Bob van der Aa

Bob has non-congenital brain damage, and therefore he is limited in his daily life. Because of the BerkelBike, he feels less limited and wrote the following article with his mother.

This is freedom!

“Bob received his BerkelBike at the age of fourteen- two years after the traffic-accident that made him wheelchair-dependent. His first reaction was: This is freedom! He can now “walk” his own dog, and decide where he wants to go when they go out.

We were looking for a suitable bike for Bob for quite a long time; since he is able to use his legs, we thought it would be a shame to buy a regular handbike.”

A special kind of bike

“A recumbent bike with three wheels was also an option, but it is difficult to transport by car. When we found the BerkelBike on the Internet, we knew that the BerkelBike was exactly what we were looking for. The possibility of using the BerkelBike as a home trainer is a great benefit; now Bob can cycle regardless of what the weather is like.

The software that comes with the BerkelBike does not work well for us. Bob cycles irregularly and therefore he is slow on average. This means the cyclist on the screen moves very slow, which is quite demotivating. Instead, he enjoys cycling while watching television.”

Customization helps a lot

“We admire all the things that could be adapted on the BerkelBike, such as the grip for his right hand that prevents his hand from slipping away and the support for his right leg that prevents his leg from falling to the side. It is fantastic to see how they have considered these things.

The BerkelBike is an enrichment for Bob; it is a great workout for his legs and gives him the freedom that he needs as a sixteen-year-old boy.”