Bike vs. Trikke

Lately my bicycle has been turning green with envy every time it watches me take my little green Trikke out for a joyride.  Today I decided to show the bike some love by taking it for a 19 mile ride on the D&L Canal Path from Bethlehem to Easton and back.  This was also my first chance to try out the new seat I installed on Monday, in an effort to overcome my primary objection to riding the bike.

Battle of the fitness machines

My ride was great, albeit a bit tiring over some rough terrain that would have been better conquered on a light-duty mountain bike.  At least my new seat cushioned me as I hoped, and I’m not experiencing much post-biking pain and discomfort as I sit here and type this.  At many points during the ride, I wished I was gliding along on a smooth stretch of tarmac on my Trikke instead, and this got me thinking about the pros and cons of the two different, yet effective fitness machines.

Riding Environments:

The bike has the advantage of being able to go almost anywhere.  Rough pavement, gravel trails, and undulating hills may take more effort, but they are not show-stoppers when you’re on two wheels.  The Lehigh Valley is filled with plenty of such terrain that is difficult or off limits to the Trikke, which instead thrives on smooth and relatively flat asphalt and concrete.  While some of these asphalt patches, such as parking lots or neighborhood streets, may be boring and uninspiring on a bike, carving across them with the Trikke is a sheer pleasure because you are more focused on the motion of the machine than on the scenery itself.

Riding Speed and Distance:

How far and fast you can go is primarily a factor of your fitness level, riding skill, and the terrain you ride on.  I consider myself an intermediate rider with continually improving fitness, yet I am still technically classified as obese, so my commentary here is made through those filters.  I’m currently able to bike about 20-22 miles at an average of 10-11 mph.  I typically Trikke 8-10 miles at an average of 6-7 mph.  In general, you can expect to go slightly faster on your bike and travel about twice the distance that you would on a Trikke.

Workout Quality:

Here’s where the Trikke really begins to gain the upper hand.  Your entire body gets into the act of carving, and you can alter your riding style to emphasize or rest certain parts of your body at any given time.  In general, your legs, arms and core are all going to feel equally exercised after a good ride.  On the bike, your legs bear the brunt of the effort, while your upper body is enjoying a free ride.  I personally get a better cardio workout on my Trikke, because I’m able to exercise more of me at once.  I find on my bike, my legs start to burn and protest long before my heart rate really starts to climb.  This may improve with my fitness, but if you’re in a similar condition, you are likely going to get a better workout on a Trikke.

Comfort:

This is another area where the Trikke shines.  Quite frankly, the bike is a pain in my rear!  Yes, the new seat and padded shorts have helped, but I am typically squirming around and counting the miles to the finish line on a typical ride.  I also have problems with my wrists and hands going numb, as they are locked into position on the bike supporting the weight of my upper body.  I ride a hybrid bike, which is fairly upright compared to a road bike, but this is still a problem for me.  As for the Trikke, I really have no complaints comfort-wise.  Apart from stepping on and off its foot decks, it is a literal no-impact exercise.  My wrists are never numb and I never wince as I sit down after a ride.  I also love that I can hop on the Trikke regardless of what I’m wearing.  This makes it great for after-work rides on days when I really don’t feel like bringing a change of clothes.

Portability:

I drive a small hatchback, which is a necessity for fuel efficiency on my long commute.  My Trikke folds up quickly and is very easy to load in and out of the car’s rear hatch.  I recently had two Trikkes back there, and there was still room to spare.  My bike, on the other hand, is a chore to wedge in and out of the car, and it eats up every inch of space.  I have to detach the front brake cable then remove the front wheel to get it in.  Even with that done, it is still difficult and awkward to handle.  Needless to say, I have to reassemble it to ride it once I reach the trail.  I have considered buying a bike rack, but I had one years ago, and I know they can be equally difficult to fumble around with.  Plus I like the security of having the bike locked completely inside the car.  When you’re pressed for time and looking for convenience, the Trikke is again the clear winner.

