Insync pushes ahead with special needs trike design

Hero Cycles-owned Insync Bikes has announced progress is being made to bring a special needs trike design to market.

Earlier this year, inventor Les McMahon started working with designers at Insync to perfect the trike he has been working on for his young neighbour, Lewis, who has an undiagnosed genetic condition and relies on other people for his care.

McMahon revealed that the trike, which is said to be cheaper than existing alternatives already on the market, is currently undergoing stringent testing at Hero’s site.

Once plans are finalised, the trike will be made available in a flat-pack kit or as a downloadable design under Hero’s Insync family bike brand to enable more families with disabled children enjoy the benefits of cycling, costing in the region of £500.

McMahon knocked on the door of Hero’s head of global design, Abhishek Pratap Singh, to pitch his design.

“I talked my way into the office and showed Abhishek my plans for the trike and he said ‘everybody in the office gather around – this is why Hero has come to Manchester, to meet people like this’ I couldn’t believe it,” said McMahon.

Insync designers recreated the trike McMahon made for Lewis in a computer programme to make and test alterations before it is rolled out to others, focusing on attachment points, flatpack design, weight saving-materials and stability.

Danny Evans, chief executive of Avocet Sports, the UK subsidiary of Hero Cycles, said: “We have been absolutely blown away by Les’ invention and his enthusiasm for helping Lewis. We now want to translate that and help families with a trike that is affordable. We have been told that the present trike models are way too expensive at £5,000 for families with disabled children already shouldering a lot of additional costs.

“Our design team are making good progress with Les to develop his original design before we release it to a mass market, and we have a;ready had interest from around the world. Insync Bikes’ partnership with Les matches our outlook and ethos to champion cycling as a force for good.”