Sporty and flexible biking – with the new TRETS from HASE BIKES

On your bike, get set, go – the new TRETS from HASE BIKES makes this possible for children with neuromuscular disease. And the best thing about it? Since it has a medical aid registration number, German health insurance companies pay for or contribute to the purchase of the trike. REHACARE.com asked Dario Valenti to find out what makes TRETS unique and why working for HASE BIKES is so special.

Mr. Valenti, TRETS was launched in 2020. What makes it so unique?

Dario Valenti: TRETS is an adaptive recumbent bike, specifically designed for shorter riders between the heights of 3'3" to 5'3" (1.00 to 1.60 meters). Since it is a registered medical aid (22.51.02.0062), it is the ideal therapy bike for children and adolescents. Its low center of gravity gives TRETS excellent stability and keeps it from tipping over. The under-seat handlebars promote a comfortable riding position. Bike spoke protectors and fenders prevent riders from accidentally touching the wheels. Special pedals with toe clips and straps ensure the feet won’t slip off. The five-point harness keeps the riders safe in their seat and users don’t require any tools to make position adjustments.

TRETS is also very adaptable to a multitude of disorders. Thanks to various accessory options – including single hand operation or a push bar – it is ideal for children with neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, who are unable to ride a normal bike or vehicle (not even with wheel stabilizer kits). The trike is also the perfect choice for riders with coordination and balance disorders, and restricted movement due to spasticity, paraplegia, dysmelia, or amputations.

What does it mean for HASE BIKES to give children an outdoor mobility experience?

Valenti: I think this is best explained with my first-hand experience: A few years ago, I oversaw the CHALLENGE WEEKS project, where special needs schools can borrow our bikes for education purposes and physical education lessons. The project usually runs for three weeks and is still highly successful.

I delivered the trikes to the teaching staff and provided brief instruction. Usually, there are several children on location to try out the trikes – and especially TRETS – in the schoolyard. Many of the small riders had so-called intellectual or physical disabilities. Some of them used walking aids, leg braces, etc. After adjusting the TRETS trike, the children rode independently around the schoolyard with a big smile on their faces. Their cycling skills and self-confidence improved with each round on our recumbent trike. You couldn’t even tell that some of them had severe disabilities. A beautiful sight our associates lovingly dubbed the "HASE moment".

How do riders apply for a HASE therapy bike?

Valenti: It’s a question we are often asked by customers and retailers. That's why we created a how-to guide called "Action auf Rezept" (English: Prescribed Action) that provides a step-by-step explanation. You can download the brochure in German as a PDF file.

How important is user feedback in your product development?

Valenti: The feedback of our customers is paramount and drives our product development. After all, our goal is user-optimized bikes. The new TRETS is a perfect example of this. If you look at the design and build of the recumbent bike for kids, you immediately notice the ease of ingress and egress and the ergonomic frame. This makes the trike very stable and prevents it from tipping over, making it easy for riders to get on and off. In addition, the entire chain is enclosed within a tube. The wheels have spoke protectors and fenders, preventing the littles ones from getting their hands into the brake discs. There is no risk of accidental injuries thanks to these measures. This allows users to fully enjoy their regained mobility.

What feedback do you get from your little customers who already own a TRETS or their parents?

Valenti: They offer positive feedback and love the trike. Children who are excluded from physical education in regular schools due to their disability are suddenly riding over 30 kilometers with their recumbent trike.  

Parents are excited to see their children ride a bike again or learn how to ride a trike with the new TRETS.

We keep getting calls or emails of families telling us about their personal experience with one of our HASE BIKES. It’s great for us employees to go home at the end of a long workday and know that our work is meaningful and makes a difference to people.