Big Tricycle
Human Powered Vehicles – Bike Trikke Skateboard
When you think of human powered vehicles what comes to mind? Most will think of different forms of bikes. There is the bicycle, unicycle, and tricycle. Did you also consider these vehicles? Consider these the canoe, ice skates, roller skates, Kick Scooter, skis, trikke and skateboard. All of which are fun to use and our powered by muscular movement on our part.
For most of us the very first vehicle we drove ourselves was not an automobile. It was most likely some from of transportation powered by yourself and not a motor. It was nothing fancy just another way to get from here to there. In most cases it probably wasn’t even faster than we could have done crawling or walking, but it sure was fun. This vehicle was called a tricycle: a simple 3-wheeled contraption that used handle bars atop a rotating front wheel to steer and was powered by your very own legs.
Once you mastered the use of your tricycle you were ready for the big time, a bicycle. Now this was much faster and more challenging than a tricycle. The transition went smoothly as it came with the subtraction of one back wheel, but was accompanied by the addition of two training wheels. Then when you were ready you could remove the training wheels and after a few falls you were off and loving it.
Then you got a car and transportation would never be the same again. That care free joyous feeling is gone. With a car came much more responsibility and more expenses. Now you had to worry about car insurance bills, tune ups, maybe tickets, cleanings, and the most lethal of expenses now gas prices. Gas prices are hovering around $3.00 per gallon.
It has never been cheaper and more beneficial to go back to those self human powered vehicles that we all loved so much growing up. Growing up self powered vehicles were used strictly for recreational proposes. Now as adults why not use self powered vehicles for those short journeys? Not only is it beneficial financially, but also is a good source of exercise.
About the Author
TK Healey chief editor for SurfTilYouDrop® a consumer based website focusing on As Seen On TV Products. Visit www.surftilyoudrop.com today and check out theTrikke a self propelled scooter.;
I want to get my daughter a tricycle for Chrismas. Any sugestions?
My daughter is 20 months old. She will be a big sister in April, so I want something tough enough to later be used by another child. Budget and safety are my two big issues. We live on a paved road with very low traffic and we have a yard that is roughly 1/2 an acre (with a mild slope), so I would prefer something that can be used on grass or on pavement.
We live in a rural area a little over an hour from the nearest major city.
I went to Wal-Mart and they had a couple, but when I went back, all they had was the expensive ones that make noise and require batteries. I don’t want an electronic toy on wheels. I want a tricycle.
I DO NOT want a “Push trike” or “ride on”. She already has these. I want a real tricycle with pedals. Any suggestions of where I can get one that will be safe, tough, and cheap?
Go with Radio Flyer. Their Classic Trike line may have something that’s right up your alley. Their newer trikes have simple easy to use designs with a few added bells and whistles (however I would avoid the ones with plastic push handle parts) so you might pay a few extra dollars but it’s a Radio Flyer so you know you get a getting a quality product from a well known manufacturer. And for maximum safety, always use a helmet and protective padding – even on a trike safety equipment is necessary.
http://www.radioflyer.com/trikes/trikes_bikes.html
