Against All Odds
- Thread starter Cyclopath
- Start date
Thanks for the notes everyone but thanks especially for reading and most of all for caring.
Profiles:
CP: Let me tell you a little more about the issues a few of our OTC athletes face. One had cerebral palsy and put heart and soul into riding a S-Works frame adapted into a trike with a two wheel rear axle. The adaption was necessary for the rider to maintain balance and it handles very differently than your upright. I had the privilege to ride it and push the envelope to feel how it reacts. It's not intuitive by any means and takes a good deal of skill to corner and especially to slalom at speed.
TBI: Another was a talented motocross racer until traumatic brain injury ended that game. Still filled with the need for speed, he turned to the bike. If you saw this young man walk or cycle, you'd expect he has CP(as the athlete with CP assumed). To see him walk, to see him mount his bike by laying it flat on the ground and positioning himself at the top tube then throwing his right leg over the cranks before pulling the bike up under him is a testament to the dedication he has for the sport. To see him ride his Madone is to watch him defy gravity as his body pitches from side to side over the bike.
TBI: One man has traumatic brain injury and was partially paralyzed during his service to this country until his doctor challenged him to will his legs to move if he ever wanted to walk again. He still can't feel the left side of his body and his hand is largely atrophied but he makes those legs do what he wants them to do by sheer determination. He is one of the guys who took my suggestions to heart and made instant improvements to his technique and control and was rewarded with being able to stay with the pack.
Heredity: Another that I worked with has a hereditary degenerative disease that is wasting his legs and strength and neurological function bit by bit. He simply refuses to go out without a fight and believes that his cycling is helping to slow the progression of the disorder. And even if it isn't, he'd much rather waste away riding his bike than wasting his body and brain in front of a TV.
amputees: You saw some striking pics of a young man who lost three limbs and still rides an upright. With the miracle technology of Di2 he has control of both his front and rear deraileurs through just his right shifter and rides with a rear brake only.
Di2: Though it surely wasn't Shimao's first intention to service this population, there is a lot of Di2 around here and it's part of the reason these athletes can continue to ride or begin to ride.
Motivators:
I heard again and again how cycling had saved the lives of these people and it rings so true in my own ears. Cycling has definitely changed my life and more so, has given me my life. Getting off the couch and ceasing to be afraid that stress or simply "overdoing it" would exacerbate my MS and confine me to a wheelchair was the best thing I ever did for myself. And I think most of you can relate. What if you lost your bike? Imagine where you would be if you didn't ride. What if by some twist of fate, you were in their shoes tomorrow... Would you have the courage to not only live, but to prosper? To reach for the stars and aim for the gold? Honestly, aren't we all challenged in one way or another?
Next:
I haven't been still for more than five minutes since I got back and lots more exciting things have happened and doors have been thrown open towards me. I have some tall orders to fill and freedoms to facilitate as I'm compelled, no, obligated to make it all work for the good of the most people.
Off to Wisconsin this week and hoping to start another installment and maybe get another door opened in the goal of making this state more accessible to disabled sports.
I'll check in when I can.
Profiles:
CP: Let me tell you a little more about the issues a few of our OTC athletes face. One had cerebral palsy and put heart and soul into riding a S-Works frame adapted into a trike with a two wheel rear axle. The adaption was necessary for the rider to maintain balance and it handles very differently than your upright. I had the privilege to ride it and push the envelope to feel how it reacts. It's not intuitive by any means and takes a good deal of skill to corner and especially to slalom at speed.
TBI: Another was a talented motocross racer until traumatic brain injury ended that game. Still filled with the need for speed, he turned to the bike. If you saw this young man walk or cycle, you'd expect he has CP(as the athlete with CP assumed). To see him walk, to see him mount his bike by laying it flat on the ground and positioning himself at the top tube then throwing his right leg over the cranks before pulling the bike up under him is a testament to the dedication he has for the sport. To see him ride his Madone is to watch him defy gravity as his body pitches from side to side over the bike.
