“I was blown away by the sheer look of the Bullet.”
The Beginning
Judy had always been an active person until about eleven years ago, when a routine check-up at the doctors resulted in a diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis – a tumour within the spinal cord that left Judy totally reliant on her wheelchair to get about. In an attempt to address Judy’s decreasing mobility, John, her husband, had built a trike that he thought might be suitable for her to ride; unfortunately, it was not only uncomfortable due to bad posture, but Judy simply did not feel safe whilst riding it. Judy needed the safety of something made specifically with her in mind.
The Challenge
As a result of the tumour, Judy has no use of or feeling in her left leg, leaving her with concerns as to whether she would be able to pedal the bike properly. Her confidence had also taken a significant hit during the years where she was unable to cycle, and this meant that it wasn’t quite as simple as getting on the bike and pedalling away.
For Judy to feel safe and secure, Tomcat had to make sure that the trike:
- Was stable on the ground
- Had a power assist
- Could be pedalled despite Judy’s mobility issues
- Was something she could get on and off with ease
The Solution
While, at the time of Judy’s first assessment with local assessor, Kevin, the Bullet with electric assistance wasn’t available, it quickly became clear that the quality and engineering of the Bullet were perfectly suited to Judy’s needs. Judy commented on the look of the trike, knowing immediately that she and John would be getting a lot for their money in comparison to other electric trikes.
A second assessment with Tomcat’s founder, Bob, was done with the electric power assist model of the Bullet, and it was safe to say it exceeded expectations across the board. Bob’s observation that Judy had sufficient useful movement of her left hip to enable her to pedal with the electric assist was quickly shown to be true, and Judy was able to cycle again for the first time in nearly a decade. The Swivel Seat allowed Judy to get on and off safely and with very little difficulty and anxiety about the whole process.
Judy at the fitting.
The Result
The experience was simple and straightforward, bring Judy and John the wonderful opportunity to go cycling together again. The plan in the first instance was to stick to the lanes and cycle paths in the rural area where they live, before venturing further afield. Judy said:
“I want to get used to cycling by riding around a familiar setting, to increase my confidence before I go further afield. When you have mobility issues it really does knock your confidence and it takes a while to start to believe in yourself and what you’re capable of doing. Of course, having the right ‘vehicle’ to support you helps!”
Judy says that she’s hoping to get her fitness back to what it was before her diagnosis, and that being out in the fresh air also helps her mental well-being. She also describes feeling ‘normal’ when on the trike, saying that when she’s in her wheelchair, people forget that she has a brain, whereas the trike allows her to feel like she’s on equal terms with an able-bodied person.
