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Post by domindart on May 20, 2013 18:17:58 GMT -5
Just thought it was really cool that he was still riding and had a prosthetic leg. Wanted to get a pic but I was at a light on a incline.
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Post by DaveC on May 20, 2013 19:46:38 GMT -5
Just thought it was really cool that he was still riding and had a prosthetic leg. Wanted to get a pic but I was at a light on a incline. Can't wait to get my new/better prost leg Then maybe I can get back on two again. Attachments:
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Post by dragonsparks on May 20, 2013 20:38:56 GMT -5
Just thought it was really cool that he was still riding and had a prosthetic leg. Wanted to get a pic but I was at a light on a incline. Can't wait to get my new/better prost leg Then maybe I can get back on two again. May this my hope for you to get back on two again come true. Best wishes Dave |
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Post by bigggroovy on May 20, 2013 20:49:52 GMT -5
I know a guy with no legs that ride 2 wheels.
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Post by domindart on May 20, 2013 22:48:56 GMT -5
I thought of you Dave when I saw him.. He was doing it just as if he had both legs!
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Post by prodigit on May 20, 2013 23:48:56 GMT -5
Eventhough you may not have meant bad, I think taking a photo of, or staring at a disabled person, for the sake of his disability, may be not a very good idea.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 21, 2013 14:05:41 GMT -5
Guys and gals,
I do LOVE to see things like this... It inspires us all when we seem to have a problem that's hard to overcome. It could be a physical challenge, financial, or maybe we lack some knowledge to keep up with today's electronic world. WHATEVER it might be, stories like this are very precious and a GOOD lesson for us all.
Ten years ago, I was still working hard at my business and was meeting for dinner with one of my associates. Both of us like bikes, and quickly noticed a magnificent Harley chopper parked in the first "handicapped" space. Hmmm... Sure enough, it had a handicapped license plate with the wheel-chair icon. Double hmmm.... We decided to talk over our business in the car, wanting to see just WHO was riding that monster-bike with the handicapped plate.
20 minutes later, out strode a big fellow... a DOUBLE-AMPUTEE. He "strode" as I said, strutting on two crutches. Both legs were amputated at the knees. Most likely a victim of a war-injury. He went straight to the chopper and swung a crutch over the solo-saddle and plopped onto the monster. He shoved one crutch into a leather rifle-scabbard on the stretched front fork, and fired the beast up. (He DID have electric start... I was almost surprised!)
He raised the bike upright, and smacked the side-stand up with his left crutch. He pushed the Hog back out of the parking place with the crutch. He then tossed the crutch across his chest, and under his right arm and simply balancing the bike with NO support, squeezed the clutch and with the crutch in his right hand, reached across and pushed the foot-shift into first, and took off. The bike had been balanced for at least 15 seconds with NOTHING touching the ground while he prepared to leave.
We watched him enter heavy traffic, and blast down the 4-lane, with the crutch now tucked under his left arm. To shift, he'd squeeze the clutch and close the throttle like anybody, and quickly pull the crutch from under his arm with his right hand and stab the foot-shifter, grab the crutch under his left arm and put his right hand back on the throttle. To stop, he deftly used his crutch to steady the bike, and to start up, would repeat the parking lot maneuver, tossing the crutch under his arm, balancing the bike for a couple of seconds "free-standing" while quickly grabbing the clutch, and stabbing the shifter... then it was crutch back under his arm, hand on the throttle, and off down the road like anybody else.
This guy is STILL an inspiration to me... From "strutting" like a warrior, the lack of both legs not even an "inconvenience" to him, to riding that monster-chopper as easily as I did as a teenager... Now THAT is an AMERICAN! The attitude being: "You want a piece of me boy? OK, let's dance, and whatever's left of me is STILL gonna kick your butt..." And THAT is the character that has set the USA apart from the rest of the planet for over 200 years!
I only wish we could once again see that level of resolve in Washington...
Ride safe! Live well!
