Join Us For a Day of Trikking in Ga!

Capital Trikke is looking forward to heading to Ga for our First Annual Remembrance Ride . For details on why we have created this ride, click our site. For details on the day, see below. Hope you can join us. RSVP through our Facebook or Meetup page or contact us at rides@capitaltrikke.com

1^st Annual Capital Trikke Remembrance Ride

Silver Comet Trail

June 20, 2009

9 am – 5pm

We will meet at the Silver Comet Depot at 4342 Floyd Rd. Mableton Ga.

Everyone will leave their cars here and begin the ride. Everyone must start in groups with general plans as to how far they will be riding.

Shorter distance riders can go up to Carter (8.8 miles round trip) or Florence (15 miles round trip.) Upon returning to the ride start, everybody will get in their cars and head up to Coots Lake to meet up with longer distance riders and enjoy the rest of the day. (longer distance riders can make arrangement for cars to brought up or get a ride back at the end of the day)

The second meeting point will be Coot’s Lake Beach approx 30 miles up the trail. We should all be together around 1pm for lunch.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Mableton+&1s=GA&1a=4342+Floyd+Rd&2c=Rockmart+&2s=GA&2a=Coots+Lake+Rd+And+Hwy+278

(see specific directions from ride start to Coot’s below)

It’s $5.00 per person admission for Coot’s Lake Beach

.We will have a full cook out picnic and fun time at Coot’s. We will have basic cook out food for everyone (dogs, burgers, chips, sodas etc), but feel free to bring any items specific to your diet. There is a lake/beach for anyone who wants to enjoy water activities. We will bring some game stuff, footballs etc. Be sure to throw some fun stuff in your car!

Those who want to continue to ride and explore can ride to other trailheads from Coot’s while everyone continues to play! One suggestion to complete a 50+ mile ride is to Trikke back down the trail from Coots to Rambo and back to Coot’s. That’s 21 miles round trip, but there are many mile opportunities. See trail breakdown below.

We will have one last casual group ride in the afternoon (around 3pm) with everyone Trikking through the scenic trail to Rockmart and back 7.4 miles round trip. This should be a very fun ride!

Upon finishing the group ride, everyone leaves from Coot’s Lake

TRAIL INFO

1. FFloyd Rd Mile 0.0 1^st Annual Capital Trikke Remembrance Ride Begins at Silver Comet Depot

4342 Floyd Rd Mableton Ga 30126

Parking, Bike Shop for any last minute riding supplies, convenience store

http://silvercometdepot.com/

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=33.846922&lon=-84.586315&z=17&l=0&m=h&v=2

2. Carter Rd 4.4 /8.8 miles round trip

Just Parking—no restrooms!

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=33.857827&lon=-84.657276&z=17&l=0&m=h&v=2&show=/6896889/Silver-Comet-Trail-Carter-Rd-Trailhead-Wildhorse-Creek-Trail

3. Florence Rd 7.6 /15.2 miles RT

Restrooms,

Convenience store and restaurant 2 blocks from trail

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8694&lon=-84.70077&z=17&l=0&m=h&v=2

This is a bike riders view of the ride from Florence Rd to Coots. Includes elevations etc.:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ga/powder-springs/289019588

4. Hiram 10.5 / 21 miles RT

Restrooms, Fast food 5 blocks form trail

5. Paulding Chamber/Dallas 15.2 30.4 miles RT

Restrooms, Restaurant 3 blocks from trail

6. Tara Drummond 16.0 32 miles RT

Restroom

7. Rambo 18.00 36 miles RT

Restroom

8. Coots Lake Beach 29.3 58.6 miles RT

Restroom, Beach, Convenience store 1 block from trail

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=33.976971&lon=-85.00415&z=16&l=0&m=h&v=2

The love of trikking!

Sunday May 31, we went out for a leisure Trikke ride. It was great! Often we get a little too consumed with business, lessons, speed, technique and all... After a very hectic week and weekend we found ourselves just wanting to stop and smell the roses. Yet another beauty of the Trikke....the meditative and smooth carve that is just relaxing and FUN! By the way..the trail we are on is the location for this weeks free group ride. Come out and join us!

Come and Get Your "Ah Ha!"

People who teach, no matter what they teach, will always tell you about their love of the "ah ha!" moment. It's the moment when you are communicating with a student, and suddenly the torch is passed. They get what you're saying, and this knowledge is transformed into their own action. Ah Ha!

