Adaptive Bicycles Offer Greater Access to Cycling

Don’t let physical limitations stop you from enjoying a bike ride! Many well-established bike designs on the market today reach beyond the typical concept of the traditional upright two-wheeled bicycle. Adaptive bikes often sport three wheels and offer people of all ages with a wide variety of disabilities greater stability and function as they access bike paths, trails, and roads.

Hand Cycles

People using wheelchairs with good upper body strength most commonly use hand cycles – hand and arm powered tricycles which come in either upright touring models or sleek, low riding performance bikes. For people who cannot use their legs to propel themselves, these bikes are a wonderful way to get out of a wheelchair and experience the exercise benefits of cycling.

Cycling for Seniors with All Out Adventures

Matt from AOA and Nick enjoy
exchanging information about
recumbent bikes.

Think you are too old to ride a bike? Think again!
Today while visiting our adaptive cycling program on the Norwottuck Rail Trail, I met 85 year old Nick on his birthday, shopping for a recumbent bike. He just happened to be driving by our program, noticed the sign and stopped in hopes that he'd find a bike for sale.

Recumbent bicycles offer many ergonomic advantages over conventional two wheel bicycles, especially as we age. Pedaling in a reclined position puts less pressure on joints and uses leg muscles more efficiently. Three wheeled recumbents make balancing a breeze.
Two wheeled recumbents provide a more conventional ride with the advantages of recumbent ergonomics.
Keep reading to find out more!

Summer 2012 Adaptive Biking Opportunities!

Adaptive cycling opportunities in Massachusetts and beyond continue to increase! Here are the active cycling opportunities in New England I know of - all great resources if you are looking for bikes to use and others to ride with!

Spaulding Riders Club - A community cycling club in Boston inclusive of athletes with physical disabilities will hep members find the right assistive devices to enjoy cycling on a regular basis. The Club hosts rides that are open to everyone regardless of disability status, every other Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The dates are June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23. Cyclists meet at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston Pier, 125 Nashua Street in Boston (near the MBTA North Station) at 5:30pm. Ride begin at 6pm. If you own our own cycle, no reservations are necessary. For more information or if you are an athlete with a physical disability who are already been fitted to an adaptive cycle and would like to rent a cycle for the nominal $5 per session fee, please call 617-573-7104. Cycles are available by reservation only on a first come first served basis.

Spaulding's Adaptive Sports Center also hosts an every other Wednesday adaptive cycling ride along the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich from Memorial Day to Labor Day in conjunction with CapeABLE Adventures.

Gaylord Sports Association Cycling Club - Monthly rides in Connecticut - Bring your own bike or reserve one. Call to reserve and directions will be sent to you a week before the ride. Rides are from 5-7pm, Tuesdays July 31 in New Haven, August 21 and September 18 in Cheshire. 203-284-2272.

DCR Universal Access Program - Weekly adaptive cycling program on Fridays from 11am-4pm in Hadley, MA from July 13 to August 24. A wide range of bikes available to ride in hour time slots on the 8 mile Norwottuck Rail Trail, including handcycles, recumbents, tandems and kid's bikes. Call All Out Adventures to register: 413-527-8980.

DCR also offers 2 adult handcycles for rental on the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Brewster at Rail Trail Bike Shop. Call 508-896-3491 for more information.

All Out Adventures - Cycling for Seniors (60+) - Weekly cycling program on Wednesdays from 10am - 2pm through October 17 in Hadley, MA. (No program June 27 and July 4). View their bike selection on line here. Call 413-527-8980 to register.

Northeast Passage - Click here for NEP's Summer Cycling Schedule! They'll be in NH, MA, and ME this summer with a variety of rides including the annual Notch Century Ride in the White Mountains where you can challenge yourself to ride 100 miles in 1, 2 or 3 days!!

Spring Into Cycling with Northeast Passage

Spring is springing so early this year! The weather is already great for cycling. I've seen people out on bikes everywhere I go and am looking forward to getting out on my bike this weekend.

If you are looking for adaptive cycling opportunities in New England, Northeast Passage is one of the best organizations around for cycling expertise and experiences. They offer a great selection of quality handcycles and recumbent bikes, including tandems and bikes for kids. Most, if not all, of their staff are certified therapeutic recreation specialists. Over the years I have always been impressed by their ingenuity and ability to support people with physical disabilities in competitive sports and amazing adventures, including summit hiking in the White Mountains.


