In April 2006 Trikke Europe gave the ECBT in The Hague an assignment to investigate the health benefits of riding a Trikke.The ECBT is the Expertise Centre of Movement Technology at  the `The Hague University´. Together with the University of Amsterdam, the ECBT started in August 2006, a research on the physical benefits of riding a Trikke cambering vehicle. Recently, the researchers published the results.

 This report is based on:

Research on the health benefits and energy usage of riding a Trikke

by 

The Expertise Centre of Movement Technology at  the the Hague University  (ECBT) together with the Institute for fundamental and Clinical Human movement Science (IFKB) at the University of Amsterdam.

The Netherlands, March 2007  

 

The researchers asked themselves the following questions:

1. How is muscle power used to generate forward momentum?
2. What is the energy use when riding a Trikke?
3. How do these results compare to other Fun-sports? 
4. How fast can you learn to ride a Trikke?

Date:                March 12, 2007

Research by:
The Expertise Centre of Movement Technology - The Hague
Clinical Human movement Science (IFKB) - Amsterdam
For:                      
Trikke Europe - The Netherlands
Summary by:
Trikke Europe - The Netherlands

Supported by  The Provincial State Department for Research On Innovation, Netherlands.

1. How is muscle power used to generate forward momentum?

For this part of the research, the team analysed the Trikke motion; the curves of the Trikke in relation to the use of power. This (bio)mechanical research was done by analyzing the Trikke ride concerning displacement of the centre of gravity, momentum of the impuls, power of the impuls, speed and behaviour of the wheels.

 

The research team found out that for riding a Trikke, the next mucle groups are especially in use:

• Upper leg muscles
• Buttock muscles
• Upper arm muscles
• Shoulder muscles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In their report the team stressed that you can train these muscles by riding a Trikke and that the green joints aren’t stressed since there is no impact.

 

 2. What is the energy use when riding a Trikke?

First the research team had to specify the efficiency of Trikke riding. After that, the energy use could be determined. Finally they could compare these figures to other methods of propulsion.

The following questions needed to be answered:

• how much external energy is needed to ride a Trikke
• how much metabolic energy is needed to provide this external energy on the Trikke. If these values are both known, the efficiency of Trikke riding can be determined. After that statements can be made about  how many calories are burned during a Trikke ride.

These studies were conducted on a giant treadmill. This skate roller band at the Movement Technology faculty of the Amsterdam University, is an ideal testing environment; all natural and outdoor conditions can be simulated. A pulley system with weight, functioned as normal air resistance or extra head wind.

By attaching the Trikke to a power transducer, the roll resistance could be determined.

 

The test riders, between 20 and 50 years, have done a test of 4 runs. Each run was  5 minutes. The test rides where on 4 different speeds with speed related drag, simulated with the weight pulley system. To measure the amount of used energy, the exhaled air is being analysed. During 4 runs of 5 minutes, the Oxygon machine calculated the Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) and the oxygen usage of all riders. Only the average values of the final two minutes of each run are being used, since this is when the body is in its most steady state. To convert these values to kilojoules the tables of “Åstrand” have been used.

The results can be seen in the table below.

Efficiency

The efficiency of riding a Trikke is, according to the results of this research, between 8.1% and 11.4% at the measured speeds.

In comparison with other sports, the efficiency of riding a Trikke is much is lower than riding a bike and cross-country skiing, it’s between the efficiency of ice-skating and swimming. The researchers noticed that the efficiency of the Trikke seems to increase at higher speeds.

Energy use

The energy use of riding a Trikke is shown in the graph below. These are the results of the test riders on the 4 runs of 5 minutes on 4 different speeds.

It shows us that to ride a Trikke at 15 km/h an average person needs to deliver 145 joules for every meter. For 1 kilometre you need to deliver up to 145000 joules or 145 kilojoules.

When we recalculate this into Calories we see the following results.

1 kCal = 4,1876 kJ

These values are for an average male of 1,75 m and 75 kilo.

See also next graph.

Burned calories on speeds above 17.5 km/h are estimates

 

 3. How do these results compare to other "Fun" sports?

After the research on the Trikke was done, the comparison with other sports/activities shows us clear figures. We learned already that you burn 500 Kcal in a one hour Trikke ride, on the easy average speed of 15 km/hour.

This in comparison with other activities

• Jogging at  6-7 km/h you burn around 350-400 Kcal per hour. 
• Aerobics classes burn about 450 Kcal per hour. 
• Walking at a normal pace, and playing Golf (without a golf cart), each burn around 250 to 280 Kcal per hour. 
• Power walking or Nordic Walking can burn over 400 Kcal an hour. 
• So can riding a bicycle or an exercise bike at the gym. 
• Housework can burn 100 to 200 Kcal per hour, depending on the activity level. 
• Inline skating burns around 430 Kcal per hour 
• Cross country Skiing burns around  560 Kcal per hour.

