Rokk-It’s REDS

I have loved everything about my new Trikke T8 Sport since I brought her home a month ago, but when I learned about a way to make her ride even faster and smoother, I knew I had to give it a try.  The Trikke world has discovered what skateboarders have known for years; high quality wheel bearings make for an all-around better ride.

Rokk-It's REDS

I decided to upgrade Rokk-It Red’s bearings after being inspired by two fellow Trikkers.  My first introduction to the concept came from my friend Jeri Thompson, who writes the Trikker Chicks blog.  I could immediate relate to her fond childhood memories of sliding down a sliding board on wax paper, as she used this for an analogy of the improvement that ceramic bearings made to her Trikke.

The second impetus came from an article on Trikke World Magazine by Elise Bennett.  Elise did a lot of the legwork by analyzing the dizzying array of bearings available, and making recommendations that steered me in the right direction.

As much as I would have loved to obtain a small grant to sample and compare all of the precision bearings on today’s market, I settled for my tried-and-true approach of relying on internet research and reviews by actual users.  The issue of choosing “ABEC Rated” bearings versus “Skate Rated” bearings was decided after reading this persuasive article.

In short, ABEC-ratings indicate the tolerances the bearings are manufactured to, with common grades being 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.  A higher number indicates a bearing manufactured to higher tolerances.  Trikkes come standard with ABEC5 bearings, which rank them middle of the road for precision.  The ABEC rating indicates little else about the bearing, omitting factors important to skating and Trikking, such as side loading and impact resistance.

By contrast, “Skate Rated” bearings are designed specifically for the needs of skateboarders.  The carving motion of a skateboard’s trucks is not all that different than the carving motion of a Trikke, so I decided this would shape my decision.

Bones Ceramic Super Reds

After more research, influenced by a combination of price, reviews, availability, and speed of delivery (because now I was getting to be like an impatient kid who wants their new toy now), I decided on Bones Ceramic Super Reds.  These had been highly ranked on a number of independent websites, and I was able to get them at a good discount from an Ebay seller with a great reputation.

I ordered my bearings Sunday, and was ecstatic when they arrived in my mailbox on Tuesday.  A long workweek prevented me from installing them until Friday night.  Impatient to try them out, I turned on my yard’s floodlights and Trikked up and down my driveway a dozen or more times, likely leaving my neighbors scratching their heads.  This short stretch of asphalt was enough to delight me as Rokk-It Red rolled along smoother than ever.

Stock bearing installed, new ceramic bearing next to it

I didn’t have to wait long to give the bearings a real-world test run as I headed to Warminster Community Park for our October LSM Ride on Saturday morning.  The bearing instructions advise you it will take an hour of riding to fully break in the bearings, and this ride did that and then some.  It was a sheer delight to glide along the runway and paths at the park, feeling that I could put my energy into carving faster instead of just keeping the Trikke going.  This will allow me to do even longer rides, as well as to keep up better with the more experienced riders.

I am happy with my decision, and I would encourage anyone interested to consider these bearings.  You will only need to use 6 out of the 8 bearings in the set, leaving you with 2 spares for the future.  You should also know that they will take a little more effort to clean and maintain than the stock Trikke bearings, but this can be easily done with some simple tools and supplies.  Bones offers the following advice on taking care of your new bearings: http://bonesbearings.com/support/maintenance/

These are just one of many high-quality bearing sets you can purchase for your Trikke.  If anyone has used any other brands, I’d love to hear about your experiences.

LSM Ride – Storming into Warminster

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining two fellow members of the Trikke Riders of Pennsylvania for our October LSM ride in Warminster, PA.  I had met Trent at June’s Riding Clinikk in Philadelphia, but this was our first chance to ride together outside the Clinikk.  Our newest member, Matt, had attended the Clinikk as well, but was in the Sunday session instead of the Saturday one that Trent and I were in.

LSM Rides are "taking off" around the world

It wasn’t the prettiest day weather-wise, but the overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-60’s suddenly looked inviting compared to the forecast for the coming days as Hurricane Sandy moves up the east coast.

