Adapted bike

[katespain]

Hi

I have a daughter who is 2.5 years old as has spastic quad. We have (hopefully) secured some funding for an adapted bikes for her, but her physio has no experience in this field to advise us on what adaptions she needs. I would be grateful for any help,

The bike is a MUSKETEER SPECIAL NEEDS TRIKE from Misson Cycles in the UK. I have attached a file with the 3 seat and 2 pedal types

Currently she uses a Smart Trike which has a molded pastic seat. We use her trike for short distance 10/15mins max. I am not sure if she tires because it is hard for her to sit up or because with the solid wheels she feels every lump and bump in the road. She can sit at a chair and briefly on the floor, which would you recommend?

At the moment we strap her feet to the pedals with piedro boots or AFOs on. Will self leveling pedels be enough or are foot saddles better?

Fixed or Free wheel. Her Smart trike has the option to switch between but this time we must choose. She can´t walk so at the moment we tend to put it onto fixed wheel so her feet have to go round. But we would like her to be independant, I think she is starting to try and pedel should be go for free wheel and hope she learns to wheel herself and eventually her independance? Or stay with fixed wheel. This bike will hòpefully last for 2/3 years.

Thanks in advance and if you need any futher info please do not hesitate to ask. I can send a picture of her on her current bike

Thanks again
Kate




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[estherderu]

Dear Kate,

In the quote below, I have reacted to your questions in blue......

Hi

I have a daughter who is 2.5 years old as has spastic quad. We have (hopefully) secured some funding for an adapted bikes for her, but her physio has no experience in this field to advise us on what adaptions she needs. I would be grateful for any help,

The bike is a MUSKETEER SPECIAL NEEDS TRIKE from Misson Cycles in the UK. I have attached a file with the 3 seat and 2 pedal types

Currently she uses a Smart Trike which has a molded pastic seat. We use her trike for short distance 10/15mins max. I am not sure if she tires because it is hard for her to sit up or because with the solid wheels she feels every lump and bump in the road. She can sit at a chair and briefly on the floor, which would you recommend?

At the moment we strap her feet to the pedals with piedro boots or AFOs on. Will self leveling pedels be enough or are foot saddles better? This depends, you will need foot saddles if her feet have trouble staying on the pedals. You will notice this when she want to push... if her legs tend to straighten themselves, her feet will slip off the pedals, if they do not, then self leveling with toe clips could be enough.

Fixed or Free wheel. Her Smart trike has the option to switch between but this time we must choose. She can´t walk so at the moment we tend to put it onto fixed wheel so her feet have to go round. But we would like her to be independant, I think she is starting to try and pedel should be go for free wheel and hope she learns to wheel herself and eventually her independance? Or stay with fixed wheel. This bike will hòpefully last for 2/3 years. If she is really willing and able to learn I would opt for the wheel that she can manage herself.
Thanks in advance and if you need any futher info please do not hesitate to ask. I can send a picture of her on her current bike If you can, please do, that will give us an impression of her postural stability

Thanks again
Kate

And as far a choosing a seat: there are a few options-

1. if she can sit on a bench without support (hands and feet free) than you do not need a full back support
2. if her legs are tending to scissor, I would say the saddle (red and black) with back support would be the best option
3. if they do not scissor, the lycra back support saddle (black) would be sufficient

kind regards

Esther