  

4. How fast can you learn to ride a Trikke?

As every user experienced, you can ride a Trikke instantly, but propelling it is for some 2^nd nature and for some very hard work. But on average what would the learning curve be?

For research on the learning curve 10 test riders (eight beginners) rode a same track 10 days, for 15 minutes. The circumstances were perfectly stable. The measurements were focused on the time progress on the track.

The research team found out that starters can call themselves a ‘pro’ after 2 hours riding. All starters propel themselves right away and had fun too.

In addition, the easy learning curve of riding a Trikke is way better than learning to ride a bike, (inline)skates or skateboard.

 

Conclusion

According to the results of the research on health benefits and energy usage of riding a Trikke we can say that:

•  When riding a Trikke, these muscle groups are especially in use: 
   Upper leg muscles
   Buttock muscles
   Upper arm muscles
   Shoulder muscles
•  So you can train these muscles and thereby toning your body by riding a Trikke.

• When riding 15 km/h on a Trikke, an average person burns 500 Kcal per hour. When riding at 17,5 km/h an average person burns up to 700 kcal per hour.

•  Concerning the energy use, riding a Trikke is comparable with in line skating, jogging and cross-country skiing (langlaufen).

• It’s very easy to learn how to ride a Trikke; everybody can propel and ride a Trikke. To master Trikke riding you need a maximum of 2 hour practice.

The researchers furthermore believe that the Trikke can play a big role in the fight against obesities under children and adults worldwide.

 

 

~~~

 

So now it's proven that :

 

riding a Trikke is

fast to learn,

safe to ride,

 easy on your joinst,

 great to lose weight

and perfect for toning the whole body.

 

The test persons also found Trikking very addictive!

 

 ~~~

 

By combining regular training on Trikke 3 point carving vehicles (3CV) and eating a well balanced and low fat daily menu, you can achieve amazing weight loss and overall health improvement. The Trikke 3CV’s are amazing machines that combine fun with fitness. You don’t feel like exercising, really you don’t! You just want to ride again and again. Many riders experience it as an addiction; a good one!

Did you know the research done by he University of The Hague and Amsterdam, showes that you can burn between 500 and 1000kcal per hour? That's two double hamburgers with cheese... Next to that research done by Emporia State University, shows that the whole muscular system is in use while riding a Trikke! 

 So riding a Trikke 3CV burns calories, burns fat and builds muscles. When you start riding you will feel your heart rate go up and feel your muscles getting tight. You will also be surprised of the weight you are losing. Do not be surprised when you will start eating a bit more, this is very normal since you are burning calories on your 3CV. This extra food is good, as long as it has carbohydrates and no fats. Think healthy so think fruits, vegetables, salads etc. etc. 

Since riding a 3CV burns a lot of calories you must balance your eating habits accordingly. A lot of people are to focussed on losing weight and they don't eat enough. You must make sure that the difference between the Calories burned during a ride and the Cal's you becomes not larger than 750 kcal per day, because then the possibilities exists that you start burning muscles instead of fat! So a well balanced menu will help you to ride into a healthier lifestyle.  

Many people think you need to exercise long and especially do easy going sports like walking or cycling to lose weight. It is however better to do a more intensive sport like riding a 3CV. This way you can burn the same amount of fats but also more carbohydrates and glycogen. During an easy going 3CV training you burn approximately 500 kcal per hour. The percentage of fats is approximately 50%. The usage of fat is therefore 250 kcal. At intensive Trikke 3CV training burns a lot more: 1000 kcal per hour. The usage of energy out of fat has however decreased to 25%, but at this intensive training you burned 25% of 1000kcal, which means also 250 kcal! Another important advantage is that after the next meal the glycogen stocks in the muscles are replenished first and afterwards the possible leftover energy is stored as body mass. It must be stated that easy exercises like walking can be done longer and can therefore burn more fat. This however costs more time and in these days we actually don’t have that many spare time.

With the Trikke carving vehicles you can also do an interval training in which you combine the two. You combine intensive carving at high speed and climbing hills with carving downhill and just cruising to get you heart rate back to a lower fat burning level.

The city becomes a playground with Trikke

Amsterdam, Paris, London, Berlin or even Oslo.....all across Europe we find city perfect paved with smooth tiles or asphalt: a paradise for every avid Trikke rider!

When you see the video below, you know what we mean. We get feedback from riders everyday getting fit has never before been so much fun, challenging and addictive! 

The guys that are carving up the streets of Oslo are definitely burning 1000kcal per hour! But at the same time they are having a blast. They combining a surfing, boarding and skiing style to the streets...