Northeast Passage offers cycling clinics and rides throughout spring, summer and fall. Coming right up Saturday, March 24, is an Introductory Cycling Clinic in Durham, NH - a perfect chance to jump start into spring and try out a variety of bikes to see what works best for you. They'll have Top End and Quickie handcycles; Greenspeed, Hase and Trailmate foot-powered bicycles; tandems; and the new Lasher ATH handcycle designed for off road riding. This is a rain or shine event - indoors or out depending on the weather. The $20 fee is well worth it for the expertise and variety of quality bikes involved. Families and friends are welcome!

There are a couple other chances to ride with Northeast Passage coming up this spring. They will do another introductory cycling clinic in Cheshire, CT, on May 12 in conjunction with the Gaylord Sports Association.  

Northeast Passage will also host a clinic on Cape Cod with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and CapeAble Adventures in Sandwich on May 19, followed by a ride on the Shining Sea Bike Path on May 20.

To find out more and sign up, contact Northeast Passage at 603-862-0700 or northeast.passage@unh.edu

Thanks to Dave Lee and Keely Ames for photos!

The Duet Wheelchair Tandem Allows Everyone A Biking Experience

Chauncey McCarthy assists DCR's Universal Access Program as a summer seasonal equipment specialist. He maintains our adaptive recreation equipment and supports participants at programs with his helpful presence, physical strength, mechanical ability and tool kit in tow. In this Guest Post, he offers info and tips on the use of a popular tandem bike that allows passive riders to have a front row experience of cycling.

The Duet is a wheelchair tandem bicycle that allows for someone to sit in the front as the person in the back pedals and steers. It is manufactured in Europe and distributed in the U.S. by Frank Mobility. Well-engineered, the retail price starts at $4,750 so it is not the most affordable bike, which is one reason DCR has made it available at cycling programs.

This front seat of this bike is a great fit for anybody, child or adult, who is non-mobile but wants to enjoy the outdoors. The front seat does haves a weight limit of 275 pounds. The front end of the bike is a wheelchair with a padded seat made in one size. I would recommend using padding around someone that is smaller then the seat to avoid the rider from sliding around and secure legs if desired. The wheelchair seat also offers a headrest, leg rest, chest harness and a safety belt. Wearing a rounded skate board style helmet or a bike helmet without a pointed back prevents the headrest from interfering with head and neck comfort.

Big Bikes for Big People

Joan Denizot with her line of Zize bikes.
Photo by Herb Swanson.

Quite a few people who come to our adaptive cycling program are on the large size, so we have introduced a couple of bikes in recent years especially designed for bigger riders. Designed to carry  up to 550 pounds, these heftier bikes make all the difference for people who want to ride - and ride safely. Such bikes allow big people to develop a regular exercise habit and can help with losing weight if that is a goal.

We have a couple of conventional looking two wheeled  bike designs. The "Easy Boarding" Cruiser made by Biria, is easy to use and quite popular - no need to lift your leg over the high bar! Yet it only serves people up to 215 pounds. Our Zize Bike from Super Sized Cycles will carry people up to 550 pounds with an exceptionally strong durable frame, solid seat, and resilient wheels. The Zize ("Size with attitude") comes in several styles to suit various riders and riding styles - and you will have to swing your leg over to get on. With bikes called "A New Leaf" and "Time of Your Life" though, how can you go wrong? There is even a model called the "Big 29er" designed for tall and heavy people - a rare bike indeed.

The Personal Activity Vehicle - a semi-recumbent trike
designed for big riders.

Super Sized Cycles is a Vermont based company that specializes in premium bikes for big riders. They also sell electric bikes and adult tricycles, such as the Personal Activity Vehicle we also use in our adaptive cycling program. The PAV is an excellent sturdy option for anyone who might be challenged by balancing a two wheeled vehicle or just wants an even more comfortable ride. You can also get bike accessories and bicycle clothing for big people from Super Sized Cycles, and their website features a blog for large riders.

Super Sized Cycles was founded by Joan Denizot, who was frustrated when she could not find a bike built for her size. "The people who really understand bikes told me, " she says, "that, in fact, it was very risky to ride a bike that was not built strong enough for my weight. Even bikes that were built for big riders only went up to only 225 pounds. The more I searched for my own bicycle, the more convinced I became that there is no way that I am the only fat person looking for a solid bicycle or adult tricycle. Biking is a great exercise--and it's EASY! Of course big people would cycle if they could buy a bike that's built for them, without having to be sized up by some mega-fit sales clerks who sell equipment made for skinny people."

