How to Pick a Hand Bike

Riding a hand bike

Also known as a Hand Cycle or a Hand-Cranked Bike, the Hand Bike is a unique and stylist form of manually powered transportation. Hand bikes come in a 3-wheel design, because they are typically used as a bicycle for those who are normally restricted to a wheel chair. Rather than peddling the bike with your legs, you use your hands to crank the peddles. Hand Bikes are also very stylish, making them a favorite not just with those who have restricted mobility, but also those who want something that looks a little cooler than your standard bike.

Instructions

1. Establish a budget for your hand bikes. Hand bikes are generally made to order, and very expensive. Prices can range from $1,000 to over $4,000 for a single hand bike, so think about how much money you can comfortably spend on your hand bike.

2. Think about whether you are purchasing your hand bike purely for exercise, or if there is an element of leisure involved. If it is purely for exercise, look at stationary hand bike models. Otherwise, look at traditional hand bikes that will expand your mobility.

3. Consider your riding conditions. If you mostly ride on flat terrain, then a general purpose, single speed hand bike will work great. If your terrain has a lot of hills to climb, you may wish to spend a little extra money for a 3-speed hand bike.

4. Sit in the hand bike to see how easy it is for you to get in and out of the drivers seat. This is a particularly important step for anyone who may need to move from a wheelchair to the hand bike without assistance. In this instance, also make sure your hand bike has some form of lockable breaking that will prevent the bike from moving while you take your seat.

5. Sit back and see how comfortable the hand bike is. Does it feel like a natural fit? A bike with adjustable seating is better, but may cost more. Also take note of how easy it is to reach and turn the hand crank. If it is difficult for you to reach, make sure the model can be adjusted to a level that is easy for you.

6. Take the model for a quick drive down the aisle or in the parking lot. This is an expensive piece of equipment, so you should make sure you are 100% happy with it’s performance before you take possession of the bike.

Tips & Warnings

• Riding a hand bike requires a lot of upper body strength, and is particularly rough on the forearms. Make sure you are in good shape before riding too far from home.