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Here's the skinny on Trikke and carving (aka. Trikke riding). Ride well and good health!
MY BACKGROUND: I've been Trikking (aka carving) for 4 months now. Saw it on TV, bought it on eBay, and worked myself to an advance level. My stats: mid 30's, corp exec.
OVERALL: Great overall body work out - upper body, core, and lower body. Surprising aerobic results (i.e., 500-1000 calorie burn in an hour - escalates as you take on long, high angle hills). Once you achieve the "sweet spot" (i.e., powering the vehicle with synchronous upper and lower body movement), you will feel a zen like feeling where the whole body is coordinated. Good for all ages who can ride a bike. BE AWARE, you will get a lot of attention - gawkers and kids running up to you as people are amazed at how you can go so fast and climb hills without the aid of gears or a motor.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BEGINNERS: Like any sport, you need to put in effort to become good at it. Many people look at the videos and think Trikking will come naturally. They buy and become disillusioned within the first several hours. MY ADVICE is earnestly ride an hour a day for 3 weeks and you will see results (i.e., when I first started riding I could hardly move the thing on my flat street. Slight inclines were a nightmare. This from a guy who just completed P90X and is an advanced cyclist. Now, I can ride in the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills or through San Francisco's Golden Gate Park with ease and at speeds rollerbladers achieve. Downhills are now like deep powder slaloming with power and speed.
PROS:
* Total body workout: After P90X I wanted to work more on my core. Trikke is a core powered aerobic sporting vehicle. It also works the legs, chest, arms, back and shoulders.
* Addicitive: Once you hit the "sweet spot" you will seek greater speed and hill climbing ability. An hour ride is a pleasure.
* Attention: If you like people watching your every move (car drivers included), this is one vehicle that will do it. People are amazed at the physics behind carving.
* Simple machines: All models are relatively easy to maintain. You will need a couple of allen wrenches (provided), needle nose pliers (if you want to adjust the breaks), and lube. The only model which needs more advance assembly and maintance is the T12 (largest of the fleet which boasts 12 inch wheels and dual rear disk brake).
* Riding Footprint: In the beginning you may need to ride the width of a bike lane. Later you will be able to ride with the length of standard bicycle handle bars (thus your footprint would be like a cyclist's).
* Transport/Storage: All models fold and can be transported in a mid-sized Japanese car with the backseat folded down (without having to disassemble any components like the wheels or handle bars. Most models can fit into a mid-sized car trunk with front wheel disassembled (not inclusive of T12 which is 6 feet with the front wheel on)
* Community: The community is small but very excited and committed to carving a bolstering each other's achievements. This is very much like the early days of roller blading.
CONS:
* Learning curve: As I noted before, it will take time and commitment. I would assume you would do this as most adults will be making a several hundred dollar investment (not inclusive of helmet, gloves, and eye protection - standard stuff cyclists wear).
* Attention: See above comment in the "Pros" section.
* Not able to go off-roading: This is a pavement vehicle - the cleaner and smoother, the better. Road debris is not your friend so avoid it. General road conditons can be mitigated by riding a Trikke with Air tires (versus Poly tires - hard plastic wheels like those on Razor scooters). Any "mountain" or off-roading is at your own peril.
* Community is young: People are still identifying good places to ride. The best hint is where ever roller bladers can go, you can go.
* Servicing: Dealers who can do maintenance are popping up around the nation but they are nowhere as prevalent as bike shops. For a list of dealers, go to Trikketalk.com. Trikketalk is also a good place to get advice from other riders (most questions will get quick responses from the community).
RESOURCES:
* Trikketalk.com - Trikking community forum (beginners to advanced users)
* Trikke.com - Company page
* Youtube - Videos to give you a sense of what riding is like
MY BACKGROUND: I've been Trikking (aka carving) for 4 months now. Saw it on TV, bought it on eBay, and worked myself to an advance level. My stats: mid 30's, corp exec.
OVERALL: Great overall body work out - upper body, core, and lower body. Surprising aerobic results (i.e., 500-1000 calorie burn in an hour - escalates as you take on long, high angle hills). Once you achieve the "sweet spot" (i.e., powering the vehicle with synchronous upper and lower body movement), you will feel a zen like feeling where the whole body is coordinated. Good for all ages who can ride a bike. BE AWARE, you will get a lot of attention - gawkers and kids running up to you as people are amazed at how you can go so fast and climb hills without the aid of gears or a motor.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BEGINNERS: Like any sport, you need to put in effort to become good at it. Many people look at the videos and think Trikking will come naturally. They buy and become disillusioned within the first several hours. MY ADVICE is earnestly ride an hour a day for 3 weeks and you will see results (i.e., when I first started riding I could hardly move the thing on my flat street. Slight inclines were a nightmare. This from a guy who just completed P90X and is an advanced cyclist. Now, I can ride in the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills or through San Francisco's Golden Gate Park with ease and at speeds rollerbladers achieve. Downhills are now like deep powder slaloming with power and speed.
PROS:
* Total body workout: After P90X I wanted to work more on my core. Trikke is a core powered aerobic sporting vehicle. It also works the legs, chest, arms, back and shoulders.
* Addicitive: Once you hit the "sweet spot" you will seek greater speed and hill climbing ability. An hour ride is a pleasure.
* Attention: If you like people watching your every move (car drivers included), this is one vehicle that will do it. People are amazed at the physics behind carving.
* Simple machines: All models are relatively easy to maintain. You will need a couple of allen wrenches (provided), needle nose pliers (if you want to adjust the breaks), and lube. The only model which needs more advance assembly and maintance is the T12 (largest of the fleet which boasts 12 inch wheels and dual rear disk brake).
* Riding Footprint: In the beginning you may need to ride the width of a bike lane. Later you will be able to ride with the length of standard bicycle handle bars (thus your footprint would be like a cyclist's).
* Transport/Storage: All models fold and can be transported in a mid-sized Japanese car with the backseat folded down (without having to disassemble any components like the wheels or handle bars. Most models can fit into a mid-sized car trunk with front wheel disassembled (not inclusive of T12 which is 6 feet with the front wheel on)
* Community: The community is small but very excited and committed to carving a bolstering each other's achievements. This is very much like the early days of roller blading.
CONS:
* Learning curve: As I noted before, it will take time and commitment. I would assume you would do this as most adults will be making a several hundred dollar investment (not inclusive of helmet, gloves, and eye protection - standard stuff cyclists wear).
* Attention: See above comment in the "Pros" section.
* Not able to go off-roading: This is a pavement vehicle - the cleaner and smoother, the better. Road debris is not your friend so avoid it. General road conditons can be mitigated by riding a Trikke with Air tires (versus Poly tires - hard plastic wheels like those on Razor scooters). Any "mountain" or off-roading is at your own peril.
* Community is young: People are still identifying good places to ride. The best hint is where ever roller bladers can go, you can go.
* Servicing: Dealers who can do maintenance are popping up around the nation but they are nowhere as prevalent as bike shops. For a list of dealers, go to Trikketalk.com. Trikketalk is also a good place to get advice from other riders (most questions will get quick responses from the community).
RESOURCES:
* Trikketalk.com - Trikking community forum (beginners to advanced users)
* Trikke.com - Company page
* Youtube - Videos to give you a sense of what riding is like
Guide created: 10/07/08 (updated 07/01/09)
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