Get your kicks on a Kickbike
by Karl Benedek
One, two, three, four, five, switch. Coast. One, two, three, switch… welcome to the world of kickbiking. Modern kickbikes have their roots in the velocipedes and draisines of the Victorian era, but the comparisons end quickly. These are no boneshakers—they are lightweight, maneuverable vehicles that can help provide you with a surprisingly good workout. The off-road model even has a suspension fork!
The Kickbike was invented by a Finnish medical student who wanted to create a low-impact and low-maintenance training device for runners. He incorporated the large front wheel of a bicycle with the platform and smaller wheel of a scooter. The result is a quiet, simple machine that requires next to no maintenance and provides a workout that rivals both running and cycling. In practice, riding a Kickbike takes just a moment to get used to. The recommended foot-switching action is smooth, but I found that it took a little while to get comfortable taking one hand off the handlebars in order to signal. Luckily, in the event you lose control, the ground is just a couple of inches away from your feet.
Oregon’s Kickbike dealer, Harvey Isman of Cottage Grove, says that kickbiking has helped him rebound from a double hip replacement. “It’s safer than a standard bicycle because you’re closer to the ground,” he explains, “and it’s really low-impact. It’s great for cross-training.” Also marketed as an alternative to the questionable practice of exercising dogs from the saddle of a bicycle, the Kickbike comes in several different models, including the aforementioned off-road model, a sleek racer, a city-style cruiser and a sport model (pictured). Find the right one at www.kickbikeamerica.com.
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