handcycle

American  

[hand-sahy-kuhl] / ˈhændˌsaɪ kəl /

Also hand bike, or hand cycle

noun

1. a cycle, usually having three wheels, propelled by pushing pedals with the arms rather than the legs, especially one used by people who have impaired mobility.

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verb (used without object)

1. to travel or race using a handcycle.

Etymology

Origin of handcycle

First recorded in 1880–85; hand ( def. ) + cycle ( def. )

Example Sentences

A handcycle has three wheels and riders use the strength of their upper limbs to operate the chainset.

From BBC • Aug. 25, 2024

At 78, Mr. Traum was the oldest New Yorker in the 2019 Boston Marathon, his 74th marathon, which he entered using a handcycle.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2024

So, his thoughts have turned to an epic 1,000-mile handcycle ride through the Peruvian Andes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024

Zanardi has been recovering in Italy since a 2020 crash into a truck while competing in a race on his handcycle.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 7, 2022

As a House member campaigning for the Senate, she was the only woman to finish the 2016 Chicago Marathon in a hand-cranked wheelchair called a handcycle.

From Washington Post • May 13, 2019