Experience
“My Ebike means Parkinson’s disease won’t stop me cycling”
Wesley Vernon, 64, thought his cycling days were over… until e-power came to the rescue
“I’ve been a cyclist since I was 10. I once cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End in seven days and two-and-a-half hours and completed a number of the CTC-organised events [CTC is now Cycling UK] including the Wild Wales Challenge and the Crest to Coast. I’ve cycled in Vietnam and India, too.”
“In early 2015 I had to return my driving licence to the DVLA as I was deemed no longer fit to drive. The fatigue associated with my condition meant that conventional cycling was out of the question, too, so I gave my old bike away at the same time.”
“A retired neurology nurse who helps out at my support group suggested that I might be okay with an ebike because it requires minimal effort on my part and, in his experience, a number of people with Parkinson’s find that balance issues can settle down while riding a bike.”
“Someone kindly lent me two ebikes to try out and then my wife and I purchased our own –a Volt Pulse X for me and Volt Kensington for her – within a few weeks. The sense of freedom I enjoy is tremendous as this is now the only form of accessible transport I’m allowed to use. I can’t walk very far either.”
“The physicality and challenge aspects of cycling are less now as I rely on the electronic assistance to help me go everywhere, but the e-bike does help me in tring to maintain my lower-limb mobility.”
“Most of our cycling is on cycle paths and trails (such as the Monsal Trail and Tissington Trail) in and around the Derbyshire Peak District where we live like. I also use the bike for short journeys on quiet roads, such as visits to the GP.”
“For me, there’s no downside to e-bikes. I do need help loading the quite heavy bike onto and off our carrier, plus some assistance in getting on and off the bike. But when I’m on the bike, the balance issues I usually have when walking are gone!”
“We’re planning on cycling further afield in the UK and have bought various books on the national network of cycle tracks. While we haven’t been going far since Covid started, I’d really like to do more e-cycling in India and the Far East as well.”
WESLEY’S E-BIKE TIPS
01 Try then buy Try out ebikes covering as wide a range of prices and styles as possible. Look into the car bike racks required for the shortlisted bikes too – many are unsuitable due to the heavier weight of e-bikes.
02 Practise first Ebikes come with multiple combinations of gearing and levels of e-assistance. Make sure you practise before you go out on the road so you know the best combinations to deal with various situations.
03 Find your way Seek out cycle paths and traffic-free routes, which get up close and personal with the countryside. They make ebike riding safer and more fun, plus they provide opportunities to stop for tea and cakes.