Thanks to the writing proclivity of our illustrious Vice President and my other half, Vinny aka Twinkle Toes. I am posting the article he wrote that was pposted for those who care to read it.
MY OTHER RIDE IS A HARLEY
by Vinny Cucchiara from Disabled Riders of America
Like most riders I have an almost compulsive need to show off my ride. My 2000 Softail Classic is black with red pin striping, and has a pin up style Betty Boop airbrushed on the front fender. It was just something I decided to do on our last trip to Laconia Bike Week to distinguish her from the sea of other black beauties resting along Main St. When spring peaks out from behind its winter blanket of snow and cold to smile warmly on us. That’s my motivation to rub my sweetie down with soap and compound. Even though it's your basic black with red pin striping I'm not satisfied until the sunlight reflects off of it like a bright mirror. Just before the start of riding season I pull out my 3 types of wax; the spray, the carnauba liquid and finally the mother’s paste. I spend 3 hours waxing the "Miyagi" way- wax on, wax off. I buff each layer with pride and enthusiasm. This is the type of concentrated purpose that I put into each and every ride I go on.
Robin doesn't get into the nuts and bolts of caring for the bike like I do because her enthusiasm and focus is the ride itself. Being disabled she can't easily just swing her leg over and sink her butt into the stylish rear seat like most of us. She has to struggle to pull herself up onto the seat by the strap. Then I help her put her leg over and she shimmies into place. After expending all her energy just getting into her seat she has an epiphany- a moment when she realizes she can do something that certain others only dream about. That's when she breaks into a real serious smile. It is a smile that lets you know the best is yet to come.
Helmets on, protective glasses, gloves, zippers, scarves, ankle high boots, the meticulous pilots checklist goes on and on until were both snug in our seats and ready to take off. Just like the legendary pilots of yesteryear who yelled "switch on" and "contact" I yell back are you ready to rock Robin. Without a seconds hesitation or stutter she taps me on the shoulder and yells, let’s roll. Ignition on, choke out, two twists of the throttle and I engage the starter and that magnificent sound of the engine cranking over roaring like a lion ready to prowl consume us both. The wholeness of us and the machine envelop us like an ocean wave. Each downturn of the throttle vibrates and excites every cell in our bodies. The anticipation mounts until the solid sound of my left toe engaging first gear confirm that our steel stallion is ready to ride. Throttle down and clutch up as the wheels begin to turn and take us on our latest adventure.
This is what we do- "Ride like the Wind". Since riding together we have logged in 40,000 miles traveling through horrendous weather, mishaps, and obstacles that would make even the challenges of Hercules seem tame by comparison. On the other hand we have seen places and met people in this great country of ours that can only inspire awe, amazement, and sincere gratitude. We have been to the Bikers Mecca - Sturgis S.D., Harley's 100th Anniversary in Milwaukee, Myrtle Beach Bike Week, Americade, Laconia Bike Week, The Tail of the Dragon in N.C., Rolling Thunder in Washington D.C., Harley's Open House in York, Pa. Wildwood and various H.O.G. and A.M.A. bike events.
Starting a new adventure with Robin is a lot like walking a tightrope through a thunderstorm. You don't quite know how it’s going to turn out or where you’re going to land up. But that could be a good thing, especially for us. Once we’re on the road the feeling of Freedom and Independence seem to take over our senses and sometimes even our sensibilities. Living your life in and out of a wheelchair because you don't have the use of your feet might leave some of us with a mighty bitter pill to swallow. Don't get me wrong, not every day or ride is perfect. We’ve come across both mechanical and physical situations that have required readjustments, but the point is that we don't let it slow us down any. Our best annual ride is Rolling Thunder over Memorial weekend at Washington D.C. Being a Viet Nam Vet, and losing friends in the war makes this my way of staying in touch with them. When we pull in to the gathering area along the Potomac River with our wheelchair attached to the rear of the bike you can feel and hear the enthusiasm and support from the riders who have come to share their stories and sentiments.
During the summer of 2002 while working on a college campus the Dean of the school was walking by and stopped to ask me what I was building for my bike. When I explained that I needed to build an attachment to carry Robin's wheelchair with us on various trips over the summer he said that I had a great gift for persistence and perseverance. It was at that moment that I realized that Robin had given me that gift. There was nothing I wanted more than to share my love of riding with her even if I had to develop something that had never been made before. Over the years I have made 4 versions of our wheelchair carrier, the latest being of Aluminum which is light and easy to mount and dismount. But Robin isn't the type of woman to sit back and languish in her success or in this case be happy with the fact that she can now ride whenever the mood or need strikes her. She decided that if she can ride there must be others out there with disabilities that are either riding or want to ride. Late last year she decided to start a Web site called The Disabled Riders of America. It was a grand project that is still in the process of refinement and growth. Currently there are 150 members nationally with various levels of challenges. In our Forum section we share topics like bike modification, new equipment and products, stories, photo's and sometimes some good old-fashioned support.
Someday we hope to be able to put together a Fundraiser/Poker Run to raise awareness and provide financial support to those members who need a helping hand putting together their special rides. What most people don’t recognize is that major motorcycle manufacturers stay away from especially adaptive sponsorship due to potential liability issues. Dave Barr, an early supporter and member of our group who has traveled around the world twice on a Harley and is a double amputee also had trouble-finding sponsors for his rides. When it comes to riding for the disabled necessity becomes the mother of invention for us all. Recently, The Tuttle’s from American Chopper built a trike for a disabled rider with special adaptive equipment like an automatic transmission so the rider didn’t have to shift and hand brakes instead of foot brakes, but this type of ingenuity is far from the mainstream of disabled riders affordability. Someday we would like to be in the forefront of changing that.
What Robin and I want riders to know is that the only limitations that exist are the ones in your head. Whether she’s pushing herself in a wheelchair or using a motorized wheelchair the only place she feels like she belongs is on a Harley. She knows the battles that have taken place to get this far have been long and hard but the encouragement that she receives on the road from all sorts of motorists with their thumbs up as she goes by are worth every moment.
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We are also looking into being speakers at the Abilities Expo to talk about DRA and our shared love of ridsing and our perserverance to remain doing so. Hopefully we will get the opportunity to do so. I think it would be some great exposure and PR for DRA.
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