From 4 Wheels to 3: Michelle’s inspirational journey
When we were first tagged into a Facebook post by an account called From 4 Wheels to 3, we immediately recognised Michelle from her visit to our York showroom. Even more excitingly, she shared details of her plans to take her electric tricycle to the Alps for a mammoth charity adventure.
We reached out to Michelle; we were keen to hear more about how this trip came about and the charity she’s raising money for. Not just that, Michelle had a great story to tell that perfectly aligns with the purpose of Jorvik Tricycles. Having been diagnosed with several health challenges, she came to us via support from Arctic One, and we were able to support her in opening her world back up and making her love of cycling a reality once again.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your condition – when were you diagnosed, and how has it affected your day-to-day life and mobility?
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2016, a bulging disc in 2017, and endometriosis in 2021. I had started to get widespread joint and muscle pain in 2015, which started causing mobility difficulties. I had to leave a job I loved after 22 years, caring for disabled children (fortunately I was able to get an office-based job, still supporting families of disabled children). By Christmas 2017 I struggled to weight bear due to pain in my hips and lower back and needed two sticks to walk. Over the next few years, it continued to gradually decline to the point that I could only walk a matter or metres without significant pain, and the muscles in my legs and core were just getting weaker and weaker because I wasn’t weight bearing. I needed a wheelchair to go out anywhere but couldn’t propel it very far independently because of hand and shoulder pain, so progressed to a mobility scooter to be able to get anywhere independently.
Before the tricycle, what did exercise and getting outdoors look like for you – or had it stopped altogether?
At that point exercise was limited to a pedal exerciser sitting on the sofa in the house, which I could only manage without any resistance, and it was extremely boring!
How did you first discover Jorvik Tricycles?
On holiday in Belgium, we visited Bruges and Ghent, and the fantastic cycling infrastructure there made me really realise how much I missed cycling. Although I had continued to volunteer with Stockton Wheelers Cycling Club, as I had done since 2007, I had been unable to cycle myself for seven years. On that holiday, I set about searching the internet for a type of cycle that I could physically get onto, and I knew I would need electric assist to be able to pedal. I was initially looking at electric recumbents, but couldn’t find any that were anywhere near my price range. That’s when I came across the Jorvik Tricycles website. By the time we returned home, I had sent an enquiry about test riding a Jorvik. As it turns out, the upright trike has been much more practical than a recumbent would have been.
What was the feeling the first time you test rode a Jorvik Tricycle?
It was exhilarating! Being able to move smoothly and quickly under my own steam was amazing. It gave me a real sense of freedom, and I didn’t have the pain that I get from standing and walking.
How did you find the experience in the Jorvik Tricycles showroom?
The staff were really friendly and helpful, answered any questions I had, and gave me some great tips on how to get started, steering etc. This was before the new test track, so my ride was around the car park in the rain, but I really didn’t care about getting wet. I was just enjoying it so much!
Which tricycle did you choose and what made you choose that particular model?
I went for the Jet-E 20 (Jorvik: now known as the RIDA). The main things I needed were a very low stepover, electric assist, and it needed to fold to be able to transport it in my car or take it on holiday with us, and the Jet-E ticked all the boxes. The straight handlebars on the MTB style ones would have been too much of a stretch forward for my back and shoulders, but with the curved handlebars of the Jet-E being adjustable, I was able to get them to a position that felt comfortable for me.
How did you find out about the Arctic One Foundation, and what did the application process look like?
I was searching the internet for anywhere that may be able to help with the cost of the trike. Most places I found were for children rather than adults, but Arctic One provide Forward Motion grants to support both adults and children with disabilities, to pursue sport. They help cover costs of essential sporting equipment, essential coaching/training costs etc. The application process was really simple. I emailed initially, just to check that I would be a suitable candidate for a grant, as I wasn’t exactly going to be racing, just for leisure and to get some exercise. Matt replied really quicky and encouraged me to apply. I filled in a quick form and that was it. They provided me with a £400 grant towards the cost of the tricycle, which was a great help.
What did it mean to you to receive the grant – was the tricycle specifically what you had in mind, or did you come to Jorvik through the process?
Having the grant made a huge difference to me and brought the cost within reach. I had already researched tricycles before I applied for the grant, so I knew exactly which Jorvik tricycle I was asking for.
Do you remember your first ride? What was it like?
I got my tricycle in October, and it arrived mid-week. I couldn’t wait to get out on it as soon as possible but had to wait for my husband to get home from work to assemble it. It was almost dark, but I couldn’t resist at least having a little go. Twice around the block, around 1km in total. It felt amazing, but by the time I was done I was exhausted. For my first proper ride we took it to a park, and I managed to do one lap of the park, with a rest halfway round. Again, it hit me how amazing it felt to be moving under my own steam, smoothly, and without pain. I just couldn’t stop smiling!
Your Facebook page documents where you've been. How regularly are you out on it now compared to when you first got it?
At first, I was out on it a few times a week, but only very short rides. Sometimes when I was working from home I would just ride round the block a few times in my lunch break to try to build up my stamina. Being able to build up the distance opened new opportunities, and once I could go far enough I started using it to accompany my husband on the dog walks, usually 2-3km at a time, and I would take it to the Stockton Wheelers youth coaching sessions instead of using my mobility scooter to get from the car park to the cycle circuit. Now, unless we have really bad weather, or I have other commitments after work, I ride most days, sometimes multiple times a day.
