When they reach their old age, many people enjoy sitting at home, solving crosswords, resting. But not Gerhard Wiesel. Instead, the 92-year-old prefers to walk in the woods and mountains, where just a few years ago he was riding his bike.

When Vissel got hit while riding a bike, he was forced to use a walker. So the retiree was faced with a problem: most walkers are built for the road, not the mountain. Vissel, however, did not sit idly by.

He spent three years designing, calculating and tinkering until he finally came up with a sort of electrically powered walking aid. “I had to find a combination between a mountain bike and a walker,” says the engineer. Today he’s out with his “E-Hiker” – a rugged walker with all sorts of special details.

The first striking feature is the large off-road wheelswith which one can overcome obstacles and climb heights, as Vissel describes.

Also, the electric drive is necessary for the ascent, while for the descent the walker is equipped with strong brakes, so that one can “get off the mountain safe and sound”, jokes the 92-year-old.

The pensioner spent around 400 hours testing his invention himself. “It’s all about the details, which often don’t get enough attention when it comes to a walker,” Vissel says. In order to make the vehicle comfortable to hold, Wiesel also incorporated adjustable handles, as well as snow chains. In addition, the walker is foldable and fits in the trunk. Finally, the large shopping bag and comfortable seat with built-in rain cover make for a walker that has all the comforts.

Wiesel’s environment initially reacted with some skepticism to his invention. “That’s always the case with inventions – you’re often looked at as crazy.” In the meantime, however, people are convinced and now a small bicycle company has taken on the implementation of the 92-year-old’s invention.

However, it was not only the love of work that led Vissel to the design of the invention. “It was a necessity,” says the 92-year-old. “I still want to enjoy life, be a part of it and spend my time outside in the woods or mountains». No one should give up in the face of old age.