Learning Curve:

Many people shy away from buying a Trikke because they’re worried they won’t be able to learn to ride it.  There’s no denying the learning curve that comes with riding a Trikke.  Well guess what?  Your bicycle has a learning curve too!  But you likely learned to ride at a young age, and have thus forgotten about that aspect of it.  If you found the rare adult who does not know how to ride a bicycle, I would venture a guess that they would actually find the Trikke to be the easier of the two vehicles to master.  Don’t let the learning curve discourage you from riding a Trikke.  If anything, it is healthy and satisfying to challenge yourself to do something new at any age.  I am the kind of person who is always looking to grow and learn, and I have taken great delight in mastering my new riding toy at the tender young age of 40.

Social Opportunities:

Odds are you already have a lot of friends who ride bicycles, so joining them on a ride is simple.  There are biking clubs everywhere, so finding new friends is easy too.  Although there aren’t a lot of Trikke riding groups out there yet, hooking up with one is a great way to make new friends and to become a better rider.  Our choice of an unconventional fitness machine creates an instant bond with each other.  As you ride, you’ll also attract the attention of a lot of curious passersby, and for some of us shy types, this is often enough to break the ice to lead to a conversation (and perhaps a new friendship) that would have never occurred had you pedaled by on an ordinary bicycle.  If you’re looking to meet others who Trikke in southeastern Pennsylvania, please check out the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania, who are very welcoming to new riders.

Maintenance:

Hopefully you’re riding your bike and/or Trikke often enough discover that they eventually need maintenance and repairs.  The Trikke wins again in this final category, as it is a simple machine to work on.  Apart from occasional tire and tube changes and the tightening of bolts and brake cables, it is as close to a maintenance-free ride as you’ll get.  A bicycle, on the other hand, has a lot more complex moving parts, especially with the drive train.  The chain requires frequent lubrication in addition to the typical bolt and brake cable tightening.  I consider myself very handy mechanically, yet if my bike requires fine adjustments to the gears or truing of the spokes, I usually find myself crying uncle and carting it off to the local bike shop to have a real mechanic deal with it.

For some good graphical depictions of bikes vs. Trikkes, go to http://www.trikke.com/ev/consumer.html and click on the “Bike vs. Trikke” tab.  Even though this is on the Electric Trikke website, the same principals apply to the body-powered fitness models.

You’ve now learned about the pros and cons of bikes and Trikkes, so which do you decide to ride?  There’s certainly no harm in having one of each!  I ride them both and can personally attest to the benefits of cross training.  The Lehigh Valley offers a wide array of trail types, and it is great to have both a bike and a Trikke so that I can enjoy them all.

There are a lot of people who are overweight and out of shape these days, and several of them that I know have complained to me that they are just too far gone to ride a bicycle now.  It saddens me to see how they have given up on the idea of ever being healthy and fit again, even though these same people tell me how much they used to enjoy biking before they gained weight.  This also frightens me, because I came so close to crossing this threshold myself.  If you find yourself identifying with this growing problem, consider learning to ride a Trikke.  It has made exercise possible for people who can no longer do more traditional activities like biking and jogging.  I have lost 43 pounds since I bought my Trikke, and have heard numerous stories of people losing even more than that on theirs.

Whichever your choice, it is most important to do something you enjoy.  The more you enjoy an exercise, the more likely you will do it regularly enough reap the rewards of improved health.  Happy trails!

How do You Make it Stop?!

In all likelihood, nobody has ever asked you this before.  You’ve put your heart and soul into learning to make your Trikke go.  You’ve worked your way from being stiff as a board and grinding to a halt after a few yards to being able to carve flowingly mile after blissful mile.  Then you stop to talk to a curious passerby on the trail, the one who is admiring your unique ride and asking the inevitable questions of, “What is that?” and “How do you make it go?”  You explain with enthusiasm what a carving vehicle is, how much fun it is to ride, and how much weight you’ve lost with it.  Then you turn back to your Trikke to give a quick demo, only to find it has gotten a mind of its own and started rolling back down the trail you came from.

