We often sum up what we do by saying that we take people for bike rides who can’t ride a bike for themselves. While that is accurate, it certainly undersells the experience. It’s a bit like saying dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant is just “eating food.” The ride is the framework, but the magic happens in the often unpredictable moments during our time together. When you travel at roughly seven miles per hour, you get to see the world differently. When you don’t have a set destination, you are free to explore and tap into a sense of adventure that many of our wheelers may not experience otherwise. Here are five of our favorite unexpected moments that have delighted wheelers and volunteers alike.
- The Great Westbrook Turtle Rescue
While crossing the pedestrian bridge over the Presumpscot River, one of our crews spotted something that didn’t belong: a turtle firmly wedged in the bridge railing. It was stuck, and not in a good place at all! Our pilots paused the mission to become a Reptile Rescue Regiment. With some careful maneuvering, the turtle was freed and safely relocated. It’s certainly not every day our wheelers get to see a turtle up close and personal!
2. Only You Can Prevent Mulch Fires
Slow rolling down quiet streets means being the “eyes and ears” of the neighborhood. During one afternoon ride from The Cedars, our crew spotted a mulch fire smoldering dangerously close to a home. Before it could turn into a serious situation, our pilots called the fire department (after doing a quick search for a hose and outdoor spigot and finding none). In no time, the fire department was on-site, and they quickly resolved the matter. Photo op with a firetruck? Sure!
3. Tomatoes are Fruits Too
Fall rides usually mean crisp air and lovely leaf color, but one afternoon it meant a feast! A kind gentleman in Falmouth stopped our pod to offer fresh apples from his heavily laden tree. While most of us were reaching for the offered fruit, one of our wheelers had a different idea. After a quick look around the garden, he politely asked if he could have one of the plump red tomatoes instead! The gardener was happy to oblige, and off we rode with a handful of apples… and one fresh garden tomato.
4. The Tandem Safety Team
Our volunteers are the heart of this organization, and they each bring their own unique flair to our rides. We loved the day Jacob and Nadia showed up to serve as our safety volunteers on a tandem bike. What a treat to see the trikes out with a tandem bike. Everyone got a kick out of riding alongside the “bicycle built for two”.
5. A Birthday Party in the Woods
We sometimes have the opportunity for two of our crews to cross paths while riding. This is always fun because six of our trikes and a couple of bikes accounting for 14 people make for quite a sight! Thanks to Portland Trails, there is an accessible woods trail behind Evergreen Cemetery. We love riding this trail with our friends from The Park Danforth as well as The Barron Center. One day, these two separate Portland Wheelers crews happened to meet on this trail. Since it was the birthday of one of the wheelers, everyone stopped and right there, and in the woods, a spirited rendition of “Happy Birthday” was given. A special moment for everyone to share!
Shared experiences like these engage our wheelers with their community. Social isolation is kept at bay, and the power of human connection shines through. We can’t wait for the joyful, unexpected moments the 2026 season has in store for us!