Leo in Texas
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Post by hank on May 21, 2013 14:25:05 GMT -5
Hi
Heres a heartwarming and very inspirational story
Take care and ride safely
Yours Hank
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Post by DaveC on May 21, 2013 14:54:48 GMT -5
Eventhough you may not have meant bad, I think taking a photo of, or staring at a disabled person, for the sake of his disability, may be not a very good idea. Maybe/Maybe not I get a lot of stares. Mostly from innocent children. Those are the one I talk to about it, and explain what happened, and that they should always wear their helmet when riding their bike, etc etc. I welcome the questions. It gives me a chance to remind everyone/anyone that it could very easily happen to them, in a split second. There isn't time to react (like putting your hands/arms over your head). It happens before you even get a chance to blink. My helmet/jacket/gloves saved my upper body. Nothing could have saved my leg. But, I'm here to enjoy the new to me scoot ife. I appreciate life more now than ever. Feel free to ask anything, and I'll try my best to explain, based on my own experience. Amputees know they're different. , my dog knows I'm different. He waits for me to get to the top of the stairs before he goes up, and down, after I get to the bottom step. So, next time, don't give a stare, give a thumbs up, for surviving in a two legged world. Amputees have to try twice as hard to do the same things 'y'all' do. I'm just loving life Dave (I was down town a couple days ago, on the scoot, with my crutches strapped on the side, a car turning from a side street saw me, smiled, and gave me the thumbs up. Meant more to me than him looking away, staring, etc.) |
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Post by DaveC on May 21, 2013 15:03:13 GMT -5
I thought of you Dave when I saw him.. He was doing it just as if he had both legs! domindart Thanx for thinking of me. I get cussed out by the GF for doing 'too much'. I just try to do the same things I did before. She says I do more now than before. I seldom wear my basic prost leg. I just get around on forearm crutches When I get the new leg, computer programmed, better fit, I'll probably wear it more often. more pic when I do. Ride safe Dave Attachments:
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Post by hank on May 21, 2013 15:05:43 GMT -5
I thought of you Dave when I saw him.. He was doing it just as if he had both legs! domindart Thanx for thinking of me. I get cussed out by the GF for doing 'too much'. I just try to do the same things I did before. She says I do more now than before. I seldom wear my basic prost leg. I just get around on forearm crutches When I get the new leg, computer programmed, better fit, I'll probably wear it more often. more pic when I do. Ride safe Dave Hi Dave You have my best wishes and prayers Take care and ride safely dear friend 'Yours Hank |
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Post by DaveC on May 21, 2013 15:20:10 GMT -5
domindart Thanx for thinking of me. I get cussed out by the GF for doing 'too much'. I just try to do the same things I did before. She says I do more now than before. I seldom wear my basic prost leg. I just get around on forearm crutches When I get the new leg, computer programmed, better fit, I'll probably wear it more often. more pic when I do. Ride safe Dave Hi Dave You have my best wishes and prayers Take care and ride safely dear friend 'Yours Hank Thanx Hank I'm doin just fine. In fact, maybe even better than before. , my ex wife is even talking to me now, and civil too!!!!!! I'm not on here to push an agenda for amputeeism. I'm here to learn about scoots, meet fellow scooterists, talk scoot talk, and ride. If someone wants to talk about accidents, I can do that too. My handicap/limitations/crippleness is just a mere disctraction from enjoying life the best way I know how. Tanks man Dave |
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Post by hank on May 21, 2013 15:41:07 GMT -5
Hi Dave You have my best wishes and prayers Take care and ride safely dear friend 'Yours Hank Thanx Hank I'm doin just fine. In fact, maybe even better than before. , my ex wife is even talking to me now, and civil too!!!!!! I'm not on here to push an agenda for amputeeism. I'm here to learn about scoots, meet fellow scooterists, talk scoot talk, and ride. If someone wants to talk about accidents, I can do that too. My handicap/limitations/crippleness is just a mere disctraction from enjoying life the best way I know how.Tanks man Dave Hi dave Your most welcome my friend And quite right, when it comes to the human spirit theres no limits I see a lot of those who wont give up due to my wifes job as head of the Kennedy Centers ABI program www.thekennedycenterinc.org/what-we-do/programs-services/acquired-brain-injury.htmlTake care and ride safely dear friend Yours Hank |
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Post by prodigit on May 21, 2013 18:00:16 GMT -5
I'd give thumbs up for your post DaveC.
We can not even begin to imagine the difficulties you may have, not only in getting around, getting people's stares, but also some people have difficulty in getting a job, or some people even getting a difficulty in finding a partner because of this.
A lot of soldiers have a hard time processing their feelings after what has happened to them, when stepping on a land mine or having their hand or arms blown to smithereens in a rain of bullets.
And I have great respect for those people!
Perhaps it's culture wise, but in my culture there's a difference between taking photo's or staring, and genuinely go to a person and talk about what happened to him, and hear his story.
Come to think of it, when I was a kid, I saw a guy, who had a special prosthetic limb, mounted to his bicycle, so he could bike.
And yes, he was fast, only on 1,5 leg!
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Post by 4950cycle on May 21, 2013 21:08:54 GMT -5
Why not, They drive with no brain where I live  |
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