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!

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 – Rodale Fitness Park

It was with great anticipation, yet some hesitation, that I scheduled a March LSM ride for the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania.  I say “great anticipation” because the winter has been long and hard, and I have been aching to go Trikking with friends again.  But I also say “some hesitation”, because the aforementioned winter has indeed been long and hard, and has shown little sign of abating.  Luckily Mother Nature smiled upon us today, and graced us with her beautiful sunshine and temperatures in the low to mid 50’s for our ride.

Cleanup from Hurricane Sandy continues, even this far inland

I was joined by Norman, Gonda, and Trent for today’s ride, and for all three of them it was their first visit to the Rodale Fitness Park in Trexlertown, PA.  As I pulled up to the parking lot though, I nearly had a heart-stopping moment.  The parking lot was barricaded and there were signs posted about the park being closed for tree removals due to damage from Hurricane Sandy.  Had I really just made my friends drive all the way to the Lehigh Valley for nothing?

I spoke to a cyclist who was preparing for a road ride who told me that the paved circuit was dirty, but passable, and that since they weren’t working on the weekends it seemed okay to ride.  While I waited for my friends, I saw numerous people heading to the trail to walk and roller blade.  When my Trikke pals arrived, we took our chances and headed for the trail anyway.

We've reached the summit of Mount Rodale!

Fortunately, the trail was passable, despite the heart-wrenching scenes of hundreds of trees being cut down.  Although construction equipment and several stacks of logs blocked the biking lane, the roller blade and walking lanes were rideable, albeit slightly dirty.  It didn’t deter us, and we eagerly lapped the circuit.  Most of our laps were on the outer loops, and I was thrilled to find that I could still climb “Mount Rodale” despite the setback in my fitness over the winter.  Don’t get me wrong, it had me gasping for air and cursing my recent inactivity, but it encouraged me that I’m starting from a much better place than I was last year.

Left to Right: Norman, Gonda, Trent

Norman, Gonda, and Trent really enjoyed the trail, despite the adverse conditions.  It’s a great fit for riders at varying skill and endurance levels.  Everyone can enjoy it as much or as little as they want, and can use the flatter inner loop as well.  We’ve decided that from now we will kick off each Trikke riding season with a March LSM ride at Rodale, as well plan our final ride of the year there in October.

Thank you for joining me today, Norman, Gonda, and Trent!!

Norman is going to host the next LSM ride in Philadelphia, where they close a 4-mile stretch of road on weekend mornings for recreational use.  Stay tuned here and at the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania’s Meetup site for more details.

Related Articles:

Meetup Event

LSM Ride – March 30, 2013

Rodale Fitness Park Review

Climbing Mount Rodale

LSM Ride – March 30, 2013

Support Trikkers around the world by participating in the first Last Saturday of the Month (LSM) ride for the 2013 season.  I have set up a ride at 10:00 am on March 30 at Rodale Fitness Park in Trexlertown, PA.   This ride is being held in conjunction with the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania:

http://www.meetup.com/TrikkePA/events/108554252/

The summit of "Mount Rodale"

We’ve all endured a harsh winter, and everyone will join this ride with varying levels of fitness.  The beauty of the Rodale Fitness park is it’s a closed-circuit that will allow each rider to do as much or as little riding as he or she wishes.

The 0.6 mile inner loop is partially flat, with some slight inclines.  All but the very beginners will be able to handle this loop with ease, and it is a great place to ease into riding season.  The 1.3 mile outer loop features a 4.5 percent grade climb if you’re up to the challenge.  Ride one loop, or ride them both.  Everyone can ride at their own pace, while staying in touch with the other riders.

Ample carving width for Trikkes

The other beauty of this circuit is that it is three lanes wide.  The left lane is for walkers, the center lane is for inline skaters, and the right lane is for bicyclists.  The middle lane is under-utilized and is ideal for Trikkes.  I have Trikked it many times, and even if there’s a skater or two using it, we’re typically riding at the same pace.  This trail is wide enough that there’s little concern about blocking other riders, or in being blocked by pedestrians.

We will meet at 10:00 am in the parking lot off of Mosser Road.  I will have two extra T78’s to lend to anyone who needs one, or wishes to try a Trikke for the first time.  I will not set an end time for this ride, and everyone can stay as long as they’d like.

