R&E Stricker Reha-Entwicklungen GmbH
5
Manual Handbikes
Safety and driving instructions for accident prevention
5.2.4 Braking
Check whether the braking power of your handbike
settings of the brakes (“15.5 V-Brake” and “15.6
Disc brake”). Note that weather conditions, the
road surface and the weight of the handbike and
distance.
Make sure that the parking brakes of your
wheelchair are set correctly. Always use the
parking brakes to secure your vehicle against
unintentional rolling away, especially when parking
on sloping surfaces. Avoid parking on sloping
surfaces if possible.
Ensure that the coaster brake detent button is fully
engaged. Also test the function of the automatic
back-pedal engagement (“12.1 Coaster brake”).
5.2.5 Toothed belt
Check the toothed belt for mechanical damage and
irregularities.
Check the tension of the toothed belt and adjust
the belt if necessary (“5.2.5 Toothed belt”).
5.3 Driving instructions
5.3.1 Getting used to the handbike
WARNING
Always adjust your driving to the degree of your
disability.
WARNING
Always drive only fast enough to be able to
brake safely at any time, even in unforeseeable
situations! This applies especially to downhill
driving.
WARNING
Always hold the cranks with both hands when
riding and braking to reduce the risk of accidents.
Safe control of the combination of wheelchair and
handbike requires some practice. Cautious and
slow riding is particularly useful for beginners.
Avoid mountainous terrain and bad roads at the
beginning until you have familiarized yourself with
the driving characteristics of the handbike.
By attaching the handbike to your wheelchair,
the four-wheeled wheelchair becomes a tricycle
with various advantages and disadvantages. In
curves, a tricycle is more unstable than a normal
wheelchair! In the beginning, familiarize yourself
with the new driving and tilting behavior by driving
carefully. Avoid jerky steering movements at all
costs!
Also slowly get used to the higher speeds that can
be reached with the handbike. Adjust your speed to
5.3.2 Driving at dusk and darkness
Always switch on the built-in lighting for rides at
dusk and in the dark. Attach the supplied rear light
to the back of your wheelchair. Always check the
batteries for the rear light before driving off and
have new ones ready.
5.3.3 Risk of falling
Avoid jerky steering movements at all costs!
Drive at a slow speed, especially in curves and in
unclear situations. Tilt your upper body towards the
inside of the curve (like a cyclist) to avoid tipping
over the wheelchair.
With narrow wheelchairs and little camber of the
wheelchair’s drive wheels, the lateral tipping hazard
is particularly high. To reduce the risk of tipping, we
recommend our track widening Kippex.
To avoid the risk of falling, do not perform the
following maneuvers with the handcycle:
• Driving over several steps or landings
• Driving over a curb at an angle
• Turning on sloping roads
• Quick steering movements
• Abrupt braking in curves
• Braking too hard on wet roads
Reduce your speed when transitioning between
slopes and level terrain.
negative camber of the wheelchair’s rear wheels.
5.3.4 Mountain rides
If the incline is too steep, the drive wheel can lose
grip and spin. To improve the climbing ability,
you can equip your handbike with a wheelbase
extension and additional weights. These also have
a positive effect on traction on unpaved paths and
braking behavior. Avoid attaching weight (e.g. a
backpack) to the back of the wheelchair. It is better
to use a luggage carrier at the front.
