Riding a Trikke uphill can be absolutely exhausting. It’s also one heck of a workout.
“I could gush on and on about the fabulous Trikking experience,” said Eileen Holland, who bought a pair of Trikkes with her husband after reading about them in The Gazette.
Even in normal use, the strange-looking three-wheeler is really good for the triceps in the upper arm and the hamstrings and quadriceps in the legs. But try to take it up a hill and just about every muscle in the body gets involved.
“It wears you out,” said Kathy Ermler, the chair of ESU’s Health, Physical Education and Recreation department. “I love the downhills but you have to work it uphill ... that’s where your exercise comes in.”
That shouldn’t be too surprising. The Trikke was designed by an inventor who wanted the sensation of a skateboard or roller skating, but with more control. What he came up with is a three-wheeled scooter with a V-shaped base and no pedals. A rider stands on the V and either kicks off of the pavement or rotates their hips until the Trikke starts going.
Once in motion, the Trikke weaves a curving path to its destination while the rider straightens and extends muscles to keep the vehicle from slowing down. A lot of riders find it exhilarating. Holland describes herself as totally addicted.
“It is just like the old-time cowboys that would rather ride their horses across the street rather than walk,” she said. “I would rather be Trikking!”
ESU began doing its first studies of the Trikke over the summer.
“We looked at what muscles were used going up hill, downhill, with arms only, that sort of thing,” Ermler said.
Now, a new phase of the study is beginning, showing how the Trikke compares to conventional exercises such as running and exercises that work out particular muscle groups.
In about four to five weeks, the university’s physical education majors will be introduced to the vehicle. ESU’s researchers want to see how, why and when the majors use it, and then introduce it to some activity classes for cross training, which used different programs to obtain fitness.
The vehicle also will get a professional workout at the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance conference to be held in November in Emporia.
“It’s great for a break in training,” Ermler said. “It keeps a workout from going stale.”
Adds Holland: “I always say that it is too fun to be work. You can ride for hours, go home and then want to ride again.”
On the Net:
Trikke Tech: www.trikke.com
trashman (anonymous) says...
Too bad these people and regular bike riders fail
to obey rules of the road; I see too many of them
running stop signs, riding on the wrong side etc.
September 8, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dbaseII (anonymous) says...
I have ridden a trikke since 2003 and am happy to see it getting the interest it deserves! I have a trikke 8 and a trikke 12 and love riding both! Good luck on your study!!!
September 9, 2007 at 3:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )