This fall I found a vintage ski bike on Craigslist, never used, holding down the floorboards in the seller’s uncle’s cabin attic. In the downhill ski program through Courage Kenny I use a much more updated ski bike as my adaptive equipment. I figured that I would not be skiing in that program this year, and yes the season was cancelled. When I saw this ski bike, the one older than I am, I decided that I could use it to learn a new sport, or at least modify one that already existed. Instead of cross country skiing, I decided I would turn it into cross country scooting. Although it was supposed to be an adult size, when I got it the bike was very low.
In my vision the seat and handlebars needed to be higher, and I started mining friends that might know someone who knew what they were actually doing to help me modify it. My ski instructor for downhill came over to take a look, we brainstormed, other people from my building came in to use the workshop and it turned into a group brainstorm; however, none of us knew what we were doing! The next day I woke up and decided there was no reason I can’t try to change it myself, so with that thought I justified a trip to the nearest home center to get tools and materials. Again it became a group project, and my attempt was made and executed. Smart people told me to get it checked out before I try to use it, and luckily a friend had an old friend who designs machinery and holds patents, and is a metal worker! Serious cred. The bike got picked up right before I went to be with my parents for the month of December to teach virtually and then relax as this strange year ended.
The two of them completely revamped the design and made it secure and sturdy. I have been using it since I got back in town in early January, and it is one of the best investments I have ever made! I don’t know what I am doing with it,
and the learning evolves as I scoot through the wetlands behind my condo and even (daringly) go out on lakes or with friends who walk or fat tire bike outside. I don’t know how to do hills, even small slopes are a challenge whether they are up or down!
This weekend after I was done playing outside and drinking my hot chocolate, I realized that this is being fueled not just by my need to be active, but also in the joy that is coming from doing something welling up from deep inside.
My yoga practice has had to shift into a very internal practice with minimal outward movements. In this shift, some of the infinite space that has been waiting and ready, has been discovered and not just shut away when class is over. Movement is happening, opening is happening, it is not like other practices, it is not like other skiers, but I begin to connect on levels never visited. I start to find that spot where there are no words, just flow coming from inside, and allowing a profound experience to unfold in other parts of my day outside of yoga class. So the evolution of the bike mixes and dances and swirls with the exploration of my yoga practice. I am excited to see what comes next, I am sure there will be uncomfortable moments, guaranteed, but a well has been tapped that is moving some of my most carefully guarded “protections” into a new space of joy, astonishment, moving without moving and moments of deep connection with what surrounds me.
Namasté.