Special needs people like the wind too.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I did something kind of unusual this past September. I rode around for hours in a large parking lot in Terre Haute IN and never got out of 2'nd gear. And I had the time of my life.

A local HOG group has been doing this for years, and in spite of the Valk I got invited to help this past year. A group called the "happiness bag players" brings disabled people from the area, most are from homes I think, to "share the wind" with some local riders. They range from moderately disabled to severely disabled, some can climb on a bike without help, most can't. But, they all loved to ride.

We fed them grilled burgers and dogs and gave them the opportunity to set on some bikes and get their pics taken before the ride started. Then their guardians signed a release and they got in line to ride. We could have used more people to help them on and off the bikes, some of them are big people. Most of them rode several times and had certain bikes they preferred. The veteran with the military scene on the windshield of his faring seemed to be a favorite.

Anyone who's interested should check and see if such a thing is done in your area. This was perhaps the most rewarding motorcycling experience I've had in 40 years of riding.

Sure hope I get invited back next year.

[Challenger]

Most excellent, Sir! Good-on-ya!

[JimmyG]

That is really great.

[Stanley Steamer]

 

[Skinhead]

That is really awesome.  I've always wanted to do something like that for the kids with cancer.  I work at a test facility for a certain large auto maker.  I'd really like to get them to close our 5 mile circle track on a Sunday and let us ride the kids around the track, no chance of traffic accidents with other vehicles that way.  I'd like to, don't know if they'd go for it.  We could start with the kids from the camp we helped out at Inzanes 10 & 11.  

[Gear Jammer]

The greatness of America is in how it treats its weakest members: the elderly, the infirm, the handicapped, the underprivileged, the unborn. ~Bill Federer

[highcountry]

How cool!!   

[John Schmidt]

I know just how you felt.  I have a handicapped grandson and when they visited us maybe ten-eleven years ago, I worked with his dad to get him on my Wing. I strapped him in place, then closed the armrests and bungied them together. The helmet was too big but it didn't matter, I could hear him yelling with delight all the time since I had the mic turned up on it. He kept asking to go faster but I only took it up to about 50 mph. He's in his late 20's now and still talks about his motorcycle ride. As we rode past the house his dad took pictures, I think the grin on his face filled the entire photo. It's a great feeling, especially since he's been wheelchair bound his entire life.

[Black Dog]

Good on ya 

Us big bad bikers are pretty much softies when it comes to something like this.  Just another reason to hate the folks in this club/family 

Black Dog

[fon1961]

very cool