My Adventures Continue on Trikke Universe

Several years ago, I made the big decision to return to college to finish my Bachelor's Degree. Continuing my studies while holding down a full-time job meant that sacrifices must be made. The first thing to go, as you've likely surmised, was my blogging. I continued to Trikke during the early days of college, but as the classes grew harder and my day job required overtime, I reluctantly parked the Trikkes for a few years.

The sacrifices paid off as I recently achieved my long-time goal of earning my Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology. My capstone project offered me the freedom to choose my subject matter, and I used the opportunity to circle back to two hobbies I love so much - Trikking and writing. As part of this project, I rebuilt the Trikke Universe website with the hopes of it becoming the premiere Trikke community site on the internet.

In order to commit my full energy to the new website, I have migrated all of my Lehigh Valley Trikke posts to Trikke Universe to give it a running start. I will leave this blog here, as many have linked to it and found the posts useful, but the post you're reading now will be its last. I want to thank all of my fellow Trikkers for sharing this journey with me, and I hope you will join me in building an even bigger community on Trikke Universe.

Pennsylvania Trail Review: D&L Trail and Palmer-Bethlehem Township Bikeway

The D&L Trail is one of Pennsylvania’s longest and best-known rail trails, stretching 165 miles from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol.  It follows the route that canal boats once used to deliver anthracite coal from mines to market, and it offers stunning views of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers.

There’s only one problem for Trikkers . . . most of the trail is gravel.  Fortunately there is a small section near Easton, PA that is a Trikker’s paradise.  Several miles of wide, flat asphalt run alongside the Lehigh River and the D&L Canal.  Riders can park in four locations:

• Long driveway at the end of Hope Rd, Freemansburg, PA (Boat Launch)
• Riverview Park, 25^th Street, Easton, PA
• Hugh Moore Park, south of 25^th Street, Glendon, PA (National Canal Museum)
• Hugh Moore Park, north of 25^th Street, Glendon, PA

Scenic overlook at the Lehigh River chain dam

My preference is Riverview Park because it offers easy access to all parts of the trail and also has restrooms.  The most Trikke-able portion of the trail runs southwest from the park to the boat launch.  Here riders can enjoy 2 1/2 miles of wide and nearly flat pavement alongside the Lehigh River.  When I was first learning to carve, this was one of my favorite spots due to its short distance and relatively light traffic.

Near the boat launch, riders will find a fork in the road that leads them to the Palmer-Bethlehem Township Bikeway.  I like to call it the “Two Mile Hill.”  It’s not the steepest climb I know of, but it is the longest.  It’s a narrow stretch of aging asphalt that hooks under Route 33 twice as it heads back towards Easton.  The grade is only 1 degree for most of the run, but there are no breaks in the climb save a slight dip as it crosses a driveway near Hope Road.  The summit is a metal bridge spanning Freemansburg Avenue.  The hill’s dense tree cover makes it a haven in the summer, but be warned that climbing it in the fall can be treacherous due to debris.

Climbing the "Two Mile Hill"

Beyond the summit, the Palmer-Bethlehem Township Bikeway levels out and heads northeast another 2 1/2 miles back toward Easton.  Although it remains paved, there are numerous road-crossings, and pedestrian traffic through the neighborhoods can be problematic.  I was frustrated the two times I biked it, and as a result I never went that far on my Trikke.  But with enough determination, it could certainly be Trikked.

Returning to Riverview Park, there is a short ¼ mile section heading northeast that ends in a winding decent to Lehigh Drive.  Crossing the truss bridge along Hill Road leads to the two parking areas of Hugh Moore Park.  The southern parking lot is the largest, and leads to the National Canal Museum and the canal boat ride.

The trail itself continues beyond the northern lot, this time snaking between the Lehigh River and the D&L Canal.  This portion of the trail has some small hills which are quite challenging due to the narrower trail width.  The first 1 ½ miles of trail are reasonably Trikke-friendly, but beyond a small bridge near an old canal lock the asphalt gets crumbly and I consider it too risky to Trikke.  Riders with slightly more fortitude than I can continue all the way to the convergence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers.  I’ll offer one final warning; the bridge below south 3^rd Street (Route 611) is prone to flooding and may be impassible unless your Trikke sprouts pontoons.

Beyond 3^rd Street in the northeast and the boat launch in the southwest, the D&L reverts to gravel.  In between is enough asphalt to put a smile on the face of Trikkers of all skill levels.  Beginners can enjoy the flatter portion on the north bank of the Lehigh, while more experienced riders can brave the Two Mile Hill or the narrower, hillier trail on the south bank of the Lehigh.  Numerous photo opportunities appear along the way, and wildlife often peek out from the trees to marvel at our three-wheelers.

I have created a map of the trail with Trikke-related color-coding and notes.  Click on any trail segment, shape, or icon for complete information.

Meet the “Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania”

The carving movement has been gaining momentum on the east coast with an epicenter in southeast Pennsylvania.  A passionate group of riders has overcome the challenges of hilly terrain, brutal winters, and sweltering summers to put Trikking on the region’s map.

