Bicycles with sex appeal

Scooter Bikes and Scooter Trikes are original bicycles that are guaranteed to make heads turn. The tricycle versions in particular are ideal for people with disabilities and dispel any lingering memories of traditional bikes for the disabled. The German company USED manufactures attractive bicycles and tricycles that stand out from the crowd.

Shortly after you drive out of the old provincial city of Essen, you have the feeling that you are leaving civilization behind. The flat countryside stretches as far as the eye can see, with just a few isolated farmsteads bordering the increasingly narrow paths and on a chilly day in February there is not even a tractor to be seen. Suddenly, you spot a whitewashed half-timbered house, an unusual sight in this area. This is your destination. This beautiful 1741 building houses the "USED World Headquarters".

Within historic walls

"Everything from God's hand", "Life is about measuring days", "Don't forget to sow and harvest". Pious farming sayings in gold letters in the former barn remind us of its original purpose. The rural idyll is slightly deceptive; this was the site of a brothel just a few years ago. The spacious former boudoir is now used to display USED GmbH's range of two-wheeled bicycles and tricycles. The loving restoration of the historic building has turned the dream of Bob Giddens, Daniela Ackmann and Andreas Frechen into reality. The property and its spacious outbuildings are an ideal location for a small production operation passionately devoted to developing innovative mobility solutions. The team of former Kynast employees who came together to set up USED includes Klaus Schröder from Velvet Systems, the original developer of ScooterBikes.

A different kind of bicycle

"The only good product is one that is needed and used", says managing director Bob Giddens. This is the basis of the company name "USED", i.e. being used. "I want to sell products that people will actually use. Anything else is just a waste of resources, money and time. If you don't need it, then don't buy it!" In comparison with the down-to-earth manner of most company founders in the disabled market, this English man, who has lived in Germany for twenty years, is a philosopher and a thinker, a self-appointed idealist and a marketing expert. A positive quality, since this enables him to bring new issues and concepts to the market. "Why shouldn't bicycles have sex appeal?"

Elegant design

At first glance, the ScooterTrike Urban 3.0 that I've picked out to test drive actually looks quite sexy. With its elegant sloping curves, long handlebars and comfortable padded seat, it reminds me more of a trendy shopper than a tricycle used by people with disabilities to go to the shops. It gives you a boost to see the world in a different way, without blinkers, and when you park outside the nightclub you're sure to attract a few admiring "wows". The "Urban's" reverse gear makes it extremely easy to maneuver. At 68 cm wide, it fits through all standard doors and weighs in at just 25 kg.

Comfortable feeling

On closer inspection, the features designed more specifically for people with disabilities are also persuasive. While on a traditional tricycle 20 to 40 percent of your bodyweight is on the handlebars, the ScooterTrike's padded seat and backrest support your entire weight. You feel as if you're relaxing in a comfortable chair. This can be a significant benefit for people with weak muscles or disabilities affecting their arms and also relieves strain on other parts of the body, such as the back, buttocks, shoulders and wrists. Its low center of gravity makes the Trike more stable than other tricycles, and you don't sit as low as in many recumbent bikes. One particular advantage is that your head is at roughly the same height as that of a car driver, which makes you easy to spot and gives you an overview of the traffic. The geometry and ergonomics of the frame are also ideal for people with disabilities. You don't need to climb onto the Trike, you simply sit down, lift your leg over the low frame and then cycle off. To dismount, simply remove your foot from the pedal and place it firmly on the ground while sitting. The angle of the seat and the frame length can be adjusted without any special tools. The frame is manufactured in Taiwan from Japanese chrome molybdenum steel. All the bicycles are then painted and assembled in the Essen production works.

Source: Gunther Belitz, HANDICAP magazine, the Magazine for quality of life, Issue 1/2005.