I need some help here.
I have a friend that I currently ride with that rides a hand crank bike. He is paralyzed at T7 and has parapalegia.
We ride together, on occasion, but the road bike and hand crank disparity is too much.
We really don't ride together very easily.
Here's my solution and tell me what you think.
A bent tandem. Hand crank trike in back and a bent in front.
Do these rides exist? If so, any links?
Any help or feedback would be appreciated.
Cheers:beer:

I have been all over the net and have not seen that combination. There is a wedgie with a place for a bent rider on the front, but I have never seen something of which you are looking for. If you are really interested you are probably going to have to find a bike building enthusiast that would be willing to work with you on a project. That is my take on the situation. maybe a trike with the hand rider in the front...on the other hand probably easier with the hand rider in the back... peace, el padre

I think you're looking at a custom tandem build.

What are the specific elements that make riding together difficult?
Speed difference?
Height, etc?

I bet money that Tim at
Lightning Bikes would make
you one CUSTOM if you had
the bucks. They make a HANDCYCLE
that looks pretty cool in trike form.
See: http://www.lightningbikes.com/handcycles.htm

I would give him a call and see what he'd
charge to make you one. I bet he'd take
it on as a project, and I have toured their
plant when I bought my bike and can tell
you they have everything they'd need
to make you a dandy tandem.

Cross posting....

A bent tandem. Hand crank trike in back and a bent in front.
Do these rides exist? If so, any links?

Contact the folks at Greenspeed USA: http://www.greenspeed.com.au/NewGSweb/web-content/usa/contactusa.html

The basic machine is their Tandem Touring Trike (about $8k)
http://www.greenspeed.com.au/NewGSweb/web-content/usa/modusa/gtt.html

They have done a variety of different trike configurations for special needs clients (http://www.greenspeed.com.au/specialmain.htm) and may be able to either offer a solution or refer you to another builder.

http://www.greenspeed.com.au/Darke384.jpg

I would think that you would want to incorporate independent drive / cadence which essentially incorporates a separate set of shifters, 9 speed cassette/hub, and rear derailleur mounted on between the two riders, as is done with the Angletech Harmony (http://www.angletechcycles.com/bikes/tandems/index.htm) & Bilenky Viewpoint (http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html) semi-recumbent tandems (rear rider upright, front rider recumbent with pedal or hand cranks - see photo below). This configuration would allow you to each obtain your optimum "cadence" for given riding conditions.

http://www.angletechcycles.com/images/viewpoint_spec_package.jpg

Hase Spezialrader also offers some interesting configurations that may warrant some further research, including their Kettwiesel Hand-bike (http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/handbike/index.php)that can be coupled with another recumbent trike and a semi-recumbent racing bike (http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/ttpino/index.php) that appears as though it could lend itself to handcrank and dual transmission modification.

http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/handbike/02.jpg http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/ttpino/00.jpg

What are the specific elements that make riding together difficult?
Speed difference?
Height, etc?

All the above are factors in the "riding together" equation.
When I'm in front I drop him at the first slight incline. When I ride behind it's too choppy. Hills and even slight upgrades dramatically affect his ability to ride at a steady pace. I'm not really pitchin-a-beatch here just trying to get to a solution so we can ride "together" on tours and bike vacations.

I've taken his bike out for a spin and it wasn't bad. It's tuff to do, the arm strength for me isn't there.
I've considered just getting a hand crank bike for myself and then we could be near equals when we ride.
I mean, I'll be the one struggling to hang with him. Then I got to thinking that guys and gals seem to answer the ride together dilemma by getting the tandem thing going.

From the sounds of things it's time to talk to the custom guys or maybe Invacare, they make a hand crank bikes, and get them on the project.

Thanks to all of you for your imput.

Cross posting....



Contact the folks at Greenspeed USA: http://www.greenspeed.com.au/NewGSweb/web-content/usa/contactusa.html

The basic machine is their Tandem Touring Trike (about $8k)
http://www.greenspeed.com.au/NewGSweb/web-content/usa/modusa/gtt.html

They have done a variety of different trike configurations for special needs clients (http://www.greenspeed.com.au/specialmain.htm) and may be able to either offer a solution or refer you to another builder.

http://www.greenspeed.com.au/Darke384.jpg

I would think that you would want to incorporate independent drive / cadence which essentially incorporates a separate set of shifters, 9 speed cassette/hub, and rear derailleur mounted on between the two riders, as is done with the Angletech Harmony (http://www.angletechcycles.com/bikes/tandems/index.htm) & Bilenky Viewpoint (http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html) semi-recumbent tandems (rear rider upright, front rider recumbent with pedal or hand cranks - see photo below). This configuration would allow you to each obtain your optimum "cadence" for given riding conditions.

http://www.angletechcycles.com/images/viewpoint_spec_package.jpg

Hase Spezialrader also offers some interesting configurations that may warrant some further research, including their Kettwiesel Hand-bike (http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/handbike/index.php)that can be coupled with another recumbent trike and a semi-recumbent racing bike (http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/ttpino/index.php) that appears as though it could lend itself to handcrank and dual transmission modification.

http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/handbike/02.jpg http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/ttpino/00.jpg


TandemGeek,
Wow!!!!!
What a great post.
Thanks for the links.
I had a good feeling that this forum was the right one to help with this.
Cheers:beer:

The Angletech and Bilenky semi-recumbent tandems are patterned after the old Counterpoints. Those did have a handcrank-in-the-front option. I actually saw one at the bike shop in Steamboat Springs in 1988. So they have been out there for a while. A row bike rather than a rotary crank bike might be for efficient for your friend.

http://www.woofyllc.com/~roger/
Lookie here. I quess the wheel has been discovered.
Cheers

Lookie here. I quess the wheel has been discovered.
Cheers

Just my humble $.02 worth....GREENSPEED GTT!!!!!!!!!!!!! (well,...modified to your needs)

3 wheels are the easiest way to cycle, at any speed.

I have a very similar situation, although the reasons are different. I have 4 kids, and getting them out for a ride is virtually impossible for one parent. SOooo...the "tandem recumbent trike" was the answer.
Now, no one goes too slow or too fast. I "Captain" the rig, my 12 yr old is the "stoker", the 5 yr old rides atop the rear rack, and the 3 yr old twins follow in a double wide Burley trailer.
All 5 of us go the same speed to the same place at the same time. I never have to chase straglers!:rolleyes:
It may not be super fast (except on the downhills; we always go as fast as we can on the downhills!):eek: , but we have FUN getting there. Heck, we're our own PARADE! (and we NEVER fall over trying to start or stop) ...nearly ROLLED IT once, cornering to quickly...:roflmao:

So get Ian and family to build you the rig you will NEVER be dissapointed with!!!!
..!!!!!..Get a GREENSPEED..!!!!!

OK,...maybe that was a nickles worth.. but worth EVERY pennie!

hammerd, you could also just get a trike for youself and ride alongside your friend. It should be much easier to stay at his pace when you're riding a similar vehicle, AND you can still use the trike when you go out solo.

Also, please don't think I'm skimming for sales here, I really do want to help. Choose whatever trike you want. I agree that Greenspeeds are very nice trikes. Look at Catrike and Wizwheelz as well...