We began our ride with a sweeping circle of the outer trails in Warminster Community Park.  I was riding my new T8 Sport, while Trent and Matt were both on their T12’s.  After finishing our first loop, we carved up the former Willow Grove Air Base runway then crossed the street to Northampton Municipal Park.

I had never fully explored there yet, so we chose our journey somewhat randomly from the myriad of trails.  Both of these parks are ideal for carving.  Despite their popularity, there are enough trails to allow everyone to spread out, so you’re not constantly dodging joggers and bikers.  The parks had a few more hills than I remembered, but we all relished the chance to get a good workout on them.

Our return trip down the old airport runway gave us a chance to take in the sights and sounds of a local display of fire trucks, police car, and ambulances.  There was even a Medivac helicopter, which landed while we were riding.  At the end of our ride, we had a chance to mingle with the locals who were fascinated by our three-wheel toys.

As we parted ways, I savored the memories of the ride, knowing that with the coming hurricane it may be a while until I can hit the trails again.

The Trikkes weren't the only cool toys on this ride.

At this time, I am uncertain of my plans for LSM rides for November and December, given that both Saturdays fall within days of major holidays.  I may set up rides here in the Lehigh Valley, and if anyone wants to come I would certainly welcome their company.  I’m just not sure I want to set up rides that take me an hour or two to drive to, only to end up riding alone.

Trent, Matt and I kicked around some great ideas for LSM rides for next year though.  These will include the nearby Horsham Power Line Trail, the Chester Valley Trail in Exton, PA, and a boardwalk and in-town ride in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Stay tuned for information on these and other upcoming group rides.  In the meantime, stay safe through Hurricane Sandy, and look forward to some sunnier days when we can get back to riding our Trikkes.

LSM Ride Reminder – October 27, 2012

This is just a quick reminder about Saturday morning’s LSM ride.  Our initial ride will start at 10:00 am and cover approximately 4 miles.  We will ride to the east end of the runway, do a counterclockwise loop of the park then return down the runway to the starting point.

My current skill level allows me to do 8 to 10 miles in a day, so I will lead an additional part of the ride for those who wish to join me.  We will head back up the runway, cross to Northampton Municipal Park and complete a clockwise loop.  Returning to Warminster Community Park, we will head down the runway back to the parking lot.  This will add an additional 3.5 to 4 miles to the ride.  From there we can decide what, if any, additional riding we wish to do.

For more information, please visit:

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

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

I hope you can join us on Saturday for a great autumn ride.  Please RSVP here or on the MeetUp site if you plan to attend.

Faith Can Move Mountains

You would think after I conquered Mount Rodale Saturday and completed my longest ride ever, I would have been content to sit back and relax.  But as fate would have it, I would be back on my Trikke and heading to the Pocono Mountains for a longer and more challenging ride on Sunday.

I first met Trainer Tara and her husband Tom from Northeast Trikke at June’s Trikke Academy in Philadelphia.  Tara made her Trikke World Magazine writing debut last week, as she inspired us with her story of learning to ride on terrain that can intimidate all but the hardiest Trikkers:

http://www.trikkeworldmagazine.com/pennsylvania-trikke-rider-overcomes-mountain-of-challenges/

I was thrilled to head up north yesterday to ride with Tara, Tom and their friend Yarrow, who is just learning to ride herself.  (And doing quite well, I might add!)  Apart from a few group rides in southern Pennsylvania, I always ride solo here in the Lehigh Valley, so I jumped at the chance to make some new friends and enjoy their company as I explored a new area.

Trikking's more fun with friends!

Riding on hilly streets and sidewalks, a few with crumbling surfaces, can be quite tough, but the endorphins from Saturday’s ride were still coursing through my veins as I embraced the new challenge. I’ve been doing 10 mile rides on relatively flat trails for a while now, feeling that was the extent of my abilities.  It is easy to become complacent when we exercise, and that is why riding with friends can really encourage you to push yourself to the next level.  That’s exactly what happened on this ride, as I was overjoyed to complete 12 grueling miles, setting a new personal record.  A few short months ago, I would have backed away from such a ride, feeling that it was impossible for me.  But having persevered has rekindled my faith in my ability to tackle increasing challenges.

