The Mountain Trike company are all about making the outdoors accessible and manufacture and design all terrain wheelchairs from our premises in the UK. These revolutionary all terrain wheelchairs offer the user the freedom and independence to travel off the beaten track to explore the great outdoors with friends and family.
We were recently invited to help celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Trans Pennine Trail – a 215 mile coast to coast trail in the North of England. It was also a chance to highlight the work that the charity, Access 4 All are doing to improve accessibility – which included the installation of new changing room facilities on a section of the trail in Torside, near Glossop.
The Mountain Trike Company, Accessible Derbyshire and staff from the Trans Pennine Trail were invited to take part in the filming with local ITV Calendar TV show, presented by Jon Mitchell. ITV were keen to run a feature on a forthcoming episode to show the improvements being done around accessibility along the trail and in the local area to help encourage more people to enjoy the wonderful countryside – despite ability.
The team from the Trans Pennine Trail met up with Mountain Trike customers Matt and Joyce, Mountain Trike Managing Director & Designer, Tim Morgan along with Roger Crawford also from Mountain Trike, as well as the team behind Accessible Derbyshire, a charity, who have been instrumental in improving accessibility for all in Derbyshire.
The weather couldn’t have been better and with the sun-shinning it showed off the beautiful countryside in all its glory on this section of the Trans Pennine Trail. The Mountain Trike wheelchairs looked right at home on the trail – their rugged good looks fitting into the area surrounding them and living up to their namesake!
Tim Morgan, introduced the latest Mountain Trike model recently added to the wheelchair product range – the eTrike – an electric power assist chair which can be ridden manually or the throttle can be used to give powered assistance when needed. Since launch earlier this year, the eTrike has been very well received – as has the eKit which can be fitted to the Mountain Trike, lever drive wheelchair.
The original Mountain Trike has a unique lever drive system which allows the user to independently propel, steer and apply the hydraulic brakes whilst maintaining clean, dry hands in all weathers. Matt Hadfield who has had his own Mountain Trike for sometime showed how the Trike could travel over the uneven terrain with ease. For those unable to self propel there is the MT Push – an attendant chair – the steering and braking takes place in the push handle locate behind the rider. Arm rests and other adaptations are available to help with comfort and safety and customer Joyce Griffith with her MT Push was able to enjoy the delights of the trail with everyone else.
The Mountain Trike Company all terrain wheelchair range really do have accessibility to the outdoors covered, which is highlighted through their wide range of customers of all ages and abilities.
Later that day everyone headed over to Torside when the official opening of the new changing room facilities took place. Facilities like this are so important and really make a difference to a day out knowing that these, spacious, clean and safe facilities are available to use. The facilities at Torside are a fantastic addition to this part of the trail and it is hoped more people will now visit the area with the knowledge and confidence that this facility is now available.
The ITV Calendar News show has now been aired and a clip from the show can be viewed below, which includes an interview with Mountain Trike Designer and Managing Director, Tim Morgan and long term Mountain Trike customer Matt Hadfield.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mountain Trike products please visit the website. We offer demonstrations and also short-term hire options are available on some of our products for customers in the UK – perfect for day trips or weekends away. There are also a number of experience centres located around the UK which is another great way of being able to join in on an organised ramble.