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.

Going Green and Painting the Town Red

Working a full-time job with a long commute and going to school part-time doesn’t leave me many chances to have the kind of spontaneous fun that makes life truly worth living.  That’s why when I got a late-Saturday call to help out my Trikke Virginia friends at the Washington, DC Green Festival on Sunday I jumped at the opportunity.

As the name implies, the Green Festival was devoted to all aspects of sustainable living.  It featured everything from organic food to hemp clothing to recycled building materials to hybrid and electric cars from Ford.  And in case you haven’t already guessed, it also featured Trikkes!

http://www.greenfestivals.org/

Over the course of the weekend, Trikke Virginia gave over 300 people their first taste of riding a Trikke.  They came from all walks of life, young and old, athletic and overweight, but all curious about  the fun, fitness and eco-friendly benefits of the 3-wheel carving vehicles.  It was a sheer delight to see the huge grins and bright eyes on the children who just discovered a new way to play.  It was also gratifying to see the look of satisfaction on the faces of some older folks when they finally “got it” and were able to make it go.

The person that touched my heart the most was Beth and Preston’s dear friend, Eddie.  Several years ago, Eddie suffered a devastating stroke, but with the help of Beth, Preston and Eddie’s church, he got his freedom back thanks to an electric Trikke Pon-e.  If you haven't yet heard Eddie’s inspiring story, you can read all about him at:

http://www.trikkepro.com/eddie.html

Without a doubt, Eddie is one of the most charming and gracious individuals I have ever met.  While most of us are grateful to our Trikkes for helping us overcome weight and emotional issues, we realize how simple those problems seem compared to what Eddie has conquered.  Eddie has persevered through life’s greatest hardships and has still come away with a positive outlook and a bright smile on his face.  It was a true honor spending time with Eddie, and a pleasure to drive him home after a long day at the festival.  Eddie knows Washington, DC like the back of his hand and was kind enough to navigate me to my first up-close views of the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial.

If you’re reading this Eddie, thank you for the tour, and even more importantly for touching my heart!  May God bless you on every Trikke ride!

Since I stayed the night in Virginia, Monday gave me a chance to rectify something that I have been regretting for the past few weeks.  If you read the first part of my “Trikke Test Drive” series, you already know that I fell head-over-heels in love with the Trikke T8 Sport.

http://lehighvalleytrikke.blogspot.com/2012/09/trikke-test-drive-part-1-t78-vs-t8-vs.html

My only regret is that I did not take this sweet red beauty home with me.  This unexpected trip back to Trikke Virginia gave me the excuse I needed to pick her up.  I fear my T78 is now literally turning green with envy, but she will remain in my family as she has served me well this year.  The fact that my riding skills have somewhat outgrown her scrub brakes’ stopping power is a testament to the fact that she has literally taken my fitness to a new level.

Due to commitments today and a rainy forecast tomorrow, I will have to wait patiently until Monday to start showing my new T8 the local trails.  Needless to say, I can’t wait to write that post!

All dressed up and ready to go!!

LSM Ride – Pounding the Pavement in Pottstown

Today I carved into new territory by hosting my first LSM ride in Pottstown, PA.  I’d like to thank Katie, Norman and Greg for joining me on this enjoyable ride via the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania Meetup group.

We began by riding the planned 6 miles on the Schyukill River/Thun Trail.  It was a bit chilly and overcast, but once we started carving it was plenty comfortable.  The trail was a slight climb from our starting point on College Road.  We reached the Grosstown Road parking lot, which was as far as we could go before the trail turned to gravel.  The ride back was smoother, and we had a few nice down hills to reward our efforts.

When we returned to the parking lot, Norman was astute enough to notice markers indicating that the trail continued across the street and into town.  We bid farewell to Greg, then the three of us continued to explore new territory.  The trail crossed the train tracks then joined East High Street, the main drag through town.  We were thrilled to find a dedicated bike lane on each side of this street, and rode it to Madison Street.  We turned around and headed back towards the start. This is a challenging ride, as many sections are a steady climb, and you have to be mindful of the vehicular traffic.

We were almost back and starting to feel fatigued, when we found a nice pizza and sub shop that beckoned us in for lunch.  This was a great chance to chat and get to know each other better, as well as get a much needed rest.  By the time we returned to the parking lot, we had covered 9.7 miles, which was a great distance for all of us.

