There's no better kick!
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Kickbike FAQ
Obtaining a scooter How many sorts of scooters exist? How do you choose the right scooter? Where can you buy one? Learning to kick How do you drive it? How fast does it go? Does one have to change kicking leg? What is the most difficult thing to learn? Kickbike design Why is the front wheel big and rear wheel small? Why is there a kickstand? Why so narrow footboard? Is Kickbike maintenance-free? Fitness What are the major physiological benefits? Which muscles do you utilize the most? Could you give us a training schedule? What to do if you want participate in races? Daily use What traffic rules say about Kickbikes? What kind of clothes do you need? Can you carry luggage? Is there anything like an "acrobatic scooter"? Is scooter an all-terrain vehicle? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obtaining a scooter How many sorts of scooters exist ? There are thousands of different ones. The reason is that actually a scooter is much more simple than a bicycle. Recently, lots of small-wheeled scooters have penetrated the market. However, there are scooters of different sizes and shapes all around the world. How do you choose the right scooter ? It is important that the kicking position is ergonomic and that the scooter is safe (good brakes and high quality wheels). It is also important that the rolling friction is minimal, if you want to use the scooter for moving from one place to another. We have developed the Kickbike to meet all these requirements. Where can I buy one ? Although scooters are gaining popularity it's still possible that you cannot obtain the kind you want at your local bike dealer. In such a case check your closest importer from our list or order directly from our online shop. Learning to kick How do you drive it ? Almost like a bicycle. You use your body just a bit more and you lean to the direction you want to go to. Kickbike is very stable at high speeds because of the steering geometry and big front wheel. It is unfortunate that there are so many low quality scooters on the market that are not well tested at high speeds. Also the components are often bad quality (cheapest) and it can be dangerous to go fast downhill with such vehicles. How fast does it go ? Of course it depends on the power you can exert, but few guidelines can be given here. The energy consumption is quite little when cruising 15-20 km/h, but grows very rapidly when speed increases above 25-30 km/h, limiting the top speed on flat to ~ 40 km/h. Do you change kicking foot ? Yes, and frequently, unless you especially want anaerobic excercise for your muscles. Common frequency is 3-10 kicks with one foot while kicking around, at most 5 if going fast. What is the most difficult thing to learn ? To be relaxed all the time! Many people kick on too stiff legs. Using both feet equally is another thing to remember in the beginning. You kick only 3-4 times on one foot and then you change the kicking foot. A good Kickbiker can do a flying swap (small jump). After some learning both legs get more equal, not vice versa as some people falsely presume. Kickbike design Big front wheel and small real wheel, why? Kickbike has unique style. Big front wheel negotiates easily bumps, cobbles and gravel, making riding easier and safer. Small rear wheel allows narrow ultra slim design that gives maximum room and freedom to the kicking foot. Short rear end makes Kickbike small and responsive in traffic. Why so narrow footboard? By experience, narrow footboard enables most relaxed kick. You should never hit your ankle on the edge of the footboard. Most of the characteristic Kickbike design aims to a narrow structure, that gives maximum freedom of movement to kicking foot. Why there is a kickstand? Experience shows that it"s not essential. You can easily dismount it if you want. If there"s a wall, lean Kickbike on it. If there ain't anything to lean on there is plenty of room to lay Kickbike down. However, many people are so proud of their Kickbike that they want to leave it upright. Is Kickbike maintenance-free? One principle of Kickbike design is to keep it simple. There are no chains, no derailleurs, almost nothing to break and repair. We want to make every part of Kickbike as hard-wearing as possible. Still, to occasionally lubricate brake wires and footboard bolts is not a bad idea at all. To ensure that there is enough pressure in tyres and no loose levers, bolts or nuts is a basic check before every ride. Fitness What are the major physiological benefits? With regular workouts you can expect to stretch the hamstring, strengthen and tone the quadriceps and calf muscles and trim down and firm up the thighs and buttocks. By adopting the proper kicking technique – lifting the knee in front, you will also strengthen your diagonal lower abdominals and lower back. Which muscles do you utilize the most? The standing leg does a surprising amount of work during the kick cycle of the other leg and is the leg in which fatigue is first felt if legs are not changed frequently enough. At the start of the cycle, the leg is held almost straight with the foot slightly flexed and with the heel off the footplate. All the weight is on this leg as well as vertical and fore-aft forces generated by the kicking action and consequent body movement. The muscle work (which is effectively isometric) is mostly felt in the quads, but almost all groups of lower leg muscles are used (tibialis and calf - gastrocnemius and soleus). The standing leg is straight at the end of the kicking cycle. The kicking leg goes through an extended movement cycle where muscles used and forces developed are very similar to running without the impact damage. So hamstrings, calves and glutes are the main muscles used. It should be noted that on the leg uplift prior to starting the cycle, the abdominals come into play as biceps/triceps to counteract the forwards-backwards body movement generated by the kick. Maximum efficiency of motion is gained by minimising up and down movement (hence the tendency of most competitive racers to fit back wheel lowering brackets so that there needs be less compensation for the height of the footboard) and by minimising forward-backwards movement of the body (use of shoulders and arms to steady body position). Could you give us a training schedule? If you want to be a fast on the scooter you have to kick fast. It’s so simple! Interval training is very good: 10 x 2 km at an average speed of 30 km/h with 2 minute rest is a typical session for a fit athlete. Long aerobic rides are very important, such as 40-70 km with an average speed of 20-25 km/h. Most people tolerate no more than two hard Kickbike workouts or races within one week. It is important to have recovery days in between and do some other sports like running or swimming, for instance. Of course you can do some easy kicking on your easy days, too. I want to participate in races! Sure! We offer you a piece of champions' equipment. There are races on long and short distances. Scooter sport is still small, but quickly growing, tactically rich and demanding. Join your local club, found one yourself or just ride as a freelancer. Daily use What traffic rules say about Kickbikes? There is no common regulation for EU. In Germany, and Netherlands they are considered to be pedestrians despite of their speed. In Austria, however, there seems to be a new law that classifies scooters as bicycles. In Finland we are discussing the topic with the Ministry of Traffic and Communications in order to rationalise and unify the legislation. Meanwhile, the rules may vary in different countries. Best rule is of course to ride cautiously and politely in all situations. What kind of clothes do you need? Kickbike has a small rear wheel so some elegant ladies use it with a dress. However, tights or shorts are better than skirt or slacks because they don't catch somewhere (rear hub or so). For the same reason you should tie your shoelaces short enough. Normal running shoes are good, high heels or slippery soles are an disadvantage. Use of bike helmet is strongly recommended. In addition, some people use bicycle gloves and goggles (insects can go into your eyes in Finland especially, we have so many..). Can I carry luggage? City Cruiser features a handy wire basket for small items (handbag + extra clothing). Also we have ordinary bicycle front racks in our store, which are excellent. Is there anything as an "acrobatic scooter" and how do you jump with it? Yes there are some on the market, but we don"t really believe in that kind of use for the scooter. We definitely don't encourage acrobatic tricks with a Kickbike and carry no liability for damages caused by unintended use. Is the scooter an all-terrain vehicle? Yes! Kickbike rolls very well in gravel and sand roads. We are also manufacturing XCountry model, which is designed to go off-road! Is there something you couldn't find on Kickbike web? Write us at info@kickbike.fi ! Answers by first freaks, fastest racers, ultimate tourers or dealers & designers of Kickbike® |