It’s ironic just how easily a Trikke will go when you don’t want it to.  If you ride a steel-frame Trikke or an older model T8 or T12, you’ve probably experienced this frustration at least several times when you’ve stopped to take a break.  Or you’ve watched the Trikke tip over because it just doesn’t like to stand still.  Fortunately, there is a simple solution for this.  Any Trikke can be upgraded to use the same locking brake levers currently available on the T8’s and T12’s.

Installing them is easy, and will take about 10-15 minutes.  The hardest part is getting the handgrips off, which can be done with the aid of either compressed air or soap and water.  Loosen the old brake levers with an allen wrench, and slip the cable out of the notch it rests in.  Slide the old levers off the handlebars, slide the new ones on, then reverse the process to re-attach the brake cables and re-install the handgrips.  (This would also be a good time to replace your hand grips if you so desire.)  When adjusting the new brake levers for easy reach, it is a good idea to tighten them enough to hold them steady, but enough that they can be rotated slightly if you apply some force to them.  This also lets them flex instead of break should you drop the Trikke.  (Thanks go to Preston Hewitt of Trikke Virginia for this tip.)

Brakes Locked

Brakes Unlocked

You can now lock the brakes when you stop your Trikke by holding the levers and pressing the spring-loaded pin down.  To release the brakes, simply squeeze the levers then release them.  It’s as easy as that.  Your Trikke will stay obediently wherever you park it.  You’ll also enjoy the higher-quality feel and good looks of these metal brake levers.  I recently installed them on my T78 Deluxe and have found them to be a must-have accessory.  Now that I've solved the "how do you make it stop dilemma", I can return to the age-old pursuit of learning to "make it go" even better.

Trikke Test Drive – Part 1 – T78 vs. T8 vs. T12

When I bought my Trikke T78 Deluxe earlier this year, I had done a lot of online research, watched a lot of YouTube videos, and snagged a great deal on eBay.  Yet I was left wondering if I had truly gotten the right Trikke for me.  I would never buy a new car, motorcycle or bicycle without test driving it, yet here I was buying a strange new fitness machine that I had never tried out firsthand.

All things considered, I got lucky.  My T78 arrived in great condition, and was ready to ride after I corrected some minor assembly issues.  It fits me well, and I enjoy riding it, but I still often ask myself if I bought the “right Trikke”.

Thanks to my friends at Trikke Virginia (http://www.trikkepro.com), I was recently able to find out.  We took my T78 to a parking lot near the Manassas, VA airport, along with a brand new T8 Sport, T12 Roadster and Pon-E 48V.  The Pon-E will be the subject of a separate article, as for now I just want to compare the fitness models.

My T78 Deluxe (green) is based on a steel frame, weighing in at 24 pounds.  It rides on 3 air tires, and has better handgrips and handlebars than the T78 Air model.  I have upgraded mine with a water bottle holder and parking brake levers, although it still has the standard scrub brakes over the rear tires.  This is the Trikke I learned to ride on, and is my starting point for comparisons.

The T8 Sport (red) is close in size to the T78, measuring 2.0” longer and 2.4” wider at the rear wheels.  The T8’s handlebars are 0.9” wider than the T78’s, and have nicer bicycle-like hand grips.  The biggest advantage of the T8 is its aluminum frame and disk brakes.  Parking brake levers come standard on the T8, as does a water bottle holder.  The paint job on the T8 is high quality, with its graphics clear-coated instead of being stickers like the T78’s that will inevitably peel later.  It also has nicer foot decks and small plastic fenders.

