Nov 12 2025

How the Veloped Helps People with Parkinson’s Stay Active: Bob Hardy’s Inspiring Story

When Parkinson’s disease entered Bob Hardy’s life, it brought with it the kind of physical and emotional challenges that would make most people slow down. But Hardy—known as The Walker Runner—had other plans.


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At 75, the Canadian endurance walker decided that Parkinson’s wouldn’t stop him from chasing his goals. Instead, it inspired him to redefine what staying active means with the help of his trusted companion: the Trionic Veloped.

From Setback to Comeback

A lifelong advocate for active aging, Hardy has made it his mission to “keep getting older, going faster—and further.” Despite the tremors, stiffness, and balance issues brought on by Parkinson’s, he continues to compete in walking races. His most recent milestone, Bucket List #5—a 5 km race—was completed in 36 minutes and 19 seconds, at an impressive 6.7 km/h pace.

But beyond the time and distance, it’s the journey itself that stands out. Hardy credits his progress to his Trionic Veloped, calling it the perfect training partner for life with Parkinson’s. “Parkinson’s changes your stride, balance, and confidence,” he explains. “The Veloped gives me my feedback—rhythm, stability, and trust. It’s not a cure, but it’s the right tool so I can keep going.”

The Right Tool for the Right Challenge

Unlike traditional walkers or rollators, the Trionic Veloped was designed with real-world movement in mind. It’s an all-terrain, stability-focused rollator that adapts to a user’s environment rather than limiting them to smooth, flat surfaces. With its large pneumatic tyres, low center of gravity, and wide, stable frame, the Veloped provides unmatched comfort and security on uneven ground, curbs, and trails.

For people living with Parkinson’s, these features make all the difference. The ergonomic grips and responsive brakes offer control and confidence, while the open, outdoor-friendly design reduces postural instability and the risk of tipping—common challenges in Parkinson’s mobility.

“The Veloped lets me focus on my stride instead of fighting the surface,” says Hardy. “It supports me without doing the work for me. That’s important—it keeps me training, upright, and moving with purpose.”

Staying Active with Parkinson’s

Exercise is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to manage Parkinson’s symptoms and slow the progression of mobility loss. However, many patients face obstacles such as balance issues and fear of falling. The Veloped’s unique engineering helps bridge that gap, encouraging safe movement while maintaining independence and confidence.

“My racing world changed when I moved to an all-terrain platform,” Hardy shares. “It allows me to train safely and consistently. The Veloped gives me stability, rhythm, and a sense of normalcy.”

Empowering Movement, One Step at a Time

While the Trionic Veloped is not a medical treatment or diagnostic tool for Parkinson’s disease, it has become an empowering mobility solution for people who want to keep moving despite the challenges. By combining intelligent design with a passion for real-world activity, Trionic enables users like Bob Hardy to reclaim their mobility, rediscover the outdoors, and continue living with purpose.

As Hardy puts it: “The Veloped doesn’t do the work for me—it makes the work possible.”

Product Reviews    

  • The Veloped – an ingenious device – we love it!…

    After our 86-year-old mother's walking radius decreased due to unsteady gait, and she could only move around outside the home with an escort, she considered – albeit very ambivalently – a mobility aid. A "regular" walker was out of the question for h…

  • Excellent…

    Everything we experienced with Trionic was excellent. The pre-sales advice, the ordering process, communications, delivery and (of course) the product. It's superbly engineered and easily assembled. More than that. it works, we have tried other walke…

  • Rollator Walker 12er…

    After much deliberation, I chose this product in the hope that it would improve my walking. I can honestly say it has definitely improved my posture and enabled me to undertake walks over rough terrain where my previous rollator was very limited. The…

  • Thoughtful walker for terrain and everyday use…

    Trionic makes thoughtfully designed walkers adapted for terrain and everyday use.

    Built-in features that make it easier to get over curbs, for example, are missing from other walkers, but Trionic has solved this in a smart way.…

  • Finally – no more stumbling!…

    Hello, Trionic!
    Back issues (spinal stenos) since many years back that strongly affected my musculoskeletal system, led to me finally making the decision to get a walker. Found Trionic's webpage online. Okay, this was certainly something I had to tr…

  • Excellent quality…

    Walker has proved an excellent investment allowing my wife more freedom and confidence walking outside.
    Sturdy construction although a little heavier than most competitors.…

  • A great product!…

    My Veloped was delivered very quickly, exactly as fast as advertised. Everything else is as well just as described. My multiple sclerosis limits my ability to walk, but my Veloped allows me to walk almost anywhere again. High sidewalks in the city or…

  • No comparison…

    After using a standard walker for a couple of years I realised it wasn't being helpful for me. I decided after reading about the veloped walker to try one but dealt direct with Stefan in Sweden, so easy and so quick nothing too much trouble, the qual…

  • Can’t beat the Veloped!…

    I recently purchased the Veloped 14er Tour. It is the best ‘rollator’ yet, and I have been using several other walking aids since 2008.

    The Veloped allows me to improve my posture, I can walk so much better for longer. Kerbstones become so easy, …

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