Founded in 2009 by Norman Lazarus, the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania uses Meetup.com as its base of operations.  Yours truly stepped up as Assistant Organizer in 2012, and Susan C rounded out our leadership group in 2013.  Having three ride organizers enables us to cover a large geographic area, with Norman in southeast Pennsylvania, Susan near the Pennsylvania/Delaware border, and myself in the Lehigh Valley.

Our membership stands at 50 as of this writing, and a typical ride draws in half a dozen or more Trikkers.  We welcome riders of all skill levels, and are especially friendly to beginners.  Our early season rides in particular offer spare Trikkes for beginners to try, and experienced riders stay near the parking area to give lessons.  Some riders also bring their children and spouses, even if they are riding on roller blades or bicycles.  We’ve even had a small dog run alongside us!

May 2014 LSM - Philadelphia Art Museum

We are committed to hosting LSM rides (Last Saturday/Sunday of the Month) from April to September, and will consider them other months if Mother Nature cooperates.  We’ve had a strong turnout for 2014’s LSM’s so far:

• March LSM:  6 Trikkers at Warminster Community Park
•  April LSM:  13 Trikkers at Warminster Community Park
•  May LSM:  11 Trikkers in Philadelphia (Art Museum, Martin Luther King Blvd, Kelly Drive)
•  June LSM:  7 Trikkers on the Horsham Power Line Trail

Although we are still working out the locations for the year’s remaining LSM’s, you can pencil in the following dates:  Sat. 7/26 morning, Sun. 8/31 afternoon/evening, Sat. 9/27 morning, and Sat. 10/25.  We are hoping to branch out geographically with some of these rides, and we are looking at Jersey City, Delaware City, Lancaster, and the Jersey Shore as potential destinations.

Chester Valley Trail

In addition to the LSM’s we host 1 or 2 Friday night “Happy Hour” rides at each month on the Chester Valley Trail in Malvern, PA.  This trail is 15 miles long and growing.  The western end is flat and beginner-friendly, while the central and eastern segments feature some gradual but long hills.  We typically choose a 5 mile segment (10 mile roundtrip) for the ride and rotate through the sections to keep things interesting.

You can find more information and ride schedules on our Meetup page at:  http://www.meetup.com/TrikkePA/

We also have an expanded group of “Trikke Riders of Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania” on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/TrikkeRidersOfDEandPA

Our rides post to both locations in hopes of reaching a larger geographic area.  We hope you will join the carving action on one of our rides soon!

Related Articles:

The Spring Thaw – Take 2

The Spring Thaw

T12 Foot Deck Replacement

The T12 Roadster is the Trikke of choice for many riders, but the pre-2011 model lacks some of the comforts and amenities found on the current model.  The old sandpaper deck grips are the most glaring deficiency and are likely the first thing that will need to be replaced.  They wear out quickly, and once they are smoothed down your foot will easily slip off.  Furthermore, they transmit all the road vibrations directly to your sole, and your feet will likely be burning after just a few miles.

Fortunately, there are several easy and inexpensive upgrades for the deck grips.  The first choice is to replace them with Trikke’s own laser-cut grip tape (approx. $13) which reportedly will last 20 times longer than the stock grip tape.  The second is to upgrade to the same rubber foot decks that come standard on the current T12’s.  Although they cost substantially more (approx. $35), the increased comfort and durability makes it worth the expense.

The rubber decks are curved at the back to match the curvature of the new T12 fenders, but they will still work against the older straight-edged fenders if you don’t mind a small gap at the rear.  Your feet should not be this far back anyway, so the gap will not affect your performance.

Although I have been planning this as a future upgrade for my copper T12, I got a chance to do the work first on my friend Megan Hanley’s black T12.  Megan is a new Trikker, and she bought this Trikke secondhand off of Craigslist.  It needed numerous repairs and upgrades before she could safely ride it, and I thank Megan for letting me photograph the deck upgrade for my article.

To remove the old decks without scraping and marring the paint, you will need a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the adhesive.  At the time I began the grip tape removal on Megan’s Trikke, it had been sitting in the sun for two hours which also helped.  Begin the removal by heating one end, and gently use a flathead screwdriver to begin the removal.  Once you’ve got it started, just pull on it gently by hand as you continue to heat it.

Unfortunately, there may still be some adhesive residue on the metal deck even after the grip tape is removed.  I have read of people using a variety of solvents to remove this, but as I had nothing handy (and quite honestly was being too lazy to go shopping and play trial-and-error with things) I continued to heat the adhesive with the hair dryer as I rolled the adhesive off with my fingers.  This does take some patience, but the adhesive will roll up much like rubber cement.

Before applying the new rubber decks, wipe down the metal decks with rubbing alcohol to ensure a clean surface for adhesion.  Test fit the new rubber decks to be sure of their position before removing the paper backing.  Now you’ve reached the easy part; carefully line up the new decks and press them into place.  And just like that, you’ve got an old T12 with all the comfort and grip of a new one!

