Handcycles

A handcycle is a type of human powered land vehicle powered by the arms rather than the legs, as on a bicycle. Most handcycles are tricycle in form, with two coasting rear wheels and one steerable powered front wheel. Occasionally known as an Irish bicycle.

Many manufacturers have designed and released hand-powered recumbent trikes, or handcycles. Handcycles are a regular sight at HPV meets and are beginning to be seen on the streets. These usually follow a delta design with front wheels driven by standard derailleur gearing powered by hand cranks. Brake levers are usually mounted on the hand holds, which are usually set with no offset rather than the 180° of pedal cranks. The entire crank assembly and the front wheel turn together, allowing the rider to steer and crank simultaneously.

Thanks to modern technology, handcycles come in a variety of styles, making them accessible to people of all abilities, including many persons with disabilities.

Fork steer handcycles represent the majority of handcycles sold. They work well for both low and high-level injuries, and most have adjustable footrests, seat angle, and come with a variety of gearing, wheel and tire configurations depending on intended use: racing, recreation or touring. Manufacturers of this type of handcycle include Invacare (Top End), Intrepid Equipment, Varna, Schmicking and Sunrise Medical (Quickie).

Lean steer handcycles are another type of handcycle. In this type of handcycle the rider leans into the turn to steer. There is a longer learning curve with lean steer handcycles, and they are significantly less stable at high speed. The lean steer system feels similar to mono skiing, using your whole body to steer the handcycle. Lean steer handcycles can work well for lower-level injuries, although some athletes with high-level disability use them. Manufacturers of this type of handcycle include Brike International Ltd. (Freedom Ryder).

The "off road" handcycle is a third type of handcycle. This handcycle is different from other handcycles in that there are two wheels in front and one behind and it has high gear ratio range. This gives the cycle the ability to tackle steep slopes, and permits handcycle "mountain biking." Handcycles have also been used for touring, and to better accommodate this interest some manufacturers incorporate mudguards and pannier cargo racks. As handcycles evolve they have become progressively lighter, and have better gearing for long climbs and long distance touring.

Handcycling is a great upper body workout and can provide a great sense of freedom for persons with disabilities. While the high cost of these cycles means that they are still relatively rare, they continue to grow in popularity.