Zeuser

I'm currently recuperating from a dislocated shoulder I had just last week. Doc told me no biking because that would put extra stress on my shoulder and the fact that my arm is pointing forward could possibly put it at risk of being dislocated again.

My arm is in a sling but I am allowed to move my forearm forward so long as my bicep is along my side. Now I look at this picture:



And considering they also make a one handed kit, I could even keep my left arm completly in the sling. When I look at the guy in the terratrike in the above picture I notice that his left shoulder is in the same position as mine currently is in.

You have to understand that I really want to go biking but at the same time I really want to prevent another dislocation. It hurts like hell and I really don't want to do it again. I go through extra precautions to protect my left shoulder these days.

Shaman

You definitely want to stay with an indirect steering trike if you want to protect that shoulder. Seat comfort may also be an important point as the shoulder blades will have to rest on the seat. Good luck on your quick recovery.

Zeuser

Why the indirect steering? Is there some type of smoothing going on through those tie rods? Like a certain looseness in the mechanism?

Ric

I don't disagree or agree with Shaman. I think steering on a trike is what type you as the operator prefer, I have both types, the Gtt which is indirect and the other two (speed and hotmover) are direct the only difference between the two is the way you adjust the toe-in. The indirect is a little more complicated to adjust. IMHO indirect steering is a pain in the butt.

jeff-o

Yeah, I think a trike might be the solution. Are there any bike shops in your area where you could test ride one?

EDIT: Oh, haha, I just checked your location. That bike shop would be me.

GreenGrasshoppr

To be fair, there's also Urbane Cyclist in downtown T.O.

Zeuser

Kitchener isn't exactly "my location". I think there's one or two around the GTA I could check out.

jeff-o

Well yes. Check Urbane Cycle, they have the HPVelo Scorpion, I think.

Shaman

I said this because with direct steering, you'll be moving your shoulder in an outward motion (like lifting a weight out from your side) and indirect steering, you'll be pushing forward or pulling backwards. If I have my biomechanics right, that pushing outward wouldn't be to comfortable.

countersTrike

I just noticed that hub motor on that Terra Trike. With ONE hand??? You might dislocate your other shoulder!!! Taking off with the slightest turn brings the inner front wheel off the ground and will continue unless laying off the throttle. I have been there- flipped my Terra Trike before I even knew what was happening.

The steering works well for one hand use- fairly easy to have 2 front brakes in one control, and put the rear derailleur on one side.

Maybe if you are really suicidal you could put the motor controls on the same side! =:-0

countersTrike

Zeuser

On my current bike, i usually use the assist mode more than the throttle. I think that'll be the same with a trike as well.

writerrider

I just got a Tadpole. I would say that you could do it pretty easily without any strain on your shoulder. I took my dog with me the other day just to see how she would do. I had to hold the leash with one hand so couldn't use that hand to steer or to brake and it worked fine. You really can use just one brake if you slow down pretty good. Of course you can't just hit one brake while really going fast or you'd just spin. But if it's a matter of getting out there, it would work fine. -writerrider

dogsridewith

For making my right hand free to hold a leash, it was quite easy to convert a Suntad trike to full left hand operation. A bar end pointing left at the top of the left bar gets the left side grip-shift (front derailleur shifter), while the right-side shifter got moved over to where the stock left one was. J&B, which supplies the Suntads to dealers, has a nice inexpensive pulls-two-cables brake lever. This was installed in the position of the stock left brake lever. The added left-side bar end got a mirror. The right side also got a bar end, sticking out to the right, which lets me relax my right hand in a position that keeps leash away from right tire (when dog is coasting and leash is slack.)

If someone had an injured left arm/hand, I don't see why it would be any harder to put all controls on right side.

Zeuser

I've been shopping around for trikes since my initial post and I've come to realize that indirect steering works best with a single handed operation. And most manufacturers with indirect steering systems offer a one-handed kit you can either install on the left or right end of the handlebar.

The one-handed kit usually includes a gripshift for the rear derailleur, bar end shifter for the front one and a single brake lever than activates the brakes on both front wheels.

I think that's what I'm aiming for.

d2create

6 weeks ago i broke my ankle and dislocated my shoulder when the front wheel of my recumbent got caught in an expansion gap and threw me down on my right side. Just got the green light from the doc to go back to doing whatever I want except running. So what's the deal with your shoulder? Keep it in a sling for a few weeks and then don't use it much for another couple weeks and you should be good to go.

cfblue

You want a one hand steered trike, or to rephrase the question, one with minimal impact on shoulder?

Windcheetah!

no shock ever transmitted up the steering, and nothing to press against, and nothing else in the trike world like it. Ride with your hands in front of you, gently holding the joystick, you could even ride in your sling and use your hand.

Freshaire

Agreed! I have done alot of triking with my dogs, and one handed hasn't been hard at all - in fact, many of us probably did the same one handed riding on wedgies growing up. Even without a one handed kit, my Catrike pocket behaves great when I use only my right hand. As another post said though, SPEED is the variable to be considered. I'm not a fast rider, so I'm happy "as is".

boosteddreams

HPVelo Scorpion is an AWESOME trike, especially if you have some physical issues, IMO. The seat is extremely comfortable- not to mention completely adjustable- and the steering is very easy. I have no doubt I could steer it one-handed with no trouble. They also have an optional kit for one-handed braking. Oh, and the suspension doesn't hurt either.

*To be fair, this is my first trike and I wasn't able to try many out before I bought it. Having medical issues, though, I had to find THE most comfortable bike for me and this was it. Good luck with your recovery!