smile wave ride

This is Ken.

Ken really likes to ride bikes.

Has, ever since he was a kid.

He's pretty adventurous,

and likes to get around despite his mobility difficulties caused by a childhood traumatic brain injury.

He loves riding anywhere he can, be it around the block in his neighborhood...

in the streets of Northside...

on the Loveland Bike Trail...

or out touring the countryside with fellow cyclists.

He even rode all the way to California and back in one day. :-0

California, KY that is. ;-)

He liked cycling everywhere so much that he had this crazy idea to ride his bike all the way to Argentina.
Image modified from map Created by en:User:Seaweege and released to PD - Own work, Copyrighted free use, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1503793

Ken was pretty determined, so he grabbed his bike and started training.

And he met with inspiring people who did similarly crazy things, like Joe Bowen,

and Jake Brown.

By the end of last summer he had nearly reached his goal of being able to consistently bike 50 miles a day, but then...

duunnn dunn... duuuunnn dunn...

Ken had a pretty bad wreck while trying to evade a difficult road traffic situation only to run into an unexpected hazard (no thanks to whomever is supposed to be maintaining that sidewalk).

He ended up in the hosptial,

and had to have surgery to plate multiple fractures in his face.

So now Ken thinks maybe it's time to go old school and increase his riding safety with a trike.

But probably not the kind of trike you're thinking of...
Image downloaded from: https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1936-approx-kendrick-tws-tricycle/

And thanks to wonderful people like Dom and Judi,

from Spun Bicycles,

as well as John,

from Cin-City-Cycles,

we think there's a way to build Ken the trike of his dreams.

but like many great ideas, it's going to take some money to get it done,

so Ken is asking  for help to allow him to continue to have the joy of riding in his life without as much risk as he faces when trying to do so on a normal two wheeled bike.


But don't just take my word for what it means to him, see this message from Ken himself:

Ken Oster
Mar 17

From about this time last year to early October, I put 900 miles on the road, riding my bike. Honestly, that was when I felt most alive. It's been this way well over forty years, getting where I want to go on my own power. I have seen all lower 48 states and DC, a good bit of Canada and Mexico doing at least double nickel, but feel like I've missed a lot of it. I no longer drive or fly, but still want to travel. Time to try a long haul at a more sane speed. That was what the 900 miles was about: training.

I was almost ready to announce my intent to bike the farthest route possible, from Cincinnati to Argentina, you know, to more than a handful of friends, when I crashed last October 8. I face planted after hitting an unexpected tore up section of sidewalk. Not a scratch on my helmet, but in a blink, my situation went from bad to worse. Lost four more teeth, gained four facial fractures and five plates. Lost the ability to seal my lips, gained the outright nonstop wet chin. Lost confidence that two wheels would keep me upright. That's what I miss most. I've always been more about momentum than balance. Now I'm not so sure.

So three wheels? After months of research, I finally found a design that would meet my specific needs. Oh yeah, and this time I'm thinking a lacrosse helmet may be my best bet. Certainly would be badass, and isn't that at least half the point?

Sent from my iPad