I have been told by several people that the ride is very similar to the T78’s, but I felt more difference between the two than I expected.  Although Trikke says the T8 weighs 27 pounds, it actually felt lighter than my T78.  Getting it going from a dead stop was surprisingly easy, and I found it to be very nimble and responsive.  Whether maneuvering around the parking lot, or going up the steady incline of the access road, I felt really at one with the T8.  I switched back and forth a few times between it and my T78, and could really feel the difference in the T8’s width, and the extra carving power it gave me.

The T8’s disk brakes are very crisp and responsive.  The scrub brakes on my T78 are the only thing I don’t like about it, especially on the hillier trails of the Lehigh Valley.  This is my main reasons for considering an upgrade to another Trikke.  Despite recent weight loss, I still weigh over 200 pounds, and I sometimes wonder if my T78 is going to stop when I ask it to.  On the other hand, the T8 had no hesitation about bringing me quickly to a halt when needed.

The T12 Roadster has become immensely popular, and sometimes you get the impression it is the only Trikke that serious riders would consider.  For a modest price increase of just $100 more than the T8, it’s easier to fall into the “bigger is better” mindset when considering which one to purchase.  With that in mind, I had gone into this test drive session pretty well convinced I would decide the T12 would be my next Trikke.

The T12 (graphite) features the same upgrades as the T8: aluminum frame, disk brakes, parking brake levers, hand grips with bar extensions, a water bottle holder, upgraded foot decks, plastic fenders, and high-quality paint job.  It is the giant of the Trikke world though, weighing in at 31 pounds.  It is 7.8” longer than the T8, 2.2” wider at the rear wheels, and 0.6” wider at the handle bars.

It takes more effort to step up onto the foot decks which ride atop 12” wheels.  Getting this Trikke to go from a dead stop took considerably more effort than the T78 or T8, and I felt fairly unsteady with it during tight maneuvers at slower speeds.  I could feel its heavier weight and occasionally felt like I was fighting with its handlebars.  Once I got it up to cruising speed though, it felt better.  In fact, it was easier to maintain my momentum on the T12 than on the smaller Trikkes.

If I was going to cruise consistently on flat terrain with rare interruptions, I think I would be happy with the T12.  But the reality is I do a lot more stop-and-go, climbing and tight maneuvering than that on a typical ride.   With that in mind, the T8 is without a doubt the right Trikke for me.  This is not the outcome I expected, and it proves why a test drive is so valuable.

Everyone is different in terms of height, weight, proportions, fitness level and riding skill.  This is going to translate into the “right Trikke” being different for everyone.  You have to remember that I’m only 5’-4” tall with stubby arms and legs, riding at an intermediate skill level.  The T12 is a fine vehicle, but I never felt at one with it like I did the T8.  The T8 simply is the right fit for my body size and riding style.  Taller riders would likely feel that way about the T12, but the only way to know for sure is to try them both out before deciding which to purchase.

I now have the task of figuring out how to save up for the T8, because there is no doubt in my mind that I want one.  Not only does it ride better than the T78, but I feel strongly about wanting disk brakes in light of my weight, riding speed and the nature of the trails I am riding on.  I think the hardest part of the decision though, will be selecting the color.  The T8 comes in blue, red and silver, all of which look fantastic.  Decisions, decisions . . . .

I am very grateful to Beth and Preston at Trikke Virginia for allowing me the chance to compare these carving vehicles side-by-side.  If you are in the market for a new Trikke, please contact myself or Trikke Virginia and we will be happy to help you choose the carving vehicle that's right for you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Trikke TestDrive series, where I will review the Trikke Pon-E 48V.

Upcoming LSM Ride – September 29, 2012

Trikkers around the world have embraced the tradition of the Last Saturday of the Month (LSM) ride.  I have set up a ride for the last Saturday in September in conjunction with the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania:

http://www.meetup.com/TrikkePA/events/82743822/

Although this ride is south of the Lehigh Valley, I thought it best to join forces with an established riding group.  The Pottstown section of the Schuykill River Trail, known as the Thun Trail, has a smoothly paved surface, which is mostly flat.  There are a few small hills on the eastern part of the ride, but they are easily ridden or walked up.  Our ride will start at the Montgomery County Community College parking lot, and travel west to Grosstown Road and back.  This will be approximately 6 miles round trip.  The trail turns to gravel just west of the Grosstown Road parking lot, so we will not be able to go any further.

