Trikken it out

It's been a full week now riding my new trikke and it's been a blast! Words cannot describe how I feel being able to ride a vehicle under my own power. I mentioned in my first post that I contracted polio soon after birth which made riding a normal bicycle virtually impossible for me. I was aware that there were special bikes designed specifically for people with disabilities, but being a stubborn person with a strong ego, I did not want to ride something that brought more attention to my handicap. So I spent 30 years of my life never knowing how to ride a bike. This changed when I discovered the trikke.

I was walking through the mall one day when I saw a store(Gear For Guys) selling an odd looking tricycle called a trikke. Being curious I went to the store manager and asked what this machine was. He let me try it out by riding it around the store. After only a minute or two, I was shocked how easy it was to ride. It required mainly the use of my arms to propel it forwards. Since it had three wheels the trikke naturally had a very stable three-point platform for me to maintain my balance. All I had to do was stand on the trikke's foot rests and steer with the handle bars. There was some leaning from side to side required to propel the trikke forward but this too proved easy for me. I was hooked! I decided right then and there that I would get myself a trikke. Well, if was 2-3 months later-with additional trips to the store to test ride the trikke more- before I got one, but it was well worth the wait.

Like I said before this past week riding my trikke has been a blast. But it hasn't been without challenges. Though I can ride my trikke reasonably well, my disability prevents me from being able to ride it effortlessly like a person not impeded with a handicap. The trikke requires a person to be able to use their body momentum to propel it forwards. This I can do but only to a certain degree. My left leg is shorter than my right which creates an uneven weight distribution between my two feet. This has caused me to focus most of my weight on my right side(75%) when I walk or stand. So naturally my weight is heavier on my right side while standing on the trikke. This uneven weight distribution affects the motion, control , and momentum while riding. Another problem I've noticed while riding is that I can't bend my left kneewhile making left turns. This sometime affects my balance and the intensity of the carving motion required to move. Being able to bend the knees is especially helpful while going down hills because it controls the speed of the trikke.

One last challenge I noticed is going up hills on the trikke. Ideally the trikke needs a flat surface to ride on but going up hills requires more strength and energy. I usually end up using my arms to do most of the work. Using just the arms to move the trikke can wear out anyone fast so it's wise to use a combination of arms, torso, and legs to move the trikke along. I figured this out about two days ago while practicing in a parking lot. What I figured out was most of the power, to move the trikke, comes from the legs and torso area of the body. The arms are used mainly to steer and maintain balance on the trikke. Despite these challenges, I can ride the trikke fairly well, and with full-body effort, ride up small hills.

So far my riding experience with the trikke has been rewarding. It's easy to learn how to ride and fun at the same time. Overall I've gained new confidence in my physical abilities and better health. I still have a lot to learn but I ready to take on any challenge this three-wheeled wonder throws at me and have fun in the process.