| Let’s Go Trikke-ing
The Trikke cambering vehicle is one of the latest and most innovative technologies in sports and has been adopted by a number of fitness and physical education programs. Amazingly, this fun and easy to master vehicle is designed for all age groups, from children to adults. In fact learning to ride the Trikke scooter is as easy as, or even easier than, riding a bicycle. I have here are five easy steps to help you become familiar with the skills required to get started riding your Trikke. But let me begin with the sixth and most important part of Trikke-ing:
Safety First
1. Wear safety gear. Prior to the actual ride, the first step before engaging in any kind of sport is to ensure safety. Remember that all sports are prone to accidents. In Trikke-ing, make sure you put on protective gear including a well-fitting helmet, elbow and kneepad and don’t forget a pair of comfortable gloves. Use proper footwear, and keep your shoelaces securely tied.
2. Always inspect your vehicle prior to riding. Make sure that the handlebar quick release is tightly locked and the dual rear brakes are functioning properly. Do not ride in wet weather and avoid driving your Trikke through puddles because Trikke wheels become very slippery when wet.
3. Practice on appropriate places. Beginners should choose a straight and level, smooth and wide pavement with little or no holes, bumps and inclines. Trikke-ing through bumps are accidents waiting to happen. They can snag the Trikke’s front wheel and result in loss of control and in worse cases, throw both the rider and vehicle head first. To prevent an injury-inducing spill, it is advisable to jump over the bump by using a low hop maneuver. However, this is a more advanced technique so beginners should not try to find bumps just to try it.
4. Level ground first, mountains later. Though riding downhill will prove to be relatively easy later, a steep descent may cause you to go too fast and be unable to control your Trikke and you know what happens next. A nasty fall may be the least that could happen to you. Since Trikke-ing uphill is more difficult, it is advisable to wait until you’ve mastered Trikke-ing on level ground with many hours of practice before you jump in to trying Trikke-conquer hills.
5. Focus. Be sure to choose an area with few pedestrians and traffic, so you don’t get distracted. Pay special attention to how close you’re getting to cars or people - you don’t want to injure yourself or someone else. I want you to have fun on your Trikke scooter, not at the hospital. Your friend was not smiling when he was getting stitches- he was grimacing from pain, okay?
Now, that you’ve gotten safety down, you’re ready to start Trikke-ing. Learning is relatively easy and fun and can be accomplished in less than an hour for most people. The following steps can serve as guidelines to facilitate your training:
First step: Mount the Trikke scooter. Place both feet securely on the Trikke foot platforms, and then grip the handlebars firmly with both hands. Use the hand brakes to keep yourself from rolling until you are ready. Stand up straight and get comfortable on the Trikke. Do not be afraid of falling because the Trikke scooter is very stable. Test the extent with which you can rock the steering column left and right.
Second step: Distribute your weight. This is important to prevent you from falling backwards and will insure sufficient traction on the front wheels. Your weight should be distributed evenly between the front and rear wheels of your Trikke scooter, with your weight centered on the balls of your feet and toes.
Third step: Let’s Rock and Roll. With your shoulders parallel to the handlebars, quickly and continuously rotate (or” roll”) the handlebars from right to left to generate a slow forward movement. Once in motion, lean and push (or” rock”) the handlebars towards the right then left continuously to increase your speed. As you begin to add the rocking motion and as your Trikke speed increases, the degree of your rotations should diminish. Continue practicing the rocking (pushing) and rolling (rotating) technique until you establish a comfortable rhythm.
Leaning on one side will naturally cause the weight of your upper body to move very slightly in the same direction. Don’t exaggerate this or you could fall. The Trikke scooter is designed to follow your body motions, so as long as the steering column remains parallel to the center of your chest, there is no danger of falling off your Trikke.
Fourth step: Here’s where the fun kicks in: you further accelerate the Trikke speed through transferring your weight once you feel what is termed as the “sweet spot”. The “sweet spot” is the part of your turn where most of your propulsion is generated; that is, when you will feel the outside wheel (your left rear wheel during a right hand turn) drift away from you as you rock your Trikke to the opposite side. This feeling comes and goes during your run. If you apply a little weight or kick on the opposite foot of the direction you’re turning, or when the weight on is on your right foot when turning left and vice versa, then your acceleration will increase. Its creators claim that the vehicle can reach speeds of up to 18+ mph on flat ground. Really, sweet, huh?
Fifth step: Where’s the brake? Learning how to stop and slow down is essential in establishing control. Since the Trikke cambering vehicle contains brakes on both rear wheels, it is important that both brakes are applied evenly at the same time. Remember not to lean on the handlebars when braking.
Tony Hawk suffered lots of spills before he reached demigod-status on his skateboard. Of course it takes practice and determination to master any sport. Do not rush. Move on to the more advanced Trikke-ing techniques only when you’ve mastered the basics. And the unwritten rule of course is to simply have fun.
See the showroom.
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