FREEDOM and a Blue-Metallic Trike
(presented by Donna O’Donnell Figurski)
April 9, 2015 marks a pretty exciting day for us. It’s the first official day of David’s independence since his brain injury in 2005. David recently bought a Catrike 700 recumbent trike. This sleek, low-to-the-ground, metallic-blue machine will be his wheels and his freedom.
Because of severe balance issues due to his brain injury and the damage to his cerebellum, David has been unable to leave our home unattended for the past ten years. With his Catrike 700, he can hop on and and pedal away for hours and hours. (Well, not really hop on, but that sounded better than crawl or climb on.) Of course, his limitation of getting off the trike because he is unable
to walk anywhere on his own remains a problem. But, that won’t deter David.
David’s first excursion was a 5-mile trip around the winding, scenic roads in our neighborhood. Pedaling down streets lined with palm trees and a variety of cacti, many of which are in bloom right now, was liberating and fun, if the grin plastered on his face when he returned was any indication.
Later the same afternoon, David guided me on my first recumbent-trike trip. I have a yellow/mango Pocket Catrike, and I love it.
Today, David is riding with friends in a neighboring community. What fun! This is only the beginning.
As I say after each post:
Please leave a comment by clicking the blue words “Leave a Comment” below this post.
Please follow my blog. Click on “Follow” on the top right sidebar. (It’s nice to know there are readers out there.)
If you like my blog, share it with your friends. It’s easy! Click the “Share” buttons below.
If you don’t like my blog, “Share” it with your enemies. I don’t care!
Feel free to “Like” my post.
(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)
(Photos compliments of Me.)
Raising Awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury - one view at a time. Thanks for visiting my blog
Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury 
Comments on: "TBI Tales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Freedom and a Blue, Metallic Trike" (4)
I am a former cyclist who had an accident in front of my house riding. Could this product be determined safe for some one with a traumatic brain injury history???
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLike
Hi Matt,
I can’t tell you if a recumbent trike is safe for you after your injury because I don’t know the details of your injury. I can tell you that my husband is living with serious balance issues as a result of his brain injury and riding the recumbent trike is opening up doors that have been shut for 10 years. It is allowing him the freedom to be on his own away from the home for a few hours at a time as he explores the neighborhoods. It also provides a wonderful way for him to exercise. The three wheels on the trike provide stability. If you are unsure or have concerns, it would be best to check with your physician. But definitely check out recumbent trikes to see if that is an avenue you might pursue.
Thank you for reading my blog and I wish you all the best.
Donna O’Donnell Figurski
survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com
donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Can you tell me if your husband has had problems with dizziness at all? I had a brain injury in 2009 and have had issues with dizziness and seizures ever since. I have attempted to try riding my bike but its always been a disaster! Is there a place that sells these bikes where you can give them a “test run?” Like your husband, I would like to be able to get back some part of my life that I used to enjoy~ Dawne
LikeLike
Dawne,
My husband doesn’t have issues with dizziness nor seizures, but he does have serious balance issues. There are many bike shops that sell recumbent trikes. The trike that David got was the Catrike 700. I got the Catrike Pocket. Mine is smaller and less expensive. Because it is a trike (3 wheels) there is not the problem with balancing the trike.
Here’s the store locator link to Cattrike. http://www.catrike.com/#!find-dealer/c5ge
Our Cattrike dealer let us try out the trikes.
Here’s the store locator link to Terra Trike. I think they are less expensive. http://www.terratrike.com/dealersearch.php
There are other brands around. Just type recumbent trike into your browser.
My husband loves his trike. he rides about 25 miles 4 times a week totaling about 100 miles.
I hope that this will be a solution to your freedom.
Thanks for commenting and I hope that this will help you somehow.
Donna O’Donnell Figurski
survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com
donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com
LikeLike