A Long Winter’s Nap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missions Accomplished!!

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

Susan riding Rokk-it Red

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

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

Pam riding one of her Triplets

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

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

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

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

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

Related Articles:

LSM Ride – Rodale Fitness Park

Rokk-it Red!

PA Trails - Chester Valley Trail - Part 2

East view along Matthews Rd

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

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

Fragmentation viewed from same spot looking west

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

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

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

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

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

Under construction near Cedar Hollow Rd

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

Related Articles:

Chester Valley Trail – Part 1

Trikke Test Drive – Part 5 – 2007 T12 Roadster

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related posts:

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

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

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

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

PA Trails – Chester Valley Trail - Part 1

A nice shaded tunnel under Swedesford Road

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

Looking east from the western end

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

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

Donna at the end near Wegman's

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

To be continued . . .

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

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

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

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

Related Articles:

PA Trails – Chester Valley Trail - Part 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

Look Ma, no motor!!

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

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

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

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

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

Related posts:

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

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

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

Group Ride – Doylestown Central Park

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

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

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

Come on in, the water's fine!

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

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

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

Related Articles:

Ride Map

Meetup Event

Rock and Roll into July's Double-Header