Custom electric trikes for people with a disability

As a super-active above-knee amputee, Rachel needed a low step-through trike that was stable when mounting and dismounting but also handled really well (we know people think trikes can be a bit clunky to handle). Rachel wanted an e-bike to keep up with her teenage son who is a keen cyclist and for the freedom of cruising down to local shops and restaurants without having to go in the car all the time.

The team at Cargocycles adapted the new bike to allow Rachel to pedal only with one leg – the other pedal/crank was removed and a footrest was created to rest her prosthesis. The bike has a multi-level pedal-assist system that operates on a single crank, so Rachel can control her speed and the level of electric assistance she wants.

One of the benefits of having a tricycle with two wheels up the front – as opposed to two wheels up the back – is that estimating the width of the bike is much easier. This is important if you’re riding in crowded streets and need to squeeze past cars and navigate road hazards etc.

Rachel can be seen with a big smile on her face as she rides off on the Van Raam Viktoria.