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Lose the Training Wheels Camp

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jinto1986
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16 Oct 2011, 1:21 am

Okay, a bit about me (since I am still mostly new here). I am a 25 year old with somewhat mild asperger's (which is still pretty weird lol) and a TBI in my past. I have never learned to ride a bike, after giving up at 10 or so because my dad always stressed me out and my mom never really wanted to teach me. There is this program coming to town (well its been here several years before) designed to teach people with all sorts of special needs how to ride (http://losethetrainingwheels.org/CampArizona/). Sounds somewhat cool to me.

The problem is I know it probably shouldn't. It seems like it is largely made for kids (despite me having a guy in charge write me back and say they get some adults and teens) and a lot of the kids seem to be more severely disabled. I am worried about looking A) "ret*d" (bad word choice I know, but it is the truth) and B) weird. If I somehow get a section with no other even teenagers I would looks really dumb I think. The guy said there is nothing kiddy about the way they do it and I have always wanted to learn... but... still. So just looking for some advice or maybe just wanting to vent... lol.



auntblabby
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16 Oct 2011, 2:32 am

jinto1986 wrote:
Okay, a bit about me (since I am still mostly new here). I am a 25 year old with somewhat mild asperger's (which is still pretty weird lol) and a TBI in my past. I have never learned to ride a bike, after giving up at 10 or so because my dad always stressed me out and my mom never really wanted to teach me. There is this program coming to town (well its been here several years before) designed to teach people with all sorts of special needs how to ride (http://losethetrainingwheels.org/CampArizona/). Sounds somewhat cool to me.

The problem is I know it probably shouldn't. It seems like it is largely made for kids (despite me having a guy in charge write me back and say they get some adults and teens) and a lot of the kids seem to be more severely disabled. I am worried about looking A) "ret*d" (bad word choice I know, but it is the truth) and B) weird. If I somehow get a section with no other even teenagers I would looks really dumb I think. The guy said there is nothing kiddy about the way they do it and I have always wanted to learn... but... still. So just looking for some advice or maybe just wanting to vent... lol.


A quote from Theordor Seuss Geisel-
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don't mind, and those that mind, don't matter."
please take advantage of the "lose the training wheels" program. you have nothing to lose but your fear, and much to gain. biking is a grand exercise.



jinto1986
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16 Oct 2011, 12:11 pm

Yea, I know... I hate being so self concious lol. An aspie who is too self-concious... what a combination lol. I think the other problem is I am going into special education, so I know a lot of potential volunteers for the program, as well as a lot of potential clients. How embarressing it would be to see one of them!



oddone
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16 Oct 2011, 5:07 pm

Awesome! Everyone should learn how to ride a bike.

I don't know the 'lose the training wheels' program - all the photos on their website are of cute smiling children, but cycle training for adults exists in the UK. And there's a need for it - the number of teenagers you see trundling along on the sidewalks because they are too scared to use the roads is shocking.



jinto1986
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16 Oct 2011, 6:40 pm

Check out youtube videos of it. There are clearly some young adults and even older adults who do it. Though I must say the training bike looks weird (probably in a good way). Instead of a wheel it has something that looks more at home on a vacuum that I assume is designed to help the rider acheive balance.