United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi All,

Had a question from a newbie on the arm sling thread, so I thought we could start a new one just for his question. He wants to know how to set up his road bike. He doesn't have any finger or hand movement on his left side.

So all of you bikers, both road and mountain, please detail how much movement you have and then what you did to your bike to ride again.

I will start: I have no movement to speak of, so I get my arm out of the way and use the sling to keep arm secure to my body. I set my bike up over twenty years ago and have looked into getting a new one with all new components and it is about the same, so I will comment like I was building a new one.

Both brakes are worked by right brake lever, you get a tandem slitter that splits the brake line after in comes out of the lever, so both brakes are activated at the same time.

I would use the brake that has the rear derailer in it. The front derailer you can use a mountain bike one but put on the top of your bar on the right side.

I don't use anything special for water bottles, I just reach down and grab and drink, but I know people don't like that I ride without having my hand on the bars. So if you want to make it easier, there are water bottles that have the drinking tube you can mount to come up right in the front.

Other than that, I think everything is the same. One other thing, I know I have a high gear for the rear so it is easier to ride up hills as I don't ever get out of the saddle.

Hope this helps and also that others will post because I know people set their bikes up different.

Dan

Hi Dan,
Thanks for setting the thread up for a newbie. I should have been clearer; like you I have no movement at all on the left side, not just hand/fingers. Even with my free muscle transfer I won't be able to support weight in elbow extension.

I would be interested in hearing from others and/or seeiing pics.

Best,
Mike

I ride my mountain bike thusly... I have the tandem brake lever, so both brakes go into that. I then have the rear derailleur on a twist shifter, and use a normal thumb shifter for the front cog. I tend to drink from a bottle when I stop, but use a Camelback water bottle the rest of the time - you just put the hose into your mouth and bite down on it, so your hand's off the bar for a couple of seconds at most.

I have a paralysed right arm, and just put the hand in my pocket. I don't ride that hard any more - too many old war wounds )

Hi Dan

Long time no talk but been busy and leasy with exercise but hope I can get back on shape this summer I will e-mail you guys later on to try organize something in September (next two month I will be busy and traveling) and look at this site Mike http://b2r.free.fr/?lang=1 you can see pics and it also shoes a nice setting for a mountain bike I also use a Steering Stabilizer (not need it but helps to ride hard)here is the web of the guys I bught it from http://www.extremesteering.com/Steering_Stabilizer.htm but look like they are working on a new version.

Good luck with the project

Fernando