Every young child dreams of the day they'll be able to ride a bike. For some children, this dream is not so easily attained. Watch how Rifton's adaptive tricycle makes it possible for kids with special needs to ride too. A transcript is provided below for viewers with hearing disabilities.
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Transcript
[00:00:00.27] Caption: Rifton Tricycles
[00:00:06.04] Narrator: All children need to play, go places, explore.
[00:00:11.18] Therapist: Do you want to go ride a trike, Ryan?
[00:00:13.27] Ryan: Yeah!
[00:00:15.17] Narrator: Thanks to Rifton, Ryan can too.
[00:00:19.26] Therapist: A student that can't ride a normal tricycle, I can put him in the tricycle and he can ride with other students.
[00:00:33.00] Narrator: Like all Rifton products, these tricycles are built to last. The strong steel frame, and puncture proof tires ensure a safe ride.
[00:00:48.00] Dan Hallock, Design Engineer: One of the main considerations in the design of Rifton tricycles is that we wanted this tricycle to look and feel like an attractive piece of equipment for children to use. Traditionally tricycles for special needs children were made from standard components, and there were many add-ons and adaptations for those special needs. We designed the Rifton tricycle from the ground up, to be simple, easy to adjust, and to be a piece of equipment that every child will want to ride.
[00:01:46.00] Narrator: A parking brake and low transfer step make mounting easy and safe. Seatbelt and chest straps are adjustable. A soft, durable grip for a firm hold, the drive chain is completely enclosed. Over-steering is prevented by a special hidden stop. The wide wheel base provides extra stability without restricting indoor movement.
[00:02:47.00] Joan Martelle, Physical Therapist: The Rifton bikes allow the children to move easily. They don't need a lot of effort to make it move on their own, and that really contributes to a lot of the motivational factor. In addition, they get a lot more out of it when they know they are doing it on their own. A lot of the other bikes we have, or a standard tricycle, they really have to overcome the weight of the bike and themselves, and in the Rifton trikes, with just a little bit of muscle power they're able to move the bike on their own.
[00:03:22.15] Narrator: You can also get other options for your bike. A lateral trunk support clamps on easily. Both arms clamp separately to help with transport and positioning. Other options include an abductor, a guide bar, and a communication tray.
[00:04:17.11] Serge Nalywayko, Adaptive Physical Educator: One of the aspects of the tricycle is that I can remove parts. As a student progresses, I can remove the adaptive part of the tricycle One of the parts is the backrest and I can adapt the tricycle to look more like a typical tricycle, you can remove parts and you can add them as you need them. As a child progresses, we can remove certain aspects of it.
[00:04:39.20] Narrator: Rifton offers the Rustler, Ranger and Wrangler — a size for everyone. [Note: The tricycles are now called simply Small, Medium and Large.]
[00:04:49.27] Marie Altenau, Adaptive Physical Educator: These bikes, the sizes overlap well enough that when they really, totally outgrow the smaller size the next size will really fit them and we can plan on that. It's very hard to tell a child that they've outgrown their bike and we don't have one that they can ride.
[00:05:05.00] Narrator: The Wrangler [now called the Large tricycle], Rifton's largest trike, comes with an extra-large seat, and a movable hand brake.
[00:05:11.25] Therapist: Take it out; which side do you want it on? OK, check that position, do you like that? Fasten it back on, OK, all set.
[00:05:35.00] Joan Martelle, Physical Therapist: Using the bike as their therapy we've been able to get them to more actively flex and straighten their knees in a pattern that's more similar to walking. And so there's really a big improvement in their ambulation, their ability to use a walker or maybe walk with just handheld assistance. We're using the bike as part of our therapy to work on both strengthening and flexibility.
[00:05:59.26] Narrator: With Rifton trikes, recreation and therapy become one happy experience!
[00:06:07.08] Background Voice: When I first saw him on the red trike he looked so happy! It would have made a great photo.