Man builds special bicycle for boy in a wheelchair

Lewis’ parents, Dawn and Andy, always tried to get their son to cycle with them and with his brother Cameron. They came up with ideas such as using straps to attach the boy’s hands to the handlebars and his feet to the pedals. However, Lewis still needed his wheelchair, because, without it, he felt uncomfortable.

So the family had to carry him around each time they reached a destination, which became harder the older Lewis became.

That’s when Les, the neighbour, stepped in. His solution involves a ‘sidecar’ fitted to a bike, with a ramp to roll the wheelchair on and off. Then he got help from the bike brand Insync, owned by Hero Cycles, to refine the invention before making it available to others and also make it more affordable (it cost about £500 to develop).

“I’d seen the family struggling and I knew they were really keen on getting Lewis to experience everything an able-bodied child can, so I knew there was a real need for the trike. I got lucky in that the design just came together and when Hero invited us to demonstrate the bike it was too good an opportunity to miss. It’s quite humbling and uplifting to think you’ve helped somebody with basic DIY skills and it seems inconceivable that, with Hero’s help, we might be able to change other people’s lives, too”, the former engineer stated.

Les started by sketching the bike, and then it took him three months to have it ready, using parts donated by several people.

When he finished, the inventor uploaded a video on YouTube of him and Lewis on the new vehicle. People around the world got in touch to praise his idea and ask where they can get one.

Insync now plans to make a kit that will allow families to assemble it at by themselves, or offer the design so that it can be downloaded and then enable people to create their own version of the device.

Adapted from: https://bit.ly/2WLMEc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc1h4yeyhgo