Kudos to Joan Denizot for taking the bike by the handlebars and fulfilling an important need! Now large sized riders can fulfill their biking dreams! Thanks Joan!

Everyone Rides in the Berkshires



A therapist jogs alongside during a test ride on a
recumbent trike along the scenic Cheshire Reservior.

The rain held off for a special event in far western Massachusetts today - the kickoff of the new Everyone Rides program, a community collaborative project which will make a fleet of adaptive bicycles available for people with disabilities to use free of charge on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is my favorite rail trail in Massachusetts, traveling 11 miles from Adams to Pittsfield, passing along the Cheshire Reservoir at the base of Mt. Greylock. The adaptive bikes were purchased with money raised from an annual inclusive trialthlon event called Farnum's Challenge. Two local disability organizations, Ad Lib and UCP of Berkshire County, along with the Berkshire Bike Path Council , Mass DOT, and DCR, have worked together to obtain the bikes and develop a plan to make them available for independent use.

At today's event, interested riders met with a therapist to be custom fit to the right bike - a process that is required as part of the program. Once you have been properly fit to the right bike (interchangable seating allows for more personalized options), you can call to make a reservation to ride. All inquiries and reservations can be made to Dawn Matthews of UCP at 413-442-1562  ext. 24 or via dmatthews@ucpberkshires.org

The introductory array of new bikes on display today was chosen to help provide access to the trail for a wide variety of users including adults and children. Four adult bikes by AmTryke included a handcycle, a conventional trike, a recumbent trike, and a trike with assistive supports. There were also four trikes for small kids designed to meet various needs and abilities. A Duet wheelchair tandem will also join the fleet soon, allowing for a passive rider to enjoy the front ride while being pedaled by a driver behind. A new building along the rail trail owned by DCR will house the bikes and has space for future additions to the fleet.



Merle Ferber - an inspirational force for access
in the Berkshires.

Merle Ferber, longtime disability rights activist in the Berkshires, received an award today for her role in helping to develop the Farnum's Challenge event and carry forward the vision to create Everyone Rides. "There are so many people out there who want to help us," she told the crowd, "Now we have bikes in our own community we can use to ride our local rail trail. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible, and don't forget to wear your bike helmet when you ride!"

This year's Farnum's Challenge will be held on July 24. Each team must have at least one member with a disability. To participate in this popular event and support adaptive cycling, contact Ad Lib Independent Living Center at 413-443-4338 or UCP at 413-442-1562.

Spring Into Cycling!

Adaptive cycling opportunities continue to grow throughout New England! Here's what I know is happening this spring - please add additional information via the comment box!

Northeast Passage has an Introductory Clinic indoors this Saturday, May 7, in Durham, NH. For $20 you can try out several brands and styles with individualized attention and fitting to find out what works best for you. Brands include Top End, Quickie, Hase, Greenspeed, Trailmate, and Freedom Concepts. There is a morning and an afternoon session.  Call Northeast Passage at 603-862-0070 or email northeast.passage@unh.edu to sign up. They will have a similar clinic on Cape Cad May 14 and have organized rides scheduled June 18 and 19 at Acadia National Park in Maine and June 27 on the Windham Rail Trail in New Hampshire.

Also on May 14 in the Berkshires, Bay State Bike Week will kick off with a new opportunity called Everyone Rides on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Cheshire, MA from 10am to 12 noon. Sponsored by several organizations including the Berkshire Bike Path Council and local disability groups, Everyone Rides will make several styles of adaptive bicycles available for use throughout the biking season by request with support from the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Come on May 14 to be fitted to bikes by a therapist, participate in a group ride and find out more! Contact Dawn Matthews at 413-442-1562 x 24 or email dmatthews@ucpberkshire.org

On May 16, the Asperger's Association of New England, (AANE) is offering at Bike Riding 101 for Parents workshop in Watertown, MA (Boston) from 7-8:30pm. The presentation will help parents break down the complex process of riding a bike into manageable steps for children with Asperger Syndrome and related disabilities. There is a $40 fee for AANE members ($50 for non-members). For more information, including partial scholarships, or to register, call 617-393-3824 or email info@aane.org.

