Cycling with a disability. I'm gonna try it!

[farfromtheland]

I had an operation on my left leg in 2024, a popliteal endarterectomy where they scrape out a partially blocked artery. It went well but the surgeon unfortunately nicked the nerve feeding my left foot. It's almost OK for walking but slightly numb, leading to balance issues if I try to stand on one leg.
I've always planted my left foot on the ground and thrown my right leg over the crossbar when starting off. I think that there is a reasonable chance that mounting the bike would be a complete disaster but I have not put it to the test just yet.

Yes, I'm a complete coward. BTW, once moving, I can't see why a numb/floppy foot should be a problem. It's the stationary stuff that slightly worries me.


I wish you all good luck.

I had foot drop after a nerve was cut in a botched spiral fracture op.
One year of intense self-devised physio and I got 99.5% ankle function back.
The you sooner you start the better, and I had to insist on a removeable half-cast rather than encasement.
You may not be able to recover that much now, but I wish you the best.
(I always want to mention this in case it might help someone, somewhere, somehow.)

 

[farfromtheland]

Correct. I haven't ridden one but my buddy who does has told me this. The technique is different and counter intuitive but from what I gather quite easy to learn.

The most crazy fun 'trike' I ever rode was a sidecar BMX designed and built by my uncle and cousins with motocross pedigree. Happy days.

 

[farfromtheland]

I may give the toe cages a shot tho.

I always liked em. Once you get the knack I think you might.
Best wishes!

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

What about a three wheel recumbent. There’s a wealth of threads on those things kicking a round on here.

(I often ride a 3-wheel tadpole recumbent) couple of years ago in a French campsite another similar recumbent arrives (French rider) and we were chatting and he's done 120 km that day which was further than my rides so I said "good distance" then he pointed out his (missing) leg - amputee.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

but I still got balance issues

Balance issues are complex and their impact even more complex. Sorry to be a bit dull but ...

A lot depends on the causes of your balance issues as there are a vast range of causes and shortcomings that can impact balance and in different ways.

Additionally brain plasticity allows your body to make adjustments to improve balance even though the causing condition itself has not improved (at least for some causes). For example, balance relies on a number of different (unconnected) senses and processing in the briain. For simplicity consider inner ear, eyes and proprioception (muscle positioning). For example suppose an inner ear on one side starts "misbehaving" (and a vast range of causes and impacts) but initially balance suffers; but over time brain adapts to place higher importance on eyes which then offsets the condition impacting balance from inner ear (which may not be the inner ear but eg nerve transmission from the inner ear).

Some balance conditions may resolve (or significantly reduce) but have caused the way the brain processes balance issues to have changed causing other balance issues.

And those suffering some balance conditions can undertake exercises to retrain aspects of the balance system but these take time for the brain plasticity to adapt to eg 6 months.

So, how much balance issues affect cycling can be very variable depending on both condition and over time how your body adapts.

 

[Poacher]

From some of @Bio_Carbon 's comments, e.g. lack of income, I suspect he might not be UK based.
Maybe he could let us know, so we can try and suggest local resources.

 

[classic33]

From some of @Bio_Carbon 's comments, e.g. lack of income, I suspect he might not be UK based.
Maybe he could let us know, so we can try and suggest local resources.

Noticed the prices he gave were in $'s not £'s and thought the same.

 

[ColinJ]

You do still need balance on a tricycle believe it or not. It's different to being on two wheels but you need to move your body to counter the trike leaning in to cambers etc.

I know that is true for the old type with 2 wheels at the back. Does it also apply to trikes with 2 front wheels?

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

You do still need balance on a tricycle believe it or not. It's different to being on two wheels but you need to move your body to counter the trike leaning in to cambers etc.

On a recumbent trike a lot lot lot less so.

Maybe the need to distinguish between an upright trike and a recumbent trike.

 

[Hilldodger]

I know that is true for the old type with 2 wheels at the back. Does it also apply to trikes with 2 front wheels?

I have both and I believe it's the same but I've been riding all types of trikes (and two wheelers) for such a long time it is just natural to me.

 

[Bio_Carbon]

I've always planted my left foot on the ground and thrown my right leg over the crossbar when starting off. I think that there is a reasonable chance that mounting the bike would be a complete disaster but I have not put it to the test just yet.

