Saw something ace today
Discussion
Out riding today I saw approaching me a man in some kind of recumbent, except he was using his hands to pedal. I couldn't let that go by without further investigation, so I turned around and caught him up, and we had a very pleasant chat by the roadside.
His steed is a modified wheelchair, with two large wheels where they normally are, and a smaller wheel up front. Basically, he sits in the wheelchair, his legs on the footplate. From under the seat a large tube comes out, like the top tube of a bike it hits a head tube, to which is attached a BMX fork and a small front wheel. The crank is where the handlebars would normally be, and a very long chain connects the chainring to the front wheel, which is geared with an upside-down dérailleur. The front wheel has a disc brake and rim brakes.
The crank, unlike on a normal bike, has both "pedals" (or handles) in the same plane. Instead of pedalling as you would on a normal bike (one foot up, the other down), he cranked it as you would if you were winding up a big clock - both hands together, either side of the chainring.
He said he normally does about 25 miles, and reckoned that the extra effort involved (remember, arms are much weaker than thighs) meant he was probably doing about 60 miles compared to your average rider. The bike looked as though it was made from steel and was a heavy beast, so I can well believe him.
I was amazed, imagine being confined to a wheelchair but being able to head out for a ride, and not have to worry about getting taxis or friends to help you around. Brilliant. It made me smile for the rest of my journey
His steed is a modified wheelchair, with two large wheels where they normally are, and a smaller wheel up front. Basically, he sits in the wheelchair, his legs on the footplate. From under the seat a large tube comes out, like the top tube of a bike it hits a head tube, to which is attached a BMX fork and a small front wheel. The crank is where the handlebars would normally be, and a very long chain connects the chainring to the front wheel, which is geared with an upside-down dérailleur. The front wheel has a disc brake and rim brakes.
The crank, unlike on a normal bike, has both "pedals" (or handles) in the same plane. Instead of pedalling as you would on a normal bike (one foot up, the other down), he cranked it as you would if you were winding up a big clock - both hands together, either side of the chainring.
He said he normally does about 25 miles, and reckoned that the extra effort involved (remember, arms are much weaker than thighs) meant he was probably doing about 60 miles compared to your average rider. The bike looked as though it was made from steel and was a heavy beast, so I can well believe him.
I was amazed, imagine being confined to a wheelchair but being able to head out for a ride, and not have to worry about getting taxis or friends to help you around. Brilliant. It made me smile for the rest of my journey
There's a lovely girl down my road that is wheelchair bound and was most envious when I was spotted just tootling testing out some tweaks I'd made to my road bike. In the course of the conversation she mentioned these hand bikes and apparently they are about £2000 so she can't afford one 
I wish I was a bike manufacturer because I'd have a sideline making machines for the disabled and I'd give them away.
Aside from the humanitarian aspect, it would be good fun trying to engineer a solution for people with different constraints and abilities. Would love to see some of the whacky inventions possible around my park when we all go out cycling as a family. Judging by the number of people who stop and talk to us just because I tow my daughter in a trailer, I think it could turn into quite a social occasion.
Aside from the humanitarian aspect, it would be good fun trying to engineer a solution for people with different constraints and abilities. Would love to see some of the whacky inventions possible around my park when we all go out cycling as a family. Judging by the number of people who stop and talk to us just because I tow my daughter in a trailer, I think it could turn into quite a social occasion.
This is the off road version. Have to say it looks like it could be fun even for an able bodied person
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELeAB2O19WE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELeAB2O19WE
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff