The bicycle isn’t just a form of recreation, it’s also a powerful tool. If you need proof of that, take a look at Ride 2 Recovery. An arm of the Fitness Challenge (5013C), the main goal of Ride 2 Recovery is to rehabilitate injured veterans using adaptive bikes. We’ve featured their incredible builds before, but their work is still just as important as ever.
If you’re looking for a bigger way to thank our veterans, consider donating to Ride 2 Recovery or signing up for signing up for one of the 2015 United Healthcare Challenge series – a 350-400 mile multi-day ride where your paid entry goes directly to Ride 2 Recovery. Need an example of their work? Check out the repost of Timothy Brown’s amazing adaptive mountain trike that not only helped him through recovery, but provided the triple amputee a chance to enjoy mountain biking again…
This story originally appeared on Bikerumor on Sept. 25, 2013
Any cyclist that has ever had an injury that has kept them off the bike, knows the feeling of frustration that comes from not being able to ride. However, Timothy Brown is proof that seemingly no matter how bad the injury is, where there is a will, there’s a way. As a triple amputee, Timothy is crushing it on his adaptive recumbent trike thanks to Ride 2 Recovery – a nonprofit doing some great things by helping wounded veterans get rolling again. We recently had a chance to check out Matt DeWitt’s radical custom Diamondback Sortie that was also built by R2R, and this trike is just as awe inspiring.
Starting its life as a Lasher Sport full suspension hand cycle, the offroad trike uses three Fox Float X CTD shocks to keep the wheels glued to the ground.
If that wasn’t enough radness, the trike shifts with an adapted Shimano Di2 drivetrain. Thanks to the push button modular nature of the Di2 system, it makes a great option for bikes like this where a traditional shifter simply won’t work. While DeWitt’s bike used large top tube pads as shift buttons that he hit with his knees, Timothy uses two Di2 climbing shifters that he is able to use with his right leg residual limb. Not only is the limb able to shift, Timothy also uses it to activate the rear brakes – two Tektro hydraulic disc brakes activated by one lever. Under the seat there is a splitter where the single hose from the lever is split into two for each brake.
The front brake or brakes are equally interesting with two calipers clamping the same rotor. The main brake is an Avid Code which should provide massive stopping power. The other caliper is BB7 mechanical caliper that functions as a parking brake through the Dia-compe lever at the top.
Braking is all controlled by Timothy’s left hand while his right prosthetic arm attaches to the crank in order to pedal.
At the seat Timothy is held in place with a lap belt and is able to stay hydrated with a flexible hydration hose over his right shoulder.
Thanks to R2R founder John Wordin, equipment director Scott Moro, and a number of other R2R team members, Timothy was able to ride his trike for the first time on the Interbike Honor ride – a 25 mile ride from Mandalay Bay to the Outdoor Demo. To learn more about the bikes, their mission, or to donate to an extremely worthy cause, check out Ride2Recovery.
Video from the Bush Center
