Athletes with physical disabilities who use handcycles

H1 - Riders with impairment in their trunk, arms and legs who are unable to use a conventional bike or tricycle.  All riders use a recumbent (lying down) position on their handcycle, for arm power use only. Compete in road events only.

H2 - Riders are able to generate force with one or both their arms to propel the handcycle.  No leg and trunk control. All riders use a recumbent (lying down) position on their handcycle for arm power only. Compete in road events only.

H3 - Riders are able to use their arms, with some trunk movement, but are not able to use a conventional bicycle, tricycle or the kneeling position on a handcycle safely. All riders use a recumbent (lying down) position on their handcycle, for arm power use or arm and trunk power use. Compete in road events only.

H4 - Athletes who have good arm, trunk and arm co-ordination sufficient to use a handcycle in the kneeling position (legs tucked under), but who are unable to safely use a conventional bicycle or tricycle. Compete in road events only.

Athletes with physical disabilities who use tricycles

T1 - Riders who have poor balance who are not able to ride a conventional bike safely but have sufficient leg movement and balance to ride a tricycle. Compete in road events only.

T2 - Riders with better balance and arm control than T1 riders who are not able to ride a conventional bike safely. Take wide turns on turns. Compete in road events only.

Athletes with physical disabilities who use standard track or road bikes

C1 - Riders with disabilities in their arms, legs and trunk, who require assistance to mount and dismount the bike, start and stop. Riders have sufficient control to ride a two-wheeled bike but are unable to rise out of the seat.

C2 -  Riders with impairments in two to three limbs, with better balance and control than C1 riders. Riders may have brakes mounted on one side to preference their stronger side. Riders may require assistance to mount, dismount and start and stop the bike. Riders may be able to rise off the seat during sprints and starts but may choose not for control.

C3 - Riders with impairments in one to two limbs. Riders with limb loss do not use prosthesis. Riders may have brakes mounted on one side to preference their stronger side. Riders are able to mount, dismount, start and stop the bike by themselves. Riders are generally able to rise off the seat during sprints and starts.

C4 - Riders with impairments in one to two limbs. Riders with limb loss who do use prosthesis with no brake and handle bar modifications. Riders are able to mount, dismount, start and stop the bike by themselves. Riders are able to rise off the seat during sprints and starts.

C5 - Riders who have minimal disabilities in one limb that affects their grip, gear operation and brake use. Handle bars and brakes are often modified. 

Athletes with a vision impairment

BVI - Riders who have limited vision in both eyes either in:

• How far they can see (visual acuity). Athletes can see objects up to six metres away, what a person with normal vision can see at 60 metres away

• How wide they can see (visual field). Athletes have tunnel vision less than 40 degrees wide.

All athletes ride on a tandem bike with a pilot at the front.