I hope you will consider joining us for this fun ride in what will hopefully be some fresh autumn weather.  Riders of all skill levels are welcome, as the trail is well suited towards everyone.  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.

My plans at the moment are to host LSM rides for the remainder of the year in the Delaware Valley area where most of the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania live.  September and October’s rides are already scheduled, and I will be announcing November’s and December’s soon.   I have decided to wait until next spring to start the new Lehigh Valley group, because starting it now would not give it enough chance to grow before the winter “break”.  If you’re in the Lehigh Valley, I hope you will consider joining the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania in the meantime.

T.G.I.F. = Trikke Gal’s Intense Friday

Since I bought my Trikke, my life has been reduced to two basic types of moments; the times I’m riding my Trikke, and the times I’m thinking about riding my Trikke.  But sometimes those thoughts of riding lead to frustration, as the demands of life eat into my time for riding.

Today began as one of those days.  Although my day at the office was calm and productive, as it drew to a close I began to stress about the overbearing to-do list for the weekend ahead.  Now what’s wrong with that picture?  How did I go from TGIF to dreading the weekend?

Luckily my Trikke staged an intervention, as it insisted I finally explore the northern part of the Schuykill River Trail despite the mounting pressures elsewhere.  The cool evening air and nearly empty trail became my sea of tranquility.  The traffic on the nearby highway softened to a dull drone, while the cricket chirps from the bushes began cheering me on.  With my warmed up muscles, I felt fluid and one with the Trikke.  I carved my beloved little green and black T78 down the black ribbon of asphalt that divided a thicket of green trees and bushes.

The flat and smooth trail encouraged me to practice some of the riding lessons I had recently learned at the Trikke Academy.  I practiced “walking the Trikke” and standing on my tiptoes to get more leverage with each carve.  As always, my Trikke responded to each subtle input, but tonight the response turned into a more than subtle surge of forward momentum.

I celebrated the moment knowing I had found the “next gear”, and had overcome one of my ongoing riding challenges.  For the first time, I was sustaining more power from my legs than from my arms.  I felt the cool breeze caress my cheeks as I carved faster, and my mind shifted to living in this wondrous moment.  Gone were the pressures of work, school and personal matters.  What happened before and what is yet to come simply dissolved into the ether.

Although I never actually wrote “explore Schuykill River Trail” and “ride Trikke better by getting more power from my legs” on this weekend’s to-do list, my whole outlook on the next few days has improved by beginning my weekend by checking off this success.  Whatever your weekend plans are, be sure to carve out some quality time with your Trikke.  You never know when it’s going to put you on the path to a better state of mind.

Carvé diem!

Upcoming LSM Ride - October 27, 2012

Trikkers around the world have embraced the tradition of the Last Saturday of the Month (LSM) ride.  I have set up a ride for the last Saturday in October in conjunction with the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania:

http://www.meetup.com/TrikkePA/events/80427282/

Although this ride is south of the Lehigh Valley, I thought it best to join forces with an established riding group.  Warminster Community Park is unique and enjoyable, as it features a former Willow Grove Air Base runway for anyone to enjoy.  You can carve to your heart’s content without worries about blocking fellow riders.  There is also a network of traditional trails to explore around the perimeter of the park, as well as across the street at Northampton Municipal Park.

I hope you will consider joining us for this fun ride in what will hopefully be some fresh autumn weather.  Riders of all skill levels are welcome, as the park is well suited towards everyone.  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.

