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At the age of 54, due to a sudden illness, I went in a very short time from being an active athlete to someone who only walks unsteadily, with small, wide-legged steps and in pain. This slow and forced walking also caused me severe Achilles tendinitis, creating a vicious circle.
Since I love to walk in nature and need a means of transport to go shopping without a car, my choice immediately fell on a Veloped. For me, it's the Porsche among rollators. It is really expensive for me, but the purchase was absolutely worth it! It was very helpful that everything was delivered pre-assembled and I only had to click on the wheels. The decision to choose size L, contrary to the advice received by e-mail, was the right one, as I can select between different height settings for my build with proportionally long legs, and I feel more flexible.
After only three days to get used to it (also to the looks of the people around me), I walked 6 km, even on gravel paths! And I was blissfully happy. Finally, I can look straight ahead again without having to watch the ground and all the unevenness with every step I take. If I stumble or bend, all it takes is a reflexive firm grip and I can keep going, without the moment of shock I always had before. And without the fear of falling. Apparently, the front wheel signals to my brain in good time what the ground is like - the wheels feel it for me - so that I have fewer problems with bumps in the first place.
In the first ten days, I walked 60 km - and I notice clearly how good the extra movement is for me. Walking in nature. The feet are relieved, the Achilles tendons heal.
For shopping, the basket is enough. I come home happy instead of completely exhausted and close to tears from the exertion of walking. Thanks to the training, my gait has meanwhile improved.
The Veloped is heavy and, with 14-inch wheels, stable enough not to tip over to the side with me (1.83 m tall, 89 kg) if I lose my balance. At the same time, it is incredibly manoeuvrable so that I can get through narrow supermarket aisles, although I use the folding function at the checkouts, otherwise, I get stuck. So far, however, I have always chosen one wheel up, i.e. the lighter setting.
The weight can sometimes be a problem of strength, as many of the pavements here are very narrow and sloping, and the Veloped then pulls to one side. The brakes are a bit difficult to adjust for me with weak hands and I sometimes need several attempts, they also seem a bit unstable in terms of the material, but everything worked very well for the first 2 months.
The only real criticism is the seat, which I find uncomfortable and expected more from (I don't know how this could be designed without losing flexibility). Before buying the Veloped, I tried it out on a stool at home to decide whether I needed the comfort seat - and didn't think about the fact that the Veloped has a hard bar that presses into the small of the back. The wide band in the seat also cuts painfully into my thighs, so I can only sit on the "edge of my bottom" instead of sitting down properly. I can also barely get between the handles. How people weighing up to 150 kg are supposed to sit on it is a mystery to me. Therefore, I took the piece of foam that protects the seat in the packaging, put it in a colour-matching bag, put it in the gap of the seat - and thus made it more comfortable for me. It's perfectly adequate for short breaks and the flexibility is maintained.
Thanks to my Veloped, I dare to plan trips again. It's a challenge on public transport, but it works. I have already completed the first train journey.
