Risto Kantolinna - Harley Softail Rear Brake, Front Brake and Footplate Adaptation

In August last year my wife, two brothers‐in‐law and I were heading for yet another biking holiday to Ypres in Belgium on four motorcycles when a ‘Sorry mate I didn’t see you’ Land Rover took me off my holiday.

A serious RTC only ten miles from home in Kington Herefordshire. The police and ambulance were on the job and the air ambulance was called. The Midlands Air Ambulance responded, followed by a fifteen minute flight to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The emergency services all were great. I was lucky to have them. The medical care at the Q.E. Hospital was excellent and the staff was caring and friendly. I knew I was in good hands sharing the superb care the injured members of the armed services receive. Unfortunately the lower part of my right leg couldn’t be saved and a below knee amputation was necessary.

After 34 days I got home, with a long road ahead to recovery. I never quite appreciated what the term ‘life changing injuries’ really meant, but now I do. My wife and I joined the NABD with the idea to get me back to biking as soon as possible. Reading about others’ journeys back to riding in the Open House magazine and attending the You’ve Been Nabbed Rally in May; I was fully charged. Back to biking.

I got in touch with Hank at Trike Design in Caerphilly and he sourced a Harley Davidson Softail Classic and the team got to work to create a beautiful Trike for me.

With the help of a grant from the NABD the rear brake was moved from the foot brake to the right hand leaver. The front brake was also moved to a thumb brake behind the clutch. A cradle was made on the right foot plate to help keep my prosthetic leg in place. Job done.

14 months after my accident I am back riding a motorcycle. How good is that?

Thank you to Trike Design and the NABD.

Risto Kantolinna

For further information on Trike Design visit www.trike‐design.co.uk or telephone 02920 880885

This NABD grant of £1000.00 was sponsored by donations from The Legends of Rock.