I hope you will consider joining us for this first LSM ride of the year.  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 I catch up with everyone.  If you’re coming to try a Trikke for the first time, please let me know and I’ll arrange to be there early to teach you the basics of riding.

Related Articles:

Rodale Fitness Park Review

Climbing Mount Rodale

LV Riding – Schoenersville Road and Stoke Park Road Area

Ah . . . the freedom of the open road!!  Today it saved me from the constraints of our seasonal woes.  If the Lehigh Valley’s trails were getting clogged with the fallen leaves and twigs a few weeks ago, I’d venture a guess that they are totally non-Trikkeable now in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  I was tempted to venture out today to check, but I felt it would be a waste of the precious little riding time I had this weekend.  So I did something I never thought I would do in the Lehigh Valley; I took the Trikke out on the open road for an afternoon ride.  I credit my recent street rides in Pottstown and Stroudsburg for warming me up to the idea and giving me the comfort to do it.

In a way, I’ve begun to feel constrained by the local trails since those rides as well.  Trikking on a trail  usually means constantly yielding to faster bicyclists while constantly squeezing by walkers and joggers who have their iPod’s cranked up too high to hear your “passing on your left” call.  Hill climbing on these trails is tougher too, as the aforementioned pedestrians often kill your momentum, and you often don’t have enough width to carve deeply enough to ascend the steeper hills.

A trail also implies a defined length to your ride.  For example, I know that an out-and-back trip on the paved Easton section of the D&L Trail is 5 miles, so I’m likely to choose a ride length that is a multiple of that amount.  I’ll decide to do 10 miles, pace myself, and that’s that; I call it quits after meeting my goal.  What I discovered last weekend in Stroudsburg is that when you ride on the local roads, you can just go riding without any pre-planned path, and exploring new roads is a great way to keep your mind off the odometer.  It’s not that I couldn’t turn around midway down a path to customize the ride length.  It’s just that riding freely on the roads encourages you to stay open to more possibilities, and makes it easier to push yourself further.

Who says an office park can't be scenic?!

In that spirit, I started my ride from the parking lot of the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park at the intersection of Schoenersville Road and Stoke Park Road.  This office park, as well as the larger one to the south of Stoke Park Road, has narrow paved trails encircling them.  I personally don’t like these trails that much though.  They are too narrow to Trikke on any inclines, and some of them are getting old and crumbly.  If you ride here Saturday or Sunday though, the parking lots are wide open as hardly anyone is working.  You can ride freely on a gentle downgrade heading east, and have oodles of carving width heading back west.  I have worked in both of these office parks in the past though, and I would advise against riding here during the work week, as both have heavy traffic and full parking lots.

The neighborhoods to the east of these office parks are both great places to Trikke any day of the week.  They are clean and safe, have a low volume of car traffic, and most of the roads are freshly repaved.  Some roads are flat, but most have a long, gentle incline.  They are relatively easy to climb, but are sloped enough to give you a great workout.  There are so many roads back there that I have not even come close to exploring them all.  This gives me a good reason to go back again and again and again.  What’s great about riding here is that every ride can be a new adventure, because you're no longer limited by following the same route every time you go there.  For today’s ride, I combined the office parks and the neighborhood streets into a challenging but fun 16.17 mile joyride.

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/154284323

If you happen to live in one of these neighborhoods, then you are lucky enough to be able to Trikke out of your own driveway and have plenty of good roads right there waiting for you.  If you have to drive here, I would recommend parking behind the Wawa convenience store in a parking lot at one of the medical buildings, which are always empty on the weekends.  When you return from your ride, it’s a welcome bonus to have the Wawa right there to reward yourself with a refreshing drink and a nice warm meal.

If you’re going to Trikke on public roads, it’s always worth taking all possible precautions to keep yourself safe.  I always ride with a helmet, and have taken to wearing my bright yellow biking jersey on the Trikke as well.  I probably look like a total dork wearing it, but I prefer to be as visible to traffic as possible.  (Just in case the Trikke itself isn’t attention-getting enough, lol!)  It’s also wise to have a headlight and taillight in case your ride goes into dusk or darkness like mine did today.

