· · ·   Integrated Cycling · · ·

Marcus Oden and Mark Nielson
Hammer Uphill.

Integrated Cycling is Equipment

We use handcycles, adapted three-wheelers, and tandems to get everyone possible onto a cycle. Standard bicycles take part. Everyone rides together, hence the integrated.

Integrated Cycling is a Philosophy

There is an adapted cycle for just about everyone. Any level of fitness, any ability. Get on and go. We'll do everything we can to make that happen.

Antonia Gutierrez finds
a little joy on a handcycle

We Love It

Riding a bike is one of the great things you can do, and one of those rare things that's both fun and good for you. Consider a person who's never ridden a bike, never thought they could ride a bike. Think about a parent who never imagined their child could ride a bike, have a bike, love a bike. Now envision seeing them powering a cycle for the first time, creating wind in their face, experiencing gravity, speed, control. Once you've lived that, you get integrated cycling.

Past Trips

Off road on Mount Tamalpais, clinics in Crested Butte and Snowmass, Colorado, Road biking: Tiburon, Berkeley, Alameda, Sausalito, Walnut Creek's Ironhorse Trail, Sacramento's American River Trail, Lake Tahoe, and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Alisha McCoy celebrates
her new handcycle with
her brother and sister.

This Year

We will have organized rides nearly every week during the cycling season, from March-November. Locations will include Santa Cruz, Sonoma, West Marin, Sacramento, Sausalito, Walnut Creek and many other local Bay Area sites. Stay tuned to BORP's Events Calendar for times, dates, and places.

Youth Handcycling Program

In this new program, kids are working out every week on new handcycles, generously donated by Clif Bar and the Athletes Helping Athletes Foundation. It is really quite something to see the smile on a child's face as they experience the joy of riding a bike for the first time. Many of our young riders train for BORP's annual Revolution fundraising bike ride in October, where they will ride 10, 25 and even 50 miles through the beautiful Sonoma wine country to help raise money for BORP programs. To find out more, see the Revolution page.

BORP youth rides start at our facility at Berkeley Aquatic Park at head right out onto the Bay Trail. Families, friends, beginners and seasoned cyclists are all welcome. Check the BORP Events Calendar for youth ride schedules, locations and other upcoming activities. If you are interested in signing up to ride or want to become a volunteer, please contact BORP at 510-849-4663. Everybody rides...It's a blast!

Steve Ackerman rode his
handcycle around the world.
It took him 8 months.

Resources

We have a number of adapted cycles of various kinds. We also have a bike trailer to haul them to the rides. We'll do everything we can to accommodate you. It requires good humor and adaptation from all concerned, and it's worth it.

Good for the Soul

BORP trips operate on two basic tenets. 1) A successful trip requires group participation. 2) A little dirt is good for the soul. The line between volunteer and participant is often blurred, as we all share responsibility for the group's well being. Participants are responsible for setting their own boundaries and limitations. Safety is our first priority on all BORP outings and events.

Brian pilots with Anne
on San Francisco Bay.

Redefining Cycling

For some people, an adapted cycle is all they'll ever know. For others, injuries or illness have made riding a standard bicycle problematic. We often see those folks struggle to redefine cycling. Eventually, almost everyone rediscovers the joys of cycling through adaptation. They discover that what they loved about cycling in the first place-- the camaraderie, the scenery, maybe the speed-is still there. It's not the same, but it's still cycling. Our point? Give it a go. At BORP, everybody rides.