The new kid on the block, the trikke [pronounced trike] is a three-wheeled vehicle with foot platforms and upright handlebars propelled from a standing position by shifting body weight from side to side as if carving "S" turns while skiing. A new hybrid vehicle, not entirely well-known as yet, the trikke's origins seem to be an amalgam of skateboard, scooter, skis, snowboard, and bicycle. Designed for teenagers when it first appeared in 2004, the trikke initially seemed perfect for aerial acrobatics and extreme downhills. But, then, something entirely unexpected once it hit the market.
Who Are the Buyers?
Far from the envisaged teenagers, most buyers turned out to be middle-aged and often overweight. Who would have thought? Perhaps bored with tennis and biking or now just too heavy to enjoy these sports of their youth, middle-aged adults love the flowing, non-impact, all-body movement of the trikke. The attraction is in the possibility of getting a full-body workout while whizzing around town or along the beach. Dieting is no fun, but trikking is a blast!
The workout is tremendous and exhilarating. The trikke, unlike a bicycle, requires no bending over the handlebars; in fact, it requires no bending at all. This is a distinct advantage for some older folks who are having trouble with their joints or for the overweight who can't bend without immediately cramping up. The trikke solves the exercise issue for the older, out-of-shape would-be athlete. Practitioners claim that it is a mighty workout. Push it, pull it, lift it, lean it, spring it forward, all at once. This requires great effort, but it's so much fun that trikkers barely notice. Many users have lost mighty amounts of weight as even one-hour-a-day workout daily spins by at warp speed.
Trikkes are also very easy to maintain. Unlike bicycles which seem to have require far more upkeep--oiling the gears, re-filling the tires, repairing the tires-and which are often difficult to transport, trikkes solve all these issues. It has smaller, harder wheels than a bicycle which rarely go flat. The brake system is a simple affair which takes little care. And, its size and flexibility makes it easy to transport in even a compact car trunk. That way, if the trikke owner wants to skim along a friendly bike path a short ride by car from home, it's no problem. And,users have no worries about potentially breaking down in the middle of the workout. Break-downs are rare, indeed.
In some areas, trikkers have formed groups and buddies can go on long excursions together. The South Bay Trikkers, for instance, in southwest Los Angeles County takes advantage of the mild weather Southern California weather to make regular rides along beachfront bike paths. Along the Pacific Ocean, trikkers can ride a well-lit, well-maintained bike from Pacific Palisades to San Diego, a distance of over one hundred miles. Additionally, trikkers can head to the mountains and trikke the 38 miles to the beginning of the bike path in San Gabriel Canyon.
High gas prices may deter drivers, but trikkers know exactly how to maximize their driving fun.
Diane Butler, Ph.D. is a writer living in Southern California where trikkers are just gathering their power. Visit her website at www.trikkescity.com to see more trikkes. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Butler |
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