Following up our recent “Biking with a Disability” post, Program Director Cristen Reat shares the full story of her family’s test ride on a Van Raam tandem.
One of our regular family activities is to go for walks in our neighborhood. Because of our son Vincent’s visual disability and endurance issues, we usually push him in an adaptive stroller. It works well, except when we try to carry on a conversation.
With Vincent positioned out in front, he has to turn his head to talk to us or ask a question. So he is constantly sitting sideways, dragging his feet on the ground since his foot plates are in the front of the stroller. Then the walk becomes a constant stream of us prompting him to face forward, turn around, or put his feet on the footplates so he doesn’t injure himself. He gets frustrated being corrected all the time, and we get tired of constantly redirecting him.
Another downside is that when he is riding, he gets zero exercise. It’s great for us (quite a workout, all that pushing and walking!), but little physical activity for him.
Discovering Van Raam
Previously in physical therapy, Vincent worked on his strengthening skills with a Rifton adaptive bicycle. It wasn’t his favorite activity, but it got me thinking: are there any adaptive tandem bicycles with side-by-side seats?
After some searching I found a Netherlands company, Van Raam, that makes a variety of tandem bicycles. They have side-by-side tricycles, e-tricycles, and even tricycles that accommodate wheelchairs in front! However, they’re only available in the U.S. through approved distributors.
One distributor is a Pennsylvania bike shop called Lancaster Recumbent, and our family was in their area in September. I reached out in advance to schedule a test ride with a Van Raam Fun2Go tandem bike. Lancaster Recumbent doesn’t always keep every adaptive bike in stock, but we were lucky: they had a Fun2Go bike that had been ordered for another customer, and we were welcome to test it in the meantime.
The Fun2Go Experience
We showed up wondering how Vincent would react, since he is generally resistant to trying new things, especially when it involves being high up. (Because of his visual impairment, he feels safest sitting on the ground or floor.)
After a 15-minute overview about how the bike worked, its safety features, and accessories that could be adapted for Vincent, we invited him to get onto it. We were delighted when he was willing to take a ride. I got into the seat next to him, shifted it into an easy gear, and began pedaling.
As we made our way down a tree-lined alleyway behind the shop, he became so excited that he actually let go of his handlebars. (I realized that the safety harness was one accessory he would definitely need!) He got further into it as we made turns. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and it certainly addressed the issue of Vincent being able to talk to someone next to him. He talked the entire time.
Other Fun2Go Features
The bike carries a “primary person” who steers and does most of the pedaling, and a passenger who can help pedal according to ability and willingness. It can be ordered with or without a battery assist (with one, it becomes a type of e-tricycle). The battery assist is a good safety measure should you find yourself several miles from home and too tired to pedal back; otherwise, the primary person could expend a lot of energy pedaling for two!
Whether Vincent would be willing to pedal very much or engage in real exercise on the bike remains to be seen, but it would give him the option, and a goal to work towards.
Other adaptive-bike options: