Maelstrom 

I don't consider it a handicap, but many people I have met do. I am missing two fingers on my left hand, size is about 33% smaller than my right and both the pinky and index finger are basically thumbs with only one knuckle. It makes for interesting braking techniques and a lot of mods to adapt.

Dolomiti

Pardon this thread is so old, but there are no others like it... I found it on a search...

Does anyone here cycle, that is disabled? I mean being unable to support yourself with employment.
People see me cycling often and sometimes think I must not be disabled, because how could a disabled person ride a bicycle
I have two neurological conditions, and cycling is a BIG help on my quality of life - thanks to conditioning (being inactive is a very bad idea in my case), transportation, and mental satisfaction. I don't have very good endurance or power but good enough to get around and enjoy it sometimes.

cycle17

First off...big kudos to powerhouse on cycling with those health issues.

While mine are relatively minor:

Slightly worn left knee from all the years of running and time in the Marines. Cycling doesn't seem to bother it at all though.

Bad left shoulder socket and rotator cuff.

Carpel tunnel in both wrists

Minor back problems from incidents in the military.

Also, I found out recently that all my older siblings and mother suffer from arthritis that seems to have come on in their late thirties to early forties, so I'm right in that window to be struck with it myself.

cycle17

I would imagine people would look at you and assume that if you can cycle, than you must be able to work and couldn't possibly have a disabililty. There are many in society who are too close minded and assumptive.

Having an outlet...in your case cycling, is extremely important. I'm glad you are well enough to at least be able to enjoy it.

ax0n

I have epilepsy.

efrobert

I just suffer from occasionally stupidity.

BananaTugger

I have Attention Deficit Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I used to take over 45mg of Adderall XR a day and a lot Buspar in the morning.

Now I don't take anything, except for riding and gaming, they help quite a bit.

I was also born with the ability to pwn hard.

Tom Stormcrowe

Powerhouse, good for you!

Cycling has helped me overcome a disability (Getting debilitating weight off and getting out of a wheelchair and off oxygen), and I know that feeling of accomplishment I'm certain you feel (and deserve to feel, believe me!). I have a couple of friends in town here that ride a tandem recumbent trike that are both disabled, matter of fact, I helped them get the trike. He's quadraplegic and his wife is 100% blind. She's the stroker and he steers and handcranks. A local framebuilder I know donated the frame materials and build, and I scavenged the wheels and dérailleurs and other components out of my parts bins and talked a local bike shop into donating cranksets and other things I didn't have.

I don't mention them because I want praise, because I actually played a very small role in the process other than connecting up some people and some spare parts. Instead, I'd rather be emul;ated by people here in Foo, in that if you see a need, help out!

chipcom 

I apparently have rectal cranial inversion. Once you got that, everything else is pretty much not worth mentioning.

wethepeople

Bad Dyslexia, an annoying as hell speech impediment and bad hips.

Other then that everything is trivial.

RATBOY

Does cancer count?

Imachad

Amen. I sometimes feel like i take advantage of being able to do things others don't. And that gives me inspiration to do well in the races and training i partake in. I have experienced people who can't find joy in anything, and to walk, talk, see, breathe, and run makes me happier than any amount of money could.

SingingSabre 

I did. I had it as a child and my body somehow compensated for it.

I'm not going to tell what it is here...but if you're really curious, PM me.

gbcb

Sorry to hear that, Ratboy. I'd say yes.

Tom, that tandem recumbent trike sounds amazing! They must have so much fun.

As for me, I wear a right-leg prosthesis after a bout with cancer 17 years ago. I have never thought of it as a "disability", though -- that just doesn't seem like an accurate description!

Tom Stormcrowe

They have a ball with it, and got a lot of freedom they otherwise wouldn't have had. One of the better moments I've had was when we took it over to their place! Man, the look on both of their faces when he saw it and told her what it was.......absolutely priceless! Better than a couple of kids at Christmas!

Tom Stormcrowe

RATBOY, only if you see it as one. Yes, it can limit your activity, but treatment is getting more specific and less debilitating every year.

My wife, Crazylady, is a cancer survivor (so far), and our prayers are with you if you need'em!

gbcb

Better answer than mine!

crtreedude 

According to the tests - I would have ADD - but I have learned to compensate. My teachers in HS would have wanted to drug me for sure. I focus on using the ADD to notice everything around me and letting my assistance handle the details of getting things moved through that require patience and attention to those details.

I also have problems with my eyes - it is difficult for me to focus both eyes on anything - so again, I compensated by speed reading. It makes it difficult for me to proofread my own writing though - so I married an editor.

I have virtually no visual memory - almost zero. I carry a camera so I can take photos.

