Originally Posted by FootBikes (Post 18424895)

Hi. I'm Doug.

I'm coming back to BF after being away because I've found a way to "cycle" again when I thought I was finished for good. But I have a problem.

This will probably be a long introduction, but it seems like the best way to introduce myself and my situation.

A series of medical problems -- couple of heart attacks, prostate issues, knee and hip problems (and couple others, but those are the main ones) just made it too hard to cycle for quite a while. Electric assistance would help with the stamina issues from the heart problems, but the saddle exacerbates the prostate problems. A recumbent would resolve the problem of making the prostate issue worse, but I've never felt comfortable riding a bent in traffic and, anyway, high-quality electric recumbents are big-time expensive.

With the recent craze over scooters of various kinds (kick and electric) and the weird (IMHO) infatuation with "Hoverboards" (that don't really hover at all), I was motivated to cruise the Web looking for things I might try that are more like real bikes. I ended up discovering "kickbikes" or "footbikes" which have apparently been popular in Europe for some time (one history I read says that the original was made in Finland in the early 90s). Footbikes have begun to make their way to North America and a few manufacturers have begun adding electric assistance. Looked like a great idea, so I bought a mid-priced one (they run from cheap and worth it to pretty darn expensive).

My first ride on the new electric footbike was great. It was easy to ride, moved plenty fast enough for my old self, standing gave me a bit of exercise and a great position to see and be seen. And, when I felt up to it, I could easily step off and walk with it for a little more exercise (and even use it a bit like a cane, for support).

The second ride was a different story. As I rode slowly, over a very shallow, low, gentle embankment at the edge of a plate covering some road work, a tube projecting below the frame of the footbike dug into the smooth asphalt, brought the device to a sudden stop, lifting the rear wheel a bit and tossing me off to the side (I was able to sort of step off and didn't fall all the way, since I was traveling so slowly). One of my knees collapsed (fortunately not the open that already doesn't work) and is still rather sore weeks later, but it wasn't a catastrophe.

When I got home and got the bike up on the bench and measured, I discovered that, because of several projections (tube ends, part of a centerstand) below the frame, the ground clearance is only about 2.5 inches. To me, on a 26" wheel footbike that can do 20 mph under electric power, this is just crazy. The manufacturer, the bike shop guy and the experienced users on the kick scooter forums all seem to think it's perfectly normal and that "lower is better" for these devices. I'm sure that's true when you're in a race on a perfectly smooth surface and powering the bike solely by kicking, or when you're toodling along through the park on your small-wheel scooter with plenty of time to watch for the slightest bump or irregularity, but it makes no sense at all, to me, for powered footbikes that are not going to be kick-powered much of the time (they're too heavy, anyway) and that need to operate on our ordinary rough roads and trails and sometimes surrounded by traffic.

So, now I'm trying to buy one of the few footbikes that seems to be designed for powered operation, one with a lot more ground clearance. I was arguing with the seller and manufacturer of the first one, but they just think that I'm the one who doesn't understand.

Sorry for the long, boring report, but that's my introductory story and I'd love to here from any other riders with disabilities who have any experience with these bike-like creatures.

~Doug

Originally Posted by Siu Blue Wind (Post 18424979)

Umm.. aren't you associated with the company?

Originally Posted by ACyclingRooster (Post 14799047)

Hi to you all out there. A rather late introduction but nevertheless. This might well serve some purpose transcribed into the other thread for those with disabilities or impairments/disadvantages.
I joined this forum in 2010 after I had not long before received Total Left Knee replacement. I am 4ft 10 inches tall with a 23" inside leg measurement.
That created a massive problem when it came to the full circulatory action of the crank arm on the @Metal Knee side,the maximum bend that I can achieve is 92*. Taller riders would not experience this.
I got over the problem with some 140mm crank arms courtesy of SJS (Thorn) Cycles and used Stronglight rings on their crank-arm 5arm spider.
The shorter crank configuration has created an equivalent of a 2tooth increase in ring size and also has created a very slight difference in cadence because of being slightly nearer the spindle centre.
The alternatives were a few but the shorter crank arms were by far the neatest and less likely for potential failure & wear and tear on the components.
I was so pleased with the end result that I have equipped all three of my bikes the same and all with Marcel Berthet Lyotard Platform Peddles. I can go from one bike to another with the same Vittoria Leather Cycling Shoes and Aluminium Plates with ease.

Originally Posted by clubman (Post 18919085)

Hi there,

I'm a long time rider and avid C&Ver who just hit a wall this past year. I had a knee replacement that went south and I've drastically lost my ability to ride. No offence intended to those who've probably overcome much greater obstacles but the impact on my physical and mental well being has been dramatic.

I'm only getting about 100 degrees of rotation out of my new knee and that likely translates to no more than 150 mm of crank length. Even then I'm not sure I can keep the inflammation and pain down.

So any information or suggestions for sourcing or making custom cranks? There's very little-to-none available off-the shelf and I was hoping to find some alternative solutions. Revision surgery appears to be an unlikely solution in my case.

Thank you.

Well after reading a bit further I found this. I'll do my homework but any other solutions are still appreciated.

Originally Posted by ACyclingRooster (Post 18919661)

Hi clubman. From what I have read it sounds very much like you are suffering with Scar Tissue that has healed rather quickly and that is causing the restriction. I had it happen with my total replacement left knee and at the time (some 8 weeks later) I could only achieve a 110* bend - I was booked into theatre and manipulation under anaesthetic was carried-out. I was in hospital during the day of the procedure and the next day but allowed home during the afternoon of day three.
A tight dressing was needed to help control the inevitable swelling but after a few days that was removed and regular healing then took place.
It would be best described as shoving my own foot up my backside and anaesthetic was necessary because the pain would have been far more than I could have tolerated - as a result I can now achieve a 92* bend from cold and a 90* bend after a short warm-up on the bike.

You dont say how tall you are and what your inside leg measurement is - it all matters you know.
I stand at 4'10" tall and have a 23" inside leg measurement - at pushing 71 years of age I can be thankful for small mercies as I can still ride my bikes.

Originally Posted by clubman (Post 18920320)

Thanks for the response. I won't get into all the gritty history but it appears that it's not scar tissue. I'm 15 months post surgery and an MUA is not advisable. It's been suggested that the type of artificial knee selected for me was a poor one at best. There is ongoing investigation into this.

I have a 28" inseam with rather large musculature. I preferred 165's when I was healthy and able to rotate to 125 degrees. Straightening is still decent at 0 degrees, warmed up I can get -5.

Your numbers seem to be reversed to me. In our system, 120 is desireable, 90 is barely adequate. Yes?

Originally Posted by ACyclingRooster (Post 18920400)

Hi again clubman. My angle of bend at the knee is 2* short of a right-angle and I have absolutely no difficulty with achieving a straight leg when fully extended.
Here in the UK the angle of bend is measured between the thigh-bone and the tibia and seemingly 90* to 92* is perfectly OK and especially at my age.
Until I moved some 5 years ago from a very very bumpy part of West Lancashire,England I could still manage steeper than 1in5 (20%) gradients and on occasions could happily tackle steeper and shorter ones at 11in4 (25%) 1in8 (12.5%) was regularly climbed to even leave my local area.