Lessons from Triking

I am a “triker.” But not just any kind of “triker;” I am a “recumbent triker.” To be even more specific, I ride a TerraTrike Rambler. It is tangerine-colored, tadpole style, 16 speed, 43 pounds, 24” front and 26” rear wheeled, pedal-propelled vehicle. Marlene rides a TerraTrike Rover, blue, 24” wheels, with Bafang pedal e-assist. We haul the trikes around in our Honda Odyssey minivan.

The pictures are of recent trike experiences. One is of Marlene and me with our son Stephen and his wife Lisa, and the other is with a friend, Vern Sterk.

I have been triking for about two years, long enough to have learned a few things along the way. Many of the lessons learned may be similar to those of conventional bikers, but some are unique to triking. [Check Google.] There are a lot of sites with “lessons from biking,” but not many are on triking. So here are a few of my observations.

HEADS UP. Keep alert and be on guard. Triking forces me to concentrate on what is going on around me. Since trikes are low to the ground, even with headlights, taillights, and a flag, they can be invisible, especially to distracted drivers. Life lesson. We all should travel assertively on our journeys through life, watching out for fellow travelers who are dangerous, while smiling and waving at the others.

 SET MY OWN PACE, SCHEDULE, AND ROUTE. Triking does not have to be primarily about speed, distance, or destination; but, rather, the simple joy of being able to ride. There are days with blustery winds and cold weather when it is difficult to ride; therefore, when I can, I ride in my own way. Life lesson. Normalcy, in life and on a trike, has its up-hills and down-hills, headwinds and tailwinds, rain and sunshine. All are part of the journey and all have their own challenges and should also have their own celebrations.

 HAVE A SUPPORT PERSON OR NETWORK. So many things can challenge the triker, including accidents, mechanical breakdowns, threatening dogs, and flat tires. I always carry a cell phone and ask Marlene to keep her phone nearby so that I can contact her if help is needed. Life lesson. Never go it alone. Love and be loved. Cultivate supportive relationships.

 STAY CLOSE TO OTHERS. When triking with others, stay close, but not so close that your wheels get tangled; just close enough to talk or at least call out to one another. Part of savoring the ride is to enjoy one another during the ride. Sharing in the ride multiplies its pleasure and provides a common connection for future experiences. Life lesson. By being with another person or with others, we are able to give and receive constructive feedback in order to improve our future journeys together. Pedaling is not the only reciprocal part of riding. Reciprocal interaction with one another helps to determine the best pacing, distances, break times, sightings, and other shared experiences.

 DIFFERENT SPOKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. Put yourself in the other person’s pedals. One of the beauties of triking is that there are so many styles of trikes, from those that are low, light weight, and built for speed, to those that are the heavier, more upright comfort-cruisers, to those that provide support for persons with physical limitations. Two or three times a week, I ride with my friend Vern Sterk. He had a bike accident about four years ago that caused a spinal cord injury and paralysis. He now pedals a hand cycle. Life lesson. While he and I are not going to beat any speed or distance records, the rewards of triking together include the privilege of supporting a friend, having stimulating conversations, and enjoying life as a shared journey.

So, here they are, lessons from triking:

--Keep alert and on guard

--Set your own pace

--Cultivate a support network

--Stay close to those you care about and who care about you

--Put yourself in another person’s pedals (life).

These lessons remind me of two Bible passages: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) and ^“Carry each other’s burdens…” and “each one should carry their own load” (Galatians 6:2,5).

The above text is my beginning summary of “lessons.” Are there lessons that you would add from your experiences in biking or triking?