Assisted Cycling Tours: A Colorado-based non-profit offers the joy of cycling through fully supported tours for individuals with disabilities and their families.

As far back as 2001, when his son David was just 11 years old, Bob Matter began dreaming of a project, an organization, that he and David could found and operate together when David reached young adulthood. Today, David, a young man with autism who is now 18, and his Dad are moving full speed ahead, figuratively and literally, with their organization, Assisted Cycling Tours (ACT), a Westminster, Colorado based 501(c)3, non-profit that is offering the joy of bicycle tours in breathtaking, scenic locations to children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities and their families.

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Dabbling in starting ACT back in 2002, a series of family tragedies--his father's death, his own cancer scare, his brother-in-law's suicide--back-burnered Bob's idea. Ultimately though, it was the introspection that often accompanies personal trials that pushed Bob forward toward his dream, adopting the "if I'm going to do this, the time is now" mentality. His wife, Carrie, also a cyclist, agreed and he was off and running--or riding, as the case may be.

For years, Bob Matter had been an avid cyclist, considering a Saturday biking in the beautiful Colorado Rockies as an infusion to body, mind, and spirit. And back when he was a young dad, he longed to share this pastime with his son David, hoping for a father-son activity they could enjoy together for years to come. Bob tells the story of teaching David to ride a bike when he was 12. "He had a 'Granny' bike as a starter, complete with the little, white basket on the front. I had to take that basket off. It was just too lame," Bob quips. He also mentions that "it was difficult for David to learn because of his neurological hiccup. He has trouble moving his legs in tandem, and his coordination is poor so when he first started learning to ride, he could steer but couldn't pedal. So, I improvised. I fashioned a platform out of two-by-fours and used some plywood to fashion a seat so that I could sit behind the main bike seat." With some additional pedal modifications, which allowed Bob to put his feet on the pedals alongside David's, a month of daily, intense pedal practice ensued. They graduated to a tandem bike with Bob still serving as bike coach and partner. One day David was in the company of a boy about his same age who also had disabilities, and Bob noticed that the other young man just jumped on the bike and started riding. Bob had a moment of fatherly epiphany and says, "I suddenly realized I was enabling my son. I was underestimating him. I pulled the retrofitted bike seat off the back of David's bike that same day, and he has been riding solo ever since!" Bob is thrilled to have realized his wish of sharing the joy of riding with David. "We ride together all the time," he says. And David is also tasting the sweet splendor of gaining a degree of independence that his bike now provides as he enters young adulthood, riding to places close to home--the library, the bagel shop, McDonald's--that are accessible by bike trails. Bob mentions that "David is realizing for the first time that his bike can be a mode of transportation." And he's riding in style. David now has a 27-speed, aluminum frame recumbent bike, which Bob describes as "a really sweet ride."

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It is in this spirit of independence coupled with family interaction that Bob founded ACT, saying that his goal is to "open up the world to people with disabilities and let them experience the freedom and independence that comes with riding and also offer this as an activity that families can do together."

ACT will accept a person with any type of disability, based on minimal criteria. Whether it's a day trip, weekend trip, or weeklong trip, each day consists of a 15-20 mile ride during the morning hours with multiple breaks throughout. The intensity of the terrain is light, mostly flat, and is designed with the beginner in mind. An optional ride is available in the afternoon or participants can opt for an excursion to a local area of interest. For participants in multi-day tours, the day concludes after the afternoon activities are complete, the bikes are loaded, and everyone moves on to the next day's starting point for dinner and a good night's rest.

ACT is offering a season full of cycling tour opportunities with something for people of all abilities. Tours include day trips and weekend trips around Colorado. At least one weeklong trip through Vermont is planned for the Fall. (To check out the full 2008 schedule, visit www.assistedcyclingtours.org.) Bob says that next year's tour offerings will continue to expand, including a cycling tour to Europe, with a three- to five-year goal of starting regional chapters of ACT across the U.S.

ACT is fully supported with two tour leaders per tour in addition to an on-staff nurse and two support vehicles that accompany the group. All staff members are CPR and First Aid certified. Adaptive tandem bikes and other adaptive equipment are used, and volunteers are available to pedal the tandem bikes for both riders, if necessary. ACT is all about making accommodations and doing everything they can to make these tours accessible for as many families as possible, and adaptive equipment is not the only way they are accomplishing this aim. ACT was intentionally set up as a non-profit, capable of accepting private donations and sponsorships, so that the cost of the tour to the participants with disabilities and their families can be offset. Bob says that a typical overnight trip actually comes out to about $500 for two people, but this is not what participants who are on a fixed income pay. Instead, tour prices are based on a sliding scale, which is dependent on the individual's or family's income.

Still not sure whether this is the vacation for your exceptional family? ACT holds regular, introductory clinics to provide information and answer any questions that potential participants might have. To learn more about tours, clinics, and other ACT information and to view their 2008 tour schedule, visit www.assistedcyclingtours.org, call 303-945-6205, or email to [e-mail].

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Assisted Cycling Tours offers a variety of tour options, including day trips, weekend trips, and weeklong trips. Groups of eight or more can also arrange custom cycling tours, and the organization touts a willingness to consider all custom cycling tour requests and suggestions.

ACT seeks to:

* Offer people with disabilities the opportunity to experience cycling and the feeling of independence, self-confidence, and exhilaration that comes with it.

* Increase exercise to improve cardiovascular health, muscle tone, coordination, and balance.

* Present the chance to see parts of the world that may otherwise be inaccessible to the person with a disability.

* Offer a setting for a family outing that all members can participate in and build happy memories around.

* Offer a social outlet where people with disabilities and their families and caregivers can interact with others.