Sweeter than honey, truer than true are the words of First Corinthians 13:4-8. You’ve likely heard them read aloud at weddings, but one particular couple exemplifies exactly what this verse means.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
For most of Bill and Glad Forward’s lengthy marriage, the couple loved to ride bikes together. Some spouses enjoy hiking, jogging, fishing, dancing or cuddling up for a good movie together.
But for this couple, it was bicycling that bonded them together. Two wheels on a path that leads to love.
In fact, while dating, on two wheels was the only way they could see one another. It simply became an important part of their lives.
“When we first started dating, I used to ride my bike from where I lived to where she was, and that was about 5 kilometers, on a Saturday afternoon, ‘cause that was the only chance we had to get together.”
When the two lovebirds expanded their family to include precious children, they modified their bicycles in order to tote the kiddos along for exciting adventures behind a parent, the breezing blowing by.
But when the children grew up and flew the nest, Bill and Glad didn’t hang up their bikes.
They kept on pedaling, enjoying their time together after more than five decades of love and living life to the fullest. Sadly, in 2004, Bill noticed something was off with Glad. Her health quickly and suddenly began to deteriorate. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
In his heart, Bill knew that not being able to go for their favorite bike rides would devastate his wife. But he had no idea how to keep her moving….
After brainstorming a bit, Bill ended up designing what he now calls The Bike Chair. This clever invention allows Glad to get out of the house and get moving, even if Bill is the one behind the wheel.
“I used to ride everywhere on my bike, and Glad had her bike as well, and we’d put a bay chair on the front of her bike, so we carried our babies around on the bikes. Bike’s been part of our lives, and I guess that has something to do with this now.”
There was no way Bill was going to allow Alzheimer’s to steal his wife’s memory and their favorite activity both. He presented his bike design to his friend Ken McKenzie who agreed to help construct it.
The front of the bike resembles a wheelchair where Glad sits. Where the wheelchair’s handles for pushing would be located instead is the bike’s front-wheel handles.
The wheelchair-style seat has two large bicycle tires and handles for the passenger to grasp. It also has a seatbelt for safety’s sake.
Bill and Glad’s modified bike comes in a beautiful baby blue. It resembles the bike style from their younger years.
Not every spouse would go to such great lengths, but Bill’s creation speaks volumes about the love for his wife. She has trouble walking on her own without tumbling and he has to do almost everything for her from “the moment she wakes up until the moment she goes to bed.”
“I don’t count it a burden whatsoever. I count it a great privilege to care for this one I have loved all these years. She’s my princess and I’m her William and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Bill’s design gave hope to so many other people that he decided to manufacture The Bike Chair for others to enjoy. His company The Bike Chair may be small, but it has such a huge impact on the lives of others with mobility issues who enjoy bicycling.
Florence Hall commented on The Bike Chair’s Facebook page that it’s a “beautiful, wonderful idea.”
“My son is 13 with cerebral palsy. A bike like that would be great.”
Janet Deems Kunkle praised the concept, noting that there’s “such a demand for something like this.” People from all around the world have commented on The Bike Chair’s Facebook page as to how this product is inspiring and helpful.
This project truly is a labor of love. Watch how much Glad enjoys the clever contraption in the video below. It’s so sweet!
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