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Tandem recumbent invention allows 87-year old to get back in the saddle

Daphne Loke had missed cycling since developing dementia

An 87 year old woman is enjoying life in the saddle again for the first time in five years - thanks to her inventor son who came up with an idea for a recumbent tandem.

Daphne Loke had enjoyed cycling around Cambridge for her entire life, but had had to give up the sport five years ago when she developed dementia.

But her enterprising son Richard came to the rescue when he invented a rather different type of tandem.

She sits in a recumbent position, while he rides behind her upright, keeping charge of the steering and stoking the pedals. For a photo, click here.

Richard told Cambridge News that he'd witnessed enormous improvements in her health - saying that trips into the city centre, along the riverside and to Grantchester for tea have been an “absolute joy”.

He said: “Cambridge is a lovely place and she knows it well from when she was young.

“Taking her around in car is not the same with the traffic, but when you’re cycling you can hear, smell and touch things.

“She really enjoys herself and finds it quite exciting because it’s quite an unusual bike and people wave at her. She has a lot of fun.

“She will come home from a trip out and you can just see from the look of the face the effect it has had on her.”

Cambridge News are also on the lookout for the city's oldest cyclist... if it's you or someone you know, email newsdesk [at] cambridge-news.co.uk

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4 comments

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WolfieSmith | 11 years ago
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Like the version called 'Brut'. I'd offer a bottle of the smelly stuff with it and get Kevin Keegan in a towel to advertise it. 'Splash it all overrrr!'

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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Nah its the Morpheus as Richard, the man featured in the article designed the bike  3

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A V Lowe | 11 years ago
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Hmm I thought it was a Haase Pino but you have probably studied the picture more closely. Typical ignorance of local paper!

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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What a brilliant story, I love the fact that recumbents are now bring life back to a pleasure for so many. I saw this bike on the tinternet the other day, Posted by Laid Back Bikes in Edinburgh

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66067108@N08/8150079488/in/photostream

Here is the company that makes them

http://www.circecycles.com/products/morpheus/tandem.php

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