I have flat feet, so when I ran, it would only be short distances.

Even though I could have easily felt disabled with the two previous issues - they have turned into strengths because of how I had to overcome them. I have many abilities that allow me to compensate for the weaknesses I have so on balance, I sure have nothing to complain about.

Oh, and I have a genetic issue that makes my hands and arms hurt during cold weather (below 60). It is a circulation issue. I compensated by moving to where I am never cold. Some compensations are better than others. When I lived up north, during the fall, winter and spring, after driving, I would have to go to a sink with hot water and stick my hands in running hot water until they warmed up. Got more than a few strange looks I can tell you!

feethanddooth

this post is going to be longer than i like or most will read...

epilepsy that im "lucky to be alive" from according to my first neuro. went untreated for 10 years. once treated all activites almost stopped and depression almost got the best of me. cycling survived but i lost playing ice hockey which i was a goalie and truly loved.

the first summer after diagnosed i rode maybe 200 miles the whole year. at the end of the year, i signed up for a 40 mile MS benefit ride. the first 30 were average but not great. the last 10 was absolute hell. almosty all uphill. i was standing the whole way peddling 3 or 4 times, waiting for the bike to almost come to a stop then peddling again just to keep moving. when i had finished the ride i knew i was ready to overcome everything that the last year had done to me. last year, over 2000 miles.

i was supposed to have brain surgery to remove the damaged section of my brain but opted to make medication cocktails to try and find something that works. so far i havent so i have numerous spells every day. i lost my license, got my car repossed, had to borrow thousands of dollars from my family to stop accruing insane debt, all while on disability. since then have found new job which gave me benefits in 3 months and have worked there for almost a year biking to work every day.

once i do a century im going to get a new tattoo based on biking with the national epilepsy foundations colors in it (blue/read). and im going to touch up another tattoo i have with lyrics from a radiohead song, "this one's optimistic".

atomship47

question 1; i do
question 2; meds, exercize and focusing on good mental health/attitude (which is the hardest to do).

RonH

My wife says I have lots of disabilities.

My youngest son is autistic (high functioning). His biggest problem is being able to find a job. He had a job as a landscaper/laborer with the county school system. After about 2 years he got tired of some of his co-workers making comments and teasing him, so he quit.
He hasn't been able to get another job since.
I bought a mtn bike for him to ride. He enjoys it but can't or won't shift gears on the bike, so he rides everywhere with the chain on the middle chainring and cog #4, or is it #5 (?).

Maelstrom 

I have been debating responding to this.

I believe legally I am. However I do not consider myself disabled in the least. There is nothing I can't do if I want. My "disability" is a physically misformed hand. My left hand is about 30% smaller than my right. My first finger and pinky are missing the 2st knuckle (imagine 3 thumbs) and the 2 middle fingers are "cut off" where the first knuckle would be. In theory this should cause lots of problems but in reality the only time I have ever noticed my hand is cycling and weight lifting. I have a very limited grip so I end up compensating my grip so my hand doesn't fly off a 500pnd deadlift or my bike when I am 10ft in the air. OTher than that I type faster than anyone I know and working manual labour I was always the fastest worked scoring the highest piece points.

Funny story, when I left the factory after 5 years, they had a party for me. I shook my bosses hand one last time and he happened to notice my hand. He outright stared and said outloud so everyone could hear, "I would never have hired you if I knew about your hand". I almost bust a gut laughing as did everyone in the room. (he could never see my hand because it was a metal shop, we needed to wear protective gloves all the time)

Back in the day war amps wanted to make me a poster child for some sports products for amputees. I became very offended. I told them (at 13) to go find someone with a disability that needed help.

librarian

My wife has about the same thing. Never really could use a 10 speed. I built her up a bike with flat bars. Put a grip shift and a MTB thumb shifter on the right side along with a dual cable break lever from a tandem that controls front and back brakes at the same time. Still dosen't bike a lot but when she does, she can use the bike to it's full potential.

Maelstrom 

I had considered doing this, but for dh you need to be able to control both. I simply inverted the brakes (left lever for rear brake) as you need a lot less stopping power in the rear. I think the biggest issue is when I ride with one finger on the brake, I only have my pinky holding my hand on the bar haha

cuda2k

At one of the local charity rides I saw a rider on a flat bar roadie that was an amputee, one arm at the elbow. He had more bike control on one of the sketchier downhills than I did. Earned my respect for just being on a bike, but seeing how well he was able to control it was an inspirtation.

I've been fairly lucky thus far in life. Had a healthy childhood over all, and nothing that I would consider a disability. I did have a bout with skin cancer, and extensive reconstructive surgery on my jaw to correct my bite. I just cross my fingers I continue to be so lucky.