I again thank Megan for letting her T12 be the guinea pig for this work.  We are both delighted with the results, and I will be doing this upgrade to my copper T12 in the very near future.

Related Articles:

Ceramic Bearing Upgrade

Locking Brake Lever Upgrade

The Spring Thaw – Take 2

Everyone knows the old saying, “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”

This spring has certainly put our resolve to the test as rainy, windy, and even snowy conditions have delayed many of our spring riding plans.  The first casualty was Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania’s LSM scheduled for 3/29 in Warminster Community Park which was besieged by heavy rains.  The rescheduled ride for 4/5 saw only half the riders able to make it, and even they braved strong headwinds as they taxied up and down the runway on their three-wheelers.  (Yours truly had another commitment that day.)

Several of us met for an impromptu LMM (Last Monday of the Month) ride at Glasgow Park in Delaware.  We were also plagued by raging winds, but enjoyed exploring the park and getting to know each other better.

Norman, Ken, Jamie, Megan, Susan, and Pam at Glasgow Park

I followed this up with a solo ride at Rodale Fitness Park when Tuesday gifted me beautiful weather and an unusually easy commute home.  But this ride was also a reminder of why we must ease back into our fitness regimens, as it left me with sore and strained muscles and a recovery of nearly two weeks.

I rode the electric Pon-e Lite last Monday as I explored the new Michael N. Castle trail in Delaware with Susan, Megan, and Cassidy.  Again, high winds were a constant, but they joy of being outdoors and exploring a new trail with friends gave me the determination to push forward.

Yesterday’s ride on the Palmer Bikeway with new Trikkers Jim and Val finally set me back on the path to recovery, both physically and emotionally.  The weather was as picture-perfect as a day can get, and it was a joy to help my new friends improve their riding skills.  I extended my ride with a solo excursion to the northern end of the trail and back racking up a total of 6 for the day, and 27 for the season so far.  While that may not sound like much, it’s quite an achievement after a solid 5 months of inactivity during the harshest winter in recent memory.

Looking forward, the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania have scheduled April and May LSM’s in some of our favorite locations.  We will return to Warminster Community Park on 4/26, and Trikke on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Philadelphia on 5/31.

I hope to see both old and new friends at these rides, and as we head for another beautiful mid-60 degree day here, I hope we can now safely say that winter is behind us.

Related Articles:

The Spring Thaw

New Year, New Universe

A Long Winter’s Nap

The Spring Thaw

It’s sunny now, almost warm, and there’s this funny green stuff poking through the carpet of white in my yard.  My cats are watching the birds flutter about in the bushes beside my window, and the itch to ride my Trikke has become unbearable.  This can mean only one thing . . . IT’S FINALLY SPRING!!!!

If you live in the northeast, my mind’s eye sees you nodding in agreement as you read this.  If you don’t, I can feel your deep sigh of relief since you’ve no doubt heard our horror stories about one of the harshest winters in decades.

As I re-read my last few posts here, I realize my winter has not been as productive as planned.  My dreams of writing and web designing were replaced with almost daily shoveling, snow-blowing, and ice-breaking.  My aching body decided it wanted to do nothing more afterwards than to curl up on the couch with my cats and read “Game of Thrones.”  Winter truly did come (I love you Ned Stark, but did you have to be right about that?!), and I suppose I picked a great season to read the series as the weather outside set the mood and atmosphere to bring Westeros to life.  But now it’s finally time to snap myself out of my winter slumber and march myself down the Kingsroad to my stable of Trikkes.

Spring ahead . . .

Luckily all has not been lost this winter.  The Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania picked up several new members during the deep freeze, bringing our total to 45.  And we have set our first LSM ride for March29 at Warminster Community Park.  As of this post we have 12 riders signed up, and surely more will join us with the ride still two weeks away.

If you haven’t ridden with us here before, please consider joining us.  This is one of our most popular ride locations, and it is well-suited to riders of all skill levels.  The entire concrete runway is open for riding, as well as paved trails around the park’s perimeter and across the street at Northampton Municipal Park.

Whether you are looking to carve your very first mile, sweat out an epic 20-miler, or do something in between, this park will give you the ride you’re looking for.  I am eagerly joining this ride, although I may only be able to do a few miles as I seek to reclaim the energy and fitness I lost over the winter.

I am also considering this blog “reopened” for the season, and I still hope to launch a companion website soon.  Elise Bennett’s Trikke Universe has grown well over the winter, and you can read my Keystone Karvers blog there as well.

Winter may have gotten us down for the count, but it’s time to spring back into shape.  I hope all of you are done digging out of the mess and heading for the trails soon too.

Related Articles:

New Year, New Universe

A Long Winter’s Nap

New Year, New Universe

I’d like to interrupt my winter slumber to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and to share some exciting Trikke news.  2013 saw the end of an era as Trikke World Magazine folded unexpectedly, but 2014 has already built a new home for our carving community.

