I was recently contacted to do research into a variety of handcycles. The parameters were fairly straightforward: satisfactory gear inch range; adjustable foot rest position; seat that won’t be a problem for spine curvature.

That sent me off on a search for a good solution, a search that pretty much ended with the Hase Kettwiesel handcycle. But I didn’t want to stop there. A little more digging turned up the ONE-OFF Titanium, a full blown mountain bike/trike that puts the rider in a prone position.

The core advantage of the ONE-OFF is instantly recognized: it is an off-road handcycle. In the niche that is handcycling, most cycles are either for racing or for casual use. Nobody tackles the handcycling equivalent of mountain biking. What’s amazing is that the ONE-OFF hasn’t been more widely copied since its introduction.

So what are the other advantages of the ONE-OFF?

It offers a prone position, allowing the rider to put their body weight into stabilizing the trike. That body weight serves a second purpose – it can also control steering. The torso cushion of the ONE-OFF rests on a pivot that links to the steering. Lean to the left and you’ll turn left. Lean to the right, turn right. The result is the ability to turn the trike without having to let up on the pedaling.

The ONE-OFF also allows steering through the handles to which the brake levers are mounted. This allows the rider to switch to a more stable control mechanism for high speed descents. It also provides a resting point for the hands should the rider want to flex a bit and relieve some of that torso pressure.

Unfortunately, the ONE-OFF site doesn’t provide much more detail about the specs of the bike. No word on gear inch range, types of disc brakes, wheel sizes, or availability through third parties. Judging by the contact info on the ONE-OFF site, all ONE-OFF handcycles are made to fit the rider’s specifications.

If you’re a handcyclist who knows there’s more to trail riding than riding rail trails, the ONE-OFF is probably worth some investigation. No other handcycle that we know of will get you up a mountain.

For those who might be interested, included below is a YouTube video showing a method of transferring into and out of the ONE-OFF.