Adaptations for gear changes

[Wolffy]

I recently had an accident which means I can't change gear on the right at the moment. Does anybody know of an adaptation for bikes so that the cyclist can change gear without having to use the right hand?

[Wolffy]

I would also be interested to hear what people think about sram etap gear shifters.

I have the use of two hands, but have plates and screws in both wrists and am having problems changing gears on both sides. I have no doubt I will get strong enough soon to change gear, but want to ride my road bike now!

[531colin]

Bar end levers?
I find I can change gear using the heel of my hand; there is a video here which gives the general idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vccrhUkUucg

[Wolffy]

Bar end levers?
I find I can change gear using the heel of my hand; there is a video here which gives the general idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vccrhUkUucg

Yes! That might just be the solution I need. Thanks, I will follow it up.

[arnsider]

A useful video.
I have Bar End Shifters on my tourer.
You have the option of indexing the shift or relying on friction and audial lack of clatter.
If you fix the shifter to indexing, you need to tune the shift more precisely.

[Mick F]

Down tube shifters too.
I often use one hand for both levers - usually the right, but sometimes the left.

[eileithyia]

+1 down tube levers, when i temporarily had some difficulties with one hand due to an injury i used other hand.....

Alternatively contact BC, as they have paralympians who must use some adaptations.

[Wolffy]

I tried some bar end shifters yesterday. I can move them down with the pad of my hand, as in the video, but not up again. Will look into down shifters and using my left hand to change the right side.

Great ideas
Thanks

[Mick F]

Out riding today, and I was thinking about this thread.
I was changing gear with my right hand. Both levers as required.
Only once did I use my left hand for the front changer.

Small step to use the left hand only.

[531colin]

I tried some bar end shifters yesterday. I can move them down with the pad of my hand, as in the video, but not up again. Will look into down shifters and using my left hand to change the right side.

Great ideas
Thanks

It obviously depends on what movement you have in your hand/wrist.
some people without injuries find the left hand STI shift up to the big chainring difficult because you need a big range of movement, its a long sweeping movement. The SRAM double tap levers use the same movement but just the one lever, so its a long push to change in one direction, and a short push to change in the other direction. I find them easier than Shimano, wearing winter gloves.
The bar end levers are easy to push down with the heel of your hand; I pull them up by keeping the web of my thumb wrapped round the end of the bar/base of the lever and pivoting my hand up, pulling the lever up with my ring/little fingers. You might be able to do that with a stiff wrist by moving your shoulder/elbow and changing your grip a bit?....I think I probably use my wrist for that movement pulling the lever up.

[eileithyia]

Depending on how long you anticipate a problem lasting, Di2 might be an option. I recall an acquaintance thinking they were wonderful as he started to get arthritic hands and had difficulty with any form conventional gear changes.