I’m thrilled to announce today’s debut of Trikke Universe, a site built from scratch by Elise Bennett.  The site will form the new hub of the Trikke community, complete with articles, blogs, links, and a new forum.

I’m also happy to say that one of the site’s blogs is my own new “Keystone Karvers.” 

Here I will share the best articles from this blog, as well as updates on the carving scene in Pennsylvania and the east coast.

Please join me in thanking Elise for her hard work to establish the site.  There is room for others to be involved too, so if you have an interest in helping out please let Elise know.

Here’s to wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year, and lots of joyful miles of carving.

Related Articles:

A Long Winter’s Nap

A Long Winter’s Nap

I know what you’re thinking . . . didn’t I just have a long autumn’s nap?  I haven’t exactly been writing here for a while, but a long autumn’s nap would be the furthest thing from the truth.  I know it’s easy to throw around the “busy” excuse in this day and age, but “busy” is exactly what I have been these past three months.  I don’t want to bore you with the litany of “must do’s” I have been faced with, but I did want to take a little time today to reflect upon the year that is winding down, and look forward to the new year that is just around the corner.

The highlight of the year was the growth our MeetUp group, the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania.  We hosted 14 rides from late March through mid-November.  We hosted our inaugural group rides in several places:  Rodale Fitness Park, the Chester Valley Trail, the D&L Trail, the Cooper River Trail, and Liberty State Park.  We had strong turnouts, including several new members.  Susan has begun organizing rides, which will give us three organizers going into 2014.  I’m anticipating another strong year of fun and growth for this group.

As for this blog, it has been going strong for nearly a year and a half.  Sure, it’s had its highs and lows, but it helped me learn better what I like to write and what everybody likes to read.  Despite this strength, my main reason for writing today’s post is to say that I will be taking a break from the blog this winter.  I’m not going to try to fill it with half-hearted non-Trikke posts just for the sake of doing so, because I have chosen to direct my energy to other projects this winter.

A few posts ago, I hinted at two exciting changes coming for this blog.  Sadly one of them will not see the light of day.  I had been gearing up to write regular articles for Trikke World Magazine, but we now know that has ceased publication.  The other change is alive and well, and involves a new Trikke website I plan to build over the winter and launch in time for the spring riding season.  This blog will not go away, but will instead supplement the material on my new website.  I will have more information on this when it’s ready, but I wanted to give everyone something to look forward to as winter descends upon us.

In the meantime, there has been a lot of other Trikke community-building happening online since the demise of Trikke World Magazine, so I’d like to leave you with some links to keep you informed and connected this winter:

• Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania – Meetup:  http://www.meetup.com/TrikkePA/
• Trikke Riders of Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania – Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TrikkeRidersOfDEandPA
• The Sweet Spot Annex:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/sweet.spot.annex/
• Trikke Universe – Website:  http://www.trikkeuniverse.com/
• Trikke Universe – Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/464652020314080/
• Trikker Chicks (New Address):  http://trikkerchicks.wordpress.com/
• Silverlake Trikker (LSM Rides):  http://silverlaketrikker.blogspot.com.au/

Thank you for being part of my journey through 2013, and I look forward to an even better year in 2014!

Missions Accomplished!!

Today’s tale is one of rockets, Trikke hill climbs, and spontaneity.  As I checked two items off my bucket list this weekend, it was a spirited reminder that life is about more than to-do lists.

Susan riding Rokk-it Red

My Friday commute home is never fun, but I got out a little early and for once I thought I could get ahead of traffic on the Blue Route.  How wrong I was!  As my car crept forward on the freeway at Trikking speed, I turned the radio on for a traffic report.  What I got while waiting was a report that a rocket launch in Virginia would be visible from Pennsylvania later that night.  So I stayed up late, and from a ridge overlooking the Lehigh Valley, I saw the glowing orange trail of the LADEE rocket as it reached for the moon.  Check one lifelong wish off my bucket list!

I started Saturday morning on a high note.  I awoke to a beautifully sunny day, and looked forward to Trikking at Rodale Fitness Park with Susan, Dan, and Pam.  But for the second time of the year, I arrived to a troubling sight at the park.  Last time, the trail was ravaged by damage from Hurricane Sandy, this time it was overrun by hundreds, if not thousands, of bicyclists for a cyclocross event.  My heart sank as I realized my friends had just driven nearly two hours for a non-event.  But they took it well, and we weighed our alternatives.

Pam riding one of her Triplets

So my second spontaneous weekend event took us out to the paved portion of D&L Trail along the Lehigh River.  This is one of my favorite riding spots, and I knew my friends would enjoy exploring it.  We started at Riverview Park and Trikked westward towards the boat launch.  The air was fresh and crisp, and we nearly had the trail to ourselves.

We came to the fork in the road where the D&L meets the Palmer-Bethlehem Rail Trail.  Beyond that fork was another bucket list item – climbing the “Two Mile Hill.”  My friends were not up to that challenge, but graciously agreed to part ways as they saw my hunger for doing the climb.  As they headed for the boat launch, I launched my T12 upward.

