Apropos of a conversation with another cyclist last night:
REMAP offers a taste of freedom
REMAP is a registered charity that has provided one-off technical aids that help disabled people of all ages to enjoy a better lifestyle for more than 30 years. Sometimes the smallest gadget or the simplest modification to a piece of existing equipment can make an enormous difference to somebody's life.
Case study:
A client with thalidomide, who was born without any arms, contacted REMAP as he had children and wanted to cycle with them, as well as get more exercise.
Engineers from REMAP used a recumbent tricycle to design and build a bicycle which gives the client full control in a safe manner. Wherever possible proprietary parts were used or modified, but the frame and many other parts had to be made from scratch. The tricycle is steered by rotating the shoulders, the brakes are foot operated — it has a hydraulic disc brake at the rear and conventional caliper brake at the front — and the eight gears are operated by the inside of the knees. It has battery-powered turn indicators.
The client can now accompany his children on cycle rides and get good cardiovascular exercise.
(agenda: News and events from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 3. 7 (2004): 5.)
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