dear Parky,
 
Here's evidence that your trike is being put to good use!  I can't tell you how grateful I am.  At this point, I ride every day and the trike is my only means of transportation.  Everywhere I go your wonderful machine attracts attention. In fact, one day I heard footsteps beside me and looked up to find a former engineering student from the UA jogging beside me, enthralled.  He had designed a similar trike for a special project but was fascinated at the way your machine solves some of the problems.  He told me they had never been able to get much speed out of their trike, which is a comfort to me since my average is 4 mph.
 
Last week we took the trike to the annual PD conference and I offered people rides.  We had a steady stream of interested parkies.  One man touched my heart--he moved with great difficulty and didn't speak at all but once we managed to get him seated and get his feet on the pedals----zoom.  I think it was the first time in years he had any kind of mobility and he drove around and around with a smile on his face.  I will be taking it to the walk a thon this weekend to try to convince some other parkies to try it.
 
Sharon

 

Hey Parky,

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, I decided biking would be a good way to keep those muscles going. Shortly thereafter, I met my now husband, Robert. He had been a triathlete who eventually decided to concentrate on bicycling. He would send me out on longer and longer rides and never laughed when I said, "WOW! I rode three miles today!" He has always encouraged me. Eventually, I was able to ride longer and longer distances.

Then we bought a tandem. When we lived in NY, we cycled around Lake Ontario one vacation. Another time we rode around various of the Finger Lakes.

Now we live in Arizona. Two years ago, we rode the 100+ mile portion of El Tour de Tucson. Last year we rode the Tour of the Tucson Mts., RAGBRAI, and The Blue Loop (a very mountainous ride put on by GABA and not recommended for tandems) and scheduled ourselves for the 100+ on  El Tour again. Unfortunately, on a regular local ride, I crashed on my single. Fractured both wrists, concussion, many stitches, yada, yada. I was not up to riding 100+ for El Tour, but I compromised with the 50 mile section.

This year we rode The Southwest Tandem Rally in Waco Texas and The tour of the Tucson Mountains. Biking is the way to go.

Linda

From: Linda Epstein
To: Jim Wetherell
Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 1:21 PM
Subject: My World

In my world, I rode a little less on the bike this year. It has been well over a hundred degrees many, many days at ride time. That being said, Bob and I did a great tandem ride this morning. I plan to ride with him in the Tumacacori century in October.
 
As for the Parkinsons, I am taking Requip and trying to get it adjusted. I was on wwwaaayyyy too much for a while and couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm still incredibly tired sometimes, but I aam taking half as much AND, I FEEL much better.
 
How are things with you?
 
Bik
 

Hi Parky

I'm Damon, a fellow parkie (Australian spelling) that enjoys cycling
too. I found you site by the link from Catrike while I was shopping for
a 3 wheeler.

I was diagnosed in 1991, and I am getting to the point with my balance
that that extra wheel looks mighty tempting! I've always wanted a
recumbant anyway, so it's a good enough excuse. I currently clock up
about 10,000 km (6,200 miles) a year on my 2 wheeler. My neurologist is
also amazed at the slow progress of my symptoms.

We traced back my symptoms with photos to about 1981. One of the factors
that has slowed the condition has been a regular intake of 1,000 iu of
natural vitamin E since 1976 (family history of cardiovascular disease).
I reccomend it to everyone that will listen, for parkinson's or heart
disease.

What do you think of the Catrike? It looks very well engineered from the
website. Your input would be much appreciated, as an experienced triker.
I live in Perth, Western Australia, and  we don't have any recumbant
dealers here to go to for a test ride.

I've got some projects on the go here as well as a business, a job, a
girlfriend, and (single) parenthood, so I keep myself pretty busy! As
the song says -  Life goes on, even when I'm not there (my joke with
myself).

Anyway, stay healthy, and I look forward to your opinion on the trikes
you've ridden

Cheers
Damon