I have been fortunate to have had these moments in many venues: As a college instructor in the classroom trying to communicate sociological concepts. As an online college instructor, where it's a whole different ball game because what you write, not what you visually communicate, must facilitate the ah ha. As a certified Trikke Trainer, communicating with a new rider who may be unsure of their own body mechanics, or may misunderstand what these mechanics mean in getting the Trikke moving.

All of these venues have been very rewarding and they fulfill a core ideology for me. I believe that the spreading of knowledge is a gift. One to one or in a group --it is a gift. This past weekend Capital Trikke began our Capital Trikke Fitness Classes, in addition to our regular group and private lessons. In the fitness class we mixed lessons and workout, and I can tell you, there were many "ah ha" moments! Moments not just in technique but in.. "ah ha ..I didn't think I could do this much!" Then later a private lesson came, and the client was unsure of their own ability. Before the hour was up, they were thinking about their potential, and what goals for fitness they could achieve by the end of summer.

This is a wonderful experience! Come join us and see what we mean!

Join the MeetUp group for schedules and rsvp info on FREE classes and group rides

For specifics on lessons and classes click here

We want to bust your Trikke chops!

Those of you who were with Capital Trikke from its beginnings know that we were originally known as “Trikke Fitness.” This reflected our desire to focus on the Trikke as a fitness machine and our commitment to helping others reach their fitness goals through trikking. Riders have to become more fit, stronger AND technique aware, or the beauty of the Trikke as a fitness machine can be lost.

We look forward to continuing our absolutely cool Trikke road trips, and will continue to seek out and participate in great fun rides with our local and national Trikke family.

We return to our original focus…what we have been screaming about regularly--- Get on a TRIKKE and GET FIT! We want you to commit to coming to our weekly Capital Trikke fitness classes just like you might come to a spin class. We are offering 3 levels of classes designed for all levels of riders. We want you to work at your own pace but we want you to work HARD!

Level 1 Capital Trikke Fitness Class
For newer riders who will benefit from a combination of riding lessons and workouts. Primary goal is to ride the trikke for longer and longer stretches without touching the ground! Work at your own pace but work hard! We’ll have fun reaching this goal!


Level 2 Capital Trikke Fitness Class
For more developed riders who can maneuver the Trikke without difficulty through cones and around the random trainer! Riders should be able to ride for longer periods without interruption. In this level class we keep the riding constant with fewer breaks. You’ll be challenged by some obstacles and will combine strengthening exercises into your ride.


Level 3 Capital Trikke Fitness Class
For advanced riders who want to push their abilities to the limits! Sprints, repetitive inclines, and more advanced obstacle maneuvers on sidewalks are par for the course here! We’ll keep it moving so be ready to push!

Rental Trikkes are available!

Please check our website for info on classes designed to increased your riding ability, fitness (through Trikke cardio work and Trikke strength training), AND fun.

Remember that we remain authorized sales, service and training for Trikke. With each Trikke purchase from Capital Trikke, you will continue to receive unlimited level 1 Trikke lessons AND now in addition, you will receive 2 FREE Capital Trikke Fitness Classes to get you going strong!

Find New Proving Grounds

Water, a T12, and a Trail Map...All You Need!

Went out for another greenway ride this morning, which was very important to do after my near super duper wipe out the other day. Talked about it on Facebook and mentioned it on Twitter. It was pretty awesome and scary at the same time for me because I have never fallen. Nonetheless I was ready to get back out there. Took one day off to see if my muscles would revolt after all the twisting I did to maintain control of that near fall.

So, I'm out this morning and I decided to visit a trail I hadnt been to in many months. While there, I branched out further to previously uncharted spots on the length of it and happily discovered that it's really important to change where you ride! No matter what level you are, you've got to mix it up and challenge your body and mind! While I was quite pleased to head over hills that were difficult for me months ago, I also realized that it was great not to be familiar with every hill and valley that I encountered. For example, when I trikke the Tobacco Trail, I know it's going to be "this long" and the greatest work will come after "that turn," so I save my energy for that big ride on the way back. In this case, I just explored and let the trail try to beat me up!

Ok, it didnt kill me, but there were some challenging inclines in bunches that were difficult when they kept coming. I was a little peeved at myself. I was worn out after several hills, and couldn't make one, so I punished myself by running up it with the Trikke. I have these little head games that I play. When I first started Trikking I would allow myself to walk no more than "50 steps" and had to start back Trikking after that break no matter where I was or how tired I felt. Now, it's "Trikke Sprints," where if I can't make a hill , I have to run straight up it full speed with the Trikke. You get your workout no matter what in my world!

