They aren’t bikes. They aren’t scooters.
They’re Trikkes, and they’re turning heads in Snohomish County.
“The questions are always: ‘What is it?’ and ‘Where did you get it?’” said Trikke dealer Mark Rufener, demonstrating a variety of Trikke models on the Centennial Trail outside Snohomish.
Three-wheeled Trikkes — man-powered and, in some cases, also battery-powered — used to be relegated to infomercials, extreme sports exhibitions and the collections of specialty fitness freaks.
Now, however, the machines are breaking into the mainstream.
Earlier this month, Time magazine featured the latest battery-powered Trikke.
On any given weekend you’re likely to pass at least one on the Centennial Trail. Online clubs, such as Sound Trikkers, are bringing fans together for group rides in cities such as Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
Propelled by the side-to-side movement of the rider, Trikkes deliver a full-body workout, said 48-year-old Rufener, who sells Trikkes and offers test drives in Shoreline.
“Doctors are pushing for low impact, and they want you to do full body,” he said. “This Trikke covers everything.”
Ken Coberley of Bothell, 69, has lost 16 pounds and about 2½ inches off his waist by riding his Trikke regularly.
“It’s the most fun I have ever had in my life working out,” he said. “It really is a workout machine.”
Coberley said the standing posture of Trikke riding is comfortable, despite his “bad ankles, bad knees, bad back, a sciatic hip and a ripped rotator cuff.”
He enjoys riding for two to three hours at a time for 10 to 20 miles, ideally on the Centennial Trail, which isn’t as crowded as the Burke-Gilman, Sammamish River or Green Lake trails in the Seattle area.
“It is really addicting,” said Coberley, who owns 23 Trikkes in different models and colors. “Once you get on it, you don’t want to get off.”
Trikking isn’t instantly easy.
Coberley practiced every day for 2½ weeks before he could ride without really thinking about it.
“There is a learning curve,” he said. “I’d watch the infomercial over and over and try to duplicate it.”
Brian Dennis of Redmond, who rides Trikkes with his wife, Debbie Newman, said the motion of a Trikke rider is reminiscent of an inline skater or downhill skier.
He is always delighted when people on the trails ask questions.
“We’ll stop and say, ‘Hey, want to stand on it? If nothing else, stand on it,’” Dennis said. “I say, ‘If you’re interested in riding it, move the handle bars back and forth.’”
One rides a trikke by standing up on the two back platforms and leaning slightly forward with your hands on the handle bars, bending your knees just a bit.
You can gather some momentum by then shoving off with one foot between the platforms, but the real action comes from moving the handle bars and your upper body side to side.
This should cause you to make an arc with the front wheel as you move forward. Soon you’ll have enough momentum to incorporate your lower body to create a wide, smooth, back-and-forth S-shape motion Trikkers call carving.
Wide and mostly flat or slightly downhill surfaces are best for beginners. Uphill riding demands strength and skill.
“You can do it on a sidewalk,” Coberley said. “But it eliminates anyone else being on the sidewalk.”
Though Trikkes are inherently stable, wipeouts do happen. Helmets, gloves and knee and elbow pads are strongly recommended.
Rufener, one of only a few dealers in the state, said most riders start with a T8 Sport with 8-inch wheels ($500). Long distance riders often prefer the heavier T12 Roadster with 12-inch wheels ($600), a better choice for rides longer than a few miles.
T5 Kids is the model for ages 6 to 11 ($120). There’s a tweener model, T67 ($190), geared toward bigger kids and smaller adults.
Then there’s the Ferrari of Trikkes, the Tribred Pon-e, a lithium battery-powered Trikke that travels up to 22 miles on a single charge but can also be ridden like a regular Trikke sans power ($1,700).
Rufener likes letting new riders get a feel for the motion on his Tribred Pon-e. If they lose momentum during a test drive, they can just twist the clutch to get going again.
Dennis, who runs iTrikke.com, a fan site that also offers Trikkes through a dealer in Tampa, Fla., said he can’t imagine going back to bicycling.
Trikkes fold down flat with just a few clicks and can easily fit in the average car trunk.
“You don’t have a chain that falls off. You don’t have a sore butt,” he said. “Our bikes have forgotten us.”
Sarah Jackson writes for the Herald of Everett.
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