In this area specifically, you need to be extra careful around Stoke Park Road and Jacksonville Road, both of which are heavily travelled.  Jacksonville Road has a sidewalk to Trikke on, but most of Stoke Park Road does not.  Therefore, I would recommend just crossing Stoke Park Road at one of several intersections instead of actually riding along it.

If your favorite trail has become temporarily impassible due to the recent storm, take heart that there are still plenty of great places for Trikking in the Lehigh Valley!

Climbing Mount Rodale

With the return of beautiful fall weather today, Rokk-It Red was clamoring to get outside to explore more of the Lehigh Valley trails.  She had never been to Rodale Fitness Park before, so I loaded her into the car and drove her to one of my favorite places.

I’ve gotten good at climbing the small hills on the 0.6 mile inner loop, and I can easily lap it many times now.  But I have always set my sights on the grand prize, which is climbing the big hill that I’ve affectionately dubbed “Mount Rodale” at the beginning of the 1.3 mile outer loop.  Despite my increasing fitness and Trikking skills, I’ve always put that goal somewhere “off in the distant future”.

Pictures don't do it justice.  It's steeper than it looks!

Perhaps it was all the pent up energy and frustration I’ve felt after several rough weeks of being cooped up at home and at work in the dreary weather, but as today’s warm sun cascaded down onto Mount Rodale, I couldn’t help but gaze at it longingly as I took the fork in the path that steered me away from it and onto the flatter inner loop.  My second pass of the same spot just made my yearning that much greater.

Should I try it today?  Could I possibly do it today?  “No way,” I thought.  “I’m getting stronger, but I’m just not ready yet.”  But as I approached the fork the third time, I made a quick decision.  I would try to climb Mount Rodale!  Today!  Right now!

The outer loop’s steepest hill comes just after the fork, and reads as 4.5 degrees on my iPhone level app.  Despite my best efforts, I ground to a halt in the middle of it.  No surprise here.  Ignoring the fact that I made it half way, the critical demon that lives inside my head began berating me.  What business did a fatty like me have trying to Trikke up such a big hill anyway?!  Surely the whole world must be laughing at my folly.  Before the critic could continue, I scolded myself for scolding myself and got back to the matter at hand.  I walked Rokk-It Red up the more gradual middle part of the climb, got back on, and resumed Trikking.  The approach to the summit of Mount Rodale grew steeper again, but not quite as steep as the lower part.  With some effort, I did make it up the 3.5 degree hill and smiled with joy as I glided down the back side.

“Okay, that wasn’t so bad,” I thought.  I could still enjoy the inner loop today, and I’d come back next year to tackle Mount Rodale again after my skills improved some more.  I circled the inner loop two more times, all the while realizing I didn’t want to wait until next year.  I would try it again . . . today!

My second attempt at Mount Rodale was only marginally more successful.  I ground to a halt at the same place again, but instead of walking, I gave Rokk-It Red a good boost by kicking off a few times, and then I rode her the rest of the way up that steep hill.  This was promising!  I decided to settle into a pattern of 2 laps on the inner loop followed by 1 lap on the outer loop for the rest of the day.

By my third attempt at Mount Rodale, I was really determined to succeed.  I put everything I had into building momentum leading up to the base of the steep hill.  Rokk-It Red began her inevitable slowdown.  “You can do this!” I actually said out loud, as I punched into the next carve even harder.

My heart was pounding in my chest as my breathing became more labored.  I punched and leaned, and punched and leaned, and punched and leaned, and Rokk-It Red kept crawling slowly up Mount Rodale.  It was now or never! “Come on!  You’ve got this!” I shouted.  Punch and lean, punch and lean, punch and lean, and . . . there it was . . . a sudden surge in momentum that told me I’d crested the top of the steepest part!!

I reminded myself to keep breathing as I continued climbing towards the summit.  My mind flashed back to all the trials and tribulations of my journey towards fitness . . . the 30 minute walk last December that left me light-headed and nauseous . . . the 10 mile bike ride in February that left me so sick, trembling, and crying to the point I almost gave it up for good . . . my first 2 mile Trikke ride in March that was fun, but exhausting . . . the 15 mile bike ride in April that left me feeling great and renewed my faith in my ability to do this . . . my first 10 mile Trikke ride in July after attending the Academy in June . . . and now this . . . as I finished my mental recap of the year, I crested the top of Mount Rodale for the first time without stopping!!  I did it, I did it, I FREAKIN’ DID IT!!!  Was that a tear in my eye as I glided back down the hill, or was it just the wind from my new burst of speed?  My lips trembled and my heart beat faster as the impact of what I’d just achieved sunk in.

