NorCal SCI launches “Able Bodied”, Northern California's only electric assist adaptive cycling program

Wojtek shown in his e-assist bike at the Lick Observatory located on the summit of Mt. Hamilton in San Jose.

Today, we’re taking the first steps toward what we hope will become a game changing adaptive cycling program that allows you to cycle with virtually no limits: use of electric assist handcycles to expand opportunities to ride longer distances, expend as much energy as you want, enjoy the ability to increase speed and open up more terrains to cycle through. Able Bodied is a program operated by NorCal SCI and will be managed by one of our tireless and avid hand cyclist volunteers, Wojtek, who experienced a T5 complete spinal cord injury in 2015. It is designed to bring, as Wojtek would say, “his first able bodied cycling experience since his injury,” and we’re now accepting a limited number of registrations for a free introduction training and ride session that you can sign up for HERE.

As we introduce this program, we’re seeking to learn from the riders about their experience so we can make any necessary modifications to it. At this time, we have one bike that is available for service but riders must be able to transfer from their wheelchairs to the bike independently (or with assistance from a companion), have full function of their hands and not weigh more than 225-lbs. We are working on acquiring and modifying additional bikes, including one that could be used by those with limited hand function.

The Able Bodied program will originate in San Jose for the time being.