Accessible Cycling
Friday, September 23rd, 2011Sally Roe has more members’ stories from our cycling contingent!
Members of Disabled Motoring UK may remember that back in December your magazine included a ‘beginner’s guide’ to accessible cycling. The response we received to the article made it clear that many of our members are no beginners when it comes to life on the bike!From trikes to handcycles to powered off-roaders, we heard from many members who are passionate about cycling. With the weather (hopefully!) on our side I hope this summer even more of you will be inspired by these stories to give cycling a go.
Remember we always enjoy hearing about your trips and adventures, so if you’ve found the perfect bike route, or like Andrew Howard you’ve come up with an ingenious way of transporting your cycle, then please do get in touch.
Tremendous three-wheelers! – Andrew Howard was bitten by the cycling bug in 2004. Since buying his own ‘pre-loved’ trike, he’s never looked back.
handcycle
In 2004 I went camping and saw someone riding about on a trike. I wondered then if I’d be able to do it, but it wasn’t until 2005 that I decided to find out. I went to the Parsley Hay cycle hire centre near Buxton in Derbyshire. They have all sorts of cycles for hire including trikes, tandems and handcycles. So I went along and asked if I could try one out. The staff there were very helpful and I realised I would be strong enough to use a trike along the flat section of track that ran along the old railway there. I returned to Parsley Hay several times that summer to hire the trike for a few hours each time, eventually travelling about two miles in each direction.
By the spring of 2006 I had decided to look into buying a trike of my own. The ones sold by the hire centre looked pretty expensive to buy new as they are all hand-built adaptations. They ranged from about £800 to £1000 new. Luckily, I decided that a more standard model would be okay for me. I kept an eye out for a second-hand model and eventually found one on eBay for a about £200, making sure before I bid that it would just about fit in the back of our Vauxhall Astra!
Transporting a trike
Having taken my new trike out for a spin on flat and relatively traffic-free roads nearby, I realised that the main problem was loading and unloading the trike from the car. Heaving it in and out of the boot was just too difficult so I decided there must be a better way! Back on eBay I found a nine-foot by four-foot wooden trailer which did the job beautifully. Securing the trike with bungee cords left plenty of room for the rest of our family’s bikes – although my wife and kid’s bikes were more tricky to secure, lacking the inherent stability of the trike. Transporting a cycle is definitely something to consider if you are planning to buy your own. Lots of specialist cycles and trikes won’t fit on an ordinary bike rack. I find the trailer works for me as you just flip the tailgate down and roll the trike on, but it could also be worth looking at having a bespoke carrier made or something designed to transport a mobility scooter adapted to carry a trike instead.
Our first ‘cycling holiday’ was to Butlins in Skegness for a week. Whilst the girls stayed on site I took the trike out for a ride every day, exploring the quiet lanes in the nearby Fens.
Driving – and cycling – solo!
At the end of the summer, I decided that I was ready for a more adventurous trip and this time I went to France on my own. I’d been camping plenty of times before but not with a trailer full of cycling gear. But all went well on the ferry and the trip down to the south. I planned to stay near Biarritz on the Atlantic coast. The trip was great – I found plenty of cycle tracks close to the campsite and in France there are plenty of old railways that have been converted to cycle tracks as well. The thing that slowed me down the most was the number of French people who wanted to stop me and talk about the trike!
Since my solo cycling trip I have taken the whole family away together, to Devon and France as well as plenty of days out. I use the internet to research our destinations first to ensure that there will be plenty of suitable cycle tracks and facilities, and my top tip is to take everything, even if you’re not sure you’ll need it! It’s far better to take a spare camping bed with you than have to spend days of your holiday looking for a shop in France that sells them. I’d far rather be out on the trike!
Have Wheels, will Travel – Gary Jackson found freedom through handcycling, and talks in more detail about the many handcycle options available
If your disability means that cycling on a conventional ‘bike’ is not possible, then a handcycle may be your passport to the pleasure of freedom that cycling can bring. A handcycle, or handbike, is a human powered vehicle (HPV) that is propelled by the muscles of the arms, shoulders and chest rather than the legs as on a bicycle. The drive wheels, either front or rear, are driven through a system comprising handgrips and a chain. They may look a little odd but, strange frame aside, handcycles use many off-the-shelf standard bicycle parts, which make them as easy to service and maintain as an ordinary bike. Some can be fitted with electric motor assistance as an additional boost which might appeal to those with impaired upper body strength.
‘Delta’ or ‘Tadpole’?
tadpole
Although there are some two- and even four-wheelers, most handcycles are tricycle in form and this provides stability especially when mounting and dismounting. There are two basic trike configurations, known as ‘Delta’ and ‘Tadpole’. A Delta configuration has two rear wheels with a steerable front wheel, whereas a Tadpole features two steerable front wheels and a single trailing rear wheel.
