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Prosthetic biking arms, badass Navajo kids and a call for help.
I have a pretty cool job as an Upper Limb Prosthetic Specialist. I make artificial limbs for amputees, and mostly arms and hands.
Part of how I got into this specific niche of Upper Limb (from the already small field of prosthetics) is through designing “activity specific” devices for fishing or weight lifting or biking. Especially biking. Because I love bikes and I love getting kids (and adults) on bikes.
Before I start asking favors, I thought I’d share some pictures of some recent bike-related projects:
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This is a MertHand for a Partial Hand amputee. He’s a fkn badass. MTB, dirt bike and he still sends Class V in his Kayak.
The Mert Hand was developed by suspension engineer Mert Lawwill. (Anyone remember the Yeti Cycles Mert Triangle? Same guy)
http://www.mertshands.org
It works like an upside down trailer hitch, with spring loaded detents that allow the device to release. It’s a badass design. I’m pretty sure I provide more MertHands than anyone.
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This one is for a little kid who is super stoked on riding his bike (and even more so about Dinosaurs).
This one is also 3D printed. Another local kid.
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This guy lost both arms above the elbow in an electrical accident. He also loves bikes. So I made him a set of riding specific devices, and along with the help of KingCage and Myth Cycles I designed a “Butt Brake”. It was a cool project.
Which brings us to the point of the thread.
I know this dude Scott, who lives in Gallup and runs their Devo Program. Last week, I reached out to him as I had an older Turner Sultan I wanted to donate to their program. (Joetron hooked me up with a great deal on a Revel for my daughter + wife, so I paid-it-forward and donated the bike the revel replaced).
Take some time and watch this:
https://inthedirtfilm.com/watchfilm
I’m working with an 11yo girl who was born with a congenital limb absence. She lives on the Navajo Reservation. She loves riding, but because she borrows bikes from their devo program, we can’t make permanent modifications to the bikes to work for her (moving the brakes and shifters to her sound-side)
So, I’m looking for a small-sized mtb. Hardtail, needs work, whatever. I’d be happy to pay shipping or a reasonable amount. She’s a pretty awesome kid and when we talk about bikes her eyes light up.
Also, I’m looking for any components to donate to their program. Shifters, derailleurs, brakes, bars, saddles, whatever.
If anyone can help out, shoot me a PM. Thanks all.
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Prosthetic biking arms, badass Navajo kids and a call for help.
Super cool. Will watch. My Dad was a BKA so I got very interested in the whole process while dealing with that. Amazing how fast the tech has finally progressed in the last 20 years. Which reminds me , I probably still have an old leg or collecting dust in storage. Keep up the good work! What size bike would she need?
