[Sportsandrec] introduction and suggesting on relearning riding atricycle as a blind adult

Mon Aug 26 01:52:25 UTC 2013

Hi Ashley,

Due to the fact that it's been approximately 30 years since I rode a tricycle, I'm sure it will take time to get confidence in using it again. I do quite a bit of walking to familiarize where bumps are on the sidewalk. I suppose I could check with an O&M Instructor regarding this myself. The tricycle have 2 brakes, one on each side of the handle bard, and a park button on each side of the handlebar. It even have a basket in the back for carrying things if needed.

The seat on the back is adjustable and is configured for my height and comfort level at this time. I still have to purchase a helmet, a bell or horn, and probably a chain and padlock for securing the tricycle. I even have thought of getting a couple of blocks to put under the two back wheels to use as an exercise bike for during the winter or wet days when I want to work out. What do others think?

Sincerely,

Lisa Hall

-----Original Message-----
From: Sportsandrec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 7:28 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] introduction and suggesting on relearning riding atricycle as a blind adult

Hello Lisa,
Welcome to the list.
I've seen you on other lists.

I also need to exercise more. I'm not a hard core exerciser or rec person, but thought I'd stay on here to see what techniques everyone uses to stay active.
Like you, I have some of those hobbies such as music, reading, and playing card games.

I belong to a health club too, but have to rely on the unreliable paratransit to get there and consequently do not go as much as I need to; maybe a few times a week.
I tend to just move to music or jump around for exercise at home.
I suggest keeping up the walking about the neighborhood for exercise; a great low impact activity.
I wish I could, but we do not have sidewalks where I am and I plan to move to some place where I can do so when I have a job.

I also rode a tricycle as a kid for recreation activities. I also had a big wheel before a tricycle; oh this brings back memories!
It was fun!
I also just learned of tricycles for adults recently and was very pleasantly surprised.
I was always supervised though and just rode around the quiet neighborhood and also used my vision to steer clear of objects but there were rarely any.

I'm sure you will find many blind and sighted adults who ride bikes.
I would imagine many of the same concepts of care and maintenance and learning to ride such as the rpm to go will be the same.
Have you asked a local bike club about this?
I would think you could learn from sighted people who use them about the mechanics of riding a tricycle.

You simply peddal a tricycle. Curious why don't you want a bike? You could either ride a bike behind someone or get a tandem bike and then the guide is right in front of you guiding the bike.
I would rather have a tricycle because of the balance factor. My vision impairment has affected my gait and balance and I think if I mounted a bike it would fall over. Looking back on it, I was too scared to ride without training wheels; when my parents got a kid bike, it had training wheels and I was too afraid to ask for them to be removed. I had trouble controlling the bike's speed sometimesand recall the bike crashing into things a few times .

Anyway, I should look into a tricycle! That would be a cool way to enjoy the outside and ride somewhat independently; I'd have a guide ahead of me still, but I'd feel safe enough riding the tricycle alone on a bike path and we have many in the next town.
Do you get them from bike stores, or where?
Glad this question came up as it’s a good one. In a familiar environment such as a neighborhood, how can we ride safely and navigate drop offs and objects?

Anyway, back to your question.
You said,
"My goal is to relearn how to ride a tricycle as an adult. I don't know many blind people who ride tricycles as an adult. "

Lisa, I know no one riding a tricycle as an adult; that is a new thing in the bike world, the idea of tricycles for adults.
But there are many people on here who rode or ride tandem bikes as an adult.
I think they can give advice if they are still on here.
You say, you need to relearn to ride. Hmm.
What exactly do you need to relearn? You simply peddal it.
Well, you will have to learn to put on the brakes but other than that, what would you need to learn?

