Here at Utah Trikes accessibility is one of the biggest focal points of what we do. A recumbent trike's main purpose is to offer the joy of cycling to those who may not be able to experience it on a normal bike

This starts to become a problem though when somebody doesn't have mobility of their legs. You can't really power a pedal vehicle without the use of your feet.

Or so you would think…

The topic of today's article blows that restriction out of the water. And put the pedal power into the palms of your own hands. Literally.

So what is this game changing recumbent you may ask? The answer is the Hands On Cycle by HP Velotechnik. A one of a kind trike upgrade that is here to get you out and riding again. So let's talk about it and see how this hands on upgrade can be the perfect accessibility tool for

HP Velotechnik

HP Velotechnik is a staple trike brand out of Germany that is known for their innovative and high quality trikes. Since 1993 they have been passionately innovating and optimizing bikes and trikes to be the best they can be.

The two trikes that we have carried by them are their staple Gekko, and Scorpion models of trikes. Two indirect steering trikes that we love. With excellent build quality and tons of customizable options these are great trikes for anybody.

The Gekko is a great affordable trike option through HP that is made with comfortability and accessibility in mind. It has a high set seat for easy mounting and dismounting, as well as a well set boom to give you the perfect amount of support and pedaling force.

It has a maximum payload of 330 pounds and with no suspension or folding it is a simplified trike, making it stronger and a lot lighter too.

If you're looking for a higher end trike that's where the Scorpion comes in. This is a lower seated trike with a more recumbent build. The pedals are situated higher so you are pushing up and against the seat for maximum pedaling efficiency.

The Scorpion has many different configurations and models, but the most popular option is the Scorpion FS 26, a full suspension trike with a folding frame and a 26 inch rear wheel. This is one of our most comfortable trikes with its top notch suspension and laid back feel, this trike is hard to beat.

Now that we’ve shown you two great trikes, don't you wish you could have these riding options, but more accessible for someone who doesn't have full function of their legs? A trike platform like HP with so much adaptability for whatever kind of ride you are looking for. Its something you could only dream about… until right now.

HP Hands-On-Cycle

That's right. The biggest thing about the new HP Handcycle is that it isn't a trike at all. It's a boom conversion for all HP tadpole trikes. So no matter if you want a Gekko for its upright seating or a Scorpion for its amazing suspension this handcycle adaptation will meet you there.

You may have heard us talk about the Sun HT-3 Handcycle, but this is less similar to that and closer to our own handcycle conversion that we have done a couple times before.

HP has designed their own version of this conversion for their trikes. One of the biggest things it has over other handcycle options is its entirely inclosed housing. A common problem with Handcycles is that with so much extra exposed hardware things can get caught, snagged, or broken easily.

But with the HP Handcycle it's all contained. Even the brake cables have a fabric covering that prevents them from being kinked or snagged, something that can happen often on other handcycles.

This all internal design makes a complicated setup like this one work smoothly without any worry of the delicate pieces being broken, which is assurance you don't want to skimp out on, some of the fixes for handcycle hardware is pretty tricky to work out.

To keep the design simple and practical the hand cranks work directly with the single front gear that can already be found on standard versions of the HP trikes. This conversion actually doesn't mess with the basic gearing at all; it just integrates the Hand powered system into the already existing gearing setup.

The front gearing may only have 1 speed, but the HP cycles are still 8x3. How does that work? Well in the rear there is your standard 8 speed cassette where the cogs usually sit. And then right next to that, threaded into the wheel is a 3 speed internally geared hub.

This allows for you to have 2 sets of gearing in the rear simulating a standard front gearing and rear gearing setup. This makes the front hardware of the trike much less cluttered, and easier to adapt. Especially for this configuration.

Now let's talk about the biggest difference visually with the HP Hands on Cycle. That being the big bar that extends out over your legs to give you access to the hand cranks. This is the mechanism that allows you to reach your hand pedals and still sit comfortably reclined in your trike seat.

To achieve this the handcycle setup needs to be pretty adjustable to account for all different sizes and builds of riders.

This can be easily accommodated for people who are 5 foot 2 to 6 foot 6, and for arm lengths of 27.5 inches to 37 inches. For more subtle alterations the setup can be adjusted in all three dimensions.

