I just got my new mountain bike and am really loving being able to get out and about on some trails around the canadian rockies.

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Once my arms are up to the required standard, I'm hoping to really push the bike and get it up some mountains.

I chose the One-Off bike rather than one of the purely downhill bikes that are on the market because I want to be able to go up mountains and do some touring. It has a special 'mountain drive' that offers really low ratio gears so you can tackle some pretty severe inclines that would otherwise be out of the question.

How's the comfert on that? I'd ahve a hard time with me knees bent and legs up under me like that, and the cushion to put the chest on had better be damn soft. I'd love to have one though, used to love going hiking in the mtns. in Northern New Mexico, around Taos and Red River.

That thing looks wicked! And I'm sure like Hanz and Franz say it will "Pump You up!"

Its actually pretty comfortable, its a bit of a nightmare to get into and position your legs, but the actual riding position is pretty comfortable.
The chestplate is pretty well padded, infact almost all of what you can see is pading. The chestplate actually steers the front wheels too, so that when you are peddaling the handcrank you dont have to take you hands off, grab the handlebars and loose momentum.

Then when you are going downhill you can just use the handlebars as normal.

I got it purely so I can back in the mountains, do some touring and camp out. I'm hoping to be able to find somewhere I can hire at least 5 or so of them, and get an expedition going, probably down part of the Continental Divide Bike Route.

Looks Great!

Damn man that looks so sweet, you got to tell me more about it.

Sure, what do you want to know.

Where can I get it and is it make for people with higher injuries?

I noticed that you're a L1/L2...I'm at T5 so think it would work for me?

Its made in the US by One-Off Titanium, the guy makes them himself and was really helpful. I ordered it just as he had made a load of new frames so got my bike within 3 weeks. They cost US$5000.

I dont know how it would be for higher levels, I dont think they would be too many problems though, apart from maybe getting into it, which is fairly difficult. Once you are in it though things should be fine, you can strap yourself in, but I dont do that unless I'm doing fairly rough terrain, or doing a lot of downhill.

The riding position means that you are fairly locked into the seat, and the chestplate supports you a lot, so you dont need ab's to hold yourself in position or anything like that. Its best to lean to the side when cornering, to make sure you dont tip over, but again you dont really need good ab's for that, its more a case of using the handlebars to push away and then pull yourself back upright.

I forgot to update this thread when I posted an entry on my blog about the bike, you can see lots of pictures and how it fits together, ect, HERE

Just checked your site out Andy, looking good. looking through your pictures I was wondering what chair your using, not the all terrain but your every day chair.

It's a Kuschall. I think its the airlite model but I'm not too sure, in the UK our (free) health service provides us with chairs and it was all ordered for me well before I left the hospital.

I have no issues with it at all, its been great and taken a crap load of punishment, including being weighted down and thrown overboard on the Great Barrier Reef so I could have this photo taken.

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If a chair doesn't rust up after that then it never will!

I've lowered the back slightly, put 24inch knobbly tires on it and just ordered some frog legs castors, other than that it is just as it came and nothing has broken at all.

The only thing I want to change about it maybe is that it is currently fitted with an adjustable axle because it was a 'beginner' chair and that seemed like a good idea at the time. So if I ever get around to it I'll just have that removed, but it isnt a problem or hinderance at all, it might just save a little bit of weight.

So have you had a chance to take the handcycle to the bike park at COP in Calgary? Looks like it would be a blast!

For anyone interested...Crested Butte, Co has an adapted sport center and has at least 1 one-off, plus several down hill racers and handcycles. They also hold an off road race every year. Their web is www.adaptivesports.org.

Would love to do all the stuff you do just cant afford it do you know any organisations that help with funding or is it all down to the individual?



Silone74

You're in the UK right? Try The Back-Up Trust and The Calvert Trust for help with some outdoor related trips and event. They have some pretty good stuff going on most of the time and can heavily subsidise costs if you need it.

Hi thanks will look into that,looks great what your doin.



Silone74

In the summer a guy from the Canadian paraplegic Association came to see me to find out more about the bike and how it works.

He made a video which I've only just received, it makes me cringe because it seems to have way too much of me talking, but it does have some decent footage of the bike too.

Here's a link to the YouTube Clip

Do you know of a group on USA that might help me get into a paraplegic wheeled sport, like maybe handbikes?

While these guys won't buy you equipment and such they do hold events through out the year to encourage people to get back out and active. They hold a big one in Dallas in late spring/early summer with everything from wheelchair tennis and rugby to kayaks and rock crawling. They have it outdoors at a park here and you pay a small fee to register and then go from station to station and try out and learn about the different activities and how you can get involved in them.

Here is a link to the site, turning point, although at this time of year there isn't a whole lot going on, they just held a big deer hunt though last week.

Here is a link that i posted here from the Sept event held in San Antonio.

Other then that, check with your local rehab center, I know there is a pretty nice one there in Houston. They used to be some organization that held these type events down there also, I remember going to one south of Houston at Clear Lake back in '94.

There are a few One-Off riders out there with higher-level injuries. I think the learning curve is a little higher for most. However, this can be said for many people. Some people take to it right away while others have a tougher time getting used to the position, controls, etc... I think a lot of that depends on your background and level/type of activity that you're used to. Nick Cantanzarite is a competitive downhill skier. He's a T-2 and rides a crusty old One-Off. However, he is easily one of the fastest guys when it comes to taking it downhill. He was also really making it go UPhill, as well.

There are some design changes in the works for the One-Off. Since it's inception, improvements/changes have been minimal. Hopefully, the coming changes will make it easier to use for those with higher injuries. Also, it would be great if they were a little cheaper. While the One-Off handbike makes a lot of places accessible, the price makes it INaccessible for most people. It might take some time, but there are definitely changes on the horizon. In the coming years, I am hoping to offer test-rides and off-road excursions on the latest versions of the One-Off. I welcome ANYONE to contact me if they would like to know more about it.

Hey,

I bought a one off about five months ago, its a trip and a killer work out, you can go almost anywhere. I have taken it to paloduro canyon a few times. Its hard to keep up the mountain bikes on the hill climbs, but you can get moving pretty fast on the starights and downhill runs.

Im in Amarillo, I assume that you must be pretty close to me, if you want to chek it out let me know

Lane

Wow!! That things sick! I used to mountain bike before my accident, it would be so cool to get up there again. But i'm a quad so im not sure how hard it would be to in that! ha