I found this nice little trail behind a closed down gas station. The trail lead down through a grass field along a stream. It is a beautiful ride. Back up by the gas station the paved lot ends at the dirt trail. It drips down a few feet and turns to the left. The trail is hard packed clay with some rocks. I come blazing across the lot to try and launch off the pavement. No air, but as I leaned into the turn my butt slipped off the seat and I rolled the bike onto its side and slid about two feet in the hard dirt. The foot rest and my fore arm took the brunt of the hit. Not too bad, I was able to right the bike and get back in. I noticed some cat like scratches on the top side of my arm, so I just headed home. As I ride up to my home, my daughter points to my arm and tells I'm bleeding. I lift my arm and look at the under side. Now that is road rash. A good size patch of my shin was gone between my elbow and wrist. The seat belt would have prevented me from sliding off balance and rolling over, well at least in that situation. Another lesson learned is to use some sort of foot guard. I was making a fast sharp turn and the front wheel grabbed my foot, twisting and pulling it under the bike. The bike flipped over, and it is a good thing or I would have broken my ankle. It was twisted pretty good, but I was still able to ride. I decided to go with some off road tires. The Varna has 20" wheels and it is easy To get dirt tires for it. I went with a knobby tread on the front drive and steer wheel, and a thick road tread for the rear. This does cause a lot more friction on the road, so if you are big time into road mileage and speed, get a second set of wheels. Off road the traction is good with a knobby. On most hand cycles there is not much weight on the drive wheel and it is easy to lose traction. A knobby tire will help your traction. Try to find I tire with a smooth center line tread and knobby side. This will give you a smooth ride on the road and hard dirt, but provide good traction in soft dirt and grass.
Trails that are off camber can be a problem, especially when turning. It is very easy to roll the cycle. I took a mean hit on the head and pulled a neck muscle rolling over into a rut. I should not have to say this, but I know there are some psychos out there. Always where a helmet and ride with a buddy preferably an able body buddy. I had to be pushed out of a tight spot more then once. Have some one check out the trails first so you don't find your self at the bottom of a ditch with no way out. Stay away form deep ruts and barms. The wheels can hook up the wrong way and roll you over or slow you down, killing your momentum. The use of momentum can keep you from getting stuck when dealing with hilly terrain. It is a challenge to maintain the right speed when negotiating a curvy hilly trail. Too fast, you crash and burn, or roll the bike, too slow and you are stuck at the bottom on a dirt hill. I found that if you lose momentum and traction going up hill, and you can't turn around. Try to ride it out in reverse as you back down the hill. Stay straight and try to get as far up the hill behind you. Then peddle for dear life to get up and out. If you must ride alone and some times I do, bring a cell phone. It is a good idea to have some water and a repair kit a neck brace as well as a bandana or band aids on hand if you plan to get wild and go for air or tail slides.
I like to just cruse the hard packed wide trails and enjoy the woods. Any trail that is not as wide as your wheel base is a potential flat hazard. Gravel is bumpy and noisy with poor traction especially going up hill. Tall grass is fun, but watch out for unseen holes, logs, poison ivy, bees and living critters with teeth. In the woods beware of logs and twigs that can pop up under you and poke you. Where safety glasses. I rolled over a twisted branch and the sucker popped just missing my face. Trees over three inches in diameter don't move, so don't hit them. Deceleration trauma hurts. Stay away from obvious party spots where kids hang out, it is a flat waiting to happen. What you bring into the wood bring out. The purity of the wood is beautiful and you can get lost in the peacefulness, but a power bar wrapper will snap you back to reality real quick. Keep your ears open for other riders, especially motor bikes and quads. Evan with a flag on your bike it is going to be hard someone moving thirty miles per hour to see you. They will not hear you coming, and they will not be expecting to see you on a hand bike in the woods. In a head on collision with a dirt bike or a quad, you lose every time. Now on the other hand, you can mess up a mountain biker pretty bad so be aware of your surroundings.
I am not one for riding at night, but I did get caught out after dark one night. My car was in the shop so I took my bike to visit a friend. I lost track of time and before I knew it, it was night. I have one reflector on the front and rear of my bike, but that is not enough for night riding. Well on the way home, about a half mile from my friends house I see lights flashing behind me. I pull over for the officer. As he walks up to me I asked him if I was going to fast. He just looks at me is disbelief, "No one can see you" He tells me. I told him I have a reflector. He explains to me that I am so low to the ground, no one can see Me, One glance the their radio and they will be on top of me. I did no argue, I told him that I don't ride at night, I just lost track of time. The officer told me he was going to follow me home to ensure I would be seen. So I proceed down the road home with a light flashing police escort behind me. There is a rail road crossing ahead and the gates are down with a train passing by. As I get closer the gates open and the cars pass over the tracks as I follow. The cars on the cross side are now ready to pass but stop short at the site of the police lights. And here comes me just cranking across the inter section with big brother behind me. I pull in to my street and the officer waves me off, my neighbor just shakes his head and said something about a police escort. To me it was an answer to prayer for a safe ride home. If you plan to ride at night I suggest front and rear lights, reflective flags, a traffic vest, and more reflective tape here and there.
Artical by Tom Cannalonga, for handcycling.com