yourself up, it becomes a small barrier you have to overcome every single time.

A seat with a supportive back and armrests makes standing up much easier, because you have something to push against. A frame that lets you step in and sit down, rather than swing a leg over, removes the balance challenge entirely. For riders with stiff hips, limited flexibility or a history of falls, these details matter enormously.

If mounting is a concern, the easy to mount eTrikes with a low step-thru collection focuses specifically on frames designed for simple, low-effort entry. The broader range of electric trikes for seniors is also built with accessibility in mind.

A good habit regardless of which trike you ride: always set the parking brake or make sure the trike is stationary before you stand or sit. A trike won’t tip over the way a bicycle can, but it can roll if you’re on a slope.

There’s Truly Something for Everybody

Carara mentions that she tried another model earlier and was madly in love with it, so she might lean toward that one specifically. Then she adds the thought that really ties the ride together: there is something for everybody, and you can pick whatever kind of bike you actually want.

That is an honest and useful perspective. Loving one model doesn’t mean another is worse; it means riders have different priorities. One person wants a canopy and a reclined seat for weather protection and back comfort. Another wants an upright trike with a big basket for errands. Someone else wants fat tires for sand and gravel, or a folding frame that fits in the trunk of the car.

The range is broad. Beyond recumbent models, there are fat tire electric trikes for softer terrain, four-wheel e-bikes for even more stability, and of course traditional electric bikes for riders who still prefer two wheels. The full electric tricycle collection is the easiest place to compare them all side by side.

If you are not sure where to begin, the Ultimate Bike Buyer’s Guide explains the main styles and features in plain language. And because no amount of reading replaces actually riding something, the 30-day test ride gives you time to find out how a trike fits your real life, on your own streets and in your own weather.

Carara’s rain ride is a great example of how fun wet-weather riding can be, but a little preparation goes a long way. A canopy keeps you drier; it doesn’t change the road surface beneath you. Here are a few habits worth building before you head out into a shower.

First, slow down. Wet pavement reduces traction, and painted road lines, metal grates and fallen leaves get especially slick in the rain. Give yourself more space to stop and take turns more gently than you would on a dry day. Trikes with disc brakes tend to offer more consistent stopping power in the wet, which is reassuring when conditions change.

Second, be visible. Rain reduces visibility for drivers as well as riders. Use lights even in daytime and wear bright or reflective clothing. A canopy can block some views from certain angles, so assume drivers may not see you as easily as you think.

Third, protect your head. A helmet is a good idea on every ride, rain or shine. It is a small habit that matters most on the day you least expect it.

Fourth, look after the trike afterward. Wipe down the frame and seat, let the canopy dry before storing it, and check your chain for signs of rust. Keep the battery and charging port dry, and charge indoors in a dry spot. Following the manufacturer’s guidance for weather exposure will help your trike last for years.

Finally, know when not to go. Light rain is one thing; storms, lightning, strong winds and flooded roads are another. A canopy expands your riding options, but good judgment still decides the day.

Who a Covered Recumbent eTrike Suits Best

Watching Carara ride, it is easy to picture the kinds of people who would get the most out of a setup like hers. The first group is riders who want to stay active but have found traditional bikes uncomfortable. If saddle soreness, wrist pain or a stiff neck has kept you off two wheels, a reclined seat with back support and armrests changes the experience completely.

The second group is people who worry about balance. Three wheels and a low seat mean you never have to steady yourself at a stop or wobble through a slow turn. That confidence often leads to longer, more frequent rides, which is where the real health benefits come from.

The third group is riders in places where the weather rarely cooperates. If your area has a rainy season, a scorching summer or simply unpredictable afternoons, a canopy can turn the trike from an occasional toy into a dependable part of your routine.

And the fourth group, as Carara proves, is people who don’t think of themselves as cyclists at all. Runners, walkers, gym regulars and folks returning to exercise after a long break can all find something to like here, because the trike meets you at whatever effort level you bring that day.

If you see yourself in more than one of these groups, that is a good sign a covered recumbent eTrike deserves a spot on your shortlist.

Making the Most of Your First Few Rides

Carara settled in quickly, but most riders benefit from an easy introduction. Spend your first ride in a quiet parking lot or an empty neighborhood street. Practice starting, stopping, turning in both directions and using reverse before you head into traffic. Get a feel for the brakes so stopping becomes automatic.

Next, set the seat properly. Take a few minutes to adjust it until your legs have a slight bend at the farthest pedal position, then take a short loop and adjust again if needed. It is worth getting this right early, since a poor fit is one of the most common reasons riders feel sore after their first outings.

Then experiment with the assist levels the way Carara did. Try the lowest setting, step up one level, and notice the difference. Learn which level feels right for flat stretches, which helps on hills, and which leaves you with the workout you want. Over a week or two, you will develop a sense for how you like to ride.

Try both seating positions, too. Sit upright for part of the ride to engage your core, then lean back and relax. Mix it up based on how your body feels. Finally, plan a few short, useful trips: a ride to the mailbox, a quick errand, a loop around the park. Building riding into everyday life is the surest way to keep doing it.

For more on fit, the Get Fitted tool can help you match a frame to your body before you buy, so those first rides feel right from the start.

What makes this short ride so enjoyable to watch is that nothing about it is staged perfection. The weather turned. The plan changed. And instead of calling it off, a sixty-one-year-old runner who doesn’t usually love bikes climbed under a canopy, pedaled out into the rain, and had a wonderful time.

Along the way she showed off almost everything that makes a covered recumbent eTrike worth considering: weather protection that lets you ride when you otherwise wouldn’t, a seat that adjusts easily and supports you in more than one position, a chance to work your core while you ride, pedal assist that lets you choose your effort, a reverse function that solves a real everyday problem, room to carry more, and a design that lets you get on and off in seconds.

Most of all, she showed that riding can feel joyful at any age. Her energy is contagious, and her biggest takeaway is one anyone can use: find the ride that makes you want to get out there, and the rest tends to take care of itself.

If Carara’s experience has you curious, take some time to explore the recumbent trikes, browse more rider stories in the Video Blog, or find inspiration for your next outing in Ride Ideas. For broader questions about choosing and caring for your ride, the Bike Advice section has plenty more to read. Rain or shine, there is a ride out there that fits you.