MBW is proud to sell vehicles from
Catrike
everything we love about cycling without the discomfort, pain or need to balance
comfort not first - the downsides to traditional upright bikes
as a shop specializing in bicycle touring (ie exploring the world under your own power) we believe rider comfort is the single most important factor when choosing your gear.
however, we must be honest with our customers: there is a limit to how comfortable a traditional upright bicycle can be. Eventual discomfort is inevitable because of the inherent upright position, which requires balancing and contorting the body to pedal.
regardless of industry advancements or how well-fitted a bike is, the discomfort eventually sets in. For some riders, it may be 30 minutes before back pain or chafing begins; for others, wrist issues (like carpal tunnel or numbness) may flare up within minutes. even the custom, high-end touring bikes we build, which are meant to be ridden for days on end, offer only temporary relief and pain in the back and neck eventually make all but folks racing to make their living need to call an end to their riding day. this physical compromise is the accepted downside of conventional cycling - but it doesn't have to be for folks who are willing to broaden their definition of what they consider a bike.
the solution: recumbent trikes
this fundamental limitation to the design of the traditional upright bike is why we started offering recumbent trikes.
the lower to the ground and more laid back design of recumbent vehicles allow you to sit in a wide, hammock-like chair, completely eliminating the common pressure points on your neck, wrists, back, and sensitive areas down below. the laid back and sit upon positions (different models offer different amounts of uprightness) for those who like to be a bit more upright recumbent trikes offer delivers the potential for a truly comfortable, long-distance touring experience with zero compromises. add a third wheel into the mix and all of a sudden the rider doesn't need to balance anymore which is a real bonus (for some it is essential) to those who experience challenges with their balance.
in case you aren't already in the know, Catrike is a storied recumbent (where you sit down and lean back) trike maker in Orlando, Florida that has been at the forefront of lightweight, comfortable and easy to pedal bike travel for over 50 years. imagine being able to go all the places you do on your traditional upright bike without any of the pain and discomfort you currently experience. sounds, pretty good right? well what about if we told you you didn't need to be able to balance on two wheels to continue to enjoy the activity you love? that's the whole idea behind a recumbent trike and Catrike is makes just such three wheeled animals for specialty dealers like ourselves (Maine Bike Works) to get you out riding. awesomesauce!
if you've ever been curious about a recumbent trike, you'll love Catrike's designs and because MBW is all about bike travel, we think it's important to keep a couple of their most popular designs in stock for folks to try out. right now we have one of their top models that you can borrow and try out: the Dumont. being one of their more expensive models, it has all the bells and whistles (shock absorbers in the front and rear!, wide tires, 30 easy to pedal gears and a frame that folds allowing you to put it in the back of your car that much easier). letting us walk you through our Recumbent Trike 101 with the Dumont as a show and tell will give you a great overview of why recumbent trikes make so much sense for folks looking for comfort while they enjoy their time outdoors. so come on in and let us measure you up for it and you can take it out into the super quiet retirement neighborhood right behind the shop. we're confident we can show you the essentials of what anyone considering one of their trike should know in advance of pulling the trigger.
for about the same price as some of the imported recumbent trikes on the market, you can ride a truly handmade American Made bike brought to life with heart and craft. Catrikes's ready to ride, hard surface capable trikes start at around $2,800 (Dec 1st, 2025) and almost all of their models can be ordered as a e-bike version (motors and batteries to help you get up the hill!) for an additional $3,000. even cooler is that you can convert most of their trikes to e-assist at any point down the line if your needs change for about $3,500 or so. while the initial cost of riding a Made in the USA trike may be slightly more aspirational than some of the other more production oriented recumbents on the market that come out of the far east, you won't find another maker who makes it easier for you to get out riding.
call yourself Catrike-curious?
if so, leave the next steps to us. we'll walk you through the quick and easy process to help you decide if a Catrike is right for you. the hardest thing you'll have to decide is which color to have your new trike painted when it rolls off the assembly line down in Orlando. you'll probably be out and riding it two weeks after you choose. yup, it's as easy as that.
to start the ball rolling (or the wheel turning?) stop by the shop, shoot us an email or give us a call, we'll be happy to share what we know about recumbent trikes to help you make an informed choice. we'll ask you a ton of questions and make a recommendation of a model and the accessories you'll need on day one (such as lights, a rack, some pannier bags etc) as well as some nice to have items which will make the transition from riding an upright bike to riding a recumbent trike easier (such as some lightweight folding ramps to make it easy-peasy to roll up into the back of your car, etc).
when you get to the point of wanting to get out and riding, the toughest choice is needing to choose the color you want your new trike to be powder coated with. we carry paint samples of all 9 Catrike colors and can show you any of the seasonal special edition colors Catrike offers online. when we place the order for you, if they don't have that specific model and color in stock, the good folks at Catrike HQ will weld you up one in just a day or two and get it in our hands a week or so after you ask us for it. when it arrives, we'll take a few days to build it up right (it arrives to us as a bare frame and a box of parts) and we'll drop you a line when we've signed off on it. if you aren't comfortable with picking it up at the shop (something we recommend as we can show you how to best fit it in your car) then ask us to drive the trike directly to your doorstep to save you the trip. while picking it up in person will be less expensive for you, we understand that not everyone has a car big enough.
as I mentioned, we're happy to share what we know, so drop us an email or call in sometime to start the conversation. we understand that not everyone who wants to learn more about the benefits of riding a recumbent trike are specifically looking to buy ASAP so don't worry about feeling any sales pressure while you chat with us and take a demo out for a spin. when the time comes however and you get to the point of deciding you want one of your very own, just know we'll be as excited to get you out riding as you will be to get out pedaling.
so where to go from here? well, we'd suggest checking out some of our prior builds below and then check out Catrike's website as good places to start your research. we've linked to some of our favorite Catrike resources below. of course, if you'd like to cut to the chase and have us walk your through Catrike 101, just reach out and we'll be happy to start guiding you down the path to recumbent trike cycling nirvana.
