Disabled Man, Age 76, Logged 19,000 Miles on His Recumbent Trike

“About five years ago, on an early morning training ride on my bike, I was struck by a kid on an electric scooter and thrown over the handlebars. My helmeted head impacted the asphalt trail surface,” Jim DeGoey recalls.

“I suffered fractures in my neck and upper back, along with four fractured ribs. Subsequent spine surgery fused 15 vertebrae that left me with slouched shoulders and an immobile neck, but thankfully, no paralysis. It took almost a year of failed attempts to realize that I would no longer be able to ride my road bike, let alone race my time trial bike.”

In his earlier life, Jim loved to run -- a lot!. However, as he approached 50, he had to pivot. “I developed a hiatal hernia, and my GP said my running was done and suggested I get on a bike. So I did, and when I went out on the bike trails, I’d get passed by ‘the hammerheads,’ the guys that were going as fast as they can. And I thought I can do that.” He became a successful competitive cyclist.

Then, everything changed with the crash.

Can you imagine the pain and anguish of having a wrecked body and not being able to do what you love? Maybe it's happened to you. What would you do in Jim's situation? Some would simply give up while others would somehow find a way forward.

Life-Altering Setback, then Ultimate Victory

Jim was determined to overcome his disability and new challenges. “Because I have a fused neck, I needed help to guide me across road intersections. If I want to look to the left or the right, I have to move my entire body,” he explains. “My regular bike just didn’t work out.”

He checked out recumbent bikes and trikes. The trike version turned out to be best for Jim, who quickly found the same joy of movement.

Jim on his training trike

“I started training in May 2022, and I’ve already logged 1,166 training sessions and almost 19,000 miles on it. It’s a part of my life.”

Jim on the road

Being the competitor that he is, Jim finally won a national championship when he captured gold in the Men’s (age 75-79) 10K Recumbent Time Trials at the 2025 National Senior Games.

Jim topping the podium at the 2025 National Senior Games

Jim is now writing a book about his experiences, titled "50 Years Between Victories". It's basically about how to resume an athlete’s lifestyle later in life,” he says.

Here's Jim's perspective: "The reality is that it is not about reliving the glory years; it’s about finding a new game plan. If you want to reignite your passion for activity, you have to look at it differently than you did in your 20s. You’ve got the opportunity now to use the wisdom of your more advanced age.”

Some Food for Thought

At least one member of the Greenwood men's group has a recumbent trike. The group had a meeting where he demonstrated his nifty trike. We are looking for others so a Bike/Trike group can be formed. There are many beautiful trails just waiting to be visited.

Paul explains the features of his recumbent trike

If you like to run but can't, bike but can't, or just don't feel comfortable on a bike -- why not look into a recumbent trike? It's easy on your body (especially your back) and the recumbent position allows you to enjoy your surroundings as you move along. It's also a lot safer than a bike, while getting a similar amount of exercise.

The other thing to think about is your attitude towards adversity. At our age, we all know shit happens. But what is your response when it does happen? How many of us have an attitude like Jim, where we somehow, in spite of great difficulty,  find a new way to enjoy our lives?

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