| ORWC main practices As
for any other outdoors sport, we will find some people who prefer racing,
while others will like better hiking
at their own pace. And also, due to the very short learning curve
needed to drive an ORWC, almost anyone could use it just for leasure
and the fun of beeing togethet.
And for those who are more adventurous
and like meeting people from a different culture, many trips
abroad will become possible.
Racing:
It is today
practised almost exclusively in the USA and Canada, with some rare
events in Sweden and Japan. Often
grouped with the NORBA racing circuit, an American mountain biking
association, this consists of three types of event: downhill, parallel
slalom and cross-country. The
growing interest in ORWC has driven the organisers of NORBA to adapt
the routes to make them compatible with the ORWC.
This aspect of the
sport is not, for the moment, of concern to the “Federation Française
Handisport”: it is considered to have too many safety, insurance
etc. parameters to handle.
Look for the other
links if you are interested by this side of the ORWC practice.
Downhill
rides:
This
is primary mode of practice The usual practice is on downhill routes
as the weight of the ORWC makes them more difficult to handle on flat
and uphill terrain. More rolling routes can be accomplished with other cyclists,
while more technical or trials-like ones will require accompaniment on
foot. The group then keeps constant pace, and all will enjoy the
experience.
The
high starting points are generally reached by car or mechanical lift. A
4WD could be used (but we prefer not to tear up the country side !).
Just
for leasure:
One of the aspect
that is probably the most appealing with ORWC riding is to
simply share what you like with the people you like. Don't even
think of a sport, just enjoy the company...
With your family or with your friends how good it is to get back
to the pleasure of hiking in the woods! Or to take on your knees
for a long exhilarating downhill one kid whose smile will be
your best present since a long time...
But also and mainly to go
any where your imagination or your desire will push you: fishing,
hunting, on the beach, animals watching, you name it... Just go
for it!
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Rambling with
family |
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Approaching Antilopes in
Ethiopia |
Sharing a ride in
a 3 wheeler . |
Trips
abroad
Days
or weeks of hiking can be organized with the assistance of a local
staff. Many countries provide the possibiliey of hiring an animal (mule,
horse, yack, etc...) to pull up the ORWC. The downhill rides will
obviously be done on your own. This will give access to long mountain
ranges crossing or to remote high altitude valley totally unreachable in
a wheelchair otherwise.
Another
benefit of the ORWC might also be to simply be able to wander around in
those third world towns or villages, fulled with holes, steps, stones
and other gimmicks so awfull to handle in our everyday wheelchairs.
Last update : 02/13/2002 09:51 |
