Scott Reiter (12 July 1974 – 7 May 2024)
Scott was and still is the spark plug behind the development of all Easy Load products. Scott was physically disabled due to the congenital birth defect Spina Bifida. He was active to the limits of his limited mobility but always pushed himself. As such, he decided to start riding but not a conventional two wheeler as his lack of balance always presented him with the probability of disaster. After many weeks of research he settled on a recumbent tricycle. He opted for a model to fit in his SUV to allow him to take his trike to ride our many local bike trails. Having a very strong upper body, Scott did not see a problem loading the trike in his SUV. However, this proved extremely difficult as lifting the trike with his less than normal balance proved to be a problem. He declared, there needed to be a ramp developed to push his new trike into his SUV. Thus, the Easy Load Ramp System (ELRS) came into being on the third iteration of the engineering and development process. He enjoyed loading his trike in his SUV and riding with many different groups, able and disabled, on the many and varied Orange County trails. Scott was an Eagle Scout and a degreed Computer Graphic Artist.
Tom and Carol Reiter
Tom, is the jack of all trades for the Easy Load. Using Scott’s initial idea they developed a very rudimentary Easy Load Ramp System (ELRS) constructed by a local manufacturing company. It worked but was heavy and awkward. After many changes the ELRS, as being sold today, was advertised to the triking community and the adventure began. Tom is a retired USAF pilot and Aerospace System Safety Engineer. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Advertising Design and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration Management. He and his wife Carol, who is deeply involved in Easy Load, are also avid trikers, golfers and both were active in the Boy Scouts of America for many years. Carol is the stabilizer of the Easy Load operation. She furnished a lot of good ideas for the ELRS project from the very beginning for packaging. She oversaw packaging of the first ten systems from the box sizing, wrapping, padding of the four major parts to the bagging of small parts assuring there will be no damage to the system while it is in the shipping package. Since then, she has performed the same steps for all the Easy Load products. She is the former proprietor of Miss Carol’s Swim School where she taught literally hundreds of students, (children and adults), to swim and understand water safety. Carol is an avid walker, golfer and triker.