Ice Bicycle 2012, Adventure 2014, Sprint 2014, VTX 2014, 2012 Adventure Owner's Manual

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2012 Trike Owners Manual

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.2 Adjusting and closing quick-releases

2.0 Adjusting your ICE trike

2.1 Tyre pressure

2.2 Folding and unfolding (not vortex)

2.2a Suspension adjustment

2.2b Front suspension adjustment

2.3 Mesh seat cover

2.3a Seat angle adjustment

2.4 Hardshell seat adjustment

2.5 Tailor fitting your hardshell seat

2.6 Leg length

2.7 Seat brackets

2.8 Brake lever adjustment

3.0 ICE optional accessories

4.0 Riding your ICE trike

4.1 Getting on and off the trike

4.2 Initial test ride

4.3 Stopping in a low gear

4.4 Relax

4.5 Cornering

4.6 Handling

4.7 Brakes

4.8 Hill climbing

4.9 Descending a hill

4.10 Ground clearance

4.11 Muscles

5.0 Maintenance

5.1 Lubrication

5.2 Adjusting derailleurs

5.3 Drum brakes

5.4 Disc brakes

5.5 Rear brake

5.6 Drivetrain

5.7 The frame

5.8 Tyres, tubes, & wheels

5.9 Suspension

5.10 Adjusting the tracking

5.11 Storage

5.12 Frame number

5.13 Recommended minimum tools and spares

5.14 First service

6.0 Safety

7.0 Other important information

7.1 Recumbent/trike forums on the Internet

7.2 Warranty information

7.3 Liability information

7.4 Legal requirements

7.5 Contacting us
Appendix A: Tyre pressures
Appendix B: Tightening torques
Accessories

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1.0 Introduction

Congratulations on being a new ICE trike owner.
You have purchased the finest, most refined
recumbent tricycle available today; we hope it
brings you many years of enjoyment.

This manual has been written to help you set up
and use your trike. Recumbent trikes may be
a little different from the cycles you are familiar
with, so please take a moment to read through
this document. You will find the latest version of
this manual in a download-able PDF format on
our website.

Throughout the manual, we have included
some tips, which have been learned from over
20 years of experience building trikes. They are
well worth taking special note of.

If you have never worked on a bike before,
you should consider purchasing a good book
on bicycle maintenance. The ICE trikes use
as many standard bicycle components as
possible, and their adjustment and maintenance
is no different from an upright bicycle. We can
recommend Lennard Zinn’s “Zinn and the Art of
Mountain Bike Maintenance” as a thorough
and easy-to-read reference.

If you are assembling your trike for the first time,
please refer to the ICE Trikes Assembly Manual.

We hope you enjoy owning and riding your ICE
trike as much as we like making these great
machines.

On the off-chance that you have any issues with
your trike please contact your dealer or ICE HQ.
(see contact details towards the back of this
Manual)

1.1 Overview

ICE Sprint RS used in this example.

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TIP:

Experiment but always go for a

reasonable (a mile or two) test ride

to decide if an adjustment is right for

you.

1.2 Adjusting and closing quick-releases

Quick-releases are used in a number of places
on your trike; it is important that they are
tightened correctly. A quick-release that isn’t
fully and properly closed can result in parts
coming loose or moving while riding. This could
cause a serious accident. A quick-release
system consists of two basic parts: a lever that
provides the clamping force and an adjusting
nut that alters the clamping tension.

With the part you are clamping located
properly, adjust the quick-release by opening
it, holding both ends and turning one clockwise
until, when you close the lever, you feel some
resistance. At this point, try to close the lever
fully. The adjustment is correct when you can
fully close the lever, but with some effort (the
lever should leave its impression in the palm of
your hand).

If you can only close the lever part way, open
it, unscrew the adjusting nut slightly and try
again. If it closes too easily, tighten it up a tiny
bit and try again. Do not try to tighten the quick­release by winding the lever around; it will not
tighten enough to be safe.

