Electrically-assisted Cycles

Electrically Assisted Cycles

Thanks to the generosity of the People’s Postcode Trust we now have three electrically assisted bikes and an electric trike.

They are designed to provide people whose impairments mean that they are unable to pedal hard enough with easily controlled power from an electric motor to ride with confidence. The cycles have no gears either, the motor standing in for variable gears, so there is no need to be able to operate any kind of gear change. The trike obviously removes the need to be able to balance a two-wheeler.For all of themn the only control is an easily operated twist throttle.

Jenny Wynn is a regular volunteer with Pedal Power. She helps to with volunteer administration and general office tasks. Our volunteers have the opportunity to use our bikes and for some time Jenny rode one of our Draisen Trikes. However, the recumbent riding position didn’t really suit her and she found the twist grip mechanism for the gears difficult to operate. As a result her range was quite short and she often needed external assistance to get up the occasional humps and bumps in the park.

This was disappointing as she used to be able to ride a two-wheeler but the ongoing effects of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome, a genetic condition causing symptoms similar to Muscular Dystrophy and MS, meant that her leg strength and balance no-longer enabled her to do this. She finds the electric trike a great improvement. It means that she doesn’t have to worry about balance and the electric motor provides as little or as much assistance as she feels she needs.

She is able to cycle around Bute Park with increasing confidence. The park is basically flat but there are occasional steep ramps, giving access to bridges over the river for example, and with the easily operated twist throttle she can ascend these easily without outside assistance.

She says that the exercise leaves her feeling weary but in a good way. She is pleased to be able to exercise her legs in a controlled way and expects her range to increase as she builds up her strength. She is personally very grateful that the funds from the People’s Postcode Trust have allowed Pedal Power to purchase such a beneficial machine. She encourages others with similar symptoms to get involved at Pedal Power and find a suitable machine. Our assessment programme and wide range of machines means that we have something for everyone.

Jenny in Action

Jenny riding