You can't adjust the distance of the hands on cycle unit from the frame too much, only about 2 and a half inches in and out from the frame, but you can adjust the foot rests up to 5 and a half inches to accommodate for longer leg lengths.

If you want to adjust the angle of the bar you can do that easily. The bar has an adjustment angle of 14 degrees up and down if you need more room. You can adjust that by accessing the point where the pole connects to the frame of the trike, right here. You can undo this quick release right here and you have this full range of adjustability to work with.

If you need the handles situated farther apart or closer together the handle configurations can be adjusted so that they are 20 and a half inches apart to 24 and a half inches apart.

The HP Handcycles innovative build doesn't stop there though. The steering mechanism for this setup cant be found anywhere else, and integrates with the tadpole build so well. The pole of the handcycle setup connects to this pivot point mounted on the frame. And that's where the magic happens.

Unlike other handcycles where you have to turn your cranks left and right, leading to uncomfortable stretching and unnatural body movement. On the HP Handcycle all you need to do is lean.

The pole is set up to be able to move with you as you lean into your turns. No need to extend your arms or lean forward, just tilt the console and lean into your turns. This promotes safe riding by utilizing even weight distribution as you ride. So you can stay more stable during turns without sacrificing control of the trike.

The safety and comfortability go beyond that too! There are many small details that are present that elevate your riding experience. The first one I will mention are the built in wrist rests at the base of each crank handle.

When you are holding onto two handles that are suspended at about chest height it can be pretty tiring to keep your hands up unsupported. So these wrist rests are a big help, giving you a little support on those high pressure points.

For more comfort on your other appendages There are the velcro strap foot rests at the front of the trike. With the velcro straps they can be adjusted to have more or less slack, depending on how big your legs are or just for how much you want them to cradle your feet in place.

If you need an even more secure foothold HP offers an optional velcro strap foot plate that connects to the front bar of the HP Handcycle rigging. These are a sturdy addition that helps protect your feet from falling off of the trike, and we all know how important that is.

For more leg support, body support and other accessibility options, HP has many solutions for whatever you may need, from lower leg supports, side pads and seat belts, as well as mounts to hold canes or walking equipment for when you dismount.

For safety there are some key features as well. On the front of the trike we can find two areas with reflectors to increase visibility on your trike. You can find one right at the top of the pole under the pedaling hub. And the other in the form of this reflective tape on the front foot bar.

If you want to add any headlights, there are a couple of places where we could mount these. The best spot would be the front bar with the reflector, just like an accessory mount on a normal trike. Or we could mount them on the front plastic hub with a little bit of Utah Trikes Magic.

For other accessories like bells, or speedometers there is an easily accessible bar perfect for accessories right in the middle of the two handlebar grips. This also comes in handy for the next additional thing you can add to the HP Handcycle.

And that is the integrated Neodrives Z20 rear hub motor paired with the Shimano XT 10 speed gearing. This is a hub motor provided through HP directly. Unlike most of the motors here at Utah Trikes this is a rear hub motor. Meaning that the motor is directly threaded into the rear wheel next to the gearing.

This is great for the accessory mount, because for a motor you need a place to keep your display and assist buttons. So the accessory mount keeps these buttons accessible and the buttons are easier to interact with aswell.

The Neodrive Z20 is a pedal assist only motor giving you ample support for longer riders, or uphill climbs. This is a fully integrated motorized setup with no intrusive hardware like there would be with a front mounted mid drive motor.

This motor is perfect for hand pedaling providing a top speed of 15 miles per hour. The wattage of this motor is on the higher end for our pedal assist motors coming in at 576 watts. This wattage gives a powerful 40 newton meters of torque and a max level of 300 percent assistance. There's a lot of power in this motor so you can tackle any challenge you may face.

This motor is made and assembled in Germany where HP is manufactured as well. It is a great, silent, and efficient motor system that is sure to get you where you need to go.

And remember this is a motor option ONLY for the HP HandCycle version of HP trikes.

I think we all can agree that the HP handcycle is a one of a kind trike. Built on the already established HP Trikes with impeccable quality. Providing the accessibility needed for many low mobility riders, while still giving a comfortable recumbent base. Showing us that you don't need a delta style trike for handcycle comfort.