Clip-ons / attachable handcycles
A clip-on handcycle is a cranked driven front wheel designed to fit a wheelchair by means of a docking or clamp system. This raises the front castors of a chair off the ground and the attachment system allows an everyday wheelchair to be transformed into a handcycle and back again. As a recreational or mobility aid they allow the user to travel further, faster and across more difficult terrain than would be possible in a wheelchair alone. They give you the ability to ride out with friends and family. You can then remove and secure the cycle fitting and use the chair as normal at your destination.
Uprights
An upright handcycle is perhaps best described as fusion between the clip on and a tricycle. Available in both adult and child sizes these have the benefit of high ground to seat dimensions, which can make transfers easier. The frame allows for a familiar “sit up and beg” riding position and a variety of foot plate arrangements.
Recumbents
These are more associated with handcycling as a sport and can be used for racing, touring and off-road cycling. Recumbents offer a lower centre of gravity, and a general improvement in aerodynamics, for more stability and greater speed. They feature a frame that is lower to the ground, often with just a few inches of clearance. A more reclined position and telescopically adjusted footrests allows a ‘legs in front’ seating position although some frames will allow for those riders who prefer a kneeling position.
Headfirst down the mountain!
For those that wish to experience the sheer adrenaline rush that only an extreme sport can provide there are the ‘prone’ handcycles. Typically, these are of the Tadpole configuration and combine the characteristics of a handcycle and a mountain bike. The rider sits in a bucket seat just in front of the rear wheel and is supported in a forward leaning position by resting their chest on a pad with their legs folded back onto supports. The rear wheel drive, multiple gear options, twin front wheels and riding position allow great climbing traction. This kind of handcycles have tremendous off road capability and allow the user to reach places almost impossible by other means. All round disc brakes provide the phenomenal stopping power required on the crazy descent back down that mountain trail!
A much-loved travel companion
My own bike is a Varna II from British Columbia, Canada. I’ve owned, and enjoyed it, for more years than I now care to remember. It’s of a semi-recumbent style and, for me, has proven a great all rounder and a trusted, and much loved, travel companion. Although it’s used mostly for modest trail riding it has seen me take part in 40 and 50 mile road events and I’ve taken it on holiday to France on a few occasions.
Jon Amos used a Varna II for his Man of Steel Trans – Australia Challenge in 1999 when he rode into the record books as the first man to cross the continent by handcycle. At a more modest level, in June 2006, with a couple of able bodied friends, my Varna and I completed a Coast to Coast cycle ride. And no, I’m not a paralympic athlete – I’m a 55 year old bloke who still likes to go for a ride and have a pint at the end with his mates!
A handcycle can take you to school or the pub, enable you to enjoy a ride out with friends and family, explore trails, tour, take part in exhilarating competition or test your stamina and endurance on epic trips. For some a clip-on will provide all the fun and flexibility they need. For others only a custom-made model for the racing, touring or off-roading they love will do. Whichever sort of hand-cycle you choose, they all allow you to get out there and enjoy the fresh air, the wind in your face and the joy of freedom!
A big investment
Unfortunately, one thing that they all have in common is that they represent a significant investment. A relatively limited market, low production and labour intensive manufacture mean that they tend to be expensive. Clip ons start from around £1200 and full frame handcycles at around £1800 and upwards, although second-hand bargains can often be had from enthusiasts upgrading their kit.
Before you make the investment I would advise anyone thinking of taking up handcycling to try one out. In the first instance, I would recommend contacting the HandCycling Association of the United Kingdom (HCAUK). It is the main body for handcycling in Britain. HCAUK organise events throughout the year and often these feature promotional sessions with several handcycles available to try out. Members sometimes advertise their bikes in Chain Drives, the Association’s magazine, and on the HCAUK web site.
Alternatively, you could contact one of the UK’s manufacturers or suppliers of handcycles and try one out at their premises. Most suppliers are also enthusiasts, and will be more than happy to have an informal chat with you. For my part, as a either a pastime or a sport that gives people with disabilities an opportunity for healthy physical activity and freedom I cannot recommend handcycling enough. After all owning and using one is what has kept me fit and extended my own horizons. Ride to live, live to ride? Yes, that about sums up handcycling!
INFORMATION BOX
British Cycling is recognised by the British Paralympic Association as the UK National Governing Body for Cycle Sport for those with a disability. Disability Cycle Sport is open to both male and female competitors. They can offer advice for people with disabilities who wish to get involved with cycle sport.
0161 274 2021 www.britishcycling.org.uk
Handcycling Association of the UK (HCAUK): The Handcycling Association promotes and encourages handcycling for recreational and competitive purposes throughout the UK.
Handbike Scotland. This website is designed to provide a source of information for those interested in hand biking in Scotland. It features sections devoted to handbike news from around the world, a route finder, a calendar of events and reviews of hand bikes and handbike equipment.
Handcycling NI
Affiliated with various other organisations within Eire and Northern Ireland, Handcycling NI has cycles available to try out at their events. www.handcyclingni.com
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This article first appeared in the issue of Disabled Motoring. This monthly magazine goes out free to members of Disabled Motoring UK, the charity for disabled drivers, passengers and Blue Badge holders.
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