9 replies to this topic

[fenty]

Hi All, I have been watching on here getting some usefull advice for about 5 months now.


My son was 7 weeks old when I had the accident and him and my absolute angel of a wife were the biggest spurs for me to get out of hospital and home. 3 weeks in the Royal Victoria for stabilisation surgery, 7 weeks rehab in Musgrave Park. I am a T4 complete para after a motorcycle accident.

Bikes were my real passion, and to be honest they still are. Since looking through this site I saw some people with handbikes and figured that would be what I need to get a bit of a bike fix back, and also the best way to exercise what's left of my working muscles due to the push pull motion of the cranks, but the cost of a new one was prohibitive.
Luckily I saw an online classified for this



A Varna 2. I phoned the guy up, sent the cheque and arranged delivery. It arrived last night.

I was really cold out last night but I was so excited I was bombing around my park in a t shirt like a kid on christmas morning. I need to set it up for my height (6' 2") as my feet interfer with tight turns, but so far it's the coolest thing I've bought since the accident.
Can't wait for the weekend.

[kewlcatkez]

fenty, on Feb 28 2008, 09:10 AM, said:

Hi All, I have been watching on here getting some usefull advice for about 5 months now.


My son was 7 weeks old when I had the accident and him and my absolute angel of a wife were the biggest spurs for me to get out of hospital and home. 3 weeks in the Royal Victoria for stabilisation surgery, 7 weeks rehab in Musgrave Park. I am a T4 complete para after a motorcycle accident.

Bikes were my real passion, and to be honest they still are. Since looking through this site I saw some people with handbikes and figured that would be what I need to get a bit of a bike fix back, and also the best way to exercise what's left of my working muscles due to the push pull motion of the cranks, but the cost of a new one was prohibitive.
Luckily I saw an online classified for this



A Varna 2. I phoned the guy up, sent the cheque and arranged delivery. It arrived last night.

I was really cold out last night but I was so excited I was bombing around my park in a t shirt like a kid on christmas morning. I need to set it up for my height (6' 2") as my feet interfer with tight turns, but so far it's the coolest thing I've bought since the accident.
Can't wait for the weekend.

Welcome Fenty,

You sound like a kid at Christmas too! LOL.
I'm sure that the bike is going to be giving you Adrenaline rushes left, right and centre and of course keeping you fit! Best of all (not sure how old your son is now, but) you and your son will likely be able to go out riding together -either now or in the future. You sound so excited, its cute! LOL. I love seeing pics..

See ya around,

Take care,

K

[fenty]

I still have quite large rugby players legs and find that tight turns are a bit of a problem with the weight of the legs acting on the fork of the bike.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I tried extending the rest out further so my feet don't hit them but reached the end of the bar.
Should i pulls the bars in so my legs are bent slightly so that a turn will bend them more rather than having them straight and locked out?

[ems]

fenty, on Mar 3 2008, 04:15 PM, said:

Should i pulls the bars in so my legs are bent slightly so that a turn will bend them more rather than having them straight and locked out?

Yup your legs should be slightly bent, it must be incredibly difficult to turn with them straight! If your turning left for instance, you right leg will straighten slightly and your left leg will bent more.. if they were both straight to start, you would be yanking your right leg out of the socket by turning left! I strap my feet in and my hips in to keep in a more stable position when I'm riding, or I would slip down creating more bend, and it would make the position of my shoulders lower than my cranks, which in turn would make it more difficult to ride!

There is an optimum seating position and crank positioning when riding. if your interested.. give these a read through These guys do a lot in handcycle research!!! These are mostly written by the national coach for OZ

Even if your not in it for competetive reasons, the basics will give you the right fundamentals for riding.. they will basically give you an easier ride cos you know what will make it difficult for yourself!

http://www.handcycli.../foundation.pdf

http://www.handcycli...imal_riding.pdf

http://www.handcycli...up_protocol.pdf

Emma.

[fenty]

That you for that emma...

I tried that last night but I might have brought the stirrup in too much. Turning was much easier but my knees splayed out. Trial and error I guess.

Thanks again....

[russ1]

Well I ride with my legs pretty much straight and plenty of space in the stirrups to allow turns. If I trid to use the stirups to create a slight bend in my legs my spasms when trying to turn would very quickly have me in the ditch. I just dont strap my feet too tightly to the stirrups and they slide in the stirrups while I turn without bending my legs.

Great links though - thanks for those

[fenty]

Sorry if this seems like a post bump, but I got out on the open road for the first time on my Varna this evening and I'm buzzing!!!

I covered just over 3 very hilly miles in a small loop around where i live. Got up to 22mph on the level and nearly tipped it on a corner at the bottom of a hill coming into my village...

It's great to get that endorphine rush from bustin a gut for a while, first proper cardio I've been able to do for 7 months.

Hands and arms are aching but getting all those weird looks was pretty cool. It was round dinner time and the road was busy so I didn't want to stay out on the roads too long till i get a warning flag and some lights.

Can't wait to get my car so I can take in places further afield....

Again, sorry if this is a post bump.... As you were...

[ems]

fenty, on Mar 14 2008, 07:13 PM, said:

Again, sorry if this is a post bump.... As you were...

LOL, glad your enjoying your bike!!!

ems.

[Tired of hurting]

Too cool I used to love to run. My arms spasms so it's not an option for me.I wish it was look like a blast and how fun to able to get some good exercise. I love it...Have fun!

[yehets]

fenty, on Feb 28 2008, 05:10 AM, said:

Hi All, I have been watching on here getting some usefull advice for about 5 months now.


My son was 7 weeks old when I had the accident and him and my absolute angel of a wife were the biggest spurs for me to get out of hospital and home. 3 weeks in the Royal Victoria for stabilisation surgery, 7 weeks rehab in Musgrave Park. I am a T4 complete para after a motorcycle accident.

Bikes were my real passion, and to be honest they still are. Since looking through this site I saw some people with handbikes and figured that would be what I need to get a bit of a bike fix back, and also the best way to exercise what's left of my working muscles due to the push pull motion of the cranks, but the cost of a new one was prohibitive.
Luckily I saw an online classified for this



A Varna 2. I phoned the guy up, sent the cheque and arranged delivery. It arrived last night.

I was really cold out last night but I was so excited I was bombing around my park in a t shirt like a kid on christmas morning. I need to set it up for my height (6' 2") as my feet interfer with tight turns, but so far it's the coolest thing I've bought since the accident.
Can't wait for the weekend.

hello-how did your bike work out?where did you get it? thanks