Winiata Cleary had all but given up on her dream of competing in next year's New Zealand ironman.

The 50-year-old mother of four had already completed four half Ironmans and had set her sights on the ultimate, but her lack of speed on the bike was proving a huge barrier.

But it was not her age holding her back, but rather a withered left leg caused by polio as a child.

To even things up, Cleary has tried riding with a stack of three cleats on the left pedal but she still failed to get up to the speed needed for the full ironman.

Winiata was down and out of motivation, but then national champion Jo Lawn came to her rescue with a top-of-the-range bike.

The bike will give her a big boost and customising it to her body will give her the chance she desperately wants to finish the race.

Lawn has won six consecutive New Zealand titles and is the only Kiwi woman to have completed the 3.8 kilometre swim, 180 kilometre bike ride and 42 kilometre run in less than nine hours.

Lawn says the ironman is 30 percent physical and 70 mental and Clary is hoping her desire to finish will make up for what she lacks in athletic ability.