Recumbent - Biking without arms

I am an avid bicyclist but not familiar with recumbents. I recently married a woman who lost her arms above the elbows in a bus accident. In addition to losing her arms the accident robbed her of her joy of biking. I still go out riding every now and then but not as much as I would like to because she can not go with me. She says she does not mind but I know this is an activity she would really like to do with me. I would appreciate your help in finding a biking solution for her. In general she is a happy woman but to be able bike again would light a new fire in her eyes. She wears prosthetics and I have been trying to think of a way to get the cable that control her hands to be able to operate the shifters. I do not think braking would be a problem as we could use the pedal brakes that are seen on many children's bikes. The biggest problem I think is steering. Without elbows she does not have the control for standard handle bars and it is not safe. Any advise you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

I am not sure a recumbent bike would be much safer but you may look into a tadpole trike. There are weveral makers, here are a couple of links so you can check a couple out:

http://www.catrike.com/

http://www.wizwheelz.com/

Um... stokers don't have to steer. While a trike would be a bit more stable, any recumbent would have a seat and the stoker at least wouldn't necessarily need to hang on to anything. In fact, I stoked a Screamer a few years ago, and one problem I had was figuring out what to do with my hands - the grips were too far behind me to be comfortable and there really wasn't anything else to grab.

BP is referring to the RANS Screamer, a two-wheel recumbent tandem. I agree, a recumbent tandem where she can lean back without needing to support the upper body may be what you need.

Yes, a 'bent tandem would be a start. I would imagine some kind of single bike could be adapted to her needs.

If you can send me your email address I can email you some info on "Special Needs Cycling", which may provide you with some useful approaches, beyond the good advice that has already been posted.

Ron Richings

richings@telus.net

RANS Screamer

I like the Hase Bike and Bilenky semi tandems and will definitely look into them. I would still like to get her to be able ride her own bike. I everyones help has been great today and I have seen a lot of possibilities. I think with a little mechanical engineering it may be possible for Sylvia to ride again. For now those are a great starting point for us to be able to ride together. I think she will be happy just to feel the wind in her face again. Hopefully some of you will see us this summer.

I've taken disabled person on my semi-recumbent tandem before. The person who controls this tandem steers from the rear upright riding position, both riders have full field of vision, seat/lap belts could easily be added for extra security for the stoker.

My choice would be a tandem recumbent trike. I would imagine that there could be quite a bit of concern for falling and not being able to brace oneself, especially when one has no control. A trike with shoulder braces (think 'bucket seat') and a nice intercom system would remove a lot of anxiousness and make for a very nice, comfortable, secure way to ride together. She wouldn't get to shift, brake or steer, but she could provide all the "GO" she wanted to.

Tom (who prays that he will never have to make this decision)

Just adding a link to pics already provided: http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/pino/index.php. This is the Pino Tour by Hase (I think this may be cat0020's bike). Unfortunately, no prices online.

Otherwise the dual recumbents mentioned above seem excellent options.

Once you get past the equipment hurdle, if you get other ideas about encouraging her to ride, let me know. My wife is also reluctant, though the challenges are not physical!

There are "lean steer" recumbent trikes. One set up with a coaster brake hub may work.
http://www.geocities.com/rcgilmore3/TiltingTrikes.htm

Perhaps a recumbent trike (just because I don't like riding upright trikes) with a steering wheel that rotates like a car wheel rather than going forwards and backwards like most bicycle steering would let her steer on her own?

The Pino Hase is about $3500+ without shipping cost, my semi-recumbent tandem from Taiwan is less than 1/2 that shipped to my door.

Unless you plan to some self supported touring over long period of calendar days, the Hase Pino is rather overkill, but it is a very nice bike.

Semi-recumbents are not that much bigger/longer than a regular bicycle, shorter than most upright tandem bicycles in fact; they are easier to transport than other tandems and recumbent tandems, take up less space during storage. With the same amount of practice, they are more maneuverable than other tandems due to shorter wheelbase.

