Britta cycles with confidence again

Cycling had always been part of Britta Faltynski's life. After a knee injury, however, it was no longer something she could take for granted. Determined not to give up, she found in the Balance a bike that works for her. Now she's back out enjoying rides through the city and the countryside.

On the green outskirts of Hünxe, in Germany's Ruhr region, Britta cycles at ease along the fields. She sits comfortably, looking around with a smile. "As a child, I spent a lot of time on a bike and rode quite fast," she says. "Later, I rode a sporty bike with lots of gears. Cycling was simply part of my life." About ten years ago, that changed. A knee injury led to a long recovery. During rehabilitation, she discovered that exercising on a stationary bike felt good. The circular pedalling motion helped her rebuild confidence in her knee. "But cycling outdoors was still difficult. Especially getting on and off a regular city bike."

Britta wasn't willing to give up. She started looking for something that would suit her better, and eventually, a bike specialist suggested she visit vanRaam.

Learning to cycle again
On her first visit, Britta tried the Balance. Its very low step-through frame meant she could get on with ease, and the low seating position gave her confidence - she could place both feet firmly on the ground while seated. Getting on was easy. Riding in a straight line was another matter. "I was cycling all over the place," she says with a laugh. "It felt quite awkward. But it wasn't the bike. I simply had to learn how to cycle again."

Back home, she kept practising on her stationary bike. A week later, she returned for an appointment with a vanRaam adviser. "She had me making tight turns, cycling uphill, and back down again. She kept pushing me until I realised I could do it." That confidence made all the difference. Britta ordered her own Balance e-bike through a local bike specialist, along with a few accessories chosen to suit her needs, including a rear-view mirror. "I find that much more comfortable than constantly looking over my shoulder."

A newfound freedom

Britta has now been cycling again for a year and a half. She uses her Balance for all kinds of trips: shopping, visiting a café, and cycling to the cemetery. But most of all, she loves heading out into nature. "For me, cycling is more than independence," she says. "It's freedom. You're outside, you can smell the fresh air, and there's always something interesting to see. I genuinely love that."

Recently, she came remarkably close to a stork during one of her rides. "It was incredible. On a bike, you experience moments like that so much more intensely." When her bike was delivered, a friend showed her some of the most beautiful routes in the area. Since then, Britta has been heading out most weekends, exploring routes through forests and across rolling hills. On one steep climb, she used the highest level of electric assist for the first time. "I was very glad it was there," she says with a smile.

Comfort that inspires confidence

For Britta, the biggest difference comes down to the design. The low step-through frame makes getting on and off easy. The low seating position means she can put her feet on the ground when stopped, while still being able to fully extend her legs while pedalling. The pedalling motion also feels different from a standard e-bike. The pedals sit slightly further forward.
"That's comfortable for my knees," Britta explains. "And I feel like I can use my strength properly."

How does it feel to ride the Balance? Britta doesn't need long to think about it. "It feels like driving a Rolls-Royce," she says with a laugh. Then she becomes serious. "The quality of life I get in return is something I simply can't put a price on."

Cycling has become a natural part of her life again. Not because everything is exactly as it was, but because she's found a way that works for her now.

Her bike. Her pace. Her freedom. ■