Still, I have found a new proving ground, and I will return to this trail. I was smiling today, looking at the hills, and seeing them as a challenge that I would overcome. I'll work on this trail, and when I feel like the inclines are bumps in the road, I'll move on. One of our group members once said about his journey to get over inclines, "I'm trying to make the road flatter." Exactly the way to see them!

The Strength-Technique Tandem

As we head into warmer days that beckon more time on the Trikke, we should also begin to recognize the important relationship between strength and technique. I remember trying to teach my daughter how to ride a bike without her training wheels. She was 4 at the time and determined to get it quickly and move on. At some point she became so frustrated that she actually picked it up and threw it in a ditch! What she couldn’t grasp was the need for her body to adjust to the balance and strength requirements rolling without training wheels called for. This makes me think about the exact moment that frustrates so many trikkers—when momentum shifts and an incline approaches and you just can’t make it! Patient adults become frustrated very quickly are are ready to call it quits!

Well it’s not an invincible incline. There’s no need to throw your Trikke in a ditch somewhere and stomp off. You have to understand strength, and you have to understand technique. One without the other and you’re going nowhere fast and you’ll never truly get the most out of the fitness part of trikking.

When it comes to strength, you don’t need to be a gym rat or a fitness guru. You simply need to consistently train your body to respond in a way that allows you to ride the Trikke. Men tend to be stronger in their upper body- women in their lower. Because we are a handle bar nation (bicycles, Bikes, etc) we focus on that. So, new trikkers and experienced ones who don't focus on technique tend to put all of their body into that handlebar, swinging away! But the trikke is a full body workout and unless you are legitimately compensating for a reason why your cannot use your lower body, you should engage both the upper and lower. Strength comes with consistent practice. If you are winded after 10 minutes of trikking, that’s fine. If you keep riding 10 minutes - 3 days a week you’ll get stronger! What I don’t want to see you do is ride for ten minutes when you could and should ride for 30! Consistent riding, at least 30-45 minutes at least once a week is only the beginning. You can't ride once a month and expect results anymore than you can go to the gym once a month and expect to get stronger and see results. Consider your Trikke your fitness machine. It's a pretty cool one at that!

At the same time that you are building your strength, you should be equally focused on your technique. Body builders will tell you that without proper form, it doesn’t matter how much you can lift because your body will pay a huge price in the end with potential injury. Same goes for trikking. Doesn’t matter how strong you are and how fast you think you can ride the trikke down or up that street. If you don’t’ have proper technique you risk injury and you waste valuable energy. To see a rider gliding down the road at a good clip is pure poetry. To see them sweating and grunting along with poor technique, busting veins is not very pretty and for the most part doesn’t have to be this way.

In the next few weeks we will be presenting videos of strength and technique building exercises for you to do on your trikke. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a “strong" rider. These tips will help you reset your riding. To gain access to them, subscribe using the box in the upper left corner of the blog.

Live blogging on American Tobacco Trail!

This is a test. I hope to do this for the century ride so I'm testing how this goes. I'll be posting from todays ride. Perhaps every few miles?


1:46. Lots of bikes out today! Took all of 2 minutes after I unpacked Trikke to get a side remark. WHY?

2:27 going! Everybody pacing. Starting to sweat. I have a serious sweat gene. Ugh

2:35. Wheeee.! Slight downhill. First of the ride. This is when you check your technique. Don't just coast! Get it right when you don't have to and then you have when you do !


2:46. LOL! biker going by said. "swing that thing!!!!"


3:01. Lost a rider in a good way. He found his distance and turned back. Knowing when to say when. Important!!! The small pack is cooking at this point

3:33. Having a coke downtown Durham across from the ballpark. Great ride. Half way point!









3:41. Waitress at mellow mushroom is kicking us off the table since we only have cokes and didn't get seated through the restaurant. Guess it's time to head back before muscles get comfy anyway.

4:27. Done and drinking recovery drink. So we ran straight from half way out to the finish. 41 minutes. So if we hadn't stopped along the way and hung out half way I suppose we could have done it in 1 hour 20 or so?

-- Posted from my iPhone on the go. www.CapitalTrikke.com


5:33 Ok. Back home in front of imac. Live blogging experiment went well. I have to learn how to get more pictures in from the iphone app but I'll get it. This will be a good way to keep everyone in the loop during the century ride. Should go well. As to our ride today, we really had a good ride. I feel I rode at a good clip for me. Rode the T12 comfortably. Nice training and endurance ride. Experiment closed!