leg amputee seeking inspiration

DIscuss anything relating to non-standard cycles and their equipment.
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strictnaturist
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Joined: 4 Mar 2010, 11:42am

leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by strictnaturist »

Hi all
A good friend and cyclist who has lost one leg above the knee is seeking inspiration and advice regarding getting back on the bike.
Any tips / sites / books etc would be greatly recieved

best wishes
Eddie
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[XAP]Bob
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by [XAP]Bob »

I'd have to say talk to the professionals. Some people manage one legged on an upright, I would probably look at a trike, and IcE do all sorts of adaptations.

The above the knee bit makes it harder, but with an appropriate prosthesis there is no reason not to get some use from what's left, the other leg would probably provide more, and an e-assist is always an option if they struggle with hills etc...
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Vorpal
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Vorpal »

I've known two amputees who cycled. One was a member of my cycling club in the USA. The other is Kevin Hickman https://twitter.com/psyklyn

Kevin won an award (volunteer of the year?) from the CTC some years ago.

He used to run a cycling forum called the Inclusive Cycling forum, but it went away maybe 3 years ago.

Kevin did audaxes up 400 km some years ago. He carried his crutches strapped to the top tube.

As far as I know, Kevin rides uprights. His twitter feed frequently features a folding bike these days.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
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NATURAL ANKLING
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
Cant find the info at the moment but I saw in the last week on tv a triple amputee completing at swimming (one arm) and modified hand and foot sit on bike thingy.
Don't need much more inspiring than that, If only I could find it :?
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
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pjclinch
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by pjclinch »

Check out quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew, http://www.jamieandrew.com/

I'd suggest JA's book "Life and Limb" as an excellent source of getting back up and carrying on inspiration, a good read for anyone. The book predates his "Titanium Man" challenge (you'll find details on his website) where he did Ironman triathlon distances, so that included a 112 mile cycle.

The bike he uses is fairly standard aside from push-on brakes, but an above-the-knee cut will make things a bit harder. Companies like Hase have a good line in adaptations for various issues. Ben Cooper at Kinetics in Glasgow is a Hase dealer and custom builder who' done various disability projects and is probably worth a blether with: http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/ but probably best to call on the 'phone, 0141 942 2552

HTH, Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
Vorpal
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Vorpal »

Kevin Hickman pedals one-legged. I don't know if he has ever tried any prosthetic devices. The bikes I have seen him ride did not appear to have any special adaptations, other than to hold his crutches.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Scrunt22
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Scrunt22 »

I am a right leg above knee amputee and have been cycling for the past 30 years in and around Dundee.
Now in Angus.
A good place to look for information is online at the Douglas Bader Foundation website in the cycling section.
http://douglasbaderfoundation.com

I recently meet a very nice Gentleman at the Coupar Angus Cycling Festival who at recently lost a leg above the knee and who was riding a Trike,
would this be who the OP is about?
He did very well on his bike.

Personally i no longer have anything special on my bikes or my artificial leg.
I ride a Specialised Fat Boy (Fat Tyre Bike) or a 27.5" Wheel Carbon Frame Mountain Bike.
So just the correct size for me of a frame and a high saddle and very sharp bear trap pedals, the bar high and comfy grips and saddle.
Then walking boots with a sole that stays where i put them on the pedals.
(I have my artificial foot as i use it every day, but in the past i used to use legs set up for cycling, which were not so good when getting off and walking.)

I used to fit Crank Shorteners to the False leg side crank, then later shorter cranks, pedals with toe clips and all sorts,
i no longer do that because i wanted to be able to go anyplace and Hire Bikes and just ride as they came from the shop.

Lots of stuff online if you do a google.
On youtube as well.
Just shout if i can help, i will keep an eye on the forum now i have registered.

George
Scrunt22
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Scrunt22 »

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andrew_s
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by andrew_s »

Vorpal wrote:Kevin Hickman pedals one-legged. I don't know if he has ever tried any prosthetic devices. The bikes I have seen him ride did not appear to have any special adaptations, other than to hold his crutches.

Kevin doesn't have enough of a stump to attach any prosthetic to. As you say, crutch clips, and the redundant pedal removed (and maybe crank - I can't remember which side his leg was), but otherwise a standard bike.
IIRC, he got as far as finishing the Bryan Chapman 600 (Chepstow to Anglesey & back), with an eye to PBP, but the route proved a bit much for his knee, so that was the high water mark.
Crazylegs Phil 1968
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Crazylegs Phil 1968 »

https://www.facebook.com/10000211497090 ... 0254883103 here is my latest invention, as I wanted a good solution to this problem. Works really well and is much less uncomfortable than using a prosthetic.
ClappedOut
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by ClappedOut »

Recumbent with hand crank, I know that socal services can supply a grant and modified for disabled appears VAT free reading about a recumbent for Double amputee mother in Plymouth if I remember correctly.
freeflow
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by freeflow »

It is burned in my memory, that a fewish years back, struggling up a hill on a Rutland sportive, after the second feed stop, I was overtaken at some speed by a cyclist with a wooden leg.
Bonefishblues
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Bonefishblues »

Only last week I noticed an above-the-knee amputee as stoker on a tandem. May be an option?
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Tigerbiten
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by Tigerbiten »

I cannot help much as I'm only an above elbow arm amputee.
But I have done multi-thousand mile tours all around the UK and Europe on an ICE trike since my accident.
So where there's a will, there's a way.

Luck ........ :D
skelo
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Re: leg amputee seeking inspiration

Post by skelo »

a little different I know, but post-stroke I have triked thousands of miles with a paralysed left arm and leg, including some long European adventures, best idea is to go try one out and have fun!
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