Thank you Tara, Tom and Yarrow for allowing me to join you on this awesome adventure!!

Tara plans to host regular group rides on Sunday afternoons, and all are welcome to join in the fun.  I will be riding with them as often the weather and my schedule permit.  If you would like to challenge yourself to conquer this great terrain, contact Northeast Trikke for more information.

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 . . . 

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

For Part 3 of my “Trikke Test Drive” series, I am going to review two popular mid-range Trikkes: the T78 Air and the T78 Deluxe.

T78 Air (left) versus T78 Deluxe (right)

Both versions of the T78 share the same folding steel frame, air tires, and scrub brakes.  The T78 Air is a discontinued model, but many are still found for sale on Craigslist and Ebay.  You can also build one yourself by upgrading the current T78cs to all air tires.  It will cost you $249 for the T78cs and an additional $56 for the two rear air tires and rims, bringing the total cost to $305.

The T78 Deluxe comes out of the box with all air tires, and will set you back $369.  So what does the extra $64 dollars get you for the Deluxe model?  It gets you a strengthened set of handlebars, complete with faux-leather handgrips and metal brake levers.  You also get your choice of metallic green, blue or pink paint, versus the black that comes standard on the new T78cs.

So are these cosmetic and tactile upgrades of the T78 Deluxe worth the extra $64?  I recently took an older, blue T78 Air to the trail to find out.

My 7-mile ride on the Struble Trail in Downingtown, PA convinced me that the T78 Air’s ride quality is identical to that of “Lean Green”, the trusty T78 Deluxe I learned to Trikke on.  Both Trikkes are smooth, responsive, and a pleasure to ride, even on some rougher pavement.  The handlebars on the T78 Air were easier to adjust to my preferred angle, since they only have two bolts, and the handlebar itself doesn’t get in the way of the Allen wrench as it does on the T78 Deluxe.  I did not like the feel of the T78 Air’s handlebars as much though, as they simply felt cheap.  I just never liked the feel of the foam hand-grips it has, which are identical to what you’d find on a Razor Scooter.  I also disliked the plastic brake levers, and I wondered how they would hold up to the strains of heavy and frequent use.

If cost is an issue to you though, you would likely be plenty happy with the T78 Air.  The hand-grips and brake levers can always be changed when your budget allows.  If you change them, I would recommend the parking brake levers that are found on the T8 and T12 (http://lehighvalleytrikke.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-do-you-make-it-stop.html), and I prefer the bicycle-like ergonomic hand grips on the T8 over the T78’s Deluxe’s faux-leather grips.

If you are on a tight budget and just discovering the world of Trikkes, you might consider starting with a T78cs.  Although I have never ridden one any distance outdoors, I know that its polyurethane rear wheels are easier for a beginner to learn on.  I have ridden one indoors, and it glides almost effortlessly on these wheels.  You can easily upgrade them to air tires when you become more confident in your riding ability, and when you feel committed enough to the sport to spend the additional money.

Whichever Trikke T78 model you decide on, know that it is a fun and well-crafted vehicle that performs well on varying trail conditions.  I have racked up over 140 miles on my T78 Deluxe this year, and I have lost over 40 pounds riding it (combined with a sensible diet of course).  It is a reliable vehicle, and the only minor problems I have had are one flat tire (thanks to a thumbtack on the trail) and a plastic cap that fell off of the handlebar post and into the steering column.  I will detail both repairs in future posts.  I can’t complain though, and I have been thrilled to discover that the T78 has stood up well to going long distances by a (still) overweight rider.

Although I have recently upgraded to a T8 Sport, I can easily recommend one of the T78’s for riders of all skill levels.

Related posts:

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

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

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.