Hi everyone,

[MENTION=409593]rosefarts[/MENTION] - Loved all your posts. You are awesome.
Trikes as mentioned do typically use only one drive wheel. Also the type of bike you mention as stated uses a much different heavier axle than needed for this. Although you go me thinking about how some trikes or tadpoles use a differential - I can look into those to see the costs involved.

I am not seeking funding for this project, although grants never entered my mind. If I do try to build a lighter less budget minded build that could be a great option.

My goal is to use retail priced parts/bikes to create an affordable handcycle for casual riders.

Source bikes: Two identical mountain bikes in name only from Walmart for about $125 each. They feature 21 speeds. 26 inch wheels. And, are full suspension.

The full suspension creates a smaller rear triangle section, and the parts I leave off like the springs won't be missed. Also, these are about the lowest costs I can find for retail prices. So as for chain length it is kept to what is on the bikes. Personally only I like the rear drive options better. My weight will be over those wheels more, and to me that makes sense for traction.

My total cost will be about $450 to build.

Before everyone jumps in with those are garbage bikes. I know this. These are just bikes that roll. They don't perform like the real mountain bikes sold. But, they offer the parts I need overall.

What I hope to do is build this as a proof of concept that it is possible to build an affordable handcycle.

And I will look into that company/organization you mentioned, thanks for all the ideas and help.



[MENTION=84476]cny-bikeman[/MENTION] Great points. Also thank you for that awesome link. You rock.
My post is not stated in anger, or any other attitude. You bring very good points to this conversation, and I appreciate them all.

Weight concern. 70 plus pounds for this build.

I shared an image of me, and I will break down the weight involved.

Wheelchair alone: 20 Pounds. Yellow trailer: weighs in at a solid 80 pounds empty. The rear trailer weighs about 85 pounds empty. I weigh 221 pounds. Inside of the trailers is wet mulch - yellow wagon 5-6 cubic yards - the rear trailer is holding 11 cubic yards as I pile it higher than the top on each. This is a considered a lighter load for me.

Dry weight alone I am moving 406 pounds. I have pulled 13 40 pound landscape bricks in the yellow wagon.
I have hauled 50 to 60 ten pound retaining wall bricks between the two wagons.

I do not only pull this on the smooth street. I cross my yard with these things as well. Natural storm drains, slopes and other natural hurdles, not just on dry days, sometimes while raining.

The weight I pull is between 300 to 600 pounds on top of the dry weight. So the idea of only moving 70 to say 150 pounds is nothing to me. Friction - I overcome so much friction just using my wheelchair every day than I will ever with this handcycle. Then add to that my enjoyment, yes I enjoy doing yard work using my methods because it offers a challenge. I do have an electric wheelchair that I can use also tow these things, the e-chair makes it easy.

Next the impractical dual drive wheels/train. The rear drive with my weight over it just makes sense to me.
As for the outside my body hand points... Wheelchairs shoot this theory down as you see in racing wheelchairs, daily use wheelchairs, sport wheelchairs oddly enough all of these use hand points that work more like pedals for able people do. They are where your hands would naturally fall next to you. Pedals are directly inline with your legs/hips and feet. So I am not sure why the dual hand points would not work. Unlike most hand cranks I can freewheel back one or the other and enter the rowing mode when i need to. However, like when I am pulling my yellow wagon up a hill of about 800 or more yards I like to use the alternating hand position... Or on my impractical wheelchair drive wheels I push one then the other alternating. I know I should in theory steer off the path and crash, right? Wrong. I continue to move straight due to the alternating hand pushes. And, I can move along at a better pace than just using the dual synced hand placement. Having the option to change it up on the fly is a massive advantage I feel. Ergonomically this is the most advantageous for a hand user.

Shifting the gears will be no different really syncing my hands do keep me moving where I want to go. I just move both rear levers at the same time and rate.

This design also allows me to be in a lower seating position, keeping the length of the bike shorter, and center of gravity lower for a more balanced ride. The higher you go up with center of gravity the easier you are to tip. Although it does make it easier to transfer in and out of also. But, I never once claimed I wanted easy.

Seat position the back needs to adjust separately from the seat pan. Many recumbent bikes offer a single piece set up, and I need to adjust to certain positions that some of the two part seats may not offer me. It's annoying. That brings me to an issue I have, that will not apply to most people.

I can not sit with my legs out in front while moving. This causes my back to spasm like a beast. While I love my wheelchair seating position... I would like to bring it lower to the ground for balance, and have multiple leg position options. None of them with my legs next to the front wheels.

I have decided to see if it is possible to build a low cost handcycle quad design out of new retail parts, in a design I would like. That eliminates trike styles. Tadpole styles. Both are good options, and offer pros and cons of about the same in different areas. The saying 6 of one half dozen of another comes to mind here.

I do know that 3D models do not equal an easy real world build. But, they are great for rough drafting things and with awesome people like you and everyone else so far I can model thing to reflect your input, thus showing I grasp what your sharing also. If I only depended on real world process... I would just post the finished project photos and the option to make changes is so much harder at that point. They can be done... But, 3D modeling in this case does make it easier to visualize only.

I must say though I love the post you made more than you will know. Again, I am not upset, angry or anything. If my post came across as such it is not meant that way at all. Just trying to answer your post as best I can.

I didn't imagine the conversation going this direction. But, I am sure happy it did. Your mention of used handcycles under $1000 is spot on. I found one right after reading your post. That was pretty awesome I must say. Much I what I shared you had no way to know. I took a good part of my day replying to this. Like I mentioned I do like a challenge, you my friend brought it. Nice work.

I must say this site is amazing. Awesome to meet all of you.