“This is Bike 1 it was the first adaptive bike I ever had. It was a Force CC manufactured by a company called Invacare. This bike marked my initial taste of freedom cycling as a wheelchair user. I recall when I bought it; it was relatively expensive, even being an ex-demo model, but I managed to get it a bit cheaper than the usual price.
I remember taking it out for the first ride and thinking it was great, though not suitable for mountain biking. Over the next 5 or 6 years, I used it occasionally on simple trails. I never imagined going on actual mountain bike trails because the bike wasn’t built for it. However, one day, my neighbor and good friend Robert suggested trying the nearby mountains and their newly built trails, which turned out to be more manageable for an adaptive bike.The first time down the trails was slow and daunting. I was cautious and a bit scared due to a past mountain biking accident. However, the experience was exhilarating, and I started biking every Saturday.
The Force CC bike, while initially suitable, soon proved inadequate for the challenging trails. Upgrades were necessary, including new Shimano components, a 1x setup, and eventually, a hydraulic rear brake.These upgrades allowed me to control the bike more effectively, tackle hills, and cover longer distances. However, as I began to ride faster, the bike faced more stress, leading to issues like wheels falling apart and the frame cracking.
These problems couldn’t be solved with upgrades alone. Frame rewelding, frequent derailleur replacements, and dealing with loose wheels became regular challenges. Despite the issues, the bike opened up new possibilities for me, and I have videos from three years ago showcasing my adventures from back then.
It became clear that the bike had limitations, and I had to consider the next steps in my biking journey.”
Despite the issues, the bike opened up new possibilities for me, and I still have some videos from three years ago showcasing my adventures from back then.
This was thrilling at the time!
For any beginner, this bike is a start point , but being used on any difficult trails, it really isn’t going to last long. I had started to research adaptive mountain biking more and see there were manufacturers out there. I had some ideas of my own and began to reach out to companies to see if they would be interested in them. But that’s a story for the next post!