Reviewed by Adulttricyclereview.com
ICE Adventure, Posted on June 13, 2015
ICE trike originally hand no intention on producing an Adventure 26"
or Sprint 26" trike with suspension. People buy ICE trike for a lot of
different reasons, some people for the quality, some for the ride, some
for seating position and some for the ability to fold. For ICE the 20''
wheel just makes so much good sense. Some of the advantages to the
Adventure 20'' and Sprint 20'' suspended trikes are that they folds so
nice and small. The trike is lighter with the 20'' rear wheel and you do
not have to carry two different size inter tubes with you in case of a
flat tire. If you live in a hilly area like where ICE is located in the
United Kingdom, simply a 26'' wheel will raise your gear ratio making it
too difficult to climb steep hills for some people. So why now are they
producing a 26'' suspended rear wheel trike? Simply because customers
demand it. I live in the Midwest, I am a very young and fit fifty year
old and have raced two wheel bicycle for most of my life. I raced BMX
bike all over the country and even mountain biked before there were
front shocks. Today I still love bike riding and still love going stupid
fast, but when it comes to the ride, give me that suspension and 26''
rear wheel so I can go farther and faster without feeling beat up at the
end of the day.
Frame: The frame on the ICE Trike is 100% 4130 Crome-moly steel TIG
welded together. I would have to say the welds are beautiful and of the
highest quality in the industry. You will not be able to find any
manufacturer building a better quality frame that ICE.
Paint: The ICE paint jobs are fantastic; there is no one in the bike
industry that is better. All the other brands of trikes in the industry
just hope they can do as good of a job as the ICE paint jobs. ICE offers
three colors on most of the Adventure trike models, blue, red and
black.
Drive Train: The shifting is superb on the Adventure, ICE choose a
premium SRAM drive train combination with nine gears to choose from in
the rear and three in the front, for a total of twenty seven. The SRAM
X-7 front and rear derailleur performed flawlessly, mating the SRAM X-5
twist type shifters.
Brakes: ICE chose the Sturmey Archer Drum brakes and Tektro brand brake
levers. This combination stops the trike more consistently than disc
brakes because the brake surface and brake pads never get wet. I have no
issue with the Sturmey Archer drum brakes, they are simple, reliable
and easy to adjust, and stop well. ICE has a quick release wheel kit
which makes removing the wheels a snap. ICE chose to add a parking brake
to the rear wheel and a remote shifter to control the brake. This works
well and is easier to work with for some people rather than the locking
brake levers used by some other trike manufactures.
Seat: The seat height on the Adventure is higher than most other brands
have to offer. I will have to say the seat angle on the Adventure is the
most adjustable I have found. The seat angle will adjust from 42 to 49
degrees which make the Adventure seat one of the most upright. Now on to
the seat mesh, ICE has been way ahead of their competition when it
comes to the seat mesh. The seat mesh is breathable on the back so your
back does not get so hot and sweaty and the bottom is breathable as
well. ICE put in a breathable foam pad in the bottom of the seat to give
you some extra support plus extra comfort. The sides of the seat mesh
have just the right amount of extra padding to not only cushion you from
the seat frame but also helps hold you in the seat a bit.
Ride: One thing I do with every trike is to see how far I can push it
into a turn to test the trikes stability. It can be some what fun to
find out where that point is where you end up on a two wheel trike
rather than three wheel trike. Just about any trike can be prodded into
lifting a wheel if pushed far enough. The wider you make the trike and
the more reclined you sit, the harder it is to get that wheel to come
up. With the Adventure FS I would not call this trike glued to the
ground but for normal riding it is very stable. If you want that feeling
where I can take a corner at any speed the Sprint or better yet the
Vortex is the trike for you. The indirect steering that ICE offers is
precise and accurate the feeling is light and you do not have to use
much effort to make the trike go where you want it to go.
In conclusion: I found the Adventure FS 26 to be one of the most
comfortable trikes I have ever ridden. The workmanship is flawless and
all accessories fit perfectly. Is this the perfect trike for everyone?
Probably not but it is close to being the perfect trike for most trike
customers. If you are the casual trike rider and want to set more
upright the Adventure is for you. If you are going to ride it like you
just stole it, then you would want to be on the Sprint or Vortex.
Pros: High seat and very adjustable angle, amazingly comfortable ride,
great fit and finish. Top drawer quality on all aspect of the trike and
accessories.
Cons: Really none. Buy the trike to fit your riding style Adventure, Sprint or Vortex.