Stumps and Cranks. An Introduction to Amputee Cycling by Sonia Sanghani

Author:Sonia Sanghani [Sanghani, Sonia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782554196
Publisher: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd.
Published: 2016-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

2/2 Navigation instrument – courtesy of www.garmin.com

Satellite navigation systems (sat nav) for cyclists have to be robust. The most obvious place for a sat nav is centered on the handlebars to maintain balance. A bulky device on the handlebars increases the weight and stability of the bike. The device should be weatherproof, durable, and fall proof, and the screen ideally should be readable in sunlight. The method of strapping the device to the handlebars should not be too complicated so it can be taken on and off the bike to reduce opportunistic theft when parked. As the handlebars experience some turbulence on rough road conditions, the device should be stable on the mount as it is difficult to read a jolting screen. The difficulty for many will be choice of route. For beginners, the satellite navigation system should direct them to cycle specific paths and traffic-free areas, whereas for advanced cyclists who are used to and don’t mind cycling with traffic, it can work out the quickest or shortest route to the destination.

For such cyclists, lane guidance and junction information may prove useful. Some basic systems are available as applications on a smart phone. Using these may be convenient for short journeys, but they tend to use up a lot of battery power. A high-quality, dedicated satellite navigation system can provide more than 12 hours of use on a full charge.

DISTANCE

So how far do you want to cycle? Around the world? Around the USA? Around Africa? Around New York or Tokyo? You will want to do at least one of these things as soon as you realize you can actually ride a bike. Everyone does – deep down, if you ask them, each and every one of us has a goal that keeps us motivated to keep cycling. It’s good to have such goals and a real accomplishment to achieve them. In the early stages of cycling, though, choose shorter routes. Doing a few of these will increase your confidence and improve your familiarity with the bike. Definition of shorter in this context means start off in terms of half a mile or kilometer. Progress to 1 mile or kilometer, 2 miles or kilometers, 5 miles or kilometers, to 10 miles or kilometers gradually over a number of consecutive cycling sessions.

Some amputees underestimate their ability to cycle and set themselves small distances only. They may attempt a longer distance which they hadn’t contemplated previously as their cycling improves, or they may plateau at a certain short distance and are happier working more on their cycling technique and pace rather than trying to cycle longer and longer distances.

Others will set themselves a long-distance target straight away. For avid car, train, or airplane users who regularly travel 100 miles or more each way to work, such very short distances may not be a part of their general everyday vocabulary or thought processes; it may take a little effort for them to get used to. Splitting up the overall distance into sets of

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