Cycling despite MS, polio, spinal cord injury or stroke?!

The BerkelBike, a hybrid between a recumbent bike and a handcycle, makes it possible!

The BerkelBike is a tricycle with the propulsion coming from both arm and leg power. The arm part operates in drive as well as in steering exactly the same as a handcycle. By handbiking with your arms, your legs make automatically the same movement as on a bicycle. Every strengths you can add with your legs is favourable. In this way you train your legs and your health maximal. Due to smart devices your feet does not slip off the pedals.

Ask for the DVD or watch the video.

Your posture is more upright and higher than the average recumbent. One of the models you can connect to your own wheelchair, just like an attachable handcycle.

Greg McClure and FES Cycling

I am trying to raise as much money as I can for this great cause by participating in The Sun-Herald City2Surf, presented by Westpac. Please click on this link to visit my fundraising page to find out all about it. Please dig deep to sponsor me. It only takes a few seconds.

You can visit my fundraising page at http://www.fundraise.city2surf.com.au/greg_mcclure

My legs became paralysed from an injury to my spine during a motorcycle accident 18 years ago. This cut off electrical nerve impulses from my brain to my legs, so my legs don’t respond to what my brain tells them to do anymore. By using computer-controlled electrodes directly on my leg muscles (called functional electrical stimulation or FES for short), my legs can be artificially stimulated to move enough to cycle. I’ve been training my legs using FES for around 15 years as part of research at Sydney University’s Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Unit. Not only is it fun to cycle, it also helps improves the cardiovascular health and reduces muscle wasting in those affected by spinal cord injury.

For people with a spinal cord injury it is often possible, due to electrical stimulation of the crippled muscles,  to actively use the legs again since for instance 30 years! Read more about this by "with Impuls".

Or just look at one of the videos. Then you will understand why so many people are enthusiastic about the BerkelBike and why so many prices have been won. The best thing to do, is trying out the BerkelBike yourself. This way you will experience that we have combined the best things of the handcycle, recumbent bike and tricly and added some more.

As you can see in the userlist does the BerkelBike not only give people with for example paraplegia new opportunities to improve their health. People with different disabilities have already benefited the BerkelBike.

In 2006 and 2009 I represented Australia in the Electrical Stimulation Olympics in the UK which was great fun and brought together electrical stimulation cyclists from all over the world. This year I’ve decided to join the City2Surf for the first time to raise awareness about spinal cord injury. I’m going to complete the City2Surf race on a BerkelBike which is a neat looking bicycle which uses electrical stimulation to help me cycle. It will be tough since muscles tire easily when artificially stimulated, but I’m determined to show everyone that it’s possible.

The money raised through my City2Surf ride will support the Spinal Cord Injury Network in working towards better treatments for spinal cord injury. We need more research to help improve the lives of the more than 10,000 people in Australia living with spinal cord injury.

Spread the word and send to as many people as possible.

Thank you very much.

Greg McClure

Free test ride

The BerkelBike can be tested in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and even in Sydney, Australia! To apply for a test ride, you can fill out this form.

Exercise and Spinal Cord Injury

Exercise has great health benefit and can improve overall quality of life. Watch the film of the Spinal Cord Injury Network, Australia at the right side.