Any other handicapped riders out there?

[smokindave]

You can look for me in the Boondockers movie next summer, would have been in it this year but blew up my left hip catching air.

I will buy that video for sure.My goal is to eventually to get good enough to get in a video myself.I think it is good for people with health issues to see life isn't over.The only time I really feel whole or even normal is when I am sledding.While I am on my sled people see me as just another sledder, its not untill I go to get off or at the end of the day at my trailer that people see that I am not normal,But when I am sledding I forget all lifes worries and stress.It truely is the best therapy for me.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[montanasledder]

Have an uncle that got in car accident and is paralyzed from the waist down, He dont ride sled but he rides ATV's faster than about anyone i know. great to see him get out there and enjoy everything

 

[Puddy Tat]

kudos to all of you for getting on with your life’s, I have my own heath issues and some times its hard but you just have to push yourself. Don’t let life pass you by. I think all of you are really "People Who Make A Difference" you guys are great keep up the good work. And enjoy life.

 

[SledGimp]

Hey I have a question for you guys with the t-4 (chest down) injuries...

Do you have any sort of special seat set up to help keep you the sled?

How about keeping your legs in the footwells or on the running boards?

My best friend who I rode dirtbikes with and who taught me how to ride in the mountains got injured in a motorcycle accident a little over 2 years ago. He was back out riding on a polaris razr within 6 months, and he has tried sledding a few times but finds it very tiring as he has only his upper body to keep himself upright and on the sled (no ab muscles), and though he's in very good shape its frustrating for him. We are trying to figure out a solution that would keep his butt in one place on the seat and also a way to keep his feet/legs from bouncing and falling off the boards.

So far we thrown the idea around of getting a custom seat made with a dip in it sort of like a horseback saddle and also considered covering it with velcro and them sewing velcro on the seat of his Klim pants. Keeping his feet in place is a bit more difficult as he obviously doesn't want to fall off the sled and have a foot caught if the sled is rolling down hill...


Would love to hear some suggestions from you guys who have overcome these difficulties.

I have been riding without any special seat for a while now and only strap my knees together to keep mylegs from flopping around. I have gotten a new seat made this year by WRP that is alittle wider and about 2" taller than stock, to give me more leverage, with velcroe on it. I did not put velcroe on my Klim pants because it will cause them to leak and void the gortex so I took a Roho Active harness and put velcroe on it. I afix the harness to the sled then get myself situated in the harness and strap in, works great.

Please note I am not harnessed to the sled in any way, this would be suicide, I will come off if the sled goes over.

I will get some new pics and post them later.

 

[S2S_sledder]

Hey pictures would be great... really keen to get my buddy riding in the mountains again, he was an extremely good rider and I know if we get a system sorted out that works for him he'll be right back at it

 

[SledGimp]

Please note that in my previous post I stated that I will post detailed pictures of my seat, but have since been asked not to do so by the manufacturer atthis time since it is still in prototype. If you wuld like more information contact Marc at WRP directly and he will be happy to talk about what we hae come up with. Sorry but I will be posting pics in the future once we get it completely dialed.

 

[milehighassassin]

You guys that are handicapped and still riding really need to make sure you write your politicians about land rights. We really need this in Colorado right now. They seem to forget that when wilderness goes into areas many people lose a lot of access. Not everyone is capable (even without a disability) hiking 15+ miles into a wilderness area that you used to be able to access by vehicle/snowmobile/bike/etc.

Cool to see you guys out there still.

 

[Spud]

more of goinvertical(Ty)

 

[m7bandit]

anyone modify there sled to a right hand brake? i've been using a4x4 polaris brake control which been giving me problems leaking is there other options?

 

[Lefty]

Right hand brake

I have set up 4 sleds this way, right hand brake and throttle on each side. Best setup I've found: fab-craft bars with a 5 degree bend (these bars allow you to use the strength of your one arm more efficiently plus are wider, allowing more room for mounting controls on one side; their poly mountain bar helps with balance also because you can lean into it); magura master cylinder moto/pro-moto design; cmx throttle block; goldfinger offside throttle modded with parts from the bike shop; polaris grips and bar ends. Hope this helps, and pics are posted of my setup.

