"We have wanted to improve our offer for mountain bikers for some time," explains Roman Cathomas, Vice President of the Brigels municipal council, "and the new mountain railroad manager has now got things moving." He originally comes from Disentis. Because he has experienced first-hand what has happened there in recent years, he asks the local mountain bike project manager Remo Eberle. And he had an idea.

Most people are more familiar with handbikes from the road. They are the bike of choice for many people who cannot move their legs. Andi Gautschi is passionate about the mountain handbike. Like so many bikers, he is constantly on the lookout for good trails, often asking himself whether a path or route is rideable from A to Z at all. Quickly pushing or lifting the bike over an obstacle is not an option for paraplegics. A pasture gate that is too narrow can mean the end of a tour.

"Brigels has great potential and is incredibly versatile," he says of the region, which he only recently got to know on a mountain handbike. What is being created there is unique. "The idea of not only building downhill trails, but also building various loops up and down from the starting point in Brigels is ingenious. The result is a destination where everyone from beginners to experts can have fun." Gauschi already sees a destination that offers people in wheelchairs the opportunity to get into the sport even without handbike knowledge or their own bike.

Roman Cathomas saw two handbikers on trails in Brigels for the first time. "These are athletes. You have to offer them something," he is convinced. He is happy for Brigels, a late entrant to the mountain bike business, to create a unique selling point. 

 

 

 

 

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Brigels relies on handbikers, but is not alone

Special rules apply to trails for mountain handbikers. Andi Gautschi, who works for the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation as Innovation Project Manager, explains: "Trails should not be narrower than one meter, as the bikes are up to 95 centimetres wide. The curve radii need to be slightly larger than for mountain bikes. And jumps should be easy so that we can take them." Another issue is traverses on steep slopes. "If a traverse is too steep, the handbike tips over. In addition, people whose paralysis starts higher up cannot lean their upper body to the side to compensate for the force of gravity."

The existing blue trail in Brigels is easy to ride, however. Cathomas adds that only minor upgrades are needed to be considered maintenance. "That's why we can open the first trail for hand bikers in the fall." This will also remain open to bikers on two wheels. "Handbikers, beginners and families can all use the same routes," explains Cathomas. There will also be a few jumps for the more experienced, so that they can also find their challenge.

The idea of becoming a destination for hand bikers came from Remo Eberle, who has already brought Disentis Sedrun out of its mountain bike slumber. "There are now many bike destinations. With the handbike trails, Brigels is creating something that others don't have. It helps to quickly become known in the bike landscape. But it won't be a walk in the park," he warns.

The Swiss Bike Park in Oberried BE is so far the only one that has included hand mountain bikers in its offering from the outset. But now others are getting on board. Andi Gautschi was also recently in Flims, where the Runca Trail is being adapted so that hand bikers can ride it. And Remo Eberle has been able to win over his home destination of Disentis Sedrun for the handbike. However, Brigels wants to optimize more trails for mountain handbikes in the future and thus become a top destination for this sport.