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Hand Cyclists and the Bike Community — Like Birds of a Feather
Loosely defined, cyclists are people who want to power themselves by riding a cycle of any type. Closely associated with that definition is the goal-oriented mentality that most cyclists share. Hand cyclists fit this definition perfectly. The majority of hand cyclists are people with disabilities who seek recreational and competitive outlets. Perhaps the most well known example of a hand cyclist is Mike Utley, who was paralyzed in 1991 while playing right guard for the Detroit Lions. Remember the thumbs up he gave a silenced, anxious crowd while being taken off the field on a stretcher? That simple action epitomized Utley's unflappable strength and optimism. Regardless of his hopefulness, one had to wonder what a person in Utley's shoes could possibly do to fill the void that was created when his burgeoning career was stripped away at a moment's notice. How would he find an outlet for his competitiveness and the incredible work ethic that had helped him earn so much in life? The answer, for Mike, was simple – he would use the assets that made him an NFL success to find a cure for spinal cord injuries (SCI). He would enjoy an active life, regardless of whether or not he could ever walk again. Since being diagnosed with SCI, Utley has brought his game to an absolute height. He started immediately after his injury by founding the Mike Utley Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries, by providing financial support for selected research, rehabilitation and education on SCI. Through this foundation, Utley organizes a long list of charity events that helps raise money for a cure. One such event is the annual Dam2Dam Thumbs Up Bike Tour in East Wenatchee, Washington. "I've done a lot of different fundraisers in my time, but biking has worked the best because it seems to be an activity for everyone," Utley said. "It's accessible, and it allows people to set all kinds of different goals that help them feel accomplished." Utley not only puts on events such as Dam2Dam, but he, along with about 30 other disabled athletes, rides in them as well. "It's important that I be out there so people see that this is not all about lip service," Utley said. "People need to see me out there leading by example. The best way for people with SCI to be prepared for a cure is to stay healthy and physically active. If I do it, then other people will see that it is not only possible, but rewarding and fun." If leading by example is a priority, then Mike is doing a great job of achieving that goal. His injury made him a C 6-7 quad, meaning that he lost at least partial use of all four of his extremities. By working adamantly at a training and rehabilitation regimen, Mike has regained the use of his hands, wrists, and fingers, and, in 1999, he even took his first step since the injury. It is Utley's persistence that has allowed him to stay just as active, if not more active, than the average person. With dogged determination, he has allowed himself to enjoy physical activities including scuba diving, kayaking, water skiing and even skydiving. Determination is a trait that he wants to demonstrate and pass on through events like Dam2Dam. Even if a cure for SCI is never found in Mike's lifetime, he still believes in the benefits of being active. "I may never walk again, but I'm going to have a great life," Utley said. Asked if accessibility has been an issue for him in the realm of recreation, Utley said, "Where there's a will, there's a way. Anything that is accessible to persons without disabilities is accessible to people who have SCI. You earn what you get. I've learned that as an athlete. If you don't work hard for a position, you don't get it."
In 2005, Utley's goal is to ride at least 25 miles-certainly no small feat considering that he relies solely on the strength of his arms and his will. Another goal is to raise at least $100,000 for the foundation, which means he will need more cyclists than ever before. Those who register for the Dam2Dam Tour (scheduled for September 24, 2005) offer valuable support for the Mike Utley Foundation. They also get a chance to pedal along with a host of inspirational cyclists. Tim Patterson, who rode from the Twin Towers to the Pentagon in honor of the victims of 9/11, and Craig Blanchette, who is a nationally recognized cyclist, often join participants, coaching them and carrying on friendly conversations. Aside from Utley, there are less famous examples of disabled cyclists who ride with a serious mission. Take Tom Zylstra, for example. In October of 2003, Zylstra was hit by a car while riding his road bike along a picturesque country road. The accident fractured his left tibia and tore most of the skin off from behind his knee. Consequently, Zylstra was unable to ride his road bike for an extended period of time while his fractured leg healed with the help of a titanium rod. After a relatively brief rehabilitation period, he was told that he could ride again. Zylstra, who has been an avid cyclist since he was just 8 years old, was excited to get back into the swing of things. He trained hard for two months and prepared to compete in a road race in central California. He felt no discomfort in his left leg. Zylstra rode passionately in that race, placing respectably and feeling fine afterwards. He even gave a talk about his experience at a banquet on the night of the event. Two days later, he was experiencing excruciating pain in his leg. The slight but persistent pressure of riding on the road had refractured his tibia. He would have to go under the knife once again, this time to have his leg rebroken and to have a larger titanium rod placed in his tibia. Doctors told him he might not ride again until late 2005. "I was depressed," Zylstra said. "I had done all this work to come back, and I had been looking forward to the summer so much." Zylstra considers himself a classic road cyclist who thrives on the sport as a means of accomplishing goals and enjoying the freedom of the outdoors. "From the moment I started riding, it's always been my preferred mode of transportation," he said. "I don't know what I'd replace it with." Following his second surgery, Zylsta struggled with that very question of what to replace his passion with. After trying several options, he began to search the internet for alternatives. That is when he found hand cycling. "It made my summer go from something that was going to be bleak and depressing to one of the best summers of my life," Zylstra explained. He was once again able to focus on meeting goals, exploring country roads, and enjoying the freedom of cycling. By July 2004, Zylstra was riding in RAMROD as the first ever hand-cyclist to participate in the event. He cycled roughly half of the 154-mile distance before finally considering his mission accomplished. Meeting his goals not only meant cycling 70 miles, but also raising awareness for disabled cyclists. The way Zylstra sees it, 750 riders participated in the event, and, within a short period of time, everyone of them had passed him. In theory, each of those riders is now cognizant of the fact that hand cycling exists. "The ratio of how many people are physically challenged compared to how many disabled cyclists you see on the road is wrong," Zylstra said. "You don't think twice about seeing a road cyclist. That's how I want people to view hand cyclists. I want people to see that there are options for people with disabilities." Zylstra's case is unique amongst hand cyclists because he is not permanently disabled. Nonetheless, he plans to be a hand cyclist for the rest of his life. In the future, he will still participate in RAMROD with a hand cycle. His goal is to get other hand cyclists to participate in the event and to ride with them as far as they can go before switching to his road bike to complete the tour. When you take a look at their lifestyles, Zylstra, Utley and all the other hand cyclists out there have something in common that goes beyond the type of bike that they ride. It has to do with their outlook on life, their desire to live active, healthy lives, their proactive stance on healing, their constant pursuit of goals, and their willingness to persevere. These are traits that unite them with the cycling community as a whole. For more information about the Utley Foundation and Dam2Dam tour visit: www.mikeutley.org/ |
