This April I’ll be participating in my 4th MS 150 and I’ll be riding the best-lookin’ recumbent trike of anybody else on the road. In my last post I gave you some sneak peeks of her loveliness. Here she is in all of her glory.
Just for fun, here’s a shot with our cat Xena, who almost blends in with the seat except for her green-green eyes.
My husband Gary shot these photos using a black backdrop in the dark, outside in the cold. In order to get this single photo of Xena sitting in the trike’s seat he had to shoot 23 different shots. 17 of the frames had me reaching in or out, stepping in or out, or body-blocking the shot. Said cat did not like the idea of the night chill, or the bright lights, or, ya know, being TOLD to do something (as in, you know, being told do anything). I’m a pretty good cat-wrangler, but that was one daunting and hilarious feat, let me tell you. It was worth it, though, because I really like the photo.
And here’s my VTX beauty with Luke, my mobility assistance dog. Which makes perfect sense, because my recumbent trike is my happiness, independence, go-fast freedom, adventure-seeking assistant. My two assistance partners in one photo: SWEET.
This baby rides like a dream. I can hardly believe what a smooth-sailing trike the ICE VTX is. Somehow she manages to ride as heavenly as my 2006 ICE Qnt with rear suspension. If that’s not what’s called a galactic leap-forward in design, then I don’t know what is. You can read more about the design of the ICE VTX HERE in Bryan Ball’s most excellent review, and I’ll be posting more rider feedback and responses for you soon, as well, both here (of course) and on a special section of Steve Greene’s Trike Asylum – where there will be more reviews and photos of VTX-ness.
The VTX would be a fabulous trike for anybody wanting a light, sleek, quick recumbent trike (in fact, I don’t think any other offerings come anywhere close to the VTX’s performance, comfort and looks), but for those of us with illness and/or disability, I believe the VTX to be heaven-sent. I can pick her up without straining my back; I can lift her over high curbs and into the back of my car with ease; I can ride miles-&-miles without my back/hips/joints taking a beating; and she’s such a feather-weight she practically serves as a jetpack going up hills.
This is recumbent trike/rider true love, people. True. Love.
Will you be riding the 2014 Lone Star BP MS 150? I think you should 🙂 Alternatively, you could make me – and a whole lot of other folks – crazy-happy with a wee donation. Every little bit helps, and every little donation acts as a humongous show of support and encouragement for my efforts in the daily battle against MS and my ride towards a CURE. My donation page can be found here. I am grateful for every, single donation-gift, I can assure you.
:::Z O O O O O O O O M:::
Wonky Woman on a Bent Trike 
so my friend…it will be interesting to see which is faster…..3 greyhounds on a VTX or a cat and a lukie…hehehe…….hugs!
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If you have had time to ride your VTX on various surfaces, I would value your comparisons to your previous Trike.
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Hi Glen,
Yes, I’ve ridden the VTX on just about every kind of road and road condition that exists – save icy, which we don’t see much of here in the Houston/Galveston area. My other ICE trikes are are 2006 Qnt with rear suspension and a 2011 with full suspension. To compare the VTX, a full-on racing trike, with a full suspension touring trike is not really fair to either trike. They’re designed for different ride conditions and experiences. Obviously a fully suspended trike is going to offer more ride comfort, as does the cushioned mesh seat, which make for a really nice ride. My 2011 full suspension Vortex is a limited edition (as in, like, only 4 or 5 of them were made) and was actually configured using the same frame as the current Sprint. For purposes of comparison, and with regard to everything I’m sharing, you need to know that the trike I’m talking about is really the equivalent of what you’d buy in a 2011 or newer fully suspended ICE Sprint with the X (upgraded) group of components. I truly believe that the Sprint is the best all around trike to be had; it is the best of both worlds, those “worlds” being the comfort of a touring trike and the light-and-fast of a racing trike.
My 2006 Qnt does have rear suspension, and she is comfy trike. That said, the frame, suspension system, and even the seat are all of previous generation design. The genius ICE folks have redesigned the frame a bit and tweaked the suspension system, as well as made their seats exponentially more comfortable. So when I’m talking about my Qnt you need to keep in mind that while the Qnt is most comparable to the current Sprint model, it’s not equal, because of how the many parts and the mainframe have been improved with each new generation. Make sense?
Okay, so, all that being said, I will tell you that my lovely new VTX racing trike is even more comfortable of a ride – over all surfaces – than my 2006 ICE Qnt with rear suspension. The hydroforming of the spiffy new frame design, the like-magic comfort of the new hardshell seat and cushy foam padding – all of that comes together to offer the sleekest, smoothest ride I’ve ever experienced on a unsuspended trike. And, to repeat, it’s even a better ride than the older Qnt which does have rear suspension.
If you have more specific questions, or I haven’t been clear enough, just hit me back up and I’ll be happy to answer more questions and to clarify further.
Happy trails!
Denise
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