Three bikes, two handbikes—and a group ride
When you talk about group cycling, you somehow automatically assume that everyone rides the same way, on the same type of bike, and at the same pace. But for a shared experience, it’s not at all necessary for everything to be exactly the same.
On our most recent tour, five of us set out on the road. Two of them joined us on handbikes, and I’ll be honest: not for a single moment did I feel like that made the ride any different.
Of course, we have to adapt to one another. But we adapt anyway when we’re biking together. We wait for each other, pay attention to one another, and adjust our pace. It was no different this time.
Plus, the guys are really fast. 😊 The ride wasn’t about someone “going slowly” while the rest of us had to adjust to them. It was a fast-paced, energetic bike ride that we were all part of.
And of course, we stopped along the way to look around and chat... There were five of us, and it was just nice to be together. Personally, their company always lifts my spirits. They’re a really cheerful bunch, and they brought that energy with them this time, too. The others also enjoyed the joint program in a similar way.
Maybe that’s exactly why I’d like to show you this video, too.
Let’s not feel awkward, self-conscious, or uncomfortable when we meet someone in a wheelchair at a public sports event. There’s no reason to.
There’s no need to treat this as a special situation. There’s no need to worry about how to behave. Let’s just set off together.
The opportunities in sports are much broader today
Another thing that’s very important to me in this story is the handbike itself.
Today, there are various devices and technical solutions available, so sports opportunities can be opened up even for those who, for whatever reason, have ended up in a wheelchair.
I think that’s a huge deal. Because an injury, an illness, or a change in life circumstances doesn’t necessarily mean the end of physical activity.
Maybe with a different vehicle.
Maybe in a different form.
Maybe a little differently.
But it's possible.
And perhaps this video can also provide a little inspiration for those who can’t yet imagine how they could participate in sports as a wheelchair user.
To me, as a handcyclist, this video shows exactly that: that it’s possible to rediscover the joy of movement, to ride at a brisk pace, go on tours, and experience all of this together with others.
Because it’s not just the equipment that counts.
It’s also important to have people and communities around us that we can join.
With whom the question isn’t “Can you come with us?”, but simply: “When are we starting?”
Perhaps this is what a true shared sports experience is all about. It’s not that everyone moves in the same way, but that we move together.
That’s another reason why I loved this tour so much.