Dozens of cyclists riding tandem bikes took off from the parking lot of the Munroe-Meyer Institute on a brisk, sunny October day.
Before settling into their bike seats, riders shifted from their wheelchairs, filled up water bottles and donned bike helmets.
The cyclists, accompanied by family members or MMI staffers, were eager to hit the nearby Keystone Trail or wind through Elmwood Park and Aksarben Village for an outing with the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Wheel Club.
Wheel Club, which meets on Sundays, draws about 30 participants each session, said Jonathan Purcell, an adaptive therapy specialist at MMI.
The club is open to individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as their family and friends. Many club members are regulars, signing up year after year. But new riders join sessions, too.
Grace Ramirez, 20, recently completed her third Wheel Club ride alongside her mother, Arcelia Ramirez. They opted to ride toward Stinson Park before looping back to MMI.
They signed up to get some exercise, Arcelia Ramirez said, adding that the stationary bike at home is a good exercise option, but being outside offers something more.
Grace Ramirez said she likes socializing with other club and staff members. Getting to steer on the bike rides has been a highlight, too.
The mother-daughter duo plans to continue with the club outings, especially as Grace has started aging out of other disability programming.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Arcelia Ramirez said. “We have two littles at home, so it’s nice for just the two of us to hang out.”
Wheel Club offers seven-week sessions in spring and fall. During each session, participants ride a tandem bicycle, provided by MMI, for one hour. Riders have the option to take whatever route they’re most comfortable with while accompanied by a family member or MMI staff member.
Purcell, who has been involved with Wheel Club for about 10 years, said attendees gain a lot from the program. Until recently, he said, there weren’t a lot of cycling opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
“Not only is this an opportunity to ride a bike, but it’s also a social gathering,” Purcell said. “It offers the natural leisure of a bike ride in the park. Parents get to ride with their kids when they may not have thought that would be possible.”
Talisa Stumpf, a longtime Wheel Club member, has ridden with her parents and siblings, but she much prefers riding with staff members.
“Talisa is a social butterfly,” her mother Marlene Stumpf said. “She loves the people here. It’s a family.”
Talisa Stumpf has participated in MMI programming since she was 9 years old. Now 33, she still attends some institute programs, including Cooking Club. She’s made lasting friendships with her peers and MMI staff and volunteers.
At Wheel Club, she often rides around Elmwood Park or into Aksarben. She always brings her portable speaker to have music along the way.
For the 33-year-old, it’s a chance to be independent and squeeze in some exercise.
Her mother said Wheel Club fills a gap.
“This enables inclusion,” Marlene Stumpf said. “If we were on our own, she wouldn’t be able to ride one of these bikes.”