GroshLink

This week Eden received her new bike.  It's a therapeutic tricycle called an AmTryke provided by AmBucs (http://www.ambucs.org/).  Ambucs provides these bikes at little or no cost to qualifying individuals who are not able to operate traditional bicycles.  Eden's PT measured her and selected the types of modifications she would need on the bike.  We sent in the application and 3 months later we have a brand new shiny red bike.  It's pedaled hank-crank style and with the feet.  The chain connects both so you can't pedal one way and not the other.  The seat that's on it now is a saddle seat with an adjustable back.  There are two velcro straps that go around Eden's torso to keep her from falling off the seat.  The pedals are like platforms for her feet also with velcro straps to hold her feet on.  It came with an additional bucket style seat that I haven't even taken out of the box yet.  It's a molded seat with a back.  The frame adjust considerably to be closer or further away from the handlebars.  And the seat adjusts up and down.  I think the handlebars even tilt in 3 positions but I haven't tried that yet.  It has pneumatic wheels and one rear wheel has a brake like you find on wheelchairs to keep the bike from moving when she gets on/off.

 

And most importantly, what does Eden think of her new bike?  She likes it a lot!  The day we got it was warm and sunny and she and I spent some time trying it out after lunch.  It's even hefty enough for me to ride it (though it is way too small).  She enjoyed "helping" me to ride as much as she enjoyed riding it.  It's a heavy bike and she's not able to power it all by herself.  Grandma's and Grandpa's driveway where we ride it has a slight grade -- just enough for Eden to get the feel for operating the bike without needing to "muscle it."  And when I push her down the driveway she goes fast which she thinks is grand.  She has some trouble holding on to the handlebar with her right hand ("Righty") because she doesn't yet have the strength to hold on tight enough.  But this exercise should help her to build up that strength. We're looking forward to getting a lot of mileage out of this bike this summer.  It's a bit bulky for transporting, but on occasion we may take it to the park.  And when Eden finally outgrows it we can give it back to AmBucs for them to recycle it into a bike for another eager recipient.