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2.0 Adjusting your ICE trike

TIP:

When assembling your trike,

please refer to the table in the

appendix for the proper tightening

torques for all fasteners. Do not

overtighten.

Fine-tuning for leg length, seat angle, handle
bar width / angle, brake lever reach, tyre
pressure etc are all well worth taking time to
set to your personal preference.

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2.1 Tyre pressure

Typical tyre pressure for the standard tyres
is about 70psi (4.6 bar). Do not inflate the
tyres more than the maximum pressure
recommended on the tyre sidewalls. You
will need to experiment a bit to find the tyre
pressure that suits you best. Higher pressures
will allow the trike roll more easily, but will
transmit more road shock to the rider. Lower
pressures will feel much more comfortable,
but there can be more rolling resistance.
Also try experimenting with tyres; there are
now large cruiser tyres available which can
provide a comfortable ride and reasonably
low rolling resistance, as well as small high­pressure racing tyres that offer very-low rolling
resistance and sport’s-car type handling.

2.2 Folding and unfolding (Not Vortex 2012)

Folding and unfolding your trike is very simple. After you have practiced it a few times, you will be
able to do it easily in under a minute.
To fold your trike:

Unscrew the knobs under the front of the seat
and slide the clips off the frame cup in which
the seat sits. They should be left at the end of
the screws as seen here. They are there to
prevent the knob from being unwound too far
and falling out.

Release the QR (Quick Release) on the seat
post.
Remove the seat.

Undo the QR on the hinge. Release the QR on each handlebar and
swing it backwards until each is horizontal.
Re-fasten each QR.

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Swing the rear section of the frame up and to
the left. Be sure to lift the chaintubes as shown
in the photo. This will allow the chain to fold
over properly.

Put the neoprene mat between any parts that

touch after the fold.

Swing the QR and its connecting pin
backwards 90 degrees.
Lift the QR and its pin to release the safety
catch.

Unfolding your trike is the same sequence in
reverse order. To unfold your trike:

• Swing the rear section of the frame up and
to the left and then down to the unfolded
position.

• Put the neoprene mat in a safe place for
next time you fold the trike.

• Lift the QR (Quick Release) latch to retract
the safety pin, and close the hinge. Make
sure the safety pin is properly engaged.

• Swing the QR and its connecting pin
forwards 90 degrees (into the slot on the
front part of the hinge).

• Tighten the QR on the hinge. If the QR is
loose, the adjusting nut may be tightened
slightly.

• Release the QR on each handlebar and
swing them forward until each is vertical.
Re-fasten each QR.

• Put the seat in place and slide the clips on
the bottom seat rail over the frame cup in
which the seat sits.

• Tighten the knobs under the front of the
seat.

• Secure the seat angle adjustment onto the
QR and tighten the QR.

• Make sure everything is secure before
riding your trike.

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2.2a Suspension adjustment

The front and rear suspension can both be fine­tuned to work well for you. The rear suspension
can be adjusted by a combination of selecting
one of three different hardness and five different
fitting positions for the elastomer. The front
suspension can be adjusted by selecting one of
three different hardness elastomers. All trikes
come with medium elastomers fitted to both
front and rear suspensions. Other elastomers
are available for purchase from ICE.

Rear suspension

The adjustment is accomplished by the selection
of elastomers and mounting positions. The
elastomers are available in three hardnesses:
Yellow/Soft, Red/Medium, Green/Hard. There
are five mounting positions; the lowest/closest
to the main pivot (numbered 1 here) will make
the suspension feel softer. The highest/furthest
from the main pivot position (5) will make the
suspension feel harder.To setup the suspension
you will need to select an elastomer and position
it by using the table on page 9.

Elastomer positions

Unclip the rear suspension by pulling the
stainless steel clip on the left hand side over
its pin. The purpose of this clip is to keep the
rear swing arm from dangling when the trike is
picked up; it is only unclipped when changing
the elastomer .

