Handcycling with Military Precision
Summary:
On 15th September 2011 a group of individuals from Battleback - a military adventure sports and rehabilitation initiative – and five members of the Handcycling Association ran an introductory handcycling day at DMRC Headley Court. The day was organised to introduce injured military personnel to the Paralympic sport of handcycling, and to announce that an 8 man relay team, “Team Battleback” would be trained up over the next 9 months with the intention to enter the 3,051 mile Race Across America (RAAM) in June 2012.
The morning consisted of a number of interactive theoretical sessions that focused upon bike maintenance, principles of training (and recovery), basic concepts relating to the staple diet and the application of sports nutrition. In the afternoon 12 handcyclists and 4 uprights completed a short, hilly ride around the tight, wooded lanes of the Mole Valley and surrounding area. The most daunting part of the ride was the Box Hill climb, which will form part of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games road cycling course. All riders negotiated the climb safely and, following a brief recovery period, headed back to Headley Court happy in the knowledge that they had successfully negotiated their first real challenge.
Download the full story here (PDF file)
On 15th September 2011 a group of individuals from Battleback - a military adventure sports and rehabilitation initiative – and five members of the Handcycling Association ran an introductory handcycling day at DMRC Headley Court. The day was organised to introduce injured military personnel to the Paralympic sport of handcycling, and to announce that an 8 man relay team, “Team Battleback” would be trained up over the next 9 months with the intention to enter the 3,051 mile Race Across America (RAAM) in June 2012.
The morning consisted of a number of interactive theoretical sessions that focused upon bike maintenance, principles of training (and recovery), basic concepts relating to the staple diet and the application of sports nutrition. In the afternoon 12 handcyclists and 4 uprights completed a short, hilly ride around the tight, wooded lanes of the Mole Valley and surrounding area. The most daunting part of the ride was the Box Hill climb, which will form part of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games road cycling course. All riders negotiated the climb safely and, following a brief recovery period, headed back to Headley Court happy in the knowledge that they had successfully negotiated their first real challenge.
Download the full story here (PDF file)
