Handcycling was developed in the 1980s by people working to create alternate types of human-powered vehicles. So it was almost by accident that a new world of cycling was opened to people with disabilities.

“It’s ideal for people who have no or limited use of their legs, people who have poor balance, or anyone that just wants to try a different sport,” said Heather Plucinski of Challenge Alaska. “It opens up a lot of trails and a lot of countryside, a lot of fresh air, and a lot of places you can travel. It’s a great piece of adaptive equipment that allows people to get outside.”