Monday, September 14, 2027

That seemingly “bandaged object” in today’s header photo is actually the backside of my recently acquired e-trike.

My friends and neighbors, Dale and Susie—both avid cyclists—convinced me that my pastel trike needed a vivid, eye-catching makeover. They are passionate advocates for road safety in all conditions, and they had a plan.

Dale, a retired helicopter mechanic, designed and now manufactures the HeliLadder, a specialized maintenance ladder for aircraft. When he inspected my new ride, he brought out a roll of heavy-duty, high-visibility reflective tape from his shop. He demonstrated how even a faint beam of light makes the color leap and glow, then offered to apply it to my trike’s frame and rear rack.

As an aside, Dale and Susie have long been champions of accessible outdoor adventures through their work with the AdvenChair—an all-terrain “hiking wheelchair” engineered with independent disc brakes and front suspension to keep riders safe and comfortable on rugged wilderness trails. Road safety and clever engineering run in their blood.

Taking their wisdom to heart, I’ve started suiting up in high-visibility neon gear whenever I head out. Now, dressed in bright layers atop a boldly taped trike, I am unmistakable to approaching traffic from either direction.

Here is the “before” look: me and the trike in Dale and Susie’s workshop, waiting for our splash of high-vis color.

At my age, an accidental spill on a traditional two-wheeler is simply not on the agenda. This sturdy three-wheeler completely eases that worry, and it is a delight to pedal. Most days I ride in low gear—or turn the motor off entirely—to give my legs a proper workout. But when a steep hill or a rough patch of gravel presents itself, having the battery and throttle ready at the flick of a switch is pure magic.

I also owe an enormous thank-you to another wonderful neighbor, John. When the trike first arrived, it was folded tight, bolted down, and wrapped in what felt like miles of heavy industrial packing material—a genuinely overwhelming puzzle to unbox alone. John stepped in and helped assemble the whole machine so I could get rolling.

It really does take a village, again, again, and yet again.

— Diana