1. What features in bicycles should
be avoided to make virtually certain that Adjustabiliser Stabilisers can be
fitted?
The bicycle should have a conventional rigid frame with two tubes coming
away from the middle of the rear wheel - one (the seatstay) diagonally
upwards towards the saddle and the other (the chainstay) horizontally
towards the pedals. Avoid fancy, unusual and particularly sprung frames.
Also avoid any bike with unusually large diameter chainstays and seatstays.
Tubes up to 19mm in diameter can be fitted and they cover the majority of
bicycles. If the plate clamps screws are replaced with 50 mm long ones they
have (just) been fitted to up to 22 mm diameter tubed rear frame, but it
was much more difficult, time consuming and fiddly.
2. Are Adjustabilisers suitable for nervous cyclists who
can walk reasonably well?
In general yes. Try cautiously with the stabiliser wheels at the outer
setting and with the standard gap of 12mm under the stabiliser wheels. Use the temporary spacer clips
provided in the kit. If the rider still feels nervous and the practice area
is reasonably even it may be possible to reduce the gap under the stabiliser
wheels without causing a significant amount of skidding. Try and use books
or similar as spacers to get the same gap under the stabiliser wheels on
both sides of the bicycle. We think that the gap under the stabiliser wheels
should be at least 6mm.
3. How far out is the stabiliser
wheel on the Adjustabilisers?
127mm (5") from the outside of the bicycle frame the
width of the bicycle frame near the rear wheel axle varies. This stabiliser
wheel position should be far enough out for virtually all riders who can
walk reasonably well. (see also question 2 and its answer)
4. Should a tricycle be considered
or can even more stability be provided for a rider who can walk only a very
little way or not at all or is extremely nervous about bicycles?
Yes to both questions. We can provide (for £15 extra per
set) L-bars with longer horizontal legs which allow the stabiliser wheels to
be placed 100mm (4") further out.(If that full extra length is retained and
used the maximum rider weight is reduced to 8 stone (53kg)). In this
situation the advantages and disadvantages of these longer legged Large
Adjustabilisers need to be compared with those of tricycles.
The longer large adjustabilisers plus an ordinary
bicycle are a lot less expensive than a tricycle and less conspicuous. That
may be an important factor, particularly for older children who don't want
to advertise their disability by riding a tricycle and could possibly be
jeered by unkind children. The advantages of a tricycle are (a)that the
wheels would last longer (particularly important if a lot of cycling is
anticipated or the rider is heavy) and (b) that both back tricycle wheels
are permanently on the ground (not usually a big factor as longer large
Adjustabilisers also provide a lot of stability). Neither they nor tricycles
are suitable for strongly cross cambered surfaces which need to be avoided.
5. What can be done to help a rider
who leans most of the time to one side?
This is a very bad habit to get into because (a) the
rider is not getting used to maintaining the generally near upright riding
position that he or she will need for riding without stabilisers and (b)
particularly if the rider is heavy and leaning strongly to one side the
average weight on outside stabiliser wheel will be high and the rate of
wheel wear will therefore be relatively rapid.
This problem is most likely, and should be watched for
particularly, with hemiplegic riders. The possible solutions are (a) keep
diplomatically reminding the rider to try and ride in an upright position as
much as possible (b) if you have a reasonably level and even area to
practice on, reduce the gap under both the stabiliser wheels (see also
answer to question 2). (c) as the stabiliser wheels are moved in for balance
training, keep the stabiliser wheel on the "lean" side always a little
closer to the rear wheel of the bicycle than the stabiliser wheel on the
"non lean" side. Tell the rider about this, pointing out that a greater
degree of support is available on the "non lean" side.
With riders with this learning problem, inspect the
stabiliser wheels regularly for signs of wear. If significant wear occurs
remove both wheel assemblies and reinstall on opposite sides of the bicycle
to even out wheel wear.
Lastly if all else fails and one or both stabiliser
wheels wear out because of the leaning problem we can supply replacement
wheels.
6.How visible are the stabilisers?
Because the adjustabilisers main support ( the L-bar) is
a steel box section we were able to keep it not only relatively narrow, and
therefore fairly inconspicuous, but also very strong. The stabiliser wheels
are grey which also helps to reduce visual impact when viewed against the
usually grey surfaces that the bicycle is likely to be ridden on. Minimising
visual impact may well be important particularly for older children who may
well be sensitive about not yet having learned to ride an unstabilised
bicycle.
7. Should we buy the bicycle or the
stabilisers first?
It is definitely best to buy the stabilisers first and
take at least one support with you when you go to buy the bicycle. You can
then ensure that the particular model will be suitable for the stabilisers.
Plenty of models will be.
8. Our child is fairly near the largest height or weight
that the Standard Adjustabilisers can accommodate. Should we buy a set of
Large or a set of Standard Adjustabilisers?
If you think the child is very likely to learn
quickly then buy the Standard Adjustabilisers. If you think that is unlikely
or have any doubts buy a set of the Large Adjustabilisers. If necessary they
will then be able to cope with the riders increasing weight and be fixable
to the larger diameter wheeled bicycles the child will need in the future.
9. How easy is it to follow the instructions for the
balance training stabilisers and fit them to the bicycle?
The instructions are well illustrated and the installer
can follow numbered steps which makes it as easy as possible to install on
the bicycle. The Adjustabiliser installation process is made even easier by
the maximum helpful degree of partial pre- assembly of parts and by spacing
clips which make it much easier to set accurate gaps under the stabiliser
wheels. All this means that Adjustabiliser installation is perfectly
feasible and reasonably easy for the vast majority of people.
10. We sometimes go out for days
cycling or for one or two-week holidays and would then like to remove the
stabilisers so that they can be installed on hired or borrowed bicycles. How
easy is this?
Removal and the re-installation take a
fair bit of time and causes some wear on the clamps and so we would
definitely not recommend that it should be done for a day trip. If
possible take the stabiliser fitted bicycle with you by car or train.
That is probably best for longer holidays too.
11. Can we buy spare parts?
We do supply spare parts for the
Adjustabilisers but as they last pretty well we don't get much call for
them. Unsurprisingly the most common parts requested are wheels. No
spare parts are currently available for the Balance Trainers.
