Me and my Trike
Before the stroke upended me, I was enjoying a life of sport - fully immersed - happy like a fish swimming in water - squash and cycling in particular. After this life-altering event, I lost my sense of balance and along with it, the ability to drive. I was reduced to ambling about only with the use of a walker. I thought that I was damned to a life of sports inactivity.
I grieved the way my body once powered me through long hikes and uphill bike rides, down steep ski slopes, and across rocky terrain. I also grieved over what felt like a narrowing of possibilities for myself. Suddenly, some dreams felt too big to dream. Hurting spiritually, I was damaged goods for a considerable stretch, but with the passing of time, the consequences have lessened as I am slowly pulling away from it, healing from it, learning from it, and exploring the wide range of other possiblities. I'm seeing it as motivation.
By good fortune, I discovered and entered the recumbent trike world. Riding my trike enables me to ditch the walker, gets me outside, that once again affords me the exhilarating experience of freedom. Cycling has been the major part of my quest for revival and renewal. I ride the Bay Trail with great regularity and enjoy the moment as I am taking flight while pedaling. It has rejuvenated my spirit and has become foundational.
on Nimitz Way in Tilden Park
I am currently riding my second trike after an SUV, making an illegal left turn while I was paused behind a stop sign, plowed into me. My life flashed in front of me. I thought I was a goner. Miraculously, given the SUV’s slow speed. I escaped with only a few minor scrapes and bumps.
Thanks to fellow triker Dave Mesa for providing the following YouTube video of what we cyclists have to be wary of each time we venture out into the great beyond:
Here’s to pedaling through life!
The following is a poem from a fellow trikie.
John
******
At first this three wheeled world was kinda tricky so I named my trike Tricky. So here's to Tricky and all the other trikes and trikies out there...
TRICKY
Just a recumbent trike named Tricky
She can ride up north or whistle Dixie
Doesn't matter what mood I'm in
As I turn these pedals I start to grin
Sites and scenes pass on by
Yes she's the apple of my eye
Fat tires on a wet sandy beach
Paradice lies within our reach
So much fun it isn't fair
Riding in the perfect beach chair
We're not that fast but can't you see
We can ride all day my trike and me
Most just don't, but she gets me
Riding this trike, named Tricky!
DAVID SCOTT CLAYTON
******
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