Max Jones is a motorcyclist through and through. He’s been on two wheels since the 1970’s. Touring the open roads around Europe, Ireland and Scotland has created so many special memories. Today, now retired from the Police, he continues to ride but with extra wheels to help with severe arthritis. That’s three wheels on a touring Honda trike and four wheels on a WHILL C2 powerchair in a trailer. The joy of the open road continues aged 75, or “25 for the third time” as he says!
Max served for 27 years as a Police officer. As a Constable and later Sergeant, he patrolled various areas of South Wales as well as spending two years as a Law Instructor at the Welsh Police Training Centre. He jokes “In those early days being 6’3” was hard when packed into a Mini ‘Panda car’ with four other burley officers doing a top speed of 40 mph. How things have changed!” When off duty, he also taught safe motorcycling to those starting out on two wheels.
Today he enjoys more power and performance on his 1800cc Honda Goldwing Tourer which has been converted to a trike. This means he can continue riding with extra back support on ‘an armchair with an engine’ as he puts it. However, at every destination, walking was becoming impossible, he needed a solution he could take with him. Research led him to the WHILL C2 from TGA.
“If you start looking for a manual wheelchair when you are tall and 17 stone like me, you have a problem finding anything that will fit.” says Max. “And my wife was going to have to push me around which wouldn’t be fair. You need something that will self-propel. I tried loads and, in the end, I believe the powered WHILL range is the best. You can’t beat it; nothing compares to it. So comfortable. My grandad used to say: ‘There’s nothing more expensive than buying cheap’. It’s an old saying but true and the WHILL has proven its worth many times over. In fact, it’s been that good, Max has now invested in a second WHILL, the new folding C Lite for car, bus and train journeys.
“My wife and I recently visited TGA on our way to Norfolk for a biking holiday,” continues Max. “We went to try the new folding WHILL. When we were there the one thing that struck me about TGA service was that they only gave us information and advice and we never felt under pressure to buy. The new WHILL C Lite was wonderful to drive and easy to lift so we got one for the boot of our car.We’ll keep our original C2 as it perfectly fits in our adapted trailer which we tow with our Goldwing.”
“After visiting TGA we had a fantastic time away. We went to Norwich Cathedral and Castle, the National Trust Blickling Estate and the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. I’d have never got round all these places on foot. Especially the vast gardens at Blickling. I was able to go across grass and tackle big hills with my WHILL, no trouble at all.”
“I bought my first WHILL as I was becoming increasingly isolated. We’d visit places like National Trust homes and gardens however I was forever leaning on a stick which was a pain and always looking for somewhere to sit down. In the end, my wife would go off on her own while I would sit in the car park and read a book. I couldn’t do that anymore.”
So how does Max feel about having a WHILL C2 and C Lite? He feels “normal”. This may not sound much of a dramatic difference, but it is. By having the flexibility of two solutions, he can pretty much do what he has always done and feels younger. He has a folding powerchair for the car, buses and trains; and one that fits in his bike trailer. Meaning he has mobility wherever he goes and however he gets there. Being able to fulfil his passion for motorcycling is still his number one priority though.
Life on the trike couldn’t be better for Max and his wife. “Since we’re now both retired, we’ve been able to do a bit more leisure riding. And as we’re members of the Blue Knights, which is the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club for serving and retired law enforcement officers, we go to motorcycle events and raise money for charities. Overall, we ride as much as we can as we feel much more connected with the outside world. In the countryside you can see the animals, the birds, you can sense the atmosphere, you can smell your surroundings. You can’t do that in a car.”
As Max reflects on his passion for motorcycling, he encourages all retired bikers with mobility challenges to get back in the saddle. “There must be so many people out there who still want to ride a motorbike but cannot because of health issues,” concludes Max. “Whereas you can with a trike, trailer and a WHILL powerchair. Try it and take your time, I always say there is no rush. Learn something new but do it slowly, no pressure. That’s the best way to broaden your horizons.”
“We think we don’t look our age as we are happy. Happy doing what we want to be doing which is riding on the open road. It’s a big, big thing for us and massively great for our mental health.”
