WHATCHOUT HERE I COME...

[gliderider94]

Been talkin real hopefully about building my 94 dresser into a special needs trike which might get me back on the road again. Funny how things turn out. A few good friends of mine came buy the other night and litteraly dragged me out and down to one of the local indy biker bars around here. Ended up tossin back a few with an old time retired rider and builder. A guy who ran in the same circles as me but for some reason I never met. Actually I do know the reason. The coolest guys don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone else and are usually content to sit in the shade and view the frreak show simply as a spectator. You can pass right by these guys if you have your head up you ass, but they're the ones you really want to hang with once you've rid yourself of all the posers.

Anyway... We get invited back to this guys house and end up partying till the wee hours in his garage where he has an impressive collection of self built old school scooters. I got drunk and started crying in my beer about how I'll probably never ride again because it would be too much work and I no longer have the friends I would now need to help me accomplish such aa seamingly insurmountable task. Well next thing I know, me, him and his old lady are in the house and on the internet and by sunup we had hashed out at least three different plans as well as identified suppliers for every concievable part we'de need to meet the special needs that would be need to be concidered.

Plan 1) With the economy he way it is, there are a lot of nice trikes of all types on the market. Instead of building one, just buy one and adapt it to my needs then recoup some of the cost by selling my current dresser, not a bad idea.

Plan 2) The most aggressive and thechnically appealing. There's a company in Texas called Mystery Designs that build a nascar type independant swing arm trike rear end that sinply bolts up in place of the swing arm. It actually allows the buike to TILT and lean into the turns much like a two wheeler, up 10 degrees. The unit will be built to order to work with ANY users choice of wheels, tires, fenders etc. They can be built as a body off trike but they akso offer a wide veriety of body kits. Really the way I would like to go but somewhat cost prohibitive.

Plan 3) This is the way I've decided to go. There is a company called Voyager Products out of Ottawa, Ill. which makes a two wheeled bolt on outrigger set up (much like training wheels) which keeps the bike itself as unaltered and riding by it's orginal rear drive wheel and drivetrain. It's the most cost affective, and can be installed by more then a few experienced and certified indipendant bike shops in my vacinity. It dosen't look at all as dorkey as those original Training Wheel like units that first came out. It takes about an hour to install by an experience technition, dosen't require modifications to the bike and, it not only has the lean effect I spoke of (up to 12 degrees) but has a rear bumper like cross member that is stout enough to serve as a platform for a wheelchair rack.

All three plans will require that the same special needs be meet...

A) I can no longer shift with my left foot or actualte the rear break with my right foot. EVERYTHING has to be done using the hands. Not a problem. We found a company in Floriday ran by special needs rider that offers a one stop source for everything you could imagine to meet nearly any special need out there

I will leave the clutch lever as is, on the left handlebar and shift gears using an electrically activate pneumatic actuator which will bolt to the left front downtube and atatch to the shifter lever without any welding, drilling or other modifications to the original bike frame. The "Up or Down" shifting will be controlled by an UP/Down toggle type switch mounted near the left handgrip whch can easily be activate by thumb while still operating the clutch lever. This is already in use by hundreds of riders on the street today as well as on dirt biikes and 4 wheelers to name just a few.

The same company also makes a two grip break lever for the right handlebar which will oporate both the front and rear breaks at the same time usung only one hand.

B) I gotta fab some sort of wheelchair rack to which I can stow and retrieve my wheelchair while seated on the bike. My goal here is total indipendace should I choose to ride by myself. Otherwise I gotta find a new old lady to stow and deal with my chair, and I KNOW I aint raeady for that shit. (maybe I could train a special needs monkey - oh well, thats an entirely different project).

Looks like I'm running out of excuses.

Hide yer beer and lock up yer ugly sister. There could be a Bear sighting in your vacinity reel soon.

[Ratbike]

Hey Bear good to hear your are still around, not to mention that you wish to take on such a project as to put you posterior back in the saddle. I have seen the voyage kit on some bikes around here and they look to be well built.

[GzrGldGeo]

Very cool. I hope it all works out for you.

[FATBACK]

Bear,
Im most excited to see you are possibly going to be out riding again. This is great news as well as therapy for the soul. If theres anything I can do just holler! We will pack up the crew and head your way.

Godspeed Bro.

[arthureld]

Will be great to see you back in the saddle again Bear.
Rigging up the wheelchair holder shouldn't be to much of an issue.
There's a guy around her who has a bicycle rigged up on his Moto Guzi.
Not sure why he does it, but the way he has it on there doesn't look as bad as you'd think.

[wreckerman]

keep the faith , sounds like your head is in the right direction now ! it all takes time sweat and work , will see you out here before long

[RacingOrangeRoadster]

Sounds like you'll be on the road real soon. All those options are viable and you'll be able to pull off some bad-ass quick shifts with that solenoid. You could get one of those swingarms they use for hauling boats on top of your car so when you got out of your wheelchair all you would have to do is swing it around to the back of the bike.

[HeadDoc]

goodluck bear ... an interesting project and the rewards will be great when you accomplish it

[Swill]

Good Luck Bear. Nothing that can't be solved with redneck engineering, a welding kit and a couple of cases of beer.

[Padog]

Good to hear Bear! I am not too far south from you and I have a full shop with HF tig, mig and stick welders and am getting ready to set up my mill and lathe so if theres anything I can help with or equipment you need just say the word!