Triride
Italian manufacturers Triride specialise exclusively in handbikes, and are rightly considered the market-leaders. Their products feature their own electronics and motors that they have developed exclusively for their handbike models. This allows their handbikes to offer performance levels - whether that be speed, torque, power or range - above and beyond the competitors.
Each of Triride's handbikes is made to order with a range of configuration options. This allows them to be tailored to meet your requirements, rather than being "off the shelf" products with a "one size fits all" approach. The wide range of options includes matching handlebars and controls to your hand function, tyres and batteries to meet your lifestyle demands, or frame colours to complement your wheelchair. Electronic options include adaptive cruise control that can even keep you at a constant speed going downhill, and Triride's Intelligent Braking System, with both mechanical and hydraulic disk brakes are available.
Triride handbikes fit to almost every model of active wheelchair on the market, including those with swing-away legrests, and can be easily mounted and dismounted to allow for quick switching between self-propelling and powered driving, and also to allow for simple transport in a vehicle. Optional T-stands can aid with mounting and demounting, depending on your core strength and experience.
Triride Special L14
The Special 14 is effectively a larger and slightly more powerful version of the best-selling Special Compact HT, with an upgraded weight capacity of 140 kg. It features a more powerful 1500W motor, powering a larger 14" wheel that features an integrated motor. This provides it with the torque and power to cope with even more challenging situations.
This comes at the expense of being slightly larger and heavier than the Compact HT, at 12.4 kg, although the cost difference is minimal. It retains the same 12.4 mph top speed and 31 mile range, as well as the same customisation options.
Our Verdict
For most people, Triride's Compact HT is the ultimate handbike, packing an amazing punch yet compact in size. For those who are slightly larger and heavier, or who want to be even more adventurous with the ground they cover, the Special L14 is the next step up in the range.
