Hi, I just discovered this forum. Great to be here.

If I were taking that class, I'd just have to fail that part of the test and deal with it. I pretty much have only one way of starting, and that's to put my left pedal all the way down, and put my prosthetic foot on it, and then push off with my right foot until I gain enough speed to coast while assuming a pedaling position and getting started pedaling.

I have virtually no leg strength on the left side, and poor strength on the right. if I lived in anything other than very flat terrain, I wouldn't pedal at all (well, maybe one of those hand-pedal gizmos). I was born with PFFD, which caused my left stump (that's what my generation was brought up calling it) to have almost no muscle... just a thin bone with a little flesh on it. I get around okay, but cannot do anything involving left leg strength.


Dismounting for me means always coming down on my right foot. If for some reason I have to lean to the left when the bike stops (I avoid it, but it happens), I will almost certainly fall to the ground. It comes with the territory.

I just went to see a prothetist yesterday about building me some new standing rigging. He told me there's an electronic knee that keeps people from falling, but it has to be disabled (no pun intended) in order to ride a bike.

But you've inspired me to at least try starting different ways. If the weather ever improves, that is.