View Full Version : Happy Trails
Now that our kids are getting a little older, bike riding has become a very big deal. I have always liked to ride and am glad to see the kids taking it up. Once Michaela got the hang of a two-wheeler, she and Olivia were ready to hit the road. It has been a bittersweet experience for me because our oldest, Clare, has not been able to join us. Because of her special needs, she has only been able to master a large tricycle on a defined space, like the driveway, but could never go for a ride on a bike trail, for instance, for lots of reasons. Having the whole family spend a day biking a trail was a dream beyond reach.
But not forever out of reach. About a year ago, we began to research and plan to make that dream happen. It has been a huge process, with many friends and family members helping along the way, but we now have for Clare a tandem recumbent bike. It is really two recumbent bikes put together with a frame. She rides on one side and my partner rides on the other. There is a small electric motor that acts as an assist when the going gets too tough, or they need to really move it quickly for safety. (Clare is not always the most cooperative kid…)
So today, we made our maiden voyage. We spent the afternoon on a five-mile trail on the west side of Indy and had a really magical day. About half-way we stopped and had a picnic at a park, jumped rope, played Hide-N-Seek, etc. Then we were off again, pedal, pedal, pedal. It was a beautiful thing to be together, but to be separate at the same time, this little family pedaling along. I feel really lucky to be part of this.
Amy in Vermont
06-01-2008, 08:45 PM
How wonderful!
Sounds like a perfect afternoon!
KarenSews2
06-01-2008, 09:11 PM
And what a lovely day you had to do that, today. I'm so glad you had a terrific time. I'm looking forward to the day when I can, again, enjoy the out-of-doors!
What a fine idea that tandem bike is! I do hope Claire enjoys being out and getting exercise with the rest of the family...it probably makes her feel like she is not quite so different after all...I hope so!
Roady
06-02-2008, 09:23 AM
You got me smiling......and my eyes watering on that one Beth. Gosh that's wonderful. Thanks for sharing-you made a bright shinny day even brighter!
Roady
Jim in Chattanooga, TN
06-02-2008, 09:31 AM
The $50 bike I bought at Toys-R-Us turned out to be one of the best investments I ever made. In fact, yesterday was the first time I put gas in the car since April 20th. It's a great form of recreation and exercise and it's inexpensive. More people should do it.
What a creatively brilliant idea, Beth! Kudos to you and all who assisted in making this dream happen.
I bet Clare is thrilled to bits to be out enjoying the trails with all of you. http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/deemark/Emoticons/biggrin.jpg
A bike thread!! Oh my goodness, it doesn't get any better than this for me.
Talking about biking on the Janis board is even better for me than talking about food on the Janis board. My three favorite things all at once!
So to complete the trifecta....Beth, what did you eat on the picnic?? ;)
I'm so so so happy to hear that you were able to get the whole family out on bikes! That's so great for Clare! I've never seen a side by side tandem recumbent, only the one behind the other kind. I know folks with MS who's spouses/partners ride with them on recumbents. What a great option!
I know you're all wearing helmets right? RIGHT?
happy happy riding!!! :D
A bike thread!! Oh my goodness, it doesn't get any better than this for me.
I can second this wholeheartedly!
Talking about biking on the Janis board is even better for me than talking about food on the Janis board.
YES! I'm so happy for you all, Beth! Nothing better than a bike trip together!
I know you're all wearing helmets right? RIGHT?
Please!!! I hate helmets, but I wish I had had one in my only serious crash!
I wish you many more happy trips!
MIMI
P.S.: Dar, I always wanted to ask you how you feed yourself on your long bike trips... to finally turn this into a food thread!;)
Randy & Betty in Pa
06-02-2008, 02:50 PM
Wow Beth...
Your post brought a smile to me...
So glad you had the first of many very happy family days on the trail...
Best to all
R. from Pa
hoops
06-02-2008, 06:12 PM
Beth,
i can't imagine your joy at being able to have this family event, something you probably never thought would happen. i'm so happy for you can Clare and your whole family! may there be many more joyful times ahead
peace
hoops
Thanks for all the good wishes for more of the same. Clare has a terrific smile and she was a-grinnin' from ear to ear. We'll be out on that bike every chance we get!
Dar, of course we ALL wear helmets. Our kids are so used to them, that they forget they have them on and you can catch them playing in the backyard hours later with their bike helmets still on!
For lunch, it was just whatever we had on hand: apples and peanut butter, cheese, raisins and walnuts, bread, carrots, yogurt, granola, water. The usual.
P.S.: Dar, I always wanted to ask you how you feed yourself on your long bike trips... to finally turn this into a food thread!;)
Hey there!
if I'm doing an organized ride that has established rest stops, they usually provide stuff like fruit, bagels, cookies, pretzels and nuts. That big ride a did a few weeks ago (eat to ride ride to eat) had roasted red skin potatoes at one of the stops MAN were THOSE good.
if I'm out on a couple hour ride with no support I usually carry some dried fruit and cashews, maybe a Luna Bar (brand I like). On a longer ride, >3 hours, I might make a banana and peanut butter burrito to carry along. (flour tortilla spread with peanut butter and some honey wrapped around a banana). I carry it in a ziploc baggy in the pocket of my jersey, it gets warm and mushy and yummy. It's really good easy to digest (for me anyway) and quick energy. Oh and Jelly Belly makes a line of what they call Sport Beans that I really like. They are a little larger than their standard jelly beans and have added electrolytes, sodium and potassium I believe, some of the flavors have caffeine too. They are easy to carry and eat without getting sticky like some stuff does. some folks carry bagels. I find that I do well with a little protein, not just carbs, although others swear by carbs alone.
aren't you glad you asked? you weren't really expecting a short answer about food from me were ya??
aren't you glad you asked? you weren't really expecting a short answer about food from me were ya??
Indeed, I didn't! How can an expert's answer be short!;)
I really love dried fruit as well, and bananas... I'll write more tomorrow, too tired right now.
MIMI
I think it's wonderful that Claire can be included in the family outings, and obviously she does too! I'm so happy for her! Who knows, maybe you've opened another door for her.
I definitely think so, Bat. Clare helps us understand the value of a really simple approach to life. What matters most to her is to be close to those who love her, and whom she loves. The rest is just not so important. Our goal for her for the first ten years of her life was to make the most of what function/potential she did have. Now our goal for the next ten years is to integrate her into the larger community and establish as many really good and long-term supports as we can so that when we're gone she will still be surrounded by loving people. It's not so different from what we hope for for our other two children, really.
I definitely think so, Bat. Clare helps us understand the value of a really simple approach to life. What matters most to her is to be close to those who love her, and whom she loves. The rest is just not so important. Our goal for her for the first ten years of her life was to make the most of what function/potential she did have. Now our goal for the next ten years is to integrate her into the larger community and establish as many really good and long-term supports as we can so that when we're gone she will still be surrounded by loving people. It's not so different from what we hope for for our other two children, really.
You know, Beth, couples like you and Verlanne and your family values are really a threat to the American way of life. ;) No wonder so many right wing folk are against lesbians having children......you make them look even worse than they are.
Clare and the other girls are SO fortunate to have such wonderful loving mothers and I'm proud to call you my friends.
You know, Beth, couples like you and Verlanne and your family values are really a threat to the American way of life. No wonder so many right wing folk are against lesbians having children......you make them look even worse than they are.
Clare and the other girls are SO fortunate to have such wonderful loving mothers and I'm proud to call you my friends.
AMEN! to all of the above!
hoops
06-06-2008, 07:48 PM
AMEN! TO THAT!
peace
hoops
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