Trikke

Posted by Katharine M. J. Osborne Apr 18, 2007

A few weeks ago I was walking in Ewa, a town near where I live in Hawaii. I was passed by a man standing on a three wheeled vehicle, gracefully sliding back and forth across the pavement. I was so entranced by the elegance of the motion that I didn't think to ask him what he was riding.

For weeks I wondered what it could possibly be, and scoured the internet for clues. I couldn't find anything until I happened to be at the post office a few days go (mailing off my Arizona tax return), and saw a women mailing a box with one of the vehicles depicted on the side. I couldn't believe my eyes - there it was, with a name to go along - Trikke (pronounced trike).

I checked out the website for Trikke, and found out how it could be propelled without pedals like a bike or pushing off from the pavement with feet like a skateboard. The Trikke uses angular momentum. By leaning side to side, a rider can move forward, much like skating, skiing, or swinging on a swing. It's remarkably simple.

They've been around for a couple of years it seems, and have several models. There is even a Skki for skiing down snow.

If you go the website, be sure to check out the videos to see the graceful movement.

I've also noticed kids in my neighborhood tooling around on snakeboards, a new articulated skateboard that similarily does not require pushing off the pavement. The device only has two wheels, so to me it looks a little dangerous! I'm not brave enough to try one, but I'll definitely check out the Trikke when I get a chance. I've wanted to take up cycling for a couple of years, but this would be much less painful than those "ergonomic" bicycle seats.