 

[arfrce]

I am handicapped. And I ride ATV's and Sleds. I got lucky in my accident I guess.
I was riding Motocross and a guy came from across track off a jump and hit me in the back. L-1 Spinal Burst. So I am paralyzed for the knee down. Parapeltic is what it's called.
Other then that. I have a few other things that don't work. lol. Toes. ankles, calf muscles.
I live in Northern Colorado anyone around that wants to sled give me a shout.
thanks
jeff

 

[m7bandit]

thanks 1rmbndt i kinda like the magura where'd you get it a cycle shop? i kinda like the idea of the handle bars but that will have to wait, bet you like your snow elimanators one of the better mods to my sled.arfrce never been to colorado but if you ever get up around boise, mccall give me a shout and anybody else that would like to ride this area

 

[Lefty]

magura

Any dealer that carries dirt bikes, should be able to get one. Ask to look through their Tucker/Rocker or WPS summer catologs. One of the pic's was of a stock m/s off of a Honda CR, not the best fit took a bit of cutting & grinding to make it all fit. Have used 3 magura's, all have worked well. The pro/moto has best fit/function. M7bandit, let's hook up & ride!

 

[arfrce]

Sounds great. If I can make it there it would be some time in Feb or March.
Thanks for the offer though. I appreciate it

 

[Hemi]

I think it is good for people with health issues to see life isn't over.The only time I really feel whole or even normal is when I am sledding.While I am on my sled people see me as just another sledder, its not untill I go to get off or at the end of the day at my trailer that people see that I am not normal,But when I am sledding I forget all lifes worries and stress.It truely is the best therapy for me. Dave

Well Dave I met you @ Calgary show on Saturday and I think you are a pretty normal guy, so what you have a cane if others can't see past that too bad for them. I have had feet problems most my life (spent 2 years on crutches) and I know the day is coming to have a cane then the crutches again and will end with a chair, but for now I just giver chit.

 

[brahm]

I have a buddy who is an avid skier, and mountain biker, we were talking this summer and he really wants to get out in the BC both on a sled, and to tow his monoski-chair out so he can get some BC runs in.

I'd really like to get one of my sleds setup so he can ride with us. We were thinking some sort of chair like a drag racing/bomber seat so you could lean into turns, but from what I'm seeing in this thread some of you guys are just suggesting putting dual brake, dual throttle, and setting up some velcro to hold legs in place.

Is there anything I missed, both my sleds are pull start has that presented an issue?

Thanks
-Brahm

 

[tukernater]

I broke my back in august 16-1997 severd t11 pinched at t8 started rideing again nov 28 1997 ,on a rxl 650 with reverse i could start that, went to a1998 XC 600 136 had no problem starting that ,but got a 03.5 summit 800xRER COULDN'T start that,Now i've got Renagade 08-600-146X electric start,09-146-800x electric start,I did crash on the XC ,hiper exstended my spine,so now im t5,i also have a outlander max 500XT .I'm writeing this from a hospital as we speak [pressure sore]but life is good.Work hard so you can play even harder ,lot's of time to lay still when your dead,no mods on my sled when i sit my legs close up around the tank,so when i crash i can get away from it to.Would be cool to go rideing with you guy's but my sidehilling sucks like my spelling.

 

[JustinB]

Original post By SH in utah

Cool little story and vid.
Some people have so much drive and positive spirit.
I love it.............
http://www.healclothing.com/blog

Here's the Youtube version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItYINHMg7Y

Mad props to you guys.

 

[BrokenRider]

Wow

I cant believe this I came on this forum tonight strictly to ask around about any other disabled riders. Can't believe what I am finding on here. I'm so pumped right now I often felt like I was the only one. I just had my 25th birthday been a T-12 incomplete para from a snowboarding road gap gone wrong since I was 17. I hop around with crutches, can stand somewhat, cant walk any tho. Ive been sledding for 3 years now rode some before I got hurt but mostly after my injury. My questions when I came on here tonight is for any other paras I wanted to see if they had any good sled setups or tricks that would improve on what I can already do on a sled. I'm always fooling with the position of my handle bars, maybe I'm not using the right bars?? I was thinking about getting a higher seat maybe but I don't even know where to start looking for that. Any help or advice would be awesome and you can always PM me. Oh and see you all at Boulder on Saturday.

PS - My favorite part about being a crippled sledder is the looks on people's faces when you crutch to your machine at the start of the day, when your friends literally drag you into the chalet or at the end of the day when somebody recognizes you from when you took a gnarlier line up the hill then them and then realizes you CANT EVEN WALK!! hahahaha

 

[goinvertical]

highchair

T-9 para here. I have found(at least for me) the higher the seat, the more comfort and ease of changing lines. Especially downhill powder. Let gravity do a little more of the work and takes some strain off the 'ol shoulders. Riding hard,wrecking soft,and Father Time are starting to gang up on me but when I "go", man I hope it's on a sled. I looked at the new BOSS seat (T-struck premiere) from Bruce Evans (www.elevationgear.com). The width and of course the height, material, and storage have me sold on one. Now I just gotta' save my pennies. I am sure that it will give me the control I am after. Just my $.02. Any way of getting those two pennies back now, as I need 'em for my new seat?