“Two Mile Hill” hill is not the steepest climb I know of, but it is the longest.  It’s a narrow stretch of aging asphalt that hooks around Route 33 as it heads back towards Easton.  The grade is only 1 degree for most of the run, but there are no breaks in the climb save a slight dip as it crosses a driveway near Hope Road.  The summit is a metal bridge spanning Freemansburg Avenue, and I reached it after about 25 minutes of climbing.  I’m proud to say I rode the whole way, stopping only for a few pictures and to let a few bicyclists through.

I find hill climbing to be one of the most challenging yet fulfilling things I can do on a Trikke.  Perhaps this was because two years ago I could barely do a 25 minute walk, let alone a 25 minute hill climb.  I savored my leisurely ride back down the hill, and was greeted by my joyous friends as I neared the bottom.  They had begun climbing the hill to greet me, and I hope to see them back for the full climb again someday.

All told I Trikked 11 miles that day, but my joy came from the spontaneity of the ride and the company of my friends rather than just the number on my odometer.  In my stressed-out life of jam-packed workdays and horrific commutes, I need more days and weekends like this where I can just take a deep breath and savor whatever goodness life decides to send my way.

Related Articles:

LSM Ride – Rodale Fitness Park

Rokk-it Red!

PA Trails - Chester Valley Trail - Part 2

East view along Matthews Rd

I was struck by a massive case of wanderlust after a long day of work Friday, and found myself exploring a still-under-construction segment of the Chester Valley Trail in Malvern, PA.  This has quickly become one of my favorite trails, due to its proximity to my office and its ability to spare me the worst of the Friday night traffic towards the Poconos.

I started at my usual location of the Battle of the Clouds Park and headed east towards Target.  Instead of turning around this time, I continued along Matthews Road.  A wide swath of new pavement parallels this road, although segments are still missing.  This resulted in some curb hopping between the trail and the road, being mindful about vehicular traffic while doing so.

Fragmentation viewed from same spot looking west

As it rounded a bend, I rode amongst a family of deer, who were no doubt curious about my three-wheel contraption.  The trail wound down to a bridge near Cedar Hollow Road, and this was as far as I went, even though I suspected the trail went further if you walked up the gravelly hill.  I later confirmed on Google Maps that the trail does continue east, stretching from Cedar Hollow Road to Swedesford Road.  This will no doubt fuel another after-work excursion in the near future. 

If you ride between Target and Cedar Hollow Road, you need to be aware of the fragmented nature of the trail, although it should be completed in the near future.  It is generally a downhill ride as you head east, giving you a substantial climb returning west.  I did not measure it, but I believe it to be about 3 degrees, and I was able to climb it without stopping.  For reference, it is slightly less steep than the hill at the far end of the Target parking lot, which is the steepest I have found on the trail so far.

Scenic . . . but watch for deer crossing the trail!

When I added these miles into my usual ride, it brought the round-trip to 12.84 miles.  With the waning amount of daylight, this was as far as I could have gone anyway in the time I had available.  I will continue to recommend this trail as the best place to Trikke in this part of the state.

Map of last Friday's ride: http://www.mapmyfitness.com/workout/370221675

Under construction near Cedar Hollow Rd

For more information about the Chester Valley Trail and the larger network of current and future Southeastern Pennsylvania trails, you can visit http://www.chestervalleytrail.org/ and http://connectthecircuit.org/.

Related Articles:

Chester Valley Trail – Part 1

Trikke Test Drive – Part 5 – 2007 T12 Roadster

Part 5 of my “Trikke Test Drive” series found me rokkin’ it old-skkool on an early model T12.  I had just discovered Trikke Andy’s article and video about replacing the T12’s handlebars to better suit shorter riders like myself, which renewed my interest in the T12’s.  You’ll recall from an earlier test drive, I found the T12 to be too large for me, handling awkwardly and wobbly.

The day after being inspired by the video, fate delivered to me the opportunity to buy a used T12 for just $150.  The owner was moving and needed it gone “today,” so agreed to have a friend pick it up for me sight unseen.  I had figured I could sell it at a profit if I didn’t like it, but I’ve fallen unexpectedly in love with it!

The Trikke has a lot of scratches, likely from being moved around in storage, but mechanically is in great working order.  The front tire still has its seam line, which tells me it’s barely been ridden.  I’ve racked up 24 miles riding it three times this week, which is likely more distance than the original owner ever put on it.

This T12 lacks a lot of the amenities found on the current model, such as ergonomic hand grips, locking brake levers, water bottle holder, and rubber foot decks.  But it’s well-built with an aluminum frame, 12” tires, stylish rims, disk brakes, and wheel fenders.  The major difference is the steering system.  The narrower handlebars are set on a lower steering column, making it more suited to shorter riders.  This Trikke feels lighter than its modern-day counterpart, although I have not yet found the specs to prove it.