Feeling on top of the world!!

I did 2 more laps on the inner loop, but instead of peeling off to go home as I had planned, I decided to have one final go at Mount Rodale for the day.  I had to know, was it just a fluke that I made it up the first time?  Or had I really taken my Trikking to new heights?

With renewed optimism, I carved towards the steep base of Mount Rodale.  My tired muscles were burning, but I had little doubt this time what the outcome would be.  I kept punching and leaning and before I know it I was back at the summit of Mount Rodale!  Despite my fatigue, I think it was actually a bit easier this time.

As much as I wanted to keep riding, I knew I had reached my limit for the day.  I peeled off the trail and did a victory lap around the parking lot before putting Rokk-It Red away for the day.  When I checked my MapMyFitness app, I found that one more surprise awaited me . . . I had not only scaled Mount Rodale, but I had just completed my longest Trikke ride ever at 10.41 miles!!

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/147526207

I feel so alive and invigorated right now, I want to shout it from the rooftops!!  What a journey this has been in just 10 months to go from feeling sick and defeated after a half-hour walk to Trikking 10.41 miles and conquering some of the steeper hills the Lehigh Valley’s trails have to offer!!  And to think my fitness journey has only just begun . . . 

Debris Caution!

I’m going to borrow an auto-racing term for today’s article about riding safely during the autumn months.  In racing, a “debris caution” is a yellow flag thrown not for an all-out wreck, but to slow drivers down when small pieces of debris/car parts are spotted on the track that could cause a car to lose control if it ran over them.

For Trikkers in the northeast, our “debris cautions” are the combination of fallen leaves, pine needles, pine cones, crab apples, twigs and damp patches that litter our trails this time of year.  Although these pose minor hazards to our two-wheeled friends, the side-to-side carving motion of our 3-wheeled Trikkes makes these far more dangerous for us.  I’d like to offer up some warnings and tips on coping with these adverse trail conditions.

Fall leaves are pretty, but hazardous.

On my recent ride on the D&L Trail in Easton, PA, most of the trail was lightly covered with fallen leaves.  It had rained heavily the day before my ride, and the persistent clouds on the cool day had not allowed the trail to fully dry around the patches of leaves.  Several times, I started to feel the front wheel start to slide out from under me as I leaned to carve.  Other times, it was the outer back wheel that started to slip as I put my weight on it.  As soon as I feel these things happen, I straighten out the front wheel and my body and let the Trikke just coast through it.  In such areas, I learned to keep my carving shallower to prevent a problem in the first place.  Yes, this meant that I was riding much slower than usual, but going slow and getting to my destination was more important than doing a face-plant onto the cold, damp asphalt.

Twigs, pine cones, small stones, and crab apples pose a similar hazard.  Often these are easy enough to just steer around, but sometimes your wheel catches them and threatens to throw the Trikke askew.  If the front wheel hits them, it easy to react the same way as to the wet leaves where you just straighten the Trikke and your body and coast to regain balance.  If a rear wheel hits them, you can ever so slightly lift your foot off the deck for a second to allow the Trikke to ride over.  Don’t lift too dramatically, or you’ll go tumbling off to the side, but using your leg as a shock-absorber and letting the Trikke right itself handles the obstacle effectively without losing much momentum.

Last night the temperatures dipped below the freezing mark in the Lehigh Valley for the first time since April.  I probably don’t need to warn you that icy patches will pose a danger to your ride, but I’ll say it anyway; avoid them at all costs!  Many of our trails here are sheltered by tree canopies and small cliff walls.  This means that the sun doesn’t reach many parts of them to heat and dry them.  It may be 45 or 50 degrees during the day, yet icy patches could remain in the shade if we had a particularly cold night.  I saw this firsthand last year on several bike rides on the Slate Heritage Trail near Slatington, PA.  One ice patch was so big that the only option was to get off the bike and tip-toe across it.

Allow extra braking distance on wet trails!