As to your question of learning what
is in front of you with hearing loss, I do not know of a way. Can you make use of echo location with your hearing aids?
That is the ability to use echos from objects. If not, I don't know.
Most blind people I know use echo location to determine what is ahead but it will not detect drop offs.
Have you investigated any of the electronic travel aids?
I do not have one and know little about them.
I can ask this question on the mobility instructor list if you want and I won't use your name.
Anyway, a electronic travel aid may be something of use; they vibrate to communicate with you.
I think the mini guide vibrates with objects ahead of you.
Do you have any vision? If so, putting bright colors on curbs may help. Of course you'd need permission to do so, but I would think they would grant this.
Another idea is walking the route with a cane and remembering it. Another idea is having someone make you a tactile map with such information. As you ride, pay attention to texture changes and slopes.
Also, the feel of the wind may help.
Finally, I think using the GPS on the I phone and other related aps will help.
Not being an I device user, I cannot recommend aps. But I bet there are aps that will tell you about streets.

Your safest bet might be to use a sighted person to ride with you  a few times around with to allert you of drop offs and changes in terrain.
Its harder with hearing loss I'm sure. I commend your efforts. Best of luck with your boyfriend and you to learn the tricycle.

Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Hall
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 8:33 AM
To: Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Sportsandrec] introduction and suggesting on relearning riding atricycle as a blind adult

Hi everyone,

I am Lisa Hall from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am a longtime member of NFB since 1985. I have lived in three states over the years: Louisiana, 32 years; Texas, 11 years; and Ohio 7 years. I currently work for Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired as a Braille proofreader. I have my personal web site at www.lisa-halls-world.org. I have not learned how to use Twitter, facebook or any other network opportunities out on the internet yet. I noticed that many businesses use this medium to find new customers and reconnect with previous customers. I have been totally blind all of my life.

As far as recreation activities, as a kid, I used to ride a tricycle when I lived in Louisiana from 1962 through 1995. I loved it back then. My neighborhood back then was quiet and little traffic on my residential street. I abandon this activity for many years since I became an adult. I learned recently that tricycle for adults was available. My boyfriend purchased one for me as a surprise for my birthday which doesn't occur until December 3 and Christmas which is several months off. Now I am in a training mode again.

I like to walk around my neighborhood to keep fit when I can. Over the last
2 years I joined two health clubs but did not go very often because of transportation challenges. I live in a three-bedroom apartment with steps to get into the building with a sidewalk similar to a setup in a regular house where I grew up. However, the house I lived in back then did not have stairs and only 1 step into the house.

The neighborhood is on a bus line and I walk to work everyday. I live across the street from the center making it convenient to walk to and from work. I am close enough to places like restaurants, bank, grocery store, etc. There are some places I go to that is not on a bus line. I depend on a driver to get me to places not possible to get to by public transportation. The cab system is terrible and very expensive here. I have a severe hearing impairment and wear 2 hearing aids.

My boyfriend is going to help me relearn the techniques so that I can get my confidence back. I primarily use a straight cane for my travel. Should I consider using a folding cane?

Now that I am relearning how to use an adult tricycle, is there any way to know what is in front of me in terms of hills, curbs, etc.? I just purchased an iPhone back in May and am learning many things on it on my own. I have been reading many books from National Braille Press regarding the I devices.
About a month ago, I purchased a subscription to Seeing Eye GPS which allows a blind person to learn streets around my neighborhood, points of interest that I didn't know about, and using the GPS when I travel in a car with a driver. I also use a Braille display which I purchased to go with my computer and iPhone. I hope to one day teach my boyfriend how to use his Android device better.

My goal is to relearn how to ride a tricycle as an adult. I don't know many blind people who ride tricycles as an adult.

In the past, I have used a treadmill that have been marked but never owned one. I also used an exercise bicycle as well but never owned one. I wish there is an affordable health club closer to my home. I don't have a lot of space for lots of equipment and some of those equipment is very expensive.

My hobbies are reading, music, computers, going to movies and plays, attending concerts every once in a while, playing games like cards, dominos, bingo, monopoly which I haven't done in several years as a kid.

My sister and brother live in Texas and Louisiana and they both have their own kids. Now their kids are having their own children. I only get to see them at least once a year.

I have been single all of my life and am trying to balance life as it should be.

I hope to learn many activities that everyone is doing to keep fit and stay busy.

Take care and hope to meet many of you at National Convention in Orlando, Florida next summer.

By the way, I am President of National Association of Blind Office Professionals and have been doing this since 1996. I am helping to change what it means to be blind.

Sincerely yours,

Lisa Hall

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