“Cycling provides so many physical and psychological benefits. It offers the advancement of motor skills, strengthens one’s core muscles, develops confidence, and offers independence."
Because riders have varying abilities, there are many different variations of adaptive cycles. Disabled Sports USA defines the following examples:
Handcycles are popular among riders with lower-limb mobility impairments. They allow cyclists to propel a three-wheeled cycle using their arms.
Tandem bikes are available in a variety of setups with the most common being a two-wheeled bike with a guide in the front. A side-by-side tandem tricycle allows two people to cycle simultaneously or at different rates.
Four-wheeled dual recumbents keep riders in a relaxed, seated position and are best for lower-extremity cycling.
Three-wheeled recumbent cycles are lower to the ground which creates a lower center of balance.
A recumbent foot cycle comes in a tadpole style -- one wheel in back and two in front. The tadpole style is better for balancing. A recumbent foot cycle also comes in a delta style -- two wheels in the back and one in the front.
A recumbent handcycle sits higher off the ground. It is easier to transfer to and would be used by someone who has less mobility. There are also handcycles much lower to the ground that are more efficient for competitive cycling.
This is the link for the following article:
https://www.wheel-life.org/the-benefits-of-your-child-getting-active-with-adaptive-bike-riding/
Parents of children living with disabilities: Take a minute to travel back in time to when you first learned to ride a bike. Feel the wind in your hair, your heart racing, and the exhilaration of experiencing freedom while pedaling down the street to your best friend’s house. Remember all of those adventures you went on thanks to your bike? If your child is a wheelchair user, you may have never considered the fact that bike riding is a possibility. But guess what? Your child can experience that joy with an adaptive bike and here are three compelling reasons why they should.
Lack of physical activity and exclusion from recreational play with peers are often contributing factors to accumulating extra body weight among child and adolescent wheelchair users. Being overweight early in life can lead to more serious complications that often carry over into adulthood, such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Getting your child physically active along with providing a nutritionally sound diet are two of the best ways to combat childhood obesity and lower risks of developing a host of other conditions.
Learning to see things from someone else’s perspective, working with others to find a solution to a problem, and dealing with differences of opinion are just some of the benefits that come in handy later in life. Bike riding in groups promotes the formation of friendships all the while exposing non-disabled kids to kids with disabilities and teaching them to embrace diversity and include everyone in social activities.
Think about how you felt the last time you set a goal and then finally achieved it after putting in the necessary work. It’s an incredible feeling, right? When a child with a physical disability learns to ride a bike, they experience that same sense of accomplishment that is often absent from their day-to-day. When children realize they have the ability to succeed, it sets a precedent for a lifetime of goal setting, limit-pushing, and persistence.
You will likely notice an immediate effect on your child the moment they ride a bike for the first time, but more importantly, the benefits of regular riding reach way behind today or tomorrow.
Being physically active, having meaningful relationships, and possessing a desire to continually learn and improve oneself are all signs of a well-adjusted adult. Something as simple as getting an adaptive bike for your child can encourage them to take on the challenges they will inevitably be faced with and seek out a fulfilling life.
Freedom Concepts designs mobility equipment for children of all abilities. With the help of your therapist, they will customize a bicycle or hand cycle to fit your child’s precise needs.
“Cycling provides so many physical and psychological benefits. It offers the advancement of motor skills, strengthens one’s core muscles, develops confidence, and offers independence. We accept any challenge through customization. At the end of the day, we want to see everyone out riding, no matter what the circumstance!” –Evan Paterson, Marketing Supervisor, Freedom Concepts Inc.
About the Author
Betsy Bailey has a diverse background including experience in marketing research at American Express, business operations and client relations with 601am, travel and culinary writing with VegDining, and playing volleyball professionally overseas.
Betsy is excited to get back into writing, something she’s adored since childhood, and thoroughly enjoys the process of getting to know her interviewees. On top of her work with Wheel:Life, she also teaches students learning English as a second language, speaks French fluently, and travels any chance she gets!