ABC Online: Hand-cyclists crank through Gippsland

A team of hand-cyclists are cranking their way through Gippsland this week as they complete a ride from Orbost to Melbourne to raise awareness of people with disabilities and the benefits of an active lifestyle. One of the riders, Stuart Tripp, formerly of Traralgon, spoke to ABC Gippsland’s Gerard Callinan about the horrific accident 13 years ago which dramatically altered the course of his life, the bout of depression that ensued and how discovering hand-cycling helped turn his life around.

Stuart Tripp was driving along a country road in Victoria’s north-east in October 1994 when he was involved in a serious car accident. He was trapped in his car for ten hours and when he was evenutally freed his right leg needed to be amputated below the knee.

Stuart’s left leg was also badly damaged and as he recovered from his injuries he struggled to come to terms with life as an amputee.

“The introduction of a prosthetic leg to my life was something completely new. I had no idea what an amputation was about or what losing a limb was like and certainly nothing to do with prosthetics or wheelchairs.

“It was just a complete change of life for me,” Stuart said.

“Before the accident I was a plumber and a wool classer, I had to go and look for a new way to do things in life.”

It was an arduous search which took Stuart from denial to depression.

“For probably five years I was in denial: ‘there’s nothing wrong with me and nothing’s happened to me’. Then I hit a really big wall.”

“One of the big things that really turned my life around was I got into sport, I got into physical fitness and that was my first introduction to hand-cycling.”

Stuart said he has a clear memory of the very first time he tried hand-cycling in 2003.

“I thought to myself: ‘how much frustration can I get out on this thing?’ It was just amazing.

“That was quickly followed by the elation of moving down the road at a pace that was akin to walking or running or jogging - something I couldn’t do on my legs anymore. I could still feel that momentum which was just amazing for me.”

Just a year later Stuart was competing in the New York Marathon.

Since then he has gone on to race numerous events on his custom-designed hand cycle, including taking part in last weekend’s ‘Around the Bay in a Day’ race.

Stuart’s current bike is a lightweight custom-designed racing cycle worth around $14,500.

He describes the bike as a recumbent style cycle which is powered through the arms.

“I sit on a seat and behind me there’s two wheels at the back, so it’s a three wheel bike which you crank literally with your arms.

The hand-cyclists set off from Orbost on Tuesday, travelling as far as Bairnsdale before resting overnight. They aim to make it to Sale by the end of Wednesday, with the goal in sight of reaching Melbourne come Saturday.