Has riding changed anything beyond the physical side – in terms of your confidence, your routine, how you feel day to day?
Cycling has helped me to lose weight that I had gained from being less mobile, my blood pressure is really good, and I feel generally healthier. Whilst my mobility in terms of walking hasn’t changed, on days when I feel stiffer and more achy than normal, going for a ride can often help me feel better. Whether that’s to do with the movement of riding, the endorphins providing some natural pain relief, or the ride itself just helping to take my mind off it, I don’t know.
Getting the tricycle has also had its social benefits. I’ve been able to join Stockton Wheelers family rides, monthly ladies’ sessions, and the club’s Boxing Day ride. Generally, I just feel happier and more relaxed in myself.
If I need to go somewhere, rather than jumping straight into the car, my first thought if often “can I cycle there?”. I’ve probably saved a small fortune in fuel over the last couple of years.
What would you say to someone with a similar condition who's considering a tricycle but isn't sure it's for them?
Go for it! It doesn’t matter where you start, what speed you go, or how far you go. If you’re cycling, you’re moving. You can choose how much you want to push yourself and how much you want to allow the battery to do. Just build up slowly, pace yourself and listen to your body so you don’t overdo it and trigger a flare-up. Any ride is better than nothing. It took me a little time to allow myself to rely on the battery and not feel like I was cheating, but I eventually got into the mindset that using the battery on a higher level if I started to struggle meant I didn’t have to cut the ride short, so I was still getting more exercise than I would if I had just gone home.
I have worried at times about what people will think if they see me riding, whether they would think I was faking my mobility difficulties if I can ride, but it’s completely different. Not having to weight bear means it doesn’t cause the low back and hip pain that walking does, so when people ask how I can ride but not walk without crutches, I just explain that so hopefully that will help to educate people and increase understanding.
Tell us about the Alps ride – where, when, and how did that plan come about?
My husband and son have always loved cycling up mountains, and most of our holidays since the children were very young were spent in areas where they had the opportunity to do this. Often my daughter and I would be in the car waiting for them at the top, or at points along the way, but you can’t really take it all in when you’re driving and having to concentrate on the road. When we were planning this year’s holiday, my husband mentioned a couple of mountains he would like to climb. Initially I thought it would be lovely to be able to just ride part of a mountain, to get that experience that I have never had before, to take in the scenery as you ride up. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered just how far up I could manage, and I decided to challenge myself to see if I could ride a full one, or maybe even two. I knew I would need to really train rather than just pootle around if I want any chance of my legs being able to work enough to make the battery last. It’s taken careful planning and monitoring, using a heart rate monitor and an exercise/symptom diary to measure my efforts and its effects, as doing too much has triggered Fibromyalgia flare-ups at times. Now I know where my limits are in terms of exertion, I’ve been able to gradually build up, and hopefully as I get fitter, I’ll be able to push that a bit more. I still don’t know if any of the mountains will be possible for me, but I’ll enjoy the experience and the views as I try. To give myself more of an incentive, I’ve decided to do it as a fundraising challenge for Arctic One, to help give others the same support I had to get equipment they need to be more active. (Jorvik: since we spoke to Michelle, she’s decided to add another mountain, Alpe d'huez, just for an extra challenge!)
A year ago, would that type of ride have felt possible?
Absolutely not. Until Christmas 2025, I considered 10-15 miles to be a long ride, and I was very nervous about riding on the roads so stuck to cycle paths and only very quiet roads. It was after joining the cycling club Boxing Day ride, I started to push myself out of my comfort zone riding on quiet country roads close to home. That was a turning point that opened up opportunities for so many longer rides and as my confidence built, so did the length of the rides. My longest ride so far has been just over 30 miles, and that distance alone, even on a relatively flat ride used to feel completely out of reach.
How has your life changed since you bought a Jorvik Tricycle?
I rarely use my mobility scooter now. It’s pretty much limited to shopping, and even then, if I’m going to a very small shop and can lock the trike directly outside (like my local independent pet shop where I pick up my dog food) or the local supermarket where I can borrow one of their mobility scooters to get around the shop, I’ll go on the trike if possible. I ride to the office if I don’t need to go out on visits or to meetings during the day, and I often ride to visit family etc. My 4 wheels to 3 page was about chronicling replacing as many trips as possible that I would have done on the scooter, to cycling instead. We don’t even take the scooter on holiday with us anymore. The tricycle goes instead. I never expected to go further than that and start doing long rides just for fun, but that feeling of freedom is addictive. Freedom from the pain of walking or standing, freedom of movement, to just go where I want, under my own steam, explore new places and to take in what’s around me so much more than I can when I’m driving. You just can’t beat it!
Good Luck, Michelle – Donate Today!
We’d like to say a huge thanks to Michelle for sharing her story with us – hopefully it can serve as an inspiration for those who are considering whether a tricycle could be the right thing for them.
If you’d like to make a donation to Michelle’s charity ride in the Alps where she’ll be raising money for the Arctic One Foundation, you’ll find the Just Giving link below.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/m-kilcullen-1
You can find more information about the Arctic One Foundation and their work by clicking the link here.
Finally, if Michelle’s story has inspired you to give three wheels a try for yourself – then our showrooms are ready for you! Simply visit our showrooms page today and book your free test ride to start your adventure and make the world a little bigger for yourself!
Good luck in your challenge, Michelle, the whole Jorvik team is with you!