I put the T12 through its paces on three test drives this week.  The first was 9 miles lapping a school parking lot, which featured a lengthy 4-degree hill climb.  The second was a quick Friday night workout at Rodale Fitness Park, with 2 laps around the flatter inner loop, and 2 laps around the hillier outer loop (with its 4.5 degree hill).  The final was a grueling 11-mile ride on the hilly streets of Stroudsburg.  Some hills had to be walked up, but I was able to tackle a few in the 6-degree range.  I made it up a few hills that I had not been able to do on my last ride in the area.  My friends, who are both certified trainers, said I was riding better than ever, and believed that this T12 being a good fit for me was part of that.

So it looks like this copper beauty is a keeper!!  I have already added the pull cords, which are an absolute must on older T8’s and T12’s whose locking mechanisms can be very hard to operate otherwise.  I will likely upgrade the handgrips next, because I was getting some blistering on the inside of my thumbs.  I’ve heard the sand-paper foot decks wear out easily, and when they do I will likely upgrade to the same rubber foot decks I enjoy on my T8.  I have the locking brake levers on order, and will swipe the water bottle holder from my T78.  Finally, I’ll add a cargo net and lights to fully outfit this Trikke for touring.

Overall, this older T12 is a true joy to ride.  Its design is more suited to short riders than the current model, and it can be easily upgraded with all of the modern accessories.  I had never envisioned myself as a T12 enthusiast until a few days ago, but this unexpected turn of events has completely won me over.

Related posts:

Trikke Test Drive – Part 1: T78, T8 & 12

Trikke Test Drive – Part 2: Tribred Pon-e 48V

Trikke Test Drive – Part 3: T78 Air vs. T78 Deluxe

Trikke Test Drive – Part 4: Pon-e’s Unplugged

PA Trails – Chester Valley Trail - Part 1

A nice shaded tunnel under Swedesford Road

Malvern, Pennsylvania is home to the small but growing Chester Valley Trail.  This Trikke-friendly stretch of asphalt currently runs five miles from the Wegman’s on South Morehall Road to the trailhead near the Valley Creek Corporate Center.  It will ultimately be part of a larger inter-connected trail network, and will meet with the Schuylkill River Trail to the east and the Enola Low Grade Trail to the west.

Looking east from the western end

For now though, there is plenty of asphalt laid for a good Trikke ride, as well as several convenient places to park.  Both the trailhead at Church Farm Lane and the Battle of the Clouds Park have ample parking and real restrooms.  You could also park at the Wegman’s, which can double as a good place for food and drink after the ride.

The trail is mostly flat, and the majority of the grades are so slight that even a beginner can handle them.  The only challenging hills are alongside the Wegmans, across the street from Wegman’s, in the vicinity of Knickerbocker Lane, and a construction detour under the Route 202 overpass.  The asphalt is new, smooth, and clear, although the tree cover on the eastern half will likely cover the trail with debris in autumn.

Donna at the end near Wegman's

Although the trail passes through a few housing developments, the pedestrian traffic is less than you would expect, making for a pleasant Trikke ride.  You do have to watch out for some faster road bikers, but this is less of an issue here than it is on the longer Schuylkill River Trail.  There are several road crossings, three of which are quite busy, but the drivers of cars were very courteous in letting trail traffic through.

To be continued . . .

I rode this trail last Friday on my own for 9.65 miles, followed by a longer outing with Donna (Lake Erie Trikke) for 10.84 miles on Sunday.  We had a wonderful time on the trail, and I anticipate hosting future rides here in conjunction with the TrikkeRiders of Pennsylvania.

You can see the map of last Sunday’s ride here:

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/260292683

And for more information about the Chester Valley Trail and the larger network of current and future Southeastern Pennsylvania trails, you can visit http://www.chestervalleytrail.org/ and http://connectthecircuit.org/.

Related Articles:

PA Trails – Chester Valley Trail - Part 2

Trikke Test Drive – Part 4 – Pon-e’s Unplugged

For Part 4 of my “Trikke Test Drive” series, I am going to tackle something a little different.  I have a few Pon-e’s on loan from Trikke Virginia, and I recently had an opportunity to do an unusual comparison drive on them; I carved each of them for 1.85 miles on body power alone.

Pon-e Lite 36V (orange) vs. Pon-e 48V (white)

The ability to propel these Trikkes manually is one of their virtues over heavier electric vehicles like the Segway.  You can keep going on a Trikke Pon-e even if the battery runs out of juice, or if you just desire a good workout.  This alternative mode of operation is what gives them their status as hybrid vehicles.

I found a flat route through a quiet neighborhood for this test drive, so that each Trikke could be ridden under identical conditions.  I brought a Pon-e 48V and a Pon-e Lite 36V, representing both ends of the electric product line.  I also brought my non-electric T8 Sport to provide a baseline for comparison.

Both Pon-e’s are based on the same aluminum frame as the T8 Sport, so the riding stance and carving technique were very familiar to me.  The T8 weighs in at 27 pounds, while the Pon-e Lite tips the scales at 38 pounds.  The extra weight comes from the battery and the motor mounted in the hub of the front wheel.  The Pon-e 48V is a real beast at 46 pounds, which is double the weight of the T78 Deluxe I first learned to ride on.

