Handcycling
Cycling with the arms — a three-wheel recumbent bike powered by hand cranks. A Paralympic road event.
👥1 per team🌤outdoor
What is Handcycling?
Handcycling is cycling in which the athlete pedals with the arms rather than the legs, propelling a three-wheeled recumbent cycle equipped with hand cranks. It is a full Paralympic road cycling event across H1–H5 classifications and a growing recreational and fitness sport for people with lower-limb disabilities.
Quick facts
Category
Adventure & Extreme Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇩🇪 Germany
Estimated origin
1980s; UCI recognition 1998; Paralympic road cycling since Athens 2004
Olympic
Yes
Popularity
major
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-20.verified