I am an avid bicyclist but not familiar with recumbents. I recently married a woman who lost her arms above the elbows in a bus accident. In addition to losing her arms the accident robbed her of her joy of biking. I still go out riding every now and then but not as much as I would like to because she can not go with me. She says she does not mind but I know this is an activity she would really like to do with me. I would appreciate your help in finding a biking solution for her. In general she is a happy woman but to be able bike again would light a new fire in her eyes. She wears prosthetics and I have been trying to think of a way to get the cable that control her hands to be able to operate the shifters. I do not think braking would be a problem as we could use the pedal brakes that are seen on many children's bikes. The biggest problem I think is steering. Without elbows she does not have the control for standard handle bars and it is not safe. Any advise you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Any of the better trikes (indirect steering would be best) would work for going down the road safely. The prosthetics would handle the steering without problem. Braking and shifting are the challenge. It you use the pedals as brakes, then you can't use a multispeed hub--and a single rear brake isn't the best for safety. (I recall reading about one triker who got the braking done with his knees.) Some shifting could be done with a Schlumpf drive--I guess with a single speed braking hub you would have at least a two speed. I'd have to think about how to get the whole package working, but I'm sure it is doable. Proper front wheel brakes and a decent gear range should be the goal for safety and performance. Anything less and it wouldn't be as enjoyable--perhaps falling into disuse.

Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com

Does Sturmey Archer make an internally geared hub with a coaster brake that might work?

Any of the better trikes (indirect steering would be best) would work for going down the road safely.
Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com

I would strongly recommend that you go and try a few trikes so that you can begin to think about how these could work for your wife. Riding one yourself with her is the best way to ride together--you are on the same level and conversation is easier. That trikes are more comfortable, safer, and more fun might be bonuses you could also appreciate.

I just wandered unto this thread and am surprised, at least for a recumbent/tandem setup how many options there are. I am 59 and still ride a road bike but have some neck issues where sometime in the future a recumbent might work for me. Anyway I would still pursue the engineering option where she could ride her own bike. I don't know if it would help but electric shifting is starting to appear as an option. Some are appearing on professional race bikes. Good luck and pursue her and your dream of being independent on a bike.

I think you need an adult one like this one
You may have to get it made

Stears with ones feet

I'd go with the recumbent tandem. Although we have a RANS Screamer that we enjoy, the brand is not as important as getting something that you will use. I look forward and don't watch my rear admiral but she says that she keeps her hands in her lap, uses her glucometer, etc, but doesn't have to hold the handles.

...and you could probably get a recumbent tandem without too much trouble. The other solutions seem pretty highly specialized.

and you could get a recumbent tandem in the very near future. These other solutions look highly specialized.

Thinking about this a bit more...
Your lady was a bike rider so she still all the balance that goes with riding a bike.
What about a cheap tandem DF with the bars set up high...
I can see it in my head but a bit hard to write.
This is the cheap one I ride all the time with my lady [she has a few disabilities so I do most of the peddling]
One could bend up some bars to the right hight

I'm not trying to talk you out of a recumbent [I love both mine]
But this is a cheap go till you decide on the best recumbent :)

I'm thinking a straight bar that she leans on to get out of the saddle

Just found this bike. It looks intriguing and full of potential, particularly if your wife wants steering control.

Python:
-- Pro: steering and drive are front-wheel, and from the pictures, it looks like the steering could be pretty solid.
-- Con (and it's a big one): you must built it yourself (plans at http://www.python-lowracer.de/construction.html)

Homepage: http://python-lowracer.de/
Wiki page: http://en.python.data.he-hosting.de/Main_Page

Picture copied from website:

I've been reading bike forum boards for about 8 months now and have seen several posts for ways to adapt bikes for various handicaps. Most point the person to the bike manufacturers. I'm thinking that if this person has no arms, a trike would definitely be best because of balancing issues. I also think that one of the trike manufacturers would be able to set up steering for her that could be handled with a joystick. They could probably add a brake system that she could manage. It's not rocket science.