A final caution is to look after your brakes after running over damp pavement, or through a puddle of water.  If you have scrub brakes, as most Trikkes do, you are going to lose most of your braking power when your tire treads are wet.  Be aware of this, and give your Trikke the same type of stopping distance you would give your car in the snow.  If you have a newer T8 or T12 with disk brakes, you will be in much better shape.  Slightly damp pavement won’t pose any difficulties, and if you run through a puddle you can ride your brakes for a short bit to dry them out.

I don’t own any Trikkes with the polyurethane wheels, but if you ride one of these models, you really need to avoid wet conditions altogether.  These hard wheels offer no grip at all in the wet conditions, and are very likely to slip out from under you at the slightest provocation.  This would be a great time to consider upgrading your T78cs to rear air tires, or to park your T67 or T7 and give your bicycle a chance to get out from hibernation.

Although the autumn leaves are pretty, it would be best to seek trails far away from them.  Warminster Community Park is not exactly local for us Valley residents, but it is one of the largest and clearest expanses that I can think of.  That’s why I’m choosing to host our October LSM Ride there.  Although I haven’t ridden at Rodale Fitness Park in the past month, I suspect that could also be a great autumn destination.  Despite the tree cover, they frequently maintain the trail.  I have seen them out there with leaf blowers even in August.  I am going to ride there again soon (hopefully tomorrow or Monday) to assess the current conditions.

It’s also important to look after our bodies during these colder months.  In the summer, it’s so easy and obvious to drink adequate water while riding.  You feel yourself sweat, and drinking helps you cool down.  It is still critical to stay hydrated in the colder weather, but your body likely won’t offer up as many cues.  Although I wore my Camelbak on my 10-mile ride on Monday, I barely drank from it because I was cold.  As a result, I felt totally wrung out afterwards because I was quite dehydrated.  It took the rest of the day to drink enough water to start to feel human again.

It’s also important to dress in layers when it’s colder.  You may initially think the sweatshirt jacket you brought is too light and you’re going to freeze, but after carving a few miles you’ll likely end up feeling trapped in a sauna.  This is where having a cargo net on the Trikke is great, because you can peel off those extra layers and stow them away for the duration of the ride.

I actually enjoy riding more at this time of the year.  The cool, crisp fall air always re-invigorates me, and gives me a deep sense of connectedness with the world.  The trails are less crowded, and there's no danger of suffering from heat exhaustion.  If you remember to wave your mental yellow flag when you encounter trail debris, and if you remember to care for your body, you can continue to enjoy your Trikke year-round.

Rokk-it Red!!

Today was finally the day I got to take my beautiful new T8 out on the trails of the Lehigh Valley.  For the sake of obtaining the closest possible comparison to my old T78, I decided to repeat my most recent ride on the paved Easton section of the D&L trail.  This 10-mile round trip consisted of two round trips over a 2.5 mile stretch of asphalt.

The comparison didn’t go quite as I hoped though, since the trail was in poorer condition today, with damp asphalt and a lot of fallen, wet leaves.  I completed this ride two weeks ago on my T78 averaging 7 mph, but managed just 6 mph today on the new T8.  This gave me an idea for writing another post about dealing with such adverse conditions, so check back later this week for it.

Ready for Lift Off!

When I did reach the dry, clear parts of the trail where I could carve deeper, I learned I could gain a nice surge of speed with the T8 by giving it longer pushes with my legs.  That seems to be the key to really getting the most out of it due to its wider stance.  I stand a little more forward on the foot decks than I do on my T78, again likely due to the larger geometry.  I love the feel of its grippy foot decks and disk brakes, both important things to have on a damp day like today.  Its overall ride is more solid and smooth than the T78, confirming that this is a high quality machine that is worth its price.

I truly love the ergonomic hand grips.  At the end of last week’s ride on the T78, my hands were starting to ache from the tight grip I always keep on its handlebars.  Plus, when my hands get sweaty, it is harder to maintain a good hold on the T78’s “faux leather” grips.  The T8’s rubber-like hand grips are molded to a more natural shape, so you can rest your hands on them as opposed to having a death-grip on them.  I also believe that this, combined with the wider handlebars, reduced the strain on my upper back muscles, which were really burning after the long ride on the T78.  The T78 can easily be upgraded to these use these same grips, and it’s something I would highly recommend for longer rides.