Catrike model #1: the Dumont
our favorite, go everywhere do everything trike. it has suspension to ease the bumps, a super adjustable seat, a nice big back wheel for longer distace, the ability to run up to 2" wide tires for looser surfaces, folds for storage and has the widest range gearing for folks who like to not only go fast, but are likely to need to go up steep, steep hills. if someone's positional needs and budget allows it, the Dumont is the trike we recommend folks to rule out before looking at the other models.
here's a few of the different ways we've built Dumonts, each may have different bars, tires and accessories on them, but the heart of the trike remains the same.
our Demo Durmont are you trike curious? come take our lovely little purple Dumont for a spin. we have a quiet over 50's neighborhood behind the shop that makes the perfect test loop. we'll patiently walk you through everything you need to know about riding a recumbent trike (it only takes 5 mins!) before we wish you bon voyage on your first trike ride. bring a partner and we'll give them an easy to ride traditional upright bike so they can accompany you. we look forward to sharing what we know and love about Catrike! BTW, while you are here, ask us to show you how easy it is to load into the back of most any car, we'd love to give it a shot for you. if you're worried about having to life it, we'll be happy to show you a pair of the easy loading folding ramps we sell specifically to make taking your trike to places a breeze.
a Dumont for fast urban ride this customer wanted a trike to allow him to keep up with his recumbent riding family. the Dumont has the widest ranging gearing which means that not only can he make it up the steeper hills, but he can also keep pushing the pedals on the way down. the 3x10 gearings means he has easy, easy gears as well as hard hard gears. speed for when he wants it and comfort all the time. what's not to love?
Catrike model #2: the All Road
if someone likes the body positioning that the Dumont puts a rider in, but is looking for a slightly easy drivetrain, we point folks to Catrike's brand new All Road. while the Dumont accepts the same 2" wide tires, the All Road comes with them on day one which means we class it as even smoother rolling on the rougher roads we have here in New England. both trikes share the same bump-killing suspension and super adjustable seat that we love on the Dumont. it also has a super easy to use and live with 1x drivetrain (ie all the gears are in the back - so no front shifter or derailleur to have to learn how to use) which is something something we think everyone will appreciate. it even saves a few hundred $ as the All Road by forgoing the folding frame feature that the Dumont comes with on day one (assuming you have room to store the trike unfolded in a garage or shed and don't need to fold it up to put in your condo's storage unit that's not even a needed feature. like the Dumont and most Catrikes it will easily fit into the back of most smaller hatchbacks / crossovers no problamo.
a trike for longer rides in the rural backroads of Maine this customer wanted a trike with suspension that could handle the less than smooth roads and backroads of Maine. with plans for longer days on softer and often rough surfaces, he choose the All Road because it comes with 2" tires on day one, has a plus suspension and has the gearing needed for the shorter punchy hills the Pine Tree State has in abundance. the fact it easily fits into his Subaru Forester is the icing on the cake.
Catrike model #3: the Expedition
are you an experienced 2 wheeled recumbent rider, but have resisted making the change to 3 wheels because you wanted to maintain that same snappy handling, lightweight set up and laid back position? well, check out the Expedition. the name might make you think this is Catrike's most rugged, world touring trike, but it is almost the complete opposite. nimble, sporty, simple and lightweight are all words to describe what it is like to live with an expedition. it doesn't have suspension, it doesn't fold, it doesn't have an adjustable seat. all simple, all fast. think of it as the 3 wheeled version of your trusty recumbent that promises to keep you upright even when you slow down as you crawl up that steep hill on your favorite loop.
the nimble, simple go fast trike this customer wanted a trike to replace the 2 wheeled recumbent he's spent the last 20 years riding. it accepts a much wider than his old 'bent machine and he doesn't need to put his foot down to steady himself when coming to a stop sign. perhaps the perfect evolution of the way to maintain speed and fun when either mobility or balance don't let you ride a two wheeled machine any more. a real rocket!
Catrike model #4: the Trail
don't need suspension or the bigger rear tire because you'll mostly be taking shortish (under 3 hour) trips, riding paved roads and smoother packed dirt bike paths? if so, you can save yourself a little $ by checking into the Trail. if your budget doesn't quite extend to a Dumont or All Road and you're looking for a simple, easy to use trike that comes with all the gearing you'll ever need for New England, check this model out. Fits
the perfect bikepath trike this customer wanted a simple, non-suspended trike that folks easily to put the trike out of the way in a corner of the garage once the riding season is over. while considerably less money, it shares the same drivetrain (3x10 gears) as the Dumont which freed up some extra $ for some easy-up bars to make getting in and out of it that much easier - not to mention custom 2" red tires. a super nice compact and easy to live with trike for her local adventures. she also picked up a pair of our lightweight folding ramps to allow her to roll it in and out of the back of her car without assistance. brilliant!
the rabbit hole
as a small company that does both design AND manufacturing in-house at their HQ in Florida, Catrike is constantly coming out with new and exciting stuff - their frequent tweaks make badass trikes, but it's also a challenge for us to keep own website updated with all their cool offerings. you may want to bone up on what they are currently doing by reading and seeing the latest from the horses mouth (ie Catrike HQ).
so, the next time you're sitting at a desk pretending to work, get up-to-date with all things Catrike with the following resources:
