Ideas wanted - recumbent trike with one-handed controls

[catinthehat]

I recently placed a question in the general forum and it was suggested I repost here with the recumbent crowd.
My friend has had a brain tumour and lost use of his right arm with reduced strength in his right leg. He is a mad cyclist but of course hasn't been on a bike since his surgery. His prognosis isn't good so enjoying every possible day is the plan. He seriously misses the fun he had every day on his bike so we are trying to find out if there is an alternative option .... Like a recumbent trike with one handed steering and controls. I found this one when I googled: http://www.rehabmart.com/product/monoma ... 39858.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
Can anyone help out with ideas for sourcing such a beauty in Adelaide?
Cost isn't an issue, but time is. He needs fun and he needs it ASAP!

[just4tehhalibut]

Greenspeed's Anura trike might also work and there was a shop in Adelaide that sells them (LifeCycle Bicycles, Norwood). The seat is higher than a normal recumbent trike and it is a more open design with the underseat steering, easier to get in and out of. You'll still need to fuss with the shifter and brake set up but it can be done.

Incidentally there's one of these for sale on the Gold Coast for $650. see Gumnut.

[zebee]

If your friend sits on an Anura he'll get an idea of what is and isn't possible with a standard one.

If it needs more mods than get on to http://www.greenspeed.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; who have done various disability mods on their trikes. THey may well have a braking solution for example so you can brake two wheels with one hand.

Doing all braking and gears with one hand might be a pain.

My Bacchetta has a Shimano Alfine hub gear on the back and a Schlumpf Mountain Drive onthe front. THe Alfine gives quite a decent range of gears so I rarely have to use the Schlumpf. The shifter is the neat thing about it - kick with the heel. THere is a certain mushiness to the Schlumpf, it is easier to use at higher cadence you do a lot more work when mashing low drive compared to direct drive. On a bike the really really low gears aren't a lot of use as you fall over first but on a trike having some really low ones might help with the reduced leg strength. Having hub gears on the back means you can select any gear at a standstill which can make quite a difference sometimes!

If e's a keen cyclist he might find the Anura a bit more staid than he likes. If he can get in and out of a low trike then there are a few fast ones out there.

A Schlumpf for one gear change, trigger shifter Alfine for the other, probably need to get a brake balancer like my old motorcycles with doublesided front drums have so you can brake two wheels with one hand and have a second lever for the 3rd wheel to fulfil the two braking systems requirement.

[gretaboy]

Contact Craig Head from Recumbent and Specialised Cycling. I know he has had extensive dealings with getting people with disabilities onto bikes, recumbent bikes in particular. I know that he recently sold a trike to a person who suffered a stroke in my local area.

His website is http://www.recumbent.net.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He has a wide range of trikes to test ride too

I got my trike through him and my trike is setup with a single brake lever for both disc brakes due to my right hand not working properly and it also has a safety brake to prevent the trike from rolling when i get out of it.

Hope this helps

[Duck!]

If it needs more mods than get on to http://www.greenspeed.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; who have done various disability mods on their trikes. THey may well have a braking solution for example so you can brake two wheels with one hand.

Doing all braking and gears with one hand might be a pain.

Not at all difficult. Several manufacturers, including Greenspeed, have produced one-hand-steer designs. Dual-cable brake levers are readily available, allowing both front brakes to be operated off one lever. Mount the lever high enough on the bar & it'll be easily accessible at the same time as the bar-end shifter. The only potential difficulty is if multiple front rings are used. This setup (albeit only with rear gears) is very common in racing trikes, so not at all difficult to implement.

[catinthehat]

Thank you so much everyone. These are fantastic ideas and really encouraging. I'm going to print them all out and talk to my friend about all the suggestions. Now I'm really excited about the possibilities of him getting back onto a bike (whatever it might end up being) - this will be an invigorating project for all involved. Thank you again!
Lyn

[Arakasy]

Look into a bafang 250 w crank drive, takes the front derailer and shifter away and replaces it with a great motor for assist, my dads got one on his trike... Loves it to death.

[nessbike]

I'd concur with Duck - we have a rider here in Canberra who only has use of one hand - I have set up several bikes and trikes for him with single sided controls. Dual pull cable brake levers are common and easy to get - for a full range of gear shifts just combine a bar end shifter with a trigger or twist shifter (depending on wrist mobility). Usually best to put main shift (rear) to bar end shifter as that is easiest to use and does most work. You can also do creative things using a standard mtb bar end if you need extra bar space/ steering leverage. If leg strength is an issue for initial recovery just drop gear ratios by changing front chainrings. At the extreme end of this I have set up a trike for someone with parkinsons using a quad tamer to drop the small chianring size down to 18 (however this was part of a setup of 2 trikes linked to make a tandem which is another possible option if you want to work with your friend in the initial stages of recovery, however this will require two delta trikes (Anuras or Hase). Good luck - let me know if you want me to send any photos of setups. Cheers Alex