After my bad accident 2 months ago, I started looking into ways I could get back into cycling while recovering from major femur surgery. I was shocked at how much there was out there for people with physical challenges! (to a lesser extent, I was also shocked by the sticker price of tadpole trikes) It awed me, and in some way, inspired me to start thinking about cycling in a different way. I have a very good friend who was diagnosed with MS a couple of years ago, and ironically because of my injury I won't be able to ride the MS 150 in her honor this year. When I started thinking about building a trike for myself, I thought "why wouldn't she want one too?" And of course, she lives near the beach, which got me thinking.

I'm currently building a tadpole trike from scratch, and what I learn from that, I plan on using to build more for specific purposes. I have seen tons of trikes and handcycles for road riding, but almost nothing for the "alternative" cycling genres. Do you think such an animal would have a place in the Adaptive cycling world? I'm thinking mountain-trikes, maybe with suspension. What about fixed-gear trikes? I don't think any of the current ones are capable of a fully tensioned chainline. What about Fatbikes? None of the ones I've seen could handle a 4" rear tire. It would be great for riding in snow or sand, or even mud.

I hope you folks understand where I'm going with this. I want to contribute to the adaptive cycling world! I just don't know if building such machines would be worth the time. I can build them, but would anybody care? Are there people out there who would use them? I can't be the only crazy one out there! Okay, maybe, but still...

Any thoughts on this?

Yes, there are people who would use them.

Build it, they will come!

Oooh, a Fat Tadpole? I'd imagine you could find some interesting niche markets out there- beach resorts, snow country, drunken frat parties...

Not to mention how much smoother riding on rough asphalt would be!

Could also morph into a project similar to Kona's Africabike.

I think you're right, we will see!

Absolutely. No reason we should get left out of the fun. The hardest problem will be sourcing suitable fat 20" tires, but I wil do my best. I couldn't help but think how much more stable a fat trike would be in snow. I'm sure many people like me had to give up winter riding because a 2-wheeler on ice is too dangerous.

Even though your disability is temporary, keep building the trike.

While I have a racing road bike that I am able to ride despite having been disabled since birth, I know there are not many like me(either they can't, or don't want to ride a bike).

So, In a matter of speaking, you have 'jumped the fence' and gained an appreciation for life on the other side. Keep doing the good work!!!!

Thanks... I needed to hear that.

My pleasure!

For some peopel a trike would for sure be the best. I know that for quite a lot of peopel the price tag would be a problem and also trying to build one for themself or a friend could be a challenge.

I just want to tell about the guy in my area that made a living out of adapting ordenary bikes to peopel w special needs. He often puts heavy duty "training wheels", I think 12" and 16" and they are atached with really strong suspended "arms".

For peopel who can use this system this could be a fairly cheap but good solution since the bike could be one that is already owned and a friend or a relative could do the fitting without much knowledge.

For 20" fatties, try here:

https://www.choppersus.com/store/cate.../71/Rims-Only/
https://www.choppersus.com/store/category/3/16/Tires/

Georgi Georgiev in BC, Canada designs and builds some of the most unique adaptive HPV's I've seen. Just clicking through his site can be vastly informative.

https://www.varnahandcycles.com/

Worksman is one of the few bicycle companies that builds for the handicapped world. They offer several trikes ,built to order, for those with special needs.

https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...cialneeds.html

https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...html/pav3.html

I'm familiar with ChoppersUS, but all the 20" fatties they have are street/slick tread. I was hoping somebody made a 3" or wider off-road 20" tire, but I haven't been able to find any.


I don't think they make fat/snow bikes.