I am a career therapist from the yester-year, and have prided myself on improving function - especially my own. But I've begun to fall apart at the physical hinges. Age, a greater girth measure, and the creeping effects of incomplete cervical spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) have admittedly caught up with me. Worst - my best efforts to combat these SCI/D realities aren't working. Add a shoulder splitting fall, seasonal bronchitis, and ... you get the picture. To say the least, my luck at only having an incomplete SCI/D has been running low.
With the lumberjack in my ear yelling, "Timber," and the recliner making me think his microfiber must have more of me, I had to do something new. Joining the dinasoar race and watching Oprah were not appealing options.
I got lucky.
Surfing the internet and my brain, I began to "task analyze" the use of a 3-wheeled trike, and narrowed down to one specific three-wheeled contraption I'd never seen before called an EZ Rider USX - the US for "under seat-steering." I could taste the potential and loved the look. Hmmm, I thought. ... reclined high back seat, 21 gears - could I grip and shift with my weak right hand? Need a crane to sit down, get up? Will it sit still while I get on/off? Can I pedal it without my right leg falling off? Without getting too technical, my "tonic muscles" (quads) are good and my "phasics" (hamstrings and hip flexors) poor - but they aren't recruited, except in a gravity eliminated plane as "antagonists" (support role) in this bike pedal-posture. I concluded, sure looks promising!
I called around. Bob Massengale of Oklahoma Recumbent Road Bikes in Lexington had one in stock!
The USX had a brake lock, so it wouldn't move as I mounted. The under seat steering didn't hurt my shoulder, nor did it challenge my weak triceps and wrist. Bob adjusted the seat, and added "Power Straps" to the pedals so my right leg wouldn't blast off on it's own, and he fit them to my shoe and brace. Bob continued with excellent customer service, and relocated the gear controls and brake levers to accomodate my weaker right side. And then I tried to pedal it .... Wow! Wow! Wow! I could SAFELY pedal it!
Words can't describe the pleasure my family has had riding together since I brought the USX home. We've enjoyed face to face encounters with the deer in the Wichita Wildlife Refuge while biking, and everyday I am focused on my health - safely riding this trike. As I told Bill Kokendoffer, "I won't set any speed records - except maybe downhill - but the first turtle gear is as easy to crank as stirring coffee."
For anyone that has some residual strength that might want to try the USX - or any other trike / recumbent in stock, please call Bob at the bike shop at #405-527-6160 and go see him. He is highly recommended, and I am extremely thankful for his help. If I can help, please call me at #580-439-8262.
With the lumberjack in my ear yelling, "Timber," and the recliner making me think his microfiber must have more of me, I had to do something new. Joining the dinasoar race and watching Oprah were not appealing options.
I got lucky.
Surfing the internet and my brain, I began to "task analyze" the use of a 3-wheeled trike, and narrowed down to one specific three-wheeled contraption I'd never seen before called an EZ Rider USX - the US for "under seat-steering." I could taste the potential and loved the look. Hmmm, I thought. ... reclined high back seat, 21 gears - could I grip and shift with my weak right hand? Need a crane to sit down, get up? Will it sit still while I get on/off? Can I pedal it without my right leg falling off? Without getting too technical, my "tonic muscles" (quads) are good and my "phasics" (hamstrings and hip flexors) poor - but they aren't recruited, except in a gravity eliminated plane as "antagonists" (support role) in this bike pedal-posture. I concluded, sure looks promising!
I called around. Bob Massengale of Oklahoma Recumbent Road Bikes in Lexington had one in stock!
The USX had a brake lock, so it wouldn't move as I mounted. The under seat steering didn't hurt my shoulder, nor did it challenge my weak triceps and wrist. Bob adjusted the seat, and added "Power Straps" to the pedals so my right leg wouldn't blast off on it's own, and he fit them to my shoe and brace. Bob continued with excellent customer service, and relocated the gear controls and brake levers to accomodate my weaker right side. And then I tried to pedal it .... Wow! Wow! Wow! I could SAFELY pedal it!
Words can't describe the pleasure my family has had riding together since I brought the USX home. We've enjoyed face to face encounters with the deer in the Wichita Wildlife Refuge while biking, and everyday I am focused on my health - safely riding this trike. As I told Bill Kokendoffer, "I won't set any speed records - except maybe downhill - but the first turtle gear is as easy to crank as stirring coffee."
For anyone that has some residual strength that might want to try the USX - or any other trike / recumbent in stock, please call Bob at the bike shop at #405-527-6160 and go see him. He is highly recommended, and I am extremely thankful for his help. If I can help, please call me at #580-439-8262.
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