Kathi Geisler's family bike outing

Kathi loved riding bikes as a kid. Today, biking is a challenge with her HSP, but she has made efforts to still enjoy the activity.

On July 30, she and Ed, along with their daughter Sarah and her husband Jason and their daughter Julia and her fiancé Toby, had a fun bike trip along the Minuteman Bikeway. This bike trail is one of the most popular rail-trails in the U.S. and passes through the historic area where the American Revolution began. It was built by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on an inactive railroad and runs 11 miles from Cambridge to Bedford. The Minuteman Bikeway was designated by the White House as a Millennium Trail.

Everyone met up at 11:30 at the Bedford terminus, checked in with the outhouse and then boarded their bikes. Everyone except Kathi was wimpy about wearing a bike helmet. Actually, Kathi didn't want to wear hers either, since it was hot, but everyone insisted that she wear hers. The trail is fairly level and partially shaded and the route into Lexington Center is 3 1/2 miles so the heat wasn't unbearable. Some of the group stopped about half-way to re-adjust Julia's bike seat and for Kathi to do some heel cord stretching.

About 25 minutes later, the group was happy to arrive to the Lexington Visitor's Center and parked their bikes. Kathi pulled her fold-up cane out of her cane bag (see notes below) and they walked over to the Yangzi Restaurant for lunch. Thank goodness the restaurant was air-conditioned! After a pleasant lunch and chat, they biked back to Bedford. Fortunately, the trek back was a slight decline so it was a breezy 20-minute trek with no stops this time.

Ed and Kathi

Sarah and Jason (at left)

Julia and Toby (at right)

NOTE: Lexington was an especially nice spot to go, as not only is it beautiful and rich with history, but it is where Kathi and Ed (and committee) organized SPF TeamWalks in 2003 and 2004. Our SPF community gathered right on the grounds of the Visitor's Center under a huge tent for socializing and snacking. The TeamWalk route traveled around Lexington Center and part of the Bikeway. See TeamWalk photos 1 and TeamWalk photos 2.

HSP Realities

Due to HSP, Kathi has had to make some adjustments in biking:

• Purchased a (girl's) bike at a height that allows her to have her feet touch the ground while seated - helpful for balance issues when stopping!
• Found stable walking shoes from Propet that fit well (she needs XXXX wide width), give support and have a 1 1/2" heel rise to make pedaling easier.
• Does heel cord stretching before getting on the bike.
• Getting on the bike is tricky, between balance issues and not being able to lift her leg very high due to muscle weakness. She:
  • holds onto something or someone and leans the bike low enough to get her leg over it and not lose balance
  • stands on a curb with the bike on the street and leans the bike in so she can get her leg over it
  • lays the bike on the ground, steps over it and then picks it up
• She has considered stirrups to help keep her feet on the pedal, since her heel cords are tight, but has been concerned about the ease to get out of them easily when necessary. She does think about keeping her heel down while pedaling to keep her foot from slipping off the pedal and to help keep it from excess spasticity.
• Bikes for fifteen-twenty minutes and then stops to stretch out heel cord for a few minutes.
• Accepts that she cannot do long distances (right now, she can do 30-40 minutes at a time) and then needs a good rest because of increased weakness and spasticity.
• Takes a fold-up cane in a special bag for it. The bag has a long strap so it can be worn over her shoulder.

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