Getting into the groove

This week I don't have any pictures to post up but I do have a lot to say about getting more comfortable on my trikke. It's been said that "practice makes perfect" and I totally agree with this simple advice. Each time I go out for a ride it a new experience for me, not in the sense that I'm re-learning how to ride, but that I'm learning a little more-or something different-on how to ride a trikke more efficiently.

One element I've learned better is going up hills or slight upgrades. When I first got my trikke I was a little concerned about my ability going up hills because I thought it was all leg work. My legs aren't very strong and are limited on what they can do as far a generating power. But I figured out, just like it was instructed in the how-to video, that by turning the handle bars in a back and fourth punching motion, that I am able to generate forward momentum going up hills. I have extremely powerful upper-body strength(not to brag or anything) which compensates for a lack of strength in my legs. It almost seems like the trikke was made just for me because I use my arms mostly to move forward. This is not to say that my legs aren't put to use while I'm riding. It does take effort for me to keep balanced on top of the trikke especially when I moving and leaning side to side. But I believe it's my arms that do the most work in moving the trikke forward as well as keeping me balanced on top of the trikke.

Another key element of mastering the trikke of which I'm getting better at is going down hill. This is where the principle of carving comes into play for those who ski or snow board. Having never done any downhill skiing or snowboarding, carving was perplexing the first few times I rode. When I was first introduced on how to ride a trikke(and trikke skki, but this will be for another post)I was told it was very similar to skiing because you make a carving motion through a combination of turning the handle bars, leaning the body side to side, and pushing off the outside foot into the turn. This combination of movements creates a carving action that controls the movement and speed of the trikke. Each time I went out to ride I would get braver by going down hills just to feel the rush for speed. Then I started to noticed as I attempted to leaned back and forth on the trikke-making a carving motion from left to right- that it actually slowed the trikke down a bit. Now I do this all the time when I go down hills and it's so much fun!

One last key element I've learned so far is riding a trikke on different surfaces. The particular model of trikke that I ride is a T-78 which was built for adults, has a steel frame, and comes with all air-filled tires for better traction. I will leave it to another post to explain the differences and capabilities of different trikke models but I do have to say that the T-78 is very good overall on different surfaces. With this said, it does have its limits. I have learned so far that an ideal surface for a trikke(with air-filled tires) is a relatively flat sidewalk, parking lot(asphalt) or street road devoid of large cracks, holes, bumps, and rocks. I've also learned it's safer to avoid riding over surfaces where there is loose gravel, water puddles, or riding at night where you can't see the ground in front of you(unless you have a headlight installed on your trikke). I haven't ridden my trikke over grass or taken it off-roading yet and I probably won't unless I get a bigger more sturdier trikke model such as a T-8 or T-12.

Overall I'm a lot more comfortable on my trikke now than I was a few weeks ago. I believe I'm getting better little by little each time I go riding and I'm always learning something new. I have experienced many benefits from riding my trikke. For one thing I'm getting out and creating a more active life-style, I'm gaining more confidence in my physical abilities, taking risks(which life is all about), developing patience, control, and becoming physically fit. What a payoff for the $300 that I paid for buying a trikke.

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.