Look Ma, no motor!!

While both Pon-e’s took more effort to carve than my T8, the Pon-e Lite was without a doubt the easier one to ride.  It uses the same 8” rear fitness tires as the T8 Sport, but upgrades to a similar 10” front tire.  These 2” wide tires make for a reasonably pleasant carving experience, although I had to work harder than I would on my T8.  I can’t complain though; it makes for some good exercise.  The feeling is much like walking with a light set of weights in your hands and strapped around your ankles.

The Pon-e 48V is a different animal, as I really had to work at making it go.  It rides atop a 10” heavy-duty “motorcycle grade” tire in the front and two 9 ½” heavy-duty tires in the rear.  The 2 ½” width of these mean it takes a lot more muscle to keep them rolling.  This surely adds up to an even better workout, but it would take a really fit and determined rider to go more than a few miles this way.  Picture yourself walking with a bowling ball or two in your hands.

The times and speeds for these identical  1.85 mile test drives really paint a clear picture of the increased challenge of carving manually on electric Trikkes:

Trikke	Weight	Time	Average Speed
T8 Sport	27 lbs.	15:12	7.3 mph
Pon-e Lite 36V	38 lbs.	17:58	6.5 mph
Pon-e 48V	46 lbs.	20:15	5.5 mph

I will write about riding these Pon-e’s in their more conventional electric mode in a future article, but when I considered that manual carving might be part of the decision-making process for an electric Trikke, I felt it was worth addressing.  If I was buying one of these two Pon-e’s and felt that I was going to want to carve manually on a regular basis, the Pon-e Lite 36V would be my clear-cut choice.

Related posts:

Trikke Test Drive – Part 1: T78, T8 & 12

Trikke Test Drive – Part 2: Tribred Pon-e 48V

Trikke Test Drive – Part 3: T78 Air vs. T78 Deluxe

Group Ride – Doylestown Central Park

The Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania scheduled a mid-month ride in Doylestown Central Park, because most of our regulars won’t be available for July’s LSM Ride.  Six riders met for the hilly 8.5 mile challenge, despite the sultry weather.

We warmed up with a loop through the neighborhood trail across the street from the park.  This shaded trail wound between the houses and the creek, followed by a long but gradual hill climb back up to Wells Road.

After trading riding tips and checking out each other’s Trikkes in the parking lot, we began the longer ride through the park, through a neighborhood, past an elementary school, and out to an office park where we completed two long laps.  The group exercised great restraint at not jumping into the fountain to cool off after our photo session!

Come on in, the water's fine!

From there we rode a short trail into a cul-de-sac of a quiet residential street.  This road was a veritable Trikke rollercoaster!  Some of us made it back up some of the hills, but all of us had to walk at least some point.  I believe we could’ve done more had it been a cooler day, but by this point fatigue was setting in.

Our return to the park looped us around its small pond, and past the Kid’s Castle which was closed for renovation.  All of us grown-up kids on our big 3-wheelers are eagerly awaiting the reopening of the castle as an excuse to return.  I can’t say how much Trikking will occur, as we’ll likely be busy climbing the castles spires!

Two new riders joined us in Doylestown: Dave for his first ride, and Susan for her second.  Susan has been so enthused about riding her new Trikke that she is looking to set up some rides in southern and northern Delaware.  So look for this group to continue to grow and feature new rides in new locations.

Related Articles:

Ride Map

Meetup Event

Rock and Roll into July's Double-Header

Lehigh Valley Trikke celebrates its first anniversary!!

WOW!!!!  I can’t believe a full year has flown by since I made my first post here.

I remember when I bought my first Trikke, one of my main hesitations was whether I would actually stick with riding it.  And when I started this blog, I had the same fear.  I conceived of the idea for this blog during an energizing Trikke ride.  I came home and started it spontaneously that day, but then wondered what would happen when my initial burst of enthusiasm wore off.

So what happened after that initial burst of enthusiasm wore off?

Well, it hasn’t worn off!  I still Trikke regularly, and I have more ideas now than when I started the blog.  So many ideas in fact, that this blog is on the verge of morphing into something bigger and better.

What is that ‘something’?

Well, there’s actually two ‘somethings’!!  I can’t tell you the specifics just yet, because I am in the beginning stages of getting them off the ground.  But if you stay tuned, there are going to be several announcements over the coming weeks.

But first I’d like to look back to celebrate the highlights of this blog and my life during the past year:

• 53 posts including this one, for an average of one per week
• 198 miles of Trikke riding bliss, including one epic 21 mile adventure in Stroudsburg, PA
• 6 LSM rides hosted in partnership with Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania
• Upgraded my ride to a T8 Sport
• Learned to climb hills up to 4.5 degrees

The next year and beyond promises more riding and more adventure.  Thank you to all who have visited here and shared your journeys with me along the way.  I can’t wait to share the next phases of this blog’s evolution with you!

