Friendship formed over long-distance biking
A common interest can often park a friendship between
A Acommon
two peo
people who may otherwise have never met. That
-
yrhills. Dana Hays, 56, is a former Army Ranger used to an active
life, perhaps more active than many others. “I’ve jumped
out airplanes I’ve jumped out of helicopters, I’ve jumped out
Hays continued to be active after he returned to civilian
life doing mountain biking until a motorcycle accident caused
him to lose his right leg below the knee.
“Once I lost my leg I couldn’t mountain bike anymore.
-
resentative at the Veteran’s Hospital suggested that he get a
catrike, a low-slung bicycle that you nearly recline in while
you pedal up front.
Hays decided to try that, but he had a problem. His pros-
an adjustment. That took him to Allen Road Bicycle Center
bicycle salesman and repairman.
Hays brought his problem to him
and asked him to unbolt the pedal
components and reconnect them
in such a way to make it possible
for him to ride the catrike with his
prosthesis.
“He asked where he could
ride that wasn’t on the road so I
told him about the Withlacoochee
Trail and then I said stop back
in two weeks and I’ll meet you
me funny and said, ‘Are you serious?’
and I said ‘Yeah I don’t
we went up there and we rode and I just kept going up there
other needs. He adapted a rack and saddle bag on his trike
so that he could carry diabetic medications, food and other
things he needed to take care of himself while he is out biking.
“Dan has been great. Dan pushes me and he keeps me
-
-
tivated Hayes to go extra miles as well. Hays is pursuing the
goal of 100 miles on his bike. He is up to 50.
-
ing has become an activity Hays shares with his daughter
same way about Hays, “He’s a great guy, I’d help him out any
Trying to help and inspire people is a life purpose for
took over in April of this year - Allen Road Bicycle Center
“I try to be very friendly to people and help them as much
trying to make a living but I’m not gouging people. I want
people to ride their bikes and I want them to exercise. When
are going to do because a lot of people go buy a bike then they
right bike for the right person.
“Most of my clientele are older people so I sell that kind
of style of bike. I don’t sell high-end road bikes or mountain
bikes too often because I don’t really have that clientele. I’d
he was young, but he stopped for
a short time and gained a lot of
weight. He came to Florida and
began riding again. “I rode threeand
a-half miles and I thought I
now he owns three bikes and loves
to bike long distance. “I am a big
bike riders. I do long distance bike
-
ends ago I rode up to Don Garlis
Racing Museum because there’s
a pizza shop there that has good
pizza, so I put 130 miles on for two
Florida Randonneurs. According
to their website, “Randonneuring
Top left: Dan Schreck,
Dana Hays and his
daughter Mara.
Top Right and Bottom:
Schreck pursues his
goal through the bike
shop that he took over
in April of this year
- Allen Road Bicycle
Center.
in long-distance cycling under prescribed time limits. Central
Florida Randonneurs exists to organize brevets biking
events in Central Florida and to provide information on
randonneuring and other resources to cyclists interested
In 2015 he took a 1,200 kilometer bike ride in Paris. “Next
met a lot people through biking that I’m friends with. I just
-
wanting to organize some bicycling trips with groups and he
is planning on helping with a trip for kids riding down the Pinellas
Trail sometime next year. He wants to introduce them
to riding in a group. He’d like to get a few kids together for
-
their website at www.bikebutlers.com or follow on facebook.
FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE 813.682.9364 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 • 9
/www.bikebutlers.com