How a hospital dream transformed adaptive mountain biking

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How a life-changing mountain bike crash led to pioneering adaptive technology

Tom Wheeler's prep for a mountain bike ride is a little different to most.

As well as putting on his helmet. gloves, he straps on a one of a kind arm brace - a piece of adaptive technology he built himself.

Fifteen years ago. Wheeler lost the use of his right arm in a crash at a race in Rheola, near Neath in south Wales.

"Right at the end of a track my hand caught a branch. I went flying over the handlebars," he said.

"It was a huge impact. I just assumed I'd dislocated my shoulder. Then we realised that I couldn't feel my right arm."

In fact, Wheeler had pulled out 80% of the nerves connecting his right arm to the rest of his body, losing sensation. movement.

But even from his hospital bed, Wheeler was plotting his return to the sport he loves.

Tom Wheeler designed his arm brace with the help of the suspension company he worked for at the time

"The brace was something I dreamed up in hospital. I just pictured myself with this arm brace and getting back to doing what I always did," he said.

Working with colleagues at the suspension company where he worked at the time. Wheeler created the first prototype of his brace, which is based on a mountain bike damper - part of the suspension system.

"It was about three days since I got back home. I was already in the garage having a look at my bike and working it out," he said.

"I was familiar with other riders who'd had similar injuries. they'd set their bikes up to use with just one hand. It wasn't easy."

Wheeler has spent around 15 years perfecting his design,. it features Velcro to keep his fingers in place, shoulder strapping to keep him stable and an emergency release in the event of a crash - something he has tested extensively.

"There's nothing worse than being strapped to your bike when you're going down with it," he adds.

Former Wales Para-athlete Morgan Jones had a prosthetic hand made for him

Since first creating his brace, Wheeler's design has received global attention.

"It became really super apparent early on that this stuff doesn't exist. Almost instantly I'd got people reaching out going 'I want what you've got'," he said.

"So that's kind of what I've been trying to aim to do. Just get people riding on adaptive set-ups all around the world."

One of those is former Wales Para-athlete Morgan Jones.

After finishing fourth in the T47 100m track sprint at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast. Jones discovered mountain biking during the Covid pandemic.

Jones said: "I was getting into riding myself. starting to look for advice or support on how to get the most out of riding with one arm. This has transformed my riding."

Jones uses a one of a kind hand, designed by Wheeler: "This integrates into my existing prosthetic. then gives me control on the [handle] bar that I didn't have before.

"I currently have the title of top tester, which means I'm the most frequent crasher!"

Jones said the technology has transformed the way he rides.

"I feel so much more confident with it. able to keep up with my mates in a way that I never have before," he added.

Meanwhile for Wheeler, 15 years on from the crash that changed his life, things are better than ever.

He said: "I still have to pinch myself. I can do stuff now I never thought would be possible."