Allison Joy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2015
- Messages
- 721
Hello! Remember me? It's been quite awhile since I've posted here, though I do lurk on occasion. Anyway, I remembered that it's been two years since I first posted here about getting involved with my local adaptive sports organization, DASA, and I thought I'd give an update.
This is the third summer I've done "bikes and boats' with DASA, and I am still absolutely LOVING it!
When I first posted about this here in 2023, I was using a recumbent trike that was meant more as a kids "toy," not a serious recumbent trike. Well, after that first year, someone donated a small recumbent trike to the organization. Apparently, one of the organizers immediately thought, "This would be perfect for Allison!" when it was donated. Which, not gonna lie, made me feel kinda' special. They were RIGHT! While this is still a "youth" trike (um... I'm 4'10" so.... yeah. That uh.... fits...) it's made to be a trike, if that makes sense.
Anyway, this past summer between May and September, I did Bikes and Boats six times this summer, and loved every minute of it. The very first time, my "normal" trike (the one I just mentioned) was in the shop, so I used more of an adult trike (non-recumbent). Since that one was a different type, and it was my first time back in almost a year, I only did 2 miles that first time. But every time since, I was able to complete the full loop around the lake, which is 3.7 miles.
This year, I had an unofficial "uniform." I had Chat GPT make a picture of a sloth (my favorite animal) on a trike, and I loved it so much, I had it made into a shirt that my mom bought me for my birthday. The last session this summer was special, as I got to ride with an old college friend as my "shadow rider." They always have a volunteer on a regular bike ride with you in case you have trouble. I got to ride with her a couple of times last year, but wasn't sure she'd be at any this year, so that was fun.
The "boats" part is because they also have kayaks, which I've done a couple of times. But I really do it for the bikes.
So here I am, two years later, still rolling along and "wheely" loving it, in my "uniform."
I NEVER thought I'd be doing this! Honestly, I never thought bike riding would be possible for me, period. I didn't really want to try to learn a "regular" bike, (that fear is still real) and I didn't know of a way to ride a recumbent or "adult trike" without buying one myself. There's not a good place to ride super close to me, nor would I be able to easily transport one in my car, so I never really thought it would be possible. That, and I was SO hesitant to get involved with the adaptive sports organization in the first place. I always feel like I walk the line between "disabled" and not disabled since my limitations are not obvious (aside form my height) and I'm honestly still not sure how to describe myself, depending on the context. But when I contacted them, they told me I would qualify. I still felt I was "taking" something from someone who had a "real" disability, (and honestly, those thoughts still creep in, and I wonder if the others there wonder what I'm doing there) but finally got the courage to try, and I am SO GLAD I DID! I already can't wait until next year.
So if you are thinking about trying something new but are hesitant, go for it! It just might lead to you having the opportunity to find something you love that you never thought you'd do.
This is the third summer I've done "bikes and boats' with DASA, and I am still absolutely LOVING it!
When I first posted about this here in 2023, I was using a recumbent trike that was meant more as a kids "toy," not a serious recumbent trike. Well, after that first year, someone donated a small recumbent trike to the organization. Apparently, one of the organizers immediately thought, "This would be perfect for Allison!" when it was donated. Which, not gonna lie, made me feel kinda' special. They were RIGHT! While this is still a "youth" trike (um... I'm 4'10" so.... yeah. That uh.... fits...) it's made to be a trike, if that makes sense.
Anyway, this past summer between May and September, I did Bikes and Boats six times this summer, and loved every minute of it. The very first time, my "normal" trike (the one I just mentioned) was in the shop, so I used more of an adult trike (non-recumbent). Since that one was a different type, and it was my first time back in almost a year, I only did 2 miles that first time. But every time since, I was able to complete the full loop around the lake, which is 3.7 miles.
This year, I had an unofficial "uniform." I had Chat GPT make a picture of a sloth (my favorite animal) on a trike, and I loved it so much, I had it made into a shirt that my mom bought me for my birthday. The last session this summer was special, as I got to ride with an old college friend as my "shadow rider." They always have a volunteer on a regular bike ride with you in case you have trouble. I got to ride with her a couple of times last year, but wasn't sure she'd be at any this year, so that was fun.
The "boats" part is because they also have kayaks, which I've done a couple of times. But I really do it for the bikes.
So here I am, two years later, still rolling along and "wheely" loving it, in my "uniform."
I NEVER thought I'd be doing this! Honestly, I never thought bike riding would be possible for me, period. I didn't really want to try to learn a "regular" bike, (that fear is still real) and I didn't know of a way to ride a recumbent or "adult trike" without buying one myself. There's not a good place to ride super close to me, nor would I be able to easily transport one in my car, so I never really thought it would be possible. That, and I was SO hesitant to get involved with the adaptive sports organization in the first place. I always feel like I walk the line between "disabled" and not disabled since my limitations are not obvious (aside form my height) and I'm honestly still not sure how to describe myself, depending on the context. But when I contacted them, they told me I would qualify. I still felt I was "taking" something from someone who had a "real" disability, (and honestly, those thoughts still creep in, and I wonder if the others there wonder what I'm doing there) but finally got the courage to try, and I am SO GLAD I DID! I already can't wait until next year.
So if you are thinking about trying something new but are hesitant, go for it! It just might lead to you having the opportunity to find something you love that you never thought you'd do.
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