Going the Distance on Three Wheels



Free- this is how I feel when I ride my adult tricycle around the neighborhood. 

COVID-19 has been a tough and isolating time for everyone, When I came back to NJ in March at the height of the pandemic, the only way to get outside in the fresh air was to walk. At first, I could only make it a very short distance without having my legs get shaky and feeling like I was going to fall. Eventually, I was able to make it around the block but I still had to stop very frequently to rest and regain my energy.

In short, it was exhausting. . .

In July, my-parents surprised me with a three-wheel bike. The first time I rode the bike, it was a feeling I had never experienced before. . .freedom and exhilaration. I have a feeling this is how people feel when they drive for the first time 

I may have started out a bit too confident when I was riding as I did flip the bike in August after going too fast and making a sharp turn. I think I am the only person in the world who could flip a three wheel bike! 

While I might have started out a bit too confident due to this feeling of invincibility, I eventually learned how to ride safely and comfortably. This weekend, for Mitochondrial Disease awareness, I rode my bike for 62 minutes and went a distance of 3.44 miles. While I definitely felt my energy being depleted by the end of the ride, this is the longest I have exercised without breaks since I was 15 years old.

It has always been a challenge for me to find a sport that I could do safely due to my balance and endurance issues. In turn, I urge everyone with a disability to find some form of exercise that works for them because it can change your life!

Written by: Sydney Breslow




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