A special new trike for Wendy, resident of Te Orewai!
When Wendy, one of our residents at Te Orewai, had her second fall from her two-wheeler bike in the space of a few weeks, she knew that it was time for a change. An Occupational Therapist’s assessment confirmed that her balance was not as good as it had been and that riding down to the shops on her bike was going to have a lot of risks associated with it.
Wendy briefly considered a mobility scooter, but she was keen to maintain her fitness levels, so an adult trike was the next option. Wendy, together with Ron, Manager at Te Orewai, undertook some research and decided that The Cycle Trading Company on Elgin Street in Sydenham had a very good range.
They were welcomed by Rick Lamb who showed them the options. Wendy was keen to try a very stylish and sporty looking metallic red trike. Rick confirmed that it was the right height for Wendy, and gave her some tips on the difference between riding a two-wheeler and a trike. After five minutes of riding around the forecourt, Wendy found that the bike was really easy to ride, was very stable, and it had a comfortable seat!
The next task was to choose a new helmet out of an impressive range of styles. Wendy chose a stars and stripes helmet reminiscent of the Easy Rider movie.
While they were shopping, Wendy told Rick that she was the first woman in New Zealand to race sprint cars and that it had been quite challenging as not all the men were keen on being beaten by a woman. As the arrangements for the assembly and delivery of the new trike were being made, Rick asked Wendy what her old racing number was.
A few days later, the trike was delivered, and Wendy was delighted. Despite it being a damp, showery day, she was quick to get on and go for a ride.
The biggest surprise for Wendy was that Rick had arranged for a sign-writer to put her old racing number (26) on her helmet, as well as the front and the back mudguards of the bike. In addition, as a gift from one racing driver to another, Rick gifted the helmet to Wendy, refusing to let her pay for it.
“The small donation was the least I could do,” says Rick. “I was touched when I met Wendy. When she told me she used to race cars, I instantly felt connected. Plus, I really wanted to put a smile on her face!”
Wendy was blown away at his generous offer and says that the racing numbers reminded her of her younger days when she was racing sprint cars, showing the men that women can do anything!