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The elastomers have different compression
characteristics, and you may find other
combinations of elastomer hardness and pin
position which suit the roads you ride on and
your riding style better; it is just a matter of trying
different combinations. The elastomer system
is simple and small enough that you can carry
a couple of elastomers in your bag and change
them when you are out on a ride if you like.

If you ride on rough terrain or ride aggressively,
you may benefit from a harder elastomer. If you
are a leisurely rider, who rides predominantly on
smooth tarmac, you may be able to use a softer
elastomer. If the setup is too soft the trike may
not reach its optimised comfort setting.
If it is too hard comfort will be compromised.

You should generally get a better result with
the hardest elastomer recommended for your
weight, for example if your weight is 90kg use
the green elastomer in position 2 rather than red
in position 4.

If you are a light rider and have your suspension
setup soft it is advisable to adjust it to a firmer
setting; change for a harder elastomer if
necessary before allowing a significantly heavier
rider to sit on your trike, otherwise permanent
damage to the elastomer may occur.

With rear or full suspension, tyres can be run at
higher pressure while maintaining good comfort.
Contrary to popular belief, elastomers do not
significantly change stiffness with lower or higher
temperatures.

The elastomer is removed by pulling and
twisting it off the shock pin. With the back end
hinged open, screw the shock pin into the
required hole in the shock plate. Firmly push the
elastomer back onto the pin and close the swing
arm back onto the stainless steel clip.

The position you have selected using the
table above will give you a good starting point.
Your trike should perform properly like this;
however, it is worthwhile spending a little time
experimenting with settings to find one that suits
you best.

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2.2b Front suspension adjustment

Note: This operation is shown here with the wheel removed but it is possible to do it with the wheel in place. The elastomers are available in soft,

medium and hard. All of them are coloured yellow, and can be identified by the letters: S, M, & H printed on the end.

To remove the suspension elastomer, first
loosen the stop screw.

Compress the suspension unit and remove the
rubber bumper.

Slide the rubber gaiter off at the bottom.

Push the bottom of the elastomer out of the
locating hole.

Slide the bottom of the elastomer around to the
front of the king post.

It should now be easy to remove the elastomer
fully.

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To replace the elastomer, first grease the
elastomer all over then slide it into the kingpost.

Push the bottom of the elastomer around to the
side and into the locating hole.

Apply soapy water to the gaiter groove to aid
fitting.

Slide on the rubber gaiter at the bottom,
checking to make sure that it is properly seated.

Compress the suspension unit and insert the
rubber bumper.

Tighten the stop screw.

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2.3 Mesh seat cover

When new, both the seat cover and the straps
stretch a little, and in the first few weeks of
use you may need to re-tension the seat by
tightening up the straps. In time it will settle
down. For maximum comfort you may need to
tighten the cover more in some places than in
others. In general, the base of the seat should
be tight, and the back looser.

2.3a seat angle
adjustment

The seat has 4 positions of adjustment, and
adjustment is simple and quick.

• Loosen the seat angle adjustment quick­release lever.

• If you want to make the seat more reclined
set it to the slots closest to the seat cup. If
you want to make the seat less reclined,
then set it to the slots furthest from the seat
cup.

• Re-tighten the seat angle adjustment
quick-release.

2.4 Hardshell seat
adjustment

In order to correctly mount your hardshell seat
onto the trike frame you will need to do the
following:

There are three positions where the top mount
brackets can be fitted. Bolt the brackets onto the
seat shell using the appropriate set of pre drilled
holes for the model of trike that you have.
Assemble seat then check / adjust the position
that the rear section of the frame is inserted into
the main frame.

Bolt the notched plates to the brackets if
required. The plates are used to give a range
of easy to adjust seat angles. On the Vortex the
brackets can be used on their own without the
notched plates if you require maximum recline.