This IS a problem, but in my previous attempt on my lawn with my MTB I solved it. Lay the bike on its side. Ideally derailleur side up for obvious reasons, step over it, so your bike is basically between your legs, just lying down and then just kinda pick it up. Takes a try or two, but if you got issues mounting, then this is honestly a good option. Not elegant, but functional. I'm glad to hear your nerve is cut, because if it does not heal, you may actually have the option of surgery. Best of luck with that, my cripple homie. I'm optimistic in your case.

Is there somewhere nearby with a narrow, surfaced footpath through a park or field you could make your first attempts on?

I fear not, but I'm already kinda happy that I live in a fairly long cul de sac. At least I won't have to deal with cars of pedestrians.

From some of @Bio_Carbon 's comments, e.g. lack of income, I suspect he might not be UK based.
Maybe he could let us know, so we can try and suggest local resources.

You are correct. I'm from Germany. The coma also shot my cardio-vascular health to shoots. I went to my old workplace the other day because they had a summer fest. I was driven to the nearest subway, used that to get to the city had maybe a 500m walk and then just sat down, eaten and chatted. When I came home I was about as tired as I used to be after a two hour workout or a 4h bike ride. I simply could not hold a job right now. There is social security and maybe I should have been clearer in that regard, but to me income is work. Social security is there, that's but it's a lot less than minimum wage and when I need stuff (recently needed new compression socks due to my kidney damage), most of it will be paid by insurance, but here and there the odd 50 or 100€ bill sneaks in and it's honestly a burden. With work, you wouldn't think twice about that, but on social security, it's tough. I treated myself to a pizza today and I know I'm gonna eat canned stuff the rest of the week.

 

[slowmotion]

^^^^ Thanks @Bio_Carbon

 

[Velorum59]

I suffer from the joint issues that come with my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome diagnosis. I am also dyspraxic and incredibly clumsy - my family used to say that I could 'trip over fresh air'.

However when I am on a bike for some reason my dyspraxia diminishes - perhaps because I am so focused.

As regards joint pain my right knee and hip are the worst - some days my knee will cope with very little strain before becoming painful.

Despite both of these issues I am a 'utility cyclist' and my bikes are my only form of transport. I manage just fine - I find the key things are running very low gear set ups and using vintage flat pedals without clips of any kind so that when needed my feet can rotate.

When I lived in Reading I recall I chap who managed perfectly well with a prosthetic leg. I also remember a guy in London with a prosthetic arm who commuted 10 miles every day.

Most things are possible in my view.

Good luck - and keep going!

 

[Rusty Nails]

I haven’t seen any mention of a stationary bike nor how long you have been in this situation. It may be worthwhile trying one out for a while to help get the correct sort of movement in the legs/feet.

My wife was in a coma for a while after sepsis and had to learn to walk again. It wasn’t an overnight recovery but eventually she got back to full mobility.

Good Luck with recovery.

 

[BrumJim]

I suffer from the joint issues that come with my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome diagnosis. I am also dyspraxic and incredibly clumsy - my family used to say that I could 'trip over fresh air'.

However when I am on a bike for some reason my dyspraxia diminishes - perhaps because I am so focused.

As regards joint pain my right knee and hip are the worst - some days my knee will cope with very little strain before becoming painful.

Despite both of these issues I am a 'utility cyclist' and my bikes are my only form of transport. I manage just fine - I find the key things are running very low gear set ups and using vintage flat pedals without clips of any kind so that when needed my feet can rotate.

When I lived in Reading I recall I chap who managed perfectly well with a prosthetic leg. I also remember a guy in London with a prosthetic arm who commuted 10 miles every day.

Most things are possible in my view.

Good luck - and keep going!

Ah, another bendy person.

My wife is hypermobile, although health issues means that riding a bike is beyond her at the moment. My son, potentially, is, but competes regionally and nationally, so probably not a good example.

But there is another member of his cycling club, 12 years old, who is hypermobile, and whose knee tends to track outwards a bit. She's much more mild than her sister, who doesn't ride. Thinking that cycling is very good exercise for the hypermobile (unless you have a big crash), as movements are restricted by the pedals.