Please note that I also am looking to host a September ride in the Lehigh Valley.  I am in the process of picking a location, and I also promised some fellow riders that I wouldn’t plan a rival event on the same date that they are making plans.  I hope to do a literal LSM ride, but if not, expect it to be towards the end of the month.  Once I firm up plans, I will announce the details here and on MeetUp.

Fit by 40: Another Woman's Inspiring Journey

I always say age is just a number, and you are only as old as you feel.  I have always been young at heart, and have accepted the passing of each year gracefully.  Something about turning 40 earlier this year was a bit tough though, as I took stock of my life and realized in many areas I simply was not where I expected to be by middle age.

One of those issues was my ballooning weight and declining fitness.  I have been overweight for most of my adult life due to my preference for sedentary jobs and hobbies.   Last year this time, this really didn’t bother me.  I certainly had heard all the facts and statistics that were supposed to scare me into eating better and getting fit, but I totally accepted who I was and how I looked.  Losing weight was something to do “later”, “when I was ready”, “when I had the time” . . .  I can easily conjure up dozens of such excuses.

There was something about turning 40 that changed me, and it happened rather quickly.  To this day, I can’t quite put a finger on it, but I went from not really caring one day to waking up with the sudden urgency telling me that I had to do something.  I just knew I had to change my ways before it was too late.  I had been feeling increasingly tired, sluggish, and physically incapable of doing some things that I never used to give a second though to.  Buying clothes that fit was had become a real challenge, as did fitting into some restaurant tables and amusement park rides.  I did miss being outside and enjoying fresh air and sunshine.  I was sick of that nagging voice that filled me with guilt every time I savored an ice cream sundae or a bowl of cheese-covered nachos.  Once I listened to my inner voice, there really were 1,000 compelling reasons to change, and they all came screaming in my face at once.

Because I reached this turning point, an article I found while browsing the news last night really jumped out at me.  It is titled “Why You Should Really ‘Get Fit by 40’”, and it describes the fitness journey of 39-year old Michelle Jackson.  http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/31/health/fitness-before-forty-weight-loss/index.html?iref=allsearch

Michelle’s story is one that most of us middle-aged women can relate to:  a sedentary job, too many demands on our time, a lack of interest in sports, and the dread of being embarrassed at the gym.  Michelle goes on to explain that at the age of 40, our hormones start to turn against us and muscle loss accelerates.  Beyond this age, weight loss becomes increasingly difficult.  This encouraged her to take charge of her life at the age of 38 in hopes of being fit before her 40^th birthday.  Although she may fall slightly short of that goal, she has already lost an impressive 100 pounds and has reaped other rewards; she stopped storing, has decreased knee pain and has gotten off of her asthma and acid reflux medications.

As I read Michelle’s story, I began to realize it may have been my women’s intuition that kicked in at 40, as it felt my body’s changes beginning.  I do wish I had been aware of this pending change sooner, as it may have kicked me into gear a few years earlier.  Still, it is never too late to change and I am glad that I have made fitness and health my priority this year.  In 6 months, I have lost 43 pounds and have more energy and enthusiasm than I’ve had since my early 20’s.  Like Michelle, I have added strength training to my routine and have learned about the rewards of building muscle.  Until recently I thought strength training was only for athletes and body builders, but I now realize that building muscle boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat, even when you are enjoying a sedentary pursuit such as I am doing now as I write this.

I love reading success stories such as Michelle.  It helps me know that I am not alone in the challenges I face, and it motivates me to keep working towards my goals even when the going gets tough.  If Michelle is reading this, I wish her all the best in achieving her goals.  As for me, I about halfway to where I want to be, and if I maintain my current pace I will have a true cause to celebrate on my 41^st birthday.

If you find yourself nearing 40, you should really take stock of your situation and start taking action before it becomes significantly more difficult.  If you’re past that mark, take heart knowing it is never too late, as the right amount of determination can overcome any challenge.  If you have an inspiring story, please share it with us, as it helps everyone to know we are not fighting our battles alone.