I really enjoyed this ride, and the company of my fellow Trikkers.  I’m looking forward to the next LSM ride, which will be at Warminster Community Park on October 27, 2012.  This ride is open to everyone, and we would love to make some new friends, so come out and join us!  Information on the next ride can be 

found at:

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

http://lehighvalleytrikke.blogspot.com/2012/09/upcoming-lsm-ride-october-27-2012.html

LSM Ride Reminder – September 29, 2012

This is just a quick reminder about Saturday morning’s LSM ride.  We will meet 11:00 to ride the Schyukill River/Thun Trail.  We will start this 6 mile ride from the parking lot of Montgomery County Community College, 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA.  This is a mostly flat trail which is suitable for riders of all skill levels.

For more information, please visit:

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

http://lehighvalleytrikke.blogspot.com/2012/09/upcoming-lsm-ride-september-29-2012.html

Please RSVP here or on the MeetUp site if you plan to attend.

If you’re also looking ahead to October’s LSM ride, please visit:

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

http://lehighvalleytrikke.blogspot.com/2012/09/upcoming-lsm-ride-october-27-2012.html

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

In Part of 1 my Trikke Test Drive series, I compared three fitness models: the T78 Deluxe, the T8 Sport and the T12 Roadster.  Today, I will talk about Trikke’s top-of-the-line electric model, the Tribred Pon-E 48V.

Now I have to admit, when I first heard that Trikke made electric vehicles, my knee-jerk reaction was, “That’s cheating!  That’s not exercise!”  Although a quieter voice inside me kept whispering, “They look so cool.  I’d love to try one.”  Keep in mind this reaction is coming from a resident of rural Pennsylvania, where a car is your lifeline to civilization.  There is no public transportation here, nor are there wide shoulders or sidewalks on which to ride bicycles or Trikkes.

I recently travelled to a 3-day conference near Washington D.C. with Beth and Preston from Trikke Virginia.  In this unfamiliar urban landscape, I quickly learned what the Trikke electrics were designed for.  We parked several blocks from the convention center, and rode the Pon-e’s the rest of the way there.  This was much quicker than walking, and avoided many of the headaches that come with driving a car through crowded city streets.  They were also handy vehicles to zip out to lunch and back, to get a better variety of food at cheaper prices than the convention center had to offer.  With the addition of an optional cargo net, the Pon-e becomes a capable grocery-getter.  At the end of the day, folding up all three and fitting them into the back of their SUV was a breeze, and much easier than could have been done with standard bicycles.

Did I also mention how much fun the Pon-e is?  A simple twist of the throttle is enough to send you zipping along at up to 16 mph.  Its lithium-ion battery can deliver up to 24 miles of this blissful enjoyment.  You ride in a natural standing position, and the vehicle is well-balanced, stable and maneuverable.  I was even impressed with how slow it could go.  A gentle twist of the throttle could maintain a walking pace alongside a pedestrian you were having a conversation with.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was learning that the Pon-e could still offer the benefits of a great workout.  Although the 48V model weighs in at 46 pounds, twice the weight of my T78 fitness model, I still found it easy to propel in manual mode by carving back and forth.  If anything, the extra weight of it could lead to a better workout in less time.  You can definitely feel its weight when carving manually, but if you are skilled at riding the fitness models, you will be able to make it go.

For those who have never ridden a Trikke before, learning to ride in a straight line under battery power is quite easy, as is learning to lean it to turn.  Perhaps the most interesting method of propulsion is the true hybrid method, where you still carve back and forth but give it light throttle to allow the electric to assist you.  This can increase your speeds on flat surfaces, and help you up hills that would otherwise be beyond your ability.  Riding in hybrid mode can extend the range of the battery as well.

What makes this vehicle so great is that your riding style can adapt to whatever conditions you face.  It is a guaranteed head-turner, and you may find yourself making new friends along the way.  The better-known Segway can’t hold a candle to the Trikke Tribred Pon-E.  The Trikke is much more portable, easier to maintain, and can be operated in manual mode should the battery run out of charge.  It’s also much easier on the wallet; you can buy three Pon-E 48V’s for the cost of one Segway.

Although I live and work in a rural environment, the Trikke Tribred Pon-E 48V is so practical and so much fun, that it almost makes me wish I lived and worked in a city where I could fully take advantage of one.  I have no doubt that we will see more of this eco-friendly transportation in our cities soon.

Thanks go out to my friends at Trikke Virginia (http://www.trikkepro.com) for the opportunity to enjoy this fine Trikke.  Please contact them or myself if you are interested in learning more about the Trikke line of carving vehicles.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of my Trikke Test Drive series, where I will compare the Trikke T78 Air with the T78 Deluxe.

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.