Low and Slow
Mary McDonald Cruises the Streets of Ibis
Bicycles in Ibis are far from uncommon, but Mary McDonald brings a special kind of pedal-power to the streets of our neighborhood. Cruising along on her recumbent bicycle—technically a tricycle—Mary has both an interesting ride and a unique point of view on the neighborhood, personal transportation, and how to have fun all year long.
Mary discovered recumbent biking while still living “up north” and quickly became a vocal advocate for these wonderfully fun vehicles: “I walked into a bike shop in Michigan about 8 years ago. I saw a recumbent trike, asked if I could try it and I fell in love. I bought my first trike that day. At one point I had six of them so that the children and grandchildren could ride with me.” When Mary made the wise choice of moving to Florida, her love of recumbent biking came along: “I brought my 3 favorites with me to Ibis so friends and family can ride here with me.”
A recumbent bicycle or tricycle is a pedal-powered vehicle that carries its rider in a laying-down or reclining position, hence “recumbent.” While this kind of bike has seen a surge in popularity over the last few decades—and may in fact be new to many of us—recumbent bicycles are about as old as bicycles in general. Examples of recumbent bikes emerge beginning in the 1860s and became a fad in the 1920s and 1930s. These bikes had wonderful names like the 'Vélo-Velocar' and the 'Vélorizontal' and were often used for racing and other bicycle competitions.
Mary discovered recumbent biking while still living “up north” and quickly became a vocal advocate for these wonderfully fun vehicles: “I walked into a bike shop in Michigan about 8 years ago. I saw a recumbent trike, asked if I could try it and I fell in love. I bought my first trike that day. At one point I had six of them so that the children and grandchildren could ride with me.” When Mary made the wise choice of moving to Florida, her love of recumbent biking came along: “I brought my 3 favorites with me to Ibis so friends and family can ride here with me.”
A recumbent bicycle or tricycle is a pedal-powered vehicle that carries its rider in a laying-down or reclining position, hence “recumbent.” While this kind of bike has seen a surge in popularity over the last few decades—and may in fact be new to many of us—recumbent bicycles are about as old as bicycles in general. Examples of recumbent bikes emerge beginning in the 1860s and became a fad in the 1920s and 1930s. These bikes had wonderful names like the 'Vélo-Velocar' and the 'Vélorizontal' and were often used for racing and other bicycle competitions.
The history of recumbent bikes may be rich and detailed, but as Mary tells us enjoying them couldn’t be simpler: “You need to sit down, pedal, and watch where you’re going. No other skills needed!” And the benefits, she goes on to say, are blissful: “Better health. Fresh air. Seeing lots of great people and beautiful wildlife on my rides.”
Mary’s love of her recumbent bike and of exploring the world on wheels is part of what brought her to our community: “I lived in a small town on the Minnesota Wisconsin boarder right on the Mississippi river for 53 years. It is a beautiful area with bike trails all over the place including the back waters of the river. I loved living and riding there but of course no one can ride in the winter. After losing my husband and then spending about a year alone for all the holidays when I couldn't travel to see family because of COVID, I decided to make the move to Ibis. I closed down my CPA practice and here I am.”
Mary’s love of her recumbent bike and of exploring the world on wheels is part of what brought her to our community: “I lived in a small town on the Minnesota Wisconsin boarder right on the Mississippi river for 53 years. It is a beautiful area with bike trails all over the place including the back waters of the river. I loved living and riding there but of course no one can ride in the winter. After losing my husband and then spending about a year alone for all the holidays when I couldn't travel to see family because of COVID, I decided to make the move to Ibis. I closed down my CPA practice and here I am.”
Recumbent bikes are unique, fun, and offer a chance to meet new friends and connect with new groups of people. If this sounds appealing to you, we can offer Mary’s advice for jumping into recumbent biking: “Get out there and do it!”