The only thing I struggled with a little on the T8 was hill climbing.  This trail only has two small hills, but I failed to make it up one of them.  I had no trouble with this on the T78 the other week.  I must say though, I physically wasn’t feeling 100% today.  I’m in that “not sick, but not totally well” state that often comes with the change in seasons.  So it could have been that, and it could be that I just have to get to know the T8 a little better.  I’m not that worried though, as overall my hill climbing skills are improving with time.  Overall, I’m thrilled with my first T8 ride at home, and I can’t wait to try her out on the rest of our beautiful trails.

Thanks to Trikker Chick, I have decided to name my 3-wheel toys.  For this sweet, red beauty, I’m going with “Rokk-It Red”.  The mid-80’s song “Love Missile F-111” by Sigue Sigue Sputnik has always been one of my favorites, and it got inadvertently stuck in my head for most of the ride today.  One of the lines of the refrain is, “There goes my love rocket red.”  So, it was easy to change “rocket” to “rokk-it” as a play on Trikke’s “rock and roll” mantra, with the double "k's" of course (thank you, Trikker Chick!).  This was a tough call though, because I also like how Trikker Chick calls her the “Red Flash”.  I suppose there’s no harm in it having that as her nickname, lol.

Rokk-It Red takes in one of my favorite views

For a while I have thought of my green T78 as the “Lean Green Machine”, so I’ll just go ahead and make that name official now.  Its three-wheel configuration reminds me of the old “Mean Green Machine” I loved so much as a kid.  Since my Trikke has helped me lose so much weight, I have simply changed “green” to “lean”.

So that concludes my first long ride with my new beauty.  I have done several 10 mile rides now, and will be looking to go further.  The higher quality ride and comfort of this T8 will surely make that easier.

Lehigh Valley Ride: Rodale Fitness Park

I was still craving more Trikke action after my exploration of Cedar Beach Park last Monday, so instead of doing more laps there, I headed to Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park in Trexlertown.  I had biked here a few months ago, and it has been on my radar since then as a good riding place for the Trikke.

This trail is located across from the Lehigh Valley Velodrome on Mosser Road.  It has ample parking and porta-johns on site.  The trail is open from dawn to dusk, but sometimes is closed to the public for special events.  I have not yet located a schedule for these closures, but I believe they still run bicycle criterium races every Thursday night.

http://www.lehighcounty.org/departments/parksandrecreation/rodalepark/tabid/451/default.aspx#TOP

At all other times, you’ll find this to be one of the most delightful places to Trikke due to its unique design.  Although the Trikke friendly inner loop is a mere 0.6 miles long, the trail is very wide with individual lanes for walkers/joggers, inline skaters and bicyclists.  Traffic flows in one direction around the track; clockwise.  Because the Trikke moves at about the same pace as a skater, I selected the middle lane for my ride.  This layout almost eliminates the worries of being held up by slower traffic or by constantly having to watch your back for cyclists coming from behind.  That said, where the inner loop diverges and re-converges with the outer loop, it is necessary to check for upcoming bicyclists as you cross their path.  Due to the proximity to the velodrome, any bicyclists you encounter here are likely hardcore road racers doing 20+ mph, so safety is the key as you cross over.

The Rodale map describes the inner loop as “flat”, but whether you are on a bike or a Trikke you’ll likely disagree with this label.  From the starting point, it is a steady incline towards the southwest corner.  You get a slight breather around the corner itself before the trail climbs more significantly towards the northwest corner.  The level app on my iPhone showed this to be about a 3 degree incline, which for me is the maximum I’m able to handle right now.  From here, there is a short decline down to the junction where the inner and outer loop diverge.  Stay on the inner loop for a relatively flat ride back to the starting point.

The 1.3 mile outer loop lives up to its “hill” designation.  I have not attempted this on the Trikke, and would only recommend it to the most skilled and experienced riders out there.  I have biked it before, and it is a true challenge for me to get up it even using the so-called “granny gear”.

So if only 0.6 miles of this trail is Trikke friendly, why am I recommending it?  There are several good reasons.  As I mentioned earlier, you’ll likely have an unobstructed run in the roller blade lane.  Secondly, it is a great place to begin learning basic climbing techniques on the moderate inclines of the “flat” loop.  Finally, because of its short laps, you can vary your ride to whatever length fits your fitness level and mood of the day.