TBI: One man has traumatic brain injury and was partially paralyzed during his service to this country until his doctor challenged him to will his legs to move if he ever wanted to walk again. He still can't feel the left side of his body and his hand is largely atrophied but he makes those legs do what he wants them to do by sheer determination. He is one of the guys who took my suggestions to heart and made instant improvements to his technique and control and was rewarded with being able to stay with the pack.
Heredity: Another that I worked with has a hereditary degenerative disease that is wasting his legs and strength and neurological function bit by bit. He simply refuses to go out without a fight and believes that his cycling is helping to slow the progression of the disorder. And even if it isn't, he'd much rather waste away riding his bike than wasting his body and brain in front of a TV.
amputees: You saw some striking pics of a young man who lost three limbs and still rides an upright. With the miracle technology of Di2 he has control of both his front and rear deraileurs through just his right shifter and rides with a rear brake only.
Di2: Though it surely wasn't Shimao's first intention to service this population, there is a lot of Di2 around here and it's part of the reason these athletes can continue to ride or begin to ride.
Motivators:
I heard again and again how cycling had saved the lives of these people and it rings so true in my own ears. Cycling has definitely changed my life and more so, has given me my life. Getting off the couch and ceasing to be afraid that stress or simply "overdoing it" would exacerbate my MS and confine me to a wheelchair was the best thing I ever did for myself. And I think most of you can relate. What if you lost your bike? Imagine where you would be if you didn't ride. What if by some twist of fate, you were in their shoes tomorrow... Would you have the courage to not only live, but to prosper? To reach for the stars and aim for the gold? Honestly, aren't we all challenged in one way or another?
Next:
I haven't been still for more than five minutes since I got back and lots more exciting things have happened and doors have been thrown open towards me. I have some tall orders to fill and freedoms to facilitate as I'm compelled, no, obligated to make it all work for the good of the most people.
Off to Wisconsin this week and hoping to start another installment and maybe get another door opened in the goal of making this state more accessible to disabled sports.
I'll check in when I can.
Last edited:
crap that was awesome - if you can, let us know how wisconsin goes!
My trip to Wisconsin and time here has been amazing and largely productive so far. The most productive being the down time having beers and chatting with high level TREK mgmt. Some of my friends have deep rooted negative views of the company from the organization they used to be but so far, every single person I have met would fit seamlessly into my family and friends and the response for my not so hidden agenda has been all positive. TREK gives in lots of places quietly and I'm hoping the dialogue continues and one of those places winds up being with adaptive cycling in NJ.
Why do I care so much and why do I do this?
Because of a few simple things I have learned:
It is the people who work the hardest to do the simple things that appreciate it the most. And the people that really need it the most will work the hardest for it.
These I've found true: It is in giving that we receive, in kindness that we are blessed and in caring that we are healed.
And, It's only by the grace of God that any one of us is not faced with the issues my paracyclists are faced with. I know very well that any day, any minute things could change so drastically for any of us. I live with that reality daily and each time I don't feel 100% because it can all come tumbling down any second.
But between now and then and 'if and when' I'll live my life to the fullest and appreciate the fact that I have the ability and opportunity. And when the time comes, I won't have to say 'I wish I did'. And even better, I will have hopefully, made a place for the challenged where I can reap the benefits of my sowing and I'll be racing adaptive cycles too.
So you see, it's all for selfish reasons after all!!
Why do I care so much and why do I do this?
Because of a few simple things I have learned:
It is the people who work the hardest to do the simple things that appreciate it the most. And the people that really need it the most will work the hardest for it.
These I've found true: It is in giving that we receive, in kindness that we are blessed and in caring that we are healed.
And, It's only by the grace of God that any one of us is not faced with the issues my paracyclists are faced with. I know very well that any day, any minute things could change so drastically for any of us. I live with that reality daily and each time I don't feel 100% because it can all come tumbling down any second.
But between now and then and 'if and when' I'll live my life to the fullest and appreciate the fact that I have the ability and opportunity. And when the time comes, I won't have to say 'I wish I did'. And even better, I will have hopefully, made a place for the challenged where I can reap the benefits of my sowing and I'll be racing adaptive cycles too.
So you see, it's all for selfish reasons after all!!
