Initial Days - Purchased 1st Nov. 2013 - The second hand purchase of the ICE XL from avid enthusiast and friend - Bob Birch (http://www.icetrikes.co/community/ice-blog/mountain-audax0, sees me fulfilling thoughts on what I consider to be the only way to travel. With comfort being the main driver, I will hopefully rid myself of the aches and pains associated with my efforts on the D frame (lower back etc etc). The trike isn't a 'new kid' on the block, but there-again - and lets face it neither am I? However, its' previous owner Bob, has ensured an impeccable maintenance regime, and updated second generation parts when needed. At this stage, it is only fair to comment on the bike's pedigree - call it a c.v. for want of a better phrase ! Well here goes, and over to you Bob: In 2000 I had been pedalling a daily 11 mile commute, summer and winter, rain or shine for well over a decade. Over this period using a succession of different bicycles I had suffered my fair share of minor bumps, injuries and close encounters with inconsiderate or myopic drivers. Finally a potentially serious fall on black ice forced me to make a complete review of my journey to work. Reluctant to give up the exercise benefits of cycling commuting I decided I needed something safer that would cope better with traffic and winter conditions along my usual route. Back then my new Trice XL recumbent trike was a complete revelation; it proved to be no slower than my hybrid bicycle along my usual commute and had the bonus of being completely impervious to cross winds on the A470. Since 2000 the trike’s superior comfort, braking and stability along with its wide “unusual” presence on the road has empirically proved it to be a far safer mode of transport. In the company of Chris my wife on her own XL, our trikes have carried us (with camping gear) reliably and in comfort on excursions over many thousands of miles covering the length and width of the UK and Northern Ireland. Tours abroad have included rides from Bergen in Norway north to cross the Arctic Circle, the full length on both New Zealand Islands, from the Mediterranean Coast to the English Channel across France, and in the summer of 2011, 2293 miles along the continental section of the North Sea Cycle Route.