Adaptive Cycling: Handcycles, Amputee Adaptation, Visual Impairment, and Other Needs - Sidecar or Trailer

Hi all. I am sure something like this has been posted before.

I was in an accident and pretty much destroyed my left knee (tibial plateau fracture, cartilage damage, ligament and tendon damage) and damaged my right knees ligaments and tendons. After surgery to repair the breaks and ligament damage I started rehab and stationary bicycling was a major part of the rehab. I wanted to start bicycling outside with warmer weather coming. My balance was also affected and I sometimes have difficulty keeping my bicycle stable and upright.

My questions is, what would be best to help keep the bicycle stable, a trailer or sidecar, something else?

I like the idea of either of these to haul gear as well on longer treks. I though about a three wheel bike like a Schwinn Meridian or a Mobo 3 wheel trike or similar. But i already have a 26" mountain bike and thought I could add a trailer or a side car for stability and cargo.

Any thoughts or ideas?

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_080V001633699000P?sid=KDx01192011x000001&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=20-82466931-2 (Specced for a 26" MTB)

or

http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents/trikes/sun/sun-ez3-ez3ltd-recumbent-trikes.htm

Hi all. I am sure something like this has been posted before.

I was in an accident and pretty much destroyed my left knee (tibial plateau fracture, cartilage damage, ligament and tendon damage) and damaged my right knees ligaments and tendons. After surgery to repair the breaks and ligament damage I started rehab and stationary bicycling was a major part of the rehab. I wanted to start bicycling outside with warmer weather coming. My balance was also affected and I sometimes have difficulty keeping my bicycle stable and upright.

My questions is, what would be best to help keep the bicycle stable, a trailer or sidecar, something else?

I like the idea of either of these to haul gear as well on longer treks. I though about a three wheel bike like a Schwinn Meridian or a Mobo 3 wheel trike or similar. But i already have a 26" mountain bike and thought I could add a trailer or a side car for stability and cargo.

Any thoughts or ideas?

I can tell you from personal experience. I was born in 1967 with a ventricular brain aneurysm. That caused hydrocephalus. The six brain surgeries by 9yrs.-old(none since then), caused epilepsy. I also have balance problems, along with dragging my feet due to surgeries.

When I am on my racing road bike, it is hard to tell that I had six brain surgeries as a youngster, or that I have trouble walking. I am 'one with my bike'. While I do wiggle when I am 'standing in the pedals', it is because I am doing what I like to call 'power pedaling' to gain speed, either for climbing a hill or gaining more speed on a flat road.

Thanks. I looked at the stabilizers but they look like the training wheels I put on my sons bike :) *LOL* But I guess it would solve my immediate problem. :)

But I was really hoping to mod or add on to my current 26" mountain bike instead of having to buy new bike. I like the idea of side car or a trailer for extra storage space and stability. Do they add any stability to a bike?

Thanks. :)

Trailer does not add stability at all. Sidecars come in two flavors, ridged and articulated. The articulated type allows the bike to lean, so does not add stability. A rigid sidecar allows the bike to stand up by itself. You need to take turns very slow until you get the feel for it. I have never drivena muscle powered sidecar rig, but have 10's of thousands of miles on a 750 Ural. It is the only motorcycle I have ridden that allows me to scare myself without breaking the speed limit.

I pull the traditional kid trailers and luggage trailers. I think they do not add to stability. Chariot makes a side car but I'm not sure that would add to stability either. Here's a you tube showing how it connects and would not help with stability. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMeGysReVbg.
I think if you "bolt on a side car" it would provide stability like an outrigger. If your handy here's directions for a build. http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Bicycle-Sidecar/
http://www.instructables.com/image/FWO4J36GB3BBJNT/Build-a-Bicycle-Sidecar.jpg

http://www.core77.com/oregonmanifest/images/2011/09/ORMani-Collaborations-Ziba-checkpt2.jpg

Thanks for your replies. The sidecar in the second pic is what I have in mind. I am assuming this was a DIY mod?

Thanks.



I pull the traditional kid trailers and luggage trailers. I think they do not add to stability. Chariot makes a side car but I'm not sure that would add to stability either. Here's a you tube showing how it connects and would not help with stability. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMeGysReVbg.
I think if you "bolt on a side car" it would provide stability like an outrigger. If your handy here's directions for a build. http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Bicycle-Sidecar/
http://www.instructables.com/image/FWO4J36GB3BBJNT/Build-a-Bicycle-Sidecar.jpg

http://www.core77.com/oregonmanifest/images/2011/09/ORMani-Collaborations-Ziba-checkpt2.jpg

I found the site for the one in the second pic - thanks. :)

http://www.core77.com/oregonmanifest/ziba_x_signal/

That black one looks to be articulated, though it might have a locking pin or centering spring that allows the rig to stand upright when stopped. Attaching at just the rear rack like that, it can't be solid enough to survive as a ridged rig. On a motorcycle, ridged sidecars usually attach at four points, two high and two low. On bicycles they need at least three attachment points and four is better though tricky to accomplish with no lower frame forward of the BB.

http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2011/12/bike-sidecar-hacks.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/455009-Bicycle-Sidecar