Go to "bentrideronline.com" The home page has a link to about 20 bike/trike makers. Start there. Query them all for suggestions or what they can do and work from that.

The biggest problem with a python, or any FWD, MBB bike, is that the learning curve is pretty steep. I tried a Cruzbike this past summer, and I was glad it was on flat ground. Even coasting was tricky for me. I'm sure that would improve with practice, but OTOH I really needed the arms for the learning process. I agree that a trike could *probably* be set up to accommodate her.

I wish my wife would decide she wanted a trike; she's always worried about her balance, and when she wasn't riding, I could use it!

>The biggest problem with a python, or any FWD, MBB bike, is that the learning curve is pretty steep. I tried a Cruzbike this past summer, and I was glad it was on flat ground. Even coasting was tricky for me<<

Wow!
and I was told they were eazy to ride then a SWB
I've wanted to try one
So once again I must not believe what I'm told without trying it
:)

Wow! and I was told they were eazy to ride then a SWB
I've wanted to try one So once again I must not believe what I'm told without trying it.

No, this is exactly what I have read on numerous sites. Python Lowracers are apparently very hard to master. Arms are essential in the early stages of learning and it is a huge irony in the present case that the ultimate hope is that arms would not be needed. Still, a trike based on the center steer (foot steer) concept seems very workable. I have seen a few including one that is on the www.python-lowracer.de site. But, motivated people can do some amazing things and wouldn't it be neat if someone managed to teach themselves to ride a center steer bicycle without arms. Might get them their 15 minutes?

H

>The biggest problem with a python, or any FWD, MBB bike, is that the learning curve is pretty steep. I tried a Cruzbike this past summer, and I was glad it was on flat ground. Even coasting was tricky for me<<

Wow!
and I was told they were eazy to ride then a SWB
I've wanted to try one
So once again I must not believe what I'm told without trying it
:)

Leigh:

The FWD/MBB on a Cruzbike might be more efficient, but it certainly is not easier to ride. I don't think even the manufacturer would claim that ease of use was its strong suit. Efficiency is their claim.

You may recall that I have a Cruzbike conversion kit on a folding bike. The FWD most certainly requires arm control to counter-balance the foot pedalling. Once you get used to it, it's second nature, but it takes a little getting used to.

ok
sounds like I have something to look forward to :)
I'm about to build one with front drive...
I'll let u know how it goes

The FWD/RWD lowracers are harder to balance than highracers, just as highracers are more difficult than diamond frames. Python Lowracer has the added difficulty of extremely low (negative) trail. Kind of like the difference between a helicopter, an aerobatic stuntplane and a passenger airliner. It all comes down to trail, a FWD Lowracer with identical front end geometry to a RWD Lowracer will have the same difficulty in learning to ride.

H

I am an avid bicyclist but not familiar with recumbents. I recently married a woman who lost her arms above the elbows in a bus accident. .... Without elbows she does not have the control for standard handle bars and it is not safe. Any advise you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Lightfoot cycles does recumbent bikes and trikes, and does custom fitting for special needs. You might ask them if they've done anything like this in the past.

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/
~

What about the Flevobike? That doesn't require arms to steer.

Their website is no longer up, so maybe they went out of business, but Flevobike used to advertise on bentrideronline.com. Flevobikes apparently are steered with the feet, so this is the first thing that came to mind. Anyone have any more info about them?

If they can still be found, then this would seem to be the obvious solution.

Other than that, what about a unicycle? Seriously, there are a few people who have done centuries on unicycles. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Hi. Where can I find info on that bike of yours from Taiwan? Thanks.

I'd strongly recommend a trip or at least a call to The Bike Rack in St. Charles, Illinois. They do great work at matching bikes/trikes to special needs and are the kind of people who delight in seeing that fire in the eyes of a new or renewed rider.

(I have no financial or other interest in The Bike Rack beyond appreciation for what they do.)

The Bike Rack (http://thebikerack.com/index.cfm)
2930 Campton Hills Road
St Charles, IL 60175
Phone: 800-711-2453
.
.