Adaptive Cycling: Handcycles, Amputee Adaptation, Visual Impairment, and Other Needs - Help for double-amputee

The associate pastor of our church has suffered from a severe handicap for his entire life. Last year he finally had both legs amputated just below the knee. Previously, he was able to ride a bicycle, but his prosthetics, which have him practically pain free for the first time in his life, do not have adequate range of motion to pedal a bike.

Is there anybody here or is anyone aware of a person/organization who has experience fitting/converting a bike or bent for handicapped riders? My web searches were not productive.:notamused:

Thanks.

http://bike-on.com/product/top-end-top-end-force-handcycle-1089.htm

These are pricey, but google hand bike or arm bike and you'll find some results. You may want to hold a fundraiser and contact the home office of your church for some financial help in getting him one.

Thanks for the referral. Since he can use his legs, better than ever for most purposes, he'd rather not use a hand-bike - I did find a lot of those listed.

Then you will have to find him some cycling specific prostheses. The person who fitted him with his current set-up should be able to at least point him in the right direction to find such devices. You see folks in the Ironman at Kona riding with one or two amputated legs fitted with the proper prosthesis, so they must be out there :)

Was on a ride a few years ago and came across a double amputee. Like your pastor -below the knee. He had a trike recumbent andf it was in standard form. But unlike most bent riders he used clipless pedals. He said that he had tried a conventional bike but without clipless he could not keep his feet on the pedals- and with clipless he did not always unclip. So the trike kept him upright.

He was slow up the hills but on the flat he was with us and downhills he was gone.

I would love to try that hand cycle linked above. My current fleet of bikes does nothing for the upper body. :)

Sorry I can't help other than to assure you that it can be done. The first time they had a bike ride before the Los Angeles Marathon I was involved and one of the celebraty riders was a double amputee. He rode a normal looking bike and did well even on some short nasty climbs. Sorry I don't remember somethgni a bit more useful.

There is a an excellent woman cyclist in Canada by the name of Smith who is a tripple amputee. I saw her on the road about 12 years ago and she could really go. A google search might turn up some information on her.

David Oglesbee
Vancouver

Oh yes, the tripple amputee, Smith, was on a standard road bike but I would guess that it had some modifications. She was fast.

David Oglesbee

user punkncat here on BF is a single amputee below the knee. He should have some advice. He took a carbon fiber prosthetic and custom fit a cleat to the bottom.

Thanks to all who have responded. I'm following up on the Canadian "Smith".
My pastor isn't interested in a "dedicated" prosthetic, nor is he currently interested in more than very recreational riding, without having to make adjustments before or after getting on the bike. Basically, he would just like to ride around our little town with his kids.
Thanks again,
McQz