The best functional description of a trike is that it is a motorized hang glider.  Outside the USA, where trikes grew up, they are more officially termed "flexwing microlights".  There's no stick, rudder, elevator or ailerons, as in conventional airplanes - just a control bar that's part of the wing itself.  It's a whole different kind of airplane.

My triker-wannabe disease was severly inflamed so my first objective was to get an introductory flight and see if trikes were as hot/cool as they looked.  I found them to be even more than that - they're visceral, heart-throbbing flying machines, literally the motorcycles of the sky and incredibly exciting and fun to fly.  Man, I was jazzed!

Then came the serious research - surfing the 'net, ordering and studying manufacturer literature/videos and talking to experienced trike flyers.  I learned that although the cheapest trikes are made in the US, all of the best trikes come from abroad.  I was also well advised to ease off on buying a trike until I had learned to fly one.