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Like most riders I have an almost compulsive need to show off my ride. My 2000 Softail Classic is black with red pinstriping, 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. |
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 her ass into place. After expending all her energy just getting into her "bitch 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. |
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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. |
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.
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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. |
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.
Vinny Cucchiara
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Become A Featured Biker
If you want to be a Featured Biker, just send us a few decent pix of yourself in
the wind, on your scoot or doing the biker thing and write something about yourself, your
lifestyle, your travels, your thoughts on being a biker, whatever. Only rule is you actually got to be a biker, not some candy ass trailer queen riden wannabe that decided two weeks ago you wanted to be just like the boys at OCC or one of those guys who has had a scooter for 3 years and has put a whopping 3,000 miles on it. If you look like a biker, act like a biker, smell like a biker and ride like a biker, we will use
it. Include your mailing address, and if we use your submission we will send you some cheap ass gift that most likely will promote BikerCrap. Now how is that for a deal?
Send your pix and bio/story to featured_biker@bikercrap.com
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