​ADAPTIVE BIKES AND MOBILITY SOLUTIONS FOR ALL ABILITIES

Adaptive and inclusive cycling is a great way for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the freedom of movement and mobility. Bikes and trikes can be modified in a multitude of ways to suit the needs of any rider. No two disabilities are identical, so each adaptive bike is unique. Disability affects each and every one of us. Chances are good that you already know - or will soon meet - someone with a disability who could benefit from adaptive cycling equipment.

Adaptive bike and trike modifications make cycling a truly inclusive sport, allowing people of all ages and abilities to reap the many benefits of physical activity including fresh air, exercise, and social interaction. Using an adapted cycle is a fantastic way for everyone to have fun, gain more independence and enjoy a sense of freedom. Whatever type of cycle, adaptation, or support you need, there is likely to be a solution, whether you have a disability, lack balance, or want to improve your confidence.

A "delta" trike is a recumbent tricycle with one wheel in the front and two wheels in the back. (A trike with two wheels in the front and one in the back is called a "tadpole" trike.) While tadpole trikes might be more popular at the moment, delta trikes have a lot of great advantages that deserve a closer look!

Recumbent? What does that mean?
 
When you ride a recumbent bike, you’re not sitting on a small saddle seat, hunched over your handlebars. You ride in a semi-reclined position, with your legs in front of you. As a result, your body’s weight is distributed over a wider area. It’s really comfortable and reduces bodily wear-and-tear and fatigue compared to a conventional bicycle.
 
Trike? Like Tricycle?
 
Yes! Three wheels on a recumbent cycle means lots of stability and less worry about balance! There’s no need to dismount or place a foot down on the ground when you slow down or stop on a recumbent trike. One of the pleasures of riding a recumbent trike is that you have a comfortable seat to rest, no matter where you go!

The BerkelBike Pro is a unique combination hand and recumbent cycle that offers a variety of benefits to individuals with limited mobility due to spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, paralysis, amputations, MS, and neuromuscular diseases. It was developed in cooperation with physicians, therapists and researchers from rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands, and is used in physiotherapy programs that work to help patients regain strength and motion in impaired legs. ​

Hase takes their Kettwiesel recumbent trike to the next level with the EVOlution, providing superior comfort and performance with the ultimate combination of design and componentry. ​

Rad-Innovations will once again be attending the Long Trail Century Ride to benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. This year the event offers 100, 60, 40 or 20 mile routes, a family friendly 5K, and mountain biking. There's also an apres ride party with live music, food and fun kids activities at the Long Trail brewery in Bridgewater Corners, VT.

The ride is Saturday, June 24th, starting at the Snowshed Base Lodge at Killington Resort in Killington, VT.

Anja will be wielding her trusty wrench to help riders get their bikes, trikes and other equipment rolling. If you see her, be sure to stop and say hello!

Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports works to empower people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreational programming, regardless of ability to pay.

Happy riding!

Tricycles are a wonderful tool for getting exercise, getting outdoors, leaving the car parked or even getting off the beaten path. They offer much greater stability than a two-wheeled bike, and with modern technology, are more fun, fast and safer than ever before. But now that you’ve decided a trike might be your next ride, you’ll have to choose between tadpole and delta designs. But when it comes to tadpole vs. delta trikes, which is right for you?

Both common designs, tadpole and delta, have unique characteristics and benefits. Let’s explore both in more detail.