C y c l i s t Recumbent - Steve Briggs

The Pocket’s light weight and tiny footprint
make for an amazingly fun ride. It was by far
the most popular test trike with my kids for
racing around the neighborhood, and the feedback
I’ve read on the web is so far all good.
The Pocket is an affordable, lightweight and
compact trike for zooming down your local
bike trails. It works especially well for smaller
riders. Catrike fulfills a unique niche with this
new trike and we’re happy to see them do so.
The excitement surrounding this brand just
keeps coming. ◆
Note the simple direct steering
even more important.
COMPANY
Paulo Camasmie’s Big Cat HPV, makers of
Catrike trikes, has grown by leaps and bounds
over the last few years. The line has been a bit
changeable, but 2005 will see models, component
selection and pricing stabilize with the
three current models, the Pocket, Road and
Speed. Catrikes are best known for excellent
value, light weight and very responsive handling.
They’ve developed a very loyal customer
and dealer base that is unequaled in
North America at this time.
VERDICT
The buzz words of lightweight and aluminum
frame have really hit the sweet spot
among Catrike customers. Catrike has changed
all of the rules by offering such lightweight
trikes. Catrikes are ten or more pounds lighter
than their steel competitors. Even if you carry
several pounds in gear, your starting weight is
much lower.
Weight is not everything. The Pocket is a
quick handling and rigid riding trike and may
Our Catrike Pocket
not be the best choice for all riders. It is a very
short, narrow and responsive trike. And one
not designed for high speed stability. Riders
of average build and larger, and more serious
road riders, commuters and tourists will be
better suited to the Catrike Road or Speed
models. Don’t buy this trike because it is light
weight. Buy it because it fits you, you like
riding it or you need a very compact trike.
We had two minor issues with our Catrike
Pocket. Our trike arrived with a warped Avid
disc rotor. These can be tricky to true. I
couldn’t find one locally. Catrike shipped a
replacement the same day. Another minor issue
was a shipping scratch (1” x 1/2”). Catrike
offered to replace the frame, but I declined.
This is what I call great service.
The Pocket is a great deal at $1,500, and
this price may not last long. The Pocket will
be upgraded to include headset kingpins and a
full heat-treated frame midseason and the price
will certainly increase sometime later this
Summer.
EASY RIDERS RECUMBENT CLUB MAGAZINE
To order a sample issue, or to
subscribe: www.geocities.com/
e_r_r_c or sample copy $5 to:
Connie McAyeal, PO Box 1688,
North Plains, OR 97133-1688
FOR
• Very Lightweight
• Quick & responsive
• Good specs
• Excellent value
• Easy to own, haul and store
AGAINST
• Quick handling
• Powerful brakes
• Geared low
• Small for some riders
• Somewhat nervous high speed manners
MORE INFO
Web: www.catrike.com
NUMBERS
Wheelbase: 33”
Seat height: 8”
Crank height: 15.5”
Track width: 26”
Overall width: 29”
Seat angle: 45º
Weight: 27 lbs. without pedals
Weight limit: 250 lbs.
Gears: 24-speed
Gear-Inch Range: 17.7-78
Turning circle: 13’9”
Frame: TIG aluminum, w/heat treated boom
Color: Yellow powerdercoat
Handlebars: Heat-treated aluminum
Seat: Integrated frame, mesh cover
Sizes: One, fits to 45” x-seam
SPECS
Crankset: Truvativ Touro 30/42/52 170 mm
Bottom Bracket: New Power ISIS
Cassette: Sram 11-28 8-spd.
Derailleurs: Shimano Sora
Chain: SRAM PC-58 with master link
Shifters: SRAM MRX twist
Headset/s: Polymer bushings
Brakes/levers: Avid 5 mechanical disc
Wheels: 349 mm 16”
Hub (front): Catrike 20mm front
Hub (rear): Deore
Rims: Alloy
Tires: Primo Comet Kevlar 16” x 1.35”
Pedals: Platform
Steering: Direct bars attached to kingpin
assembly
18 Recumbent Cyclist News