Recreational & Family - Modified Bike For Child with S.M.A.

Greetings to all:

I am interested in buying, building or modify a bike for my 2 1/2 year old son who has spinal muscular atrophy. At this point I just want something he can sit on with some upper body support (chair type) and for him to pedal with very low resistance.

Longer term I want sensors in the pedals to detect level of effort and relay the detected effort to a small motor to assist with propulsion.

My son is intellectually fully functional. He has weak legs, trunk and arms. He is being provided physical and occupational therapy. We are encouraged to keep him active without exhausting him.

Thanks,

DC

I'm wondering if you need to find a custom framebuilder that specializes in recumbents.

Have you searched the whole internet? I'm sure you're not the first to look for something like that. There are some pretty clever tinkerers in Alt Bikes, maybe you should post there and see if anyone is up to the challenge.

DC, I did a few web searches using "bicycle child special needs" and came up with these sites, perhaps they may be of some use. I know I have seen trikes on the web with a molded plastic chair for the child to sit in. Good luck with PT and OT.

http://www.adaptivemall.com/chbi.html

http://www.planetmobility.com/store/bikes/freedom/index.html

http://www.bikemania.biz/Kid_s_Special_Needs_Tricycles_s/268.htm

www.losethetrainingwheels.org

Do they make bikes or trikes with dual foot and hand pedals? Maybe a trailer that you could pull but that has pedals inside that he could use with you providing the real effort?

Check out Currie Tech:
http://www.currietech.com/

They have electric assist bikes, some models come with training wheels.