I was just about to mention my Trikke in a FaceBook post when I realized that I would have to explain the whole Trikke concept to most folks.  The Trikke is a three-wheeled, body-powered vehicle that you ride with a side-to-side carving or weaving motion.  The promotional image to the left gives you an idea of how it is operated. However, this is a situation where a video is worth at least 10,000 words.  Many videos of Trikkes in action are posted on this page on the Trikke website.

My friend, John George, first introduced me to the Trikke in the spring of 2005. I bought my first one (a T8) in April 2005. Shortly thereafter I added a T12 Roadster and a small T5 for my kids. The T8 is being modeled by my daughter Rachel in the first picture below. The next photo shows Rachel, Rebekah, and Anna riding the three Trikkes in the 2005 Old Fashioned Fourth of July parade in Sterling, KS.

I actually rode my T12 Roadster in the 20-mile bike ride at the 2005 Fourth of July celebration. I may post some more pictures when I find them. I still can’t believe I did that just a few months after being introduced to the Trikke. I completed the 20-mile ride that year, but it took a LONG time. I attempted the 20-mile ride again at this year’s Fourth of July celebration. Overall, I felt better about the 2012 ride even though I didn’t finish. The final three miles of the route ran straight into a strong south wind. One thing you quickly learn about Trikkes is that head winds and hills are brutal!

Riding a Trikke is incredibly fun but very challenging – that is actually a big part of their appeal for me. After seven years, I am still finding ways to improve my Trikke technique. I love honing my skills in a challenging physical activity. Trikke riding is also an excellent workout. The vehicle is not nearly as efficient as a bicycle, so you burn more calories in less time. Also, it is a very low-impact workout for the whole body. That is, until you take a spill and impact the pavement 🙂 That hasn’t happened to me very often, but you do REALLY need to pay attention to loose gravel, potholes, and slick spots when riding this thing. The Trikke carving propulsion motion depends entirely on lateral forces on all three wheels – you need to pay close attention to the coefficient of friction.