Changing a tyre, without hands
05-13-15, 02:12 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Changing a tyre, without hands
I just saw this on the aus.bicycle newsgroup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWCDEAYn8rQ
I am gobsmacked. I know people who are born armless are usually very flexible and nimble with their feet, but this fellow is something else:
-- ABOUT US | Overcome...Don't Stop Living.
According to this video, it was a workplace accident where he came too close to a substation transformer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2JsXPIGQPU
I have no idea how he changes gears or signals turns. Operating the brake would be enough of a challenge. Edit: Some digging revealed how: https://www.bikerumor.com/2014/09/30/...t-stop-living/
I would love to think I'd be as brave as that to try and cycle in that condition, but probably would not be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWCDEAYn8rQ
I am gobsmacked. I know people who are born armless are usually very flexible and nimble with their feet, but this fellow is something else:
In 1992 I almost lost my life in a work related accident. After four weeks in a coma, I awoke in a strange hospital I did not recognize, I felt the sting of the burns all across my body and for the life of me, I could not move my arms. The doctors continued to tell me everything I would do again with hard work and therapy, like button my shirt, brush my hair and feed myself…all things one learned as a child. After letting it all sink in, it became clear that at 24 I had to start my new life … as a bi-lateral amputee.
According to this video, it was a workplace accident where he came too close to a substation transformer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2JsXPIGQPU
I have no idea how he changes gears or signals turns. Operating the brake would be enough of a challenge. Edit: Some digging revealed how: https://www.bikerumor.com/2014/09/30/...t-stop-living/
I would love to think I'd be as brave as that to try and cycle in that condition, but probably would not be.
Last edited by Redhatter; 05-13-15 at 02:18 AM.
05-13-15, 06:35 PM
#2
Full Member
WOW! That is impressive and inspirational!
I went through all the links, but didn't see where the brake lever was; how does he do that?
I went through all the links, but didn't see where the brake lever was; how does he do that?
05-14-15, 01:40 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The brake lever itself operates both brakes.
05-14-15, 05:09 AM
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It goes to show, never give up....there is always a way and we can adapt....We complain about little stuff and look what that guy does with no hands...
05-17-15, 02:11 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It's a good 20 minutes for me to change a rear tyre on my road bike too: largely due to the nutted hub.
Out of interest I did some further digging to see where disabled people have taken cycling.
There are a couple of quad-amputees that cycle, mostly on recumbent trikes. There's stories of various triple-amputees (all of them minus legs and an arm) and a few doubles of various configurations. (Many of these, war veterans.)
This fellow would be the most severely disabled amputee I've seen who rides a largely conventional bike without prosthetics. Add to this he rode across the country unsupported. Now I'm not sure if he packed his arm in the pannier or something. Heck, I wonder how he managed to go to the loo whilst on the road! Given how urgently nature can call, and he has to not only stop, but go rummage around in a pack to put an arm on. Using a phone would be tough too: you'd have to stick a pencil/stylus in your mouth, hold the phone in the hand and start pecking.
The only one who comes close was one kid who was born armless riding an un-modified mountain bike in Chinese traffic. Being born that way though is a little different: you're learning techniques from day one, not re-learning after having done things a particular way for 20 years. That's what surprised me about Hector.
It is fascinating in a way and really brings home the message: as bad as life might seem, there is always someone who's doing it harder!
Out of interest I did some further digging to see where disabled people have taken cycling.
There are a couple of quad-amputees that cycle, mostly on recumbent trikes. There's stories of various triple-amputees (all of them minus legs and an arm) and a few doubles of various configurations. (Many of these, war veterans.)
This fellow would be the most severely disabled amputee I've seen who rides a largely conventional bike without prosthetics. Add to this he rode across the country unsupported. Now I'm not sure if he packed his arm in the pannier or something. Heck, I wonder how he managed to go to the loo whilst on the road! Given how urgently nature can call, and he has to not only stop, but go rummage around in a pack to put an arm on. Using a phone would be tough too: you'd have to stick a pencil/stylus in your mouth, hold the phone in the hand and start pecking.
The only one who comes close was one kid who was born armless riding an un-modified mountain bike in Chinese traffic. Being born that way though is a little different: you're learning techniques from day one, not re-learning after having done things a particular way for 20 years. That's what surprised me about Hector.
It is fascinating in a way and really brings home the message: as bad as life might seem, there is always someone who's doing it harder!
05-21-15, 06:33 AM
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I just saw this on the aus.bicycle newsgroup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWCDEAYn8rQ
I am gobsmacked. I know people who are born armless are usually very flexible and nimble with their feet, but this fellow is something else:
-- ABOUT US | Overcome...Don't Stop Living.
According to this video, it was a workplace accident where he came too close to a substation transformer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2JsXPIGQPU
I have no idea how he changes gears or signals turns. Operating the brake would be enough of a challenge. Edit: Some digging revealed how: Bike Check: Hector Picard of Don?t Stop Living
I would love to think I'd be as brave as that to try and cycle in that condition, but probably would not be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWCDEAYn8rQ
I am gobsmacked. I know people who are born armless are usually very flexible and nimble with their feet, but this fellow is something else:
-- ABOUT US | Overcome...Don't Stop Living.
According to this video, it was a workplace accident where he came too close to a substation transformer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2JsXPIGQPU
I have no idea how he changes gears or signals turns. Operating the brake would be enough of a challenge. Edit: Some digging revealed how: Bike Check: Hector Picard of Don?t Stop Living
I would love to think I'd be as brave as that to try and cycle in that condition, but probably would not be.