Related Articles:

The post that started it all…

Rock and Roll into July’s Double-Header

Lehigh Valley Trikke and Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania have been partnering to host regional LSM (Last Saturday of the Month) rides this year.  Because a number of regulars could not attend July’s LSM, we’ve put together a second ride this month in hopes that everyone can join us.

The first ride on 7/20/13 will be to Doylestown Central Park in Doylestown, PA.  This is a beginner-friendly park for Trikke riders with several miles of trails around its perimeter and extending into nearby neighborhoods.  For those seeking a more challenging ride, it also connects to the eastern end of the new Route 202 Parkway Trail.  We’ll start with the park trails, and then riders who have the endurance and skill for hill climbing can continue onto the Parkway Trail.

Click here for Doylestown ride information.

The second ride on 7/27/13 will be held on the D&L Trail along the beautiful Lehigh River in Easton, PA.  This ride will be a double-header in its own right.  Beginning at Riverview Park in Palmer Township, the first segment will head west to the boat launch and back, for an easy five miles of flat carving.  The second part is optional, and will head east, crossing the Lehigh River and then carving between the river and the D&L Canal.  This part is not for the faint of heart, as it includes several challenging hills and sections of trail along the water’s edge.

Click here for Easton ride information.

A beautiful view of the Lehigh River's chain dam

I hope you will consider joining our growing group as summer riding season carves into high gear.  If you are not a member of the MeetUp group, I would highly recommend joining.  If you decide not to, you can also RSVP via the comment option here.  I would like to know who’s coming so I make sure we don’t leave anyone behind.

LSM Ride – Taking Off in Warminster Community Park

The oppressive summer heat wave and threat of thunderstorms were no match for the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania who came out in force for the June LSM ride at Warminster Community Park.  While temperatures reached for the triple-digits, our attendance surged to the double digits, with ten Trikkers making this one of the group’s most successful rides.

Filing our new flight plan

Long-time members Norman, Jamie, Trent, Greg, Gonda, and Dave were joined by newcomers Joan, Donna, Susan, and her husband (whose name I regrettably did not get).  For Dave, this was a recovery ride, his first after he and his Trikke lost a street fight with a manhole cover last summer.  Donna, an avid Trikker and newly certified Trikke Trainer from Ohio, joined us as part of her summer tour to Trikke with groups in different states.  Joan had joined us as a Trikke newbie last month, and with Norman’s generous loan of a T78cs, her riding skills have improved considerably.  Susan and her husband were new riders this month, and are also doing well with learning the basics.

Because of the diverse riding abilities of the attendees, we split into two separate groups.  Norman stayed at the west end of the runway with Joan, Susan, and her husband to help train them, while Norman, Trent, Greg, Gonda, and I headed down the runway for our ride.

Our takeoff was soon aborted though, as the east end of the runway was barricaded for an autocross competition.  Fortunately Warminster Community Park has a large network of trails that circle the runway, so we filed a new flight plan and cruised down those paths instead.  We hit a patch of turbulence as our guest Donna took a tumble after cresting a hill.  Fortunately Donna is doing well, suffering only minor cuts and bruises, and we were able to continue the ride.

Front Row: Greg & Norman, Back Row: Gonda, Dave, Joan, Trent, Donna, Susan & her husband

Crossing over to Northampton Municipal Park, we met up with Dave who was joining us for his first ride since his Trikke accident.  We circled the trails in Northampton for a while before returning to base at Warminster to check in with Norman and our new riders.  Everyone was having a great time meeting each other, comparing notes, and posing for a group photo.

Comparing notes after the day's ride

It was there that we were all treated to the highlight of the day.  When you get a group of Trikkers together, it’s inevitable that strangers will come up and ask about the curious machines you are riding.  We were approached by a 78 year old retiree, who was intrigued by what we were doing.  Norman helped him onto my T8, and he took to it like a fish takes to water, riding a short ways up the runway and back like a pro!  What a way to show that you’re never too old to ride or to try something new.

The group split off after the photo shoot, with a few of us opting for another lap of Warminster Community Park.  I have to confess that the heat of the day had finally worn me down.  I started strong, but took a shortcut back when exhaustion got the best of me.  My GPS app wasn’t working for some reason, but I would estimate I had ridden about seven miles for the day.  Others did more or less, depending on their choice.  That is one of the advantages of riding at these two parks; each rider can do as much or as little as he or she desires, while the gathering remains fun for everyone.

Jamie's out from behind the camera for once!

I am delighted and enthused with how this group is growing and maturing this year.  Pennsylvania does not have the inherent climate and terrain advantages that California and Florida do for building communities of Trikkers, yet we are well on our way to being one of the larger groups that log LSM rides each month.  If you have not yet ridden with us, I’d encourage you to join one of our upcoming rides.

Our next ride will of course be the final Saturday of July, the 27^th.  Norman and I would like to seek out some new venues, and will be scouting a few more southeastern Pennsylvania parks in the next week or two.  So go ahead and mark your calendar for 7/27, and stay tuned as we will be announcing the location as soon as we make a decision.

Related Links:

Meetup Event Information & Comments

Meetup Photo Gallery