Man with no arms biking from Florida to New York

Twenty years after he lost both his arms when he was electrocuted while working on a transformer substation, a Florida man is biking 1,500 miles to New York.

"I just try to focus on being centered on the bike," the man, Hector Picard, told NBC station WECT-TV during a stop Sunday in Wilmington, N.C.

"I do actually hold on with my stump with just my arm, and I tend to get a lot of stress in the right side," Picard said. "But it's not something I can't do."


Picard, who took up triathlons a few years ago, is scheduled to arrive in New York City on Sunday. He's tracking his journey on his website, Don't Stop Living, where he's raising money for the I Will Foundation, which assists people with traumatic injuries.

Picard rides a customized bike with a special gear shift, a drink compartment, modified brakes and other devices that allow him to control it with what's left of one arm.

"I've just met some wonderful people. It's been a great experience, and they mention the fact that I motivate them. But they motivate me as well, so I keep going," Picard said.

Read the full story on wect.com

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Discuss this post

Amazingly positive outlook this guy has. Truly an inspiring story.

He even says to the other riders in the video.

"I'm not much for hand signals guys"

We all can learn from this story.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:00 PM EDT

Good luck and success on your journey...

    Reply#2 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:11 PM EDT

    I think he deserves a big hand!

    (On second thought, that doesn't right given his circumstances).

      Reply#3 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:36 PM EDT

      Slow news day, huh?

        Reply#4 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:37 PM EDT

        In a related story a woman with no feet plans to roller skate across the Ukraine.

          Reply#5 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:47 PM EDT

          Good for him, very inspiring. I can't believe the stuff people can do with handicaps.

          • 1 vote
          Reply#6 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:48 PM EDT

          I only have a handful of pet peeves, but a big one of mine is the misuse of the word "electrocute". If he were really electrocuted as the story indicates, he wouldn't be riding a bike unless someone propped his corpse up on it and gave it a shove.

            Reply#7 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:49 PM EDT

            Would "momentarily highly electrified" make you happy??

            • 3 votes
            #7.1 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 4:06 PM EDT
            Reply

            You go guy!!

            • 2 votes
            Reply#8 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 4:16 PM EDT

            Good Luck and success in this incredible endeavor.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#9 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

            I hope that gimpy bastard waves when he's rides bye...I'd like to give him a high five.

              Reply#10 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 5:05 PM EDT

              good for you buddy. I would rather be around this gy and his "can do" attitude than most of the whiners around today.

                Reply#11 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 9:23 PM EDT

                way to go-high 5!

                  Reply#12 - Tue Jun 5, 2012 12:22 PM EDT
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