Hello everyone. I'm new to the group, and seeking advice. I'm involved in a project seeking to get riders with disabilities out on real MTB trails. There are a couple of things I'd like to ask for your thoughts on, and I'll put the second under a different title to keep things simple.
So, question 2:
Do you think a 'bent would be suitable for a rider with arm weakness or loss?
One of the riders we have been working with has nerve damage to one arm rendering it fairly ineffective, with very little in the way of grip. He rides a conventional road bike, but find that his "good" arm soon gets fatigued as it is effectively supporting his whole weight. Off-road on a conventional bike is out of the question as it would require him to control and balance the bike, along with supporting his weight with one arm.
If a 'bent can provide a real off-road experience (question 1, different post), I wondered whether the riding position might be more forgiving for riders with this sort of injury. Certainly there seems not to be the need to support the body mass. I imagine that a 'bent with "below the legs" steering (i'm sure there is a correct term) would be a fairly light touch. Do you feel that, with the appropriate positioning of controls, that such a bike could be confidently ridden single handedly?
OK so it was actually more than one question. Anyway, I'd really like to hear from anyone with practical experience of riding off-road, and hear your thoughts on the techniques you use and the practical limits you have experienced in your riding.