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Considering Para Sports? Give Adaptive Cycling a Try

Contributor Keja MacEwan
6 minute read
A person uses their recumbent cycle for adaptive cycling in a field.

From road to track to trail, cycling offers something for everyone — whether you’re a Paralympic athlete, an old fan returning to cycling after an injury, or someone who has never been on a bike. “There really is no limit to who can participate, with the right equipment and supports,” says Keja MacEwan, director of operations for adaptive sports at Spaulding Rehabilitation of Mass General Brigham.

Adaptive cycling is as rewarding as it is accessible, MacEwan adds. “After an injury, it might seem like you can’t get back to the things you love, but you can,” she says. “If you think cycling might be your jam, let’s go do it.” 

Benefits of adaptive cycling

Cycling provides a range of physical and emotional benefits. That’s true whether you’re riding a classic two-wheeled upright bike or taking advantage of all that adaptive cycling has to offer. 

Benefits of adaptive cycling include:

  • Fitness: Riding bikes, trikes, and other adaptive cycles is a fun and effective way to get physical activity. “Cycling is a fantastic way to get your heart rate going,” MacEwan says. 
  • Social connection: The adaptive cycling community offers a lot of support and camaraderie. Many adaptive cycling programs, including those at Spaulding Rehabilitation, offer group rides that allow people to socialize and find community. “There are so many smiles when people come and see each other again. It’s a mini reunion every time,” she adds. 
  • Feeling good: Cycling is a great way to boost your mood and build confidence in your abilities. Maybe you’re climbing on a tandem cycle for the first time, or maybe you’re embarking on an 80-kilometer handcycle race. With adaptive cycling, riders can set their own goals and work toward them at their own pace. 
  • Getting outside: Breathing fresh air, immersing yourself in nature — cycling gives you an opportunity to make the most of being outdoors. Mountain biking can be a particularly exciting option for many people with disabilities, MacEwan says. “Getting into the woods is often a hard thing to do if you have mobility challenges. Adaptive mountain biking is a wonderful outlet that opens that up to people.”  
“There really is no limit to who can participate, with the right equipment and supports.”

Keja MacEwan

Director of Operations for Adaptive Sports

Spaulding Rehabilitation

Paracycling support and equipment

In the world of adaptive cycling, the possibilities are almost endless. “There’s a broad range of adaptations for people with all types of disabilities,” MacEwan says. Some common types of adaptive cycles include:

An athlete with a prosthetic leg rides his two-wheeled leg cycle.
  • Recumbent cycles: Many of the adaptive cycles are recumbent cycles. These cycles allow a rider to sit in a reclined position and come in either 2- or 3-wheeled versions that are powered either by legs or hands. A recumbent position can reduce stress on the back and joints, making it more comfortable for many riders. Three-wheeled recumbents can be easier to balance than a standard upright bicycle, offering extra stability to those that need it. 
  • Leg cycles: Leg cycles can be modified in many ways to suit the needs of a rider. Two-wheeled cycles can have special pedals or handlebars to accommodate differences in leg or arm length or amputations, with or without prosthetics. Three-wheeled recumbent leg cycles add stability, provide varying levels of trunk support, and offer adaptations for upper or lower limb disability.  
  • Hand cycles: Riders control hand cycles with their upper bodies, steering, pedaling, and braking with their arms and hands. The hand controls can often be modified for riders with varying grip strength or dexterity. Seating positions can vary from upright to laying down, offering recreational to competitive options.
  • Tandem cycles: On tandem cycles, riders cycle with a partner seated in front or side by side. Cyclists who are blind or have low vision can ride — and even compete — on tandem cycles with a sighted pilot guiding the cycle. Tandem cycling is also a great option for riders with limited physical or cognitive abilities who can’t safely operate a cycle on their own. Such cycles provide varying levels of physical support for the rider, including the possibility of a platform on which a rider can sit in their own wheelchair.

Any of these cycles can be adapted in all sorts of ways. For instance, gears can be moved to either the left or right side of the handlebars, depending on the rider’s needs. Various types of pedals can be added to provide more foot support. People with limited strength and mobility in their ankles can pedal a leg cycle with aid from calf supports. Elbow shifters allow riders to change gears without using their fingers. 

And the list goes on (and on). “Many of these parts are interchangeable, so we can find the combination that works for every rider,” MacEwan says.

Getting started with adaptive cycling

Purchasing a custom-built adaptive cycle can be pricey. But more and more communities are adopting programs to make adaptive cycling more accessible, MacEwan says. 

At Spaulding, adaptive sports specialists lead a variety of low-cost adaptive cycling programs across Massachusetts, including one-on-one sessions and group rides. Similar programs are offered in most regions of the country, MacEwan adds. She recommends checking out Move United, a nonprofit adaptive sports organization that serves youth and adults with disabilities, to find a program near you. 

For people with a competitive drive, para cycling offers many opportunities, MacEwan adds — and not just at the Paralympic level. “Races are designed so you’re racing against other folks with similar disabilities, on similar equipment,” she explains. But even if you’re not driven to compete, cycling is a great opportunity for fun and fitness for anyone ready to ride.

Learn more about adaptive sports at Mass General Brigham. (opens external link in new tab)

Contributor

Keja MacEwan
Director of Operations for Adaptive Sports