A tricycle (often abbreviated to trike) is a three-wheeled vehicle.
Tricycles generally follow one of two layouts:
Tadpole, with two steered wheels at the front and one (usually driven) wheel at the back.
Not all trikes fall into one of these two classes. For example, some early pedal tricycles used two wheels in tandem on one side and a larger driving wheel on the other. It is common for tricycles to have front and rear wheels of different sizes.
The word tricycle has been in use since the early 19th century. The first recorded usage is in 1828, signifying a "three-wheeled horse-drawn carriage." Tricycles have evolved to include various forms of propulsion including pedals, steam and internal combustion engines. The abbreviation trike has been in use since 1883.
The Races
For the amusement of visitors to the show, and as leaven to the serious business of examining the numerous interesting exhibits which are hereafter detailed, the committee arranged motor tricycle races and a motor gymkhana, all of the events included in which greatly interested the numerous assemblage.
The first event to attract the public was a match between the Hon. C. S. Rolls, riding a De Dion motor tricycle, and a well-known trotter named Gold Ring, driven in the regulation trotting sulky by a resplendently-garbed driver. The hay-motor was evidently flurried by the contiguity of the "purring, spitting motor," and broke again and again, so that the event was not quite serious. It was evident, however, that Rolls's machine was distinctly faster than the horse.
Then came a mile match between those two daring and expert motor tricyclists Messrs. C. Jarrott and S. F. Edge, both riding De Dion motor tricycles, although we believe Jarrott's motor was but one and a half horse-power to Edge's two and a half horse-power. Edge got first away, but was quickly passed by Jarrott, who took a long lead, and though Edge closed up the gap considerably before the last lap Jarrott won by three lengths.
The Autocar, 24th June 1899
Tricar Development.
EVERY reader of our show report, as well as every visitor to the Stanley Show, must have been impressed with the fact that the feature of the show was the tricar. As most motor cyclists know, the tricar developed from the forecar– that is to say, the original of the machine was a bicycle, then two front wheels were exchanged for the single front wheel, and a. seat for a second rider fitted. These machines were uncomfortable arrangements, and owing to the fact that they were bicycles first and forecars after, they were almost without exception underpowered. They provided the companionship which so many motor cyclists wanted, but they were very far from satisfactory, and we early realised, and at once commenced to advocate water-cooling and variable gears. Our advocacy was at once accepted by the great majority of the industry, and to all intents and purposes every tricar to-day is built upon the lines we have persistently advocated, because where water-cooling is not used special means are adopted to ensure that the air-cooling arrangements shall be adequate.
The sum of the whole matter is that tricars are now receiving the attention they deserve from the manufacturers, and there is already quite a number of really delightful tandem tricycles. They are no longer convertible arrangements: they are three-wheelers from birth, and as they have developed the old objections have been overcome. We have dealt with the way in which the engine and transmission have been brought up to the requirements of the type. Properly-built frames are now made, many of them on the trussed principle, so that the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight is obtained; insulation of the riders from road vibration has received careful attention by many designers; and last, but by no means least, efficient mudguards have been fitted to the front wheels, and the provision of footboards and wings or projections from the back seat have secured the driver as well as the passenger a clean position. It was too long assumed that the tricar must of necessity be a dirty machine; it has been shown, however, that it is, after all, not so very difficult to make it a clean one. The tricar has always been a sporting and fascinating form of machine, with wonderful hill-climbing capacity, but in making it comfortable and clean designers may have to see that they do not go too far. It should still remain a cycle as far as possible, and weight should be considered throughout. We do not think it wise that the machines should be made into practically tandem motor cars, if this means, as it does in almost every case, a material increase in weight.
Report on the 1904 Stanley Show, The Motor Cycle, November 28th, page 1149.
Sources: Graces Guide, The Motor Cycle.