Because I had Trikked in Cedar Beach Park earlier in the day, I kept my ride here short.  It was a hot and humid day, so it was also pushing the limits of my endurance.  I did 5 laps for a total of 3 miles.  If you add the path to and from the parking lot the total ride was likely closer to 3.8 miles.  Despite that, I was able to complete 3 of those 5 laps without stopping on the inclines.  I was really proud of myself, because until last month’s Riding Clinikk in Philadelphia, I was rarely able to tackle even the smallest incline.

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/116433315

Overall this is a fun place to ride, and may be an ideal spot for some mid-week rides after work, provided it isn’t closed for a bicycle race.  I will continue hunting for this closure schedule so I can share it with you.

Lehigh Valley Ride: Cedar Creek Path

I set out last Monday morning to explore Trexler Memorial Park, but was greeted by a sign in the parking lot that declared that no bicycles were allowed in the park on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.  Although the Trikke is hard to classify, I took that as a clear indication that I wouldn’t be welcomed there, as the park was very full with walkers and joggers.  Shaking off this disappointment, I recalled that Cedar Beach Park was literally around the corner, so I decided to explore there instead.

My first impression of this park is that although the trail is relatively short, it is by far the most beautiful riding spot I’ve found so far.  The park is basically divided into two halves, split by North Ott Street.  I parked on the west side off at a small lot at Parkway Boulevard and North 30^th Street.  There were some walkers, joggers and kids on bicycles, but not enough to get in the way of a good Trikke ride.

I started by riding the main loop of Cedar Creek Path around the west side of the park:

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/116400833

There are some slight inclines and hills on this loop which may deter someone just learning to ride, but with a moderate level of experience they shouldn’t prove to be a problem.  In particular the area near where I parked (northern side) and the southeast corner involve some minor climbs.  This 1.3 mile loop is mostly out in the open with no shade for those hot days.  The northeast corner has some tree cover at the garden and pond portion of the park.  This section switches from a conventional asphalt trail to brick pavers, but the Trikke rides just fine over them.  It is here that the park really gets its distinct beauty and character.

Having completed that loop, I decided to start exploring everything else I could find.  There is an angled pathway through that loop which is flat and easy to ride, although you’ll likely have to walk your Trikke over the very narrow bridge connecting it back to the main trail.

I then crossed North Ott Street to explore the east side of the park.

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/116415281

This side has less to offer a Trikker.  Cedar Creek Road runs the entire length of this part and has some vehicular traffic from North Ott Street to the parking lot.  It is closed to entry and exit from Hamilton Boulevard though, which does keep traffic to a minimum.  The nice thing is this road is very wide and flat, so with nobody else on it I was free to ride my Trikke without disruption.

Cedar Creek Path meets Cedar Creek Road at the east end of the park, but I was not able to Trikke this loop around Lake Muhlenberg as it is gravel.  So I rode back along Cedar Creek Road until I picked up a minor paved trail along the west end of the lake and around the parking lot.  This part was paved, but very narrow, and I would not consider this a real destination for Trikking.

As this was my first visit to the park, I cannot yet offer any commentary on how crowded it gets at different times.  It is located in a densely populated area, so I do have to assume there may be times it gets crowded.  I would not let that deter me from going back though, as it was an enjoyable ride in a beautiful location.  For future rides, I will likely stick with doing laps around the main loop on the west side, or riding back and forth on Cedar Creek Road on the east side.

Lehigh Valley Ride: The Ironton Rail Trail

This is the first in a series of posts as I find and share good Trikke trails and roads in the Lehigh Valley.  Anyone living here knows that it's a beautiful but hilly area, so Trikking here is particularly challenging when you’re a beginner. With that in mind, there are still some great flat trails and roads, and as I Trikke them I will review them here.

I most frequently ride the Ironton Rail Trail in Coplay, PA. The full trail consists of a paved 5 mile loop, and a 2.5 mile gravel spur, but only a portion of the loop is well-suited for the Trikke:

Click here for my Trikke Ride Map.