Coming up on Saturday June 4 is the DCR Universal Access Program Adaptive Recreation Fair at Artesani Park in Brighton (Boston), MA. Adaptive cycling is the primary recreation activity at this free annual event that runs from 10am - 3pm. Many styles of bikes will be on site and available for short test rides through the park along the Charles River. Call 617-626-1294 or 413-577-3840 to register in advance. All Out Adventures, Northeast Passage, Bike-on, and other cycling programs will be representing their bikes. This fair is a great place to find out about all kinds of recreation opportunities taking place in the greater Boston area and beyond this summer! Read about last year's event here to see what it is all about.

On June 11, from 9am - 12noon, the Sports Association of Gaylord Hospital will host a free Adaptive Cycling Clinic in Cheshire, CT - yet another opportunity to get individualized fitting to a wide selection of bikes. From 12:30 - 2:30pm, there will be Cycling Club Spring Ride along the Farmington Canal Greenway for those who already have their own bike. Bring a lunch if you are coming for both sessions. To participate you must register at 203-284-2772.

If you are shopping for an adaptive bike, check out Bike-on.com, based in Rhode Island. Not only do they sell the widest variety of adaptive cycles internationally, they offer an on-line community with listings by state in the U.S. for people who seek handcycle and trike riding companions and connections. Check out the All Out Adventures website for other relevant bikes not available via Bike-on. Handcyclists on the west coast may also want to look into Intrepid Cycles.

Since I've covered all but one New England state so far, I'll end by mentioning the Tandem Cycling Program offered by Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. They haven't yet posted their cycling schedule. Keep an eye on their website and facebook page if you are interested. They have a variety of tandems and offer rides on bike paths in Burlington, Castleton and Stowe in the summer. (And if you think I didn't give Maine good enough coverage here, contact Maine Handicapped Skiing to learn about their adaptive cycling program in Portland.) Happy riding!

Hot Day Brings Out Handcyclists

For over twelve years, people have come from all over Massachusetts to ride adaptive bikes on the Norowottuck Rail Trail in the Connecticut River Valley. Today, despite the heat, many riders were enjoying the trail, which is blessed with a lot of shade and a gentle breeze that sweeps across the farm fields in the valley. Even with temperatures above ninety, riders were having a great time.

Trends in Handcycles and Adaptive Kid's bikes

In anticipation of biking season, I contacted Scott Pellet of Bike-on.com recently. Scott and his wife Lynn are specialists in adaptive bikes. Their business, located in Rhode Island, is a global distributorship of many brands and styles. The bulk of their sales are of handcycles, but foot-pedal bikes, recumbent bikes, kids bikes, tandems, other specialty bikes, wheelchairs, and many types of accessories are all available.

Scott told me that handcycle racing has really taken off in Europe, and that a major race was taking place in Dubai even as we were speaking. Although not as popular in the U.S., handcycle racing is a growing sport overall. Performance handcycles have seen lots of design advancements in recent years that make for an increasingly faster ride. If you like bikes described as "missiles", the Top End K Force shown above and the Quickie Shark S are two of the extreme high end handcycles for those who are serious competitors with over $5000 to spend. More affordable quality recreation handcycles include the XLT, a performance design, and the Excelerator, an upright touring model. Handcyclists can keep up to speed on the latest trends and techniques and connect with others via the Bike-on Community organized on Scott's website.

For handcyclists who are quadriplegic or have difficulty with grip, Scott recommends interchangeable grips for the hands. The C5 grip is a glove which clips into the headset crank - no wrenches needed. We use these in our adaptive cycling program and they are a fantastic advantage for those who need them. If your hands are different in ability, there are some basic styles that can be mixed and matched to best suit your needs.

I asked Scott about innovations in kid's bikes. He is seeing more and more families getting their kids out riding. The challenge is finding the right bikes so that all members can equally enjoy biking without being held back by the slowest rider. He recommended the Hase Trets Trike - an versatile foot-pedaled kid's bike that can be ridden independently but also attached to an adult's bike as needed and pedaled as a tandem. With this unique combination, families can ride for miles together. The Trets Trike works especially well with the Hase Pino Tour bike as shown in this picture from the Bike-on.com website, but can be attached to other Hase bikes and even bikes of other brands using a coupler.

You can find some extended info on handcycles and other equipment mentioned here in the comment section below. This is just the beginning of what Bike-on.com can offer. To get recommendations for your own cycling needs, visit the website to get started, then contact Scott or Lynn at 888-424-5866.