There's a small gravel parking lot in the southeast corner of the loop off of Water Street that is the ideal starting spot for this ride.  (Be aware that at the moment, the driveway leading to the lot has some large ruts in it, so be cautious if you have a low-to-the-ground car.)  Heading west on the bottom portion of the loop, then north will take you to the northwest corner. It is a slight and steady climb, but close enough to flat that it is easy enough for a beginning Trikker.

The bridge over Lehigh Street offers a slight climb in both directions.  When I was new at Trikking, I would have to walk it to the top of the bridge, but after a few rides I was able to get over it with ease.  On the west side of the loop, there are road-level crossings at Center Street and East Columbia Street. Use caution here as there is a decent amount of car traffic at each crossing.

Once you reach the northwest corner, you'll likely want to turn around because beyond that point is a long steep hill that is challenging even on a bicycle (but someday, I’m going to Trikke up it, someday….).  By this time, you’re Trikked 2.5 miles, and there are two benches you can sit on and take a well-earned break. The Trikke ride back to the parking lot will be slightly downgrade and is very smooth and enjoyable.

If you’re just starting out, this 5-mile round trip may be as much Trikking as you can handle for the moment.  I rode this route many times, before extending my ride to the full 8 miles.  If you wish to do the same, simply continue past the parking lot heading north along the east side of the loop.  You can ride almost a mile and a half north before you hit the gravel portion, which is the northeast corner of the loop. Some of this is getting to be a steeper climb than the other sides (I'm estimating it's a 2% or 3% grade), and then it's of course easier on the return trip. This side of the trail often has less joggers and walkers, because its access from the neighborhood is more difficult. There is a lot of tree cover here, so you do have to be careful of fallen branches and such on the trail surface.  The return ride to the parking lot brings the entire ride to 8 miles, and covers as much of the Trikke-friendly portion possible without repeating a section.

I have not yet Trikked the northern side of the trail, for the simple reason that it’s all a steep hill that still challenges me on my bicycle.  The climb from the northwest corner to the street-crossing at West Coplay Road is very steep, and if I can ever climb this I know I will have truly mastered the Trikke.  The climb from the northeast corner (park at Saylor Park, near the old kilns) to West Coplay Road is longer but more gradual.  I’m not ready to attempt this stretch yet, but will likely try it in the fall when the weather is cooler and the trail traffic less.

For those who may have difficulty with ruts in the Water Street parking lot, parking at Saylor Park off of Coplay Road is a decent alternative.  If you’re looking for the flat part of the trail, head past the kilns and around the corner towards the eastern side of the loop.  You’ll only be able to go a short distance before the trail turns to gravel.  Luckily it is only gravel for about ¼ mile, so just walk your Trikke through that short stretch.  From there, you’ll have smooth and nearly level pavement all the way to the northwest corner and back.  This will get you the full 8 mile ride I described, plus a little extra.

I have been riding this trail regularly and am finding it to be great for Trikking. You do have to be mindful that it is a popular trail that encircles a large neighborhood, so there will be lots of bikers, walkers and joggers on it at certain times.  You also have to be looking out for cyclists coming up from behind, which can happen fairly quickly given the unusual curvature of this rail trail.  I use a mirror mounted on my helmet that helps to warn me of their approach.  The locals in this neighborhood are generally very nice, and I get a lot of smiles and comments such as, “That looks fun!” while I ride there.  Do take care to practice good riding etiquette here as you will be faster than the walkers and (most) joggers, yet slower than the bicyclists.  Most people there are not yet familiar with Trikkes, and I would hate for their first impression of us to be a negative one.

As with any trail, too many disruptions to your momentum will make this a tedious ride, so I do advise you to pick times and days when the trail is less crowded.  In general if you avoid rides during afternoons and early evenings during the week, and mid-mornings to evenings on the weekends, you’ll be riding this trail at its best.  I’m also fond of riding in the colder weather, which does tend to keep the trail clear at most times.  On quieter days, you’ll likely see deer in the fields along the southern portion of the loop.  Take caution as they do sometimes venture onto the trail, but also enjoy getting an up-close view of them as you ride by.

Overall, the Ironton loop one of the best local trails for both biking and Trikking as it is flat, scenic and has minimal road crossings.  If you have ridden this trail, I’d love to hear your impressions of it as well.