Spokes Fighting Strokes Free Adaptive Cycling Clinics with Dan Zimmerman
Spokes Fighting Strokes is a non-profit organization focused on helping those affected by a wide range of physical and mental disabilities on their journey to rehabilitation by utilizing recumbent trikes. Spokes Fighting Strokes has been touring the United States for four years, providing open recumbent trike riding clinics to stroke survivors, paraplegics, and those affected by neural degenerative diseases like M.S, Parkinson's, & Alzheimer's. This year, Dan's Wisconsin leg of the tour will have two adaptive cycling clinics in Central Wisconsin, both of which are free to attend and open to the public.
Dan Zimmerman suffered a life-altering stroke in 2005 caused by Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT). Though recovery was difficult and took a long time, he is now able to do many things that were previously considered unattainable. Dan is now the founder of Spokes Fighting Strokes, a 501c organization, whose mission is to reach every stroke survivor and show them that recovery is possible! Through their Spokes Adaptive Cycling clinics in Arizona and Colorado, they help stroke survivors gain independence, ability, hope, and freedom.
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0:46 I was a business owner.
0:51 About... 25 years in cabinet shops.
0:57 Wood Works by Dan was my cabinet shop.
0:59 So, 12 people lost income the day I had a stroke. I forgot to teach
1:13 people, or show one person my job.
1:21 I had a stroke, a bad one.
1:26 ...and it changed my life.
1:30 Then, it was just devastating. Just uh...
1:36 But now I'm thankful for the stroke, and... it got my priorities straight.
1:51 Doctors told me wheelchair for life and no talking.
1:59 The left hemisphere was too badly damaged in my brain.
2:06 And I believed them...
2:11 For four long years, I gained weight, 65 pounds on this frame.
2:21 and I watched TV every day.
2:31 One night I got up uh bathroom, heard my heart beating in my ears.
2:39 Loud!
2:41 And decided to fight or die.
2:46 Thankfully I uh get better uh
2:53 Next day I bought a trike.
2:57 And pedaled back to health
3:04 The first two years were very hard.
3:10 Uh, no talking
3:15 Somewhere in the first year I began to talk,
3:22 because I think pumping my blood to my brain to...
3:29 ... oxygenated it solved everything.
3:33 A couple years forward I started my foundation, SpokesFightingStrokes.org.
3:46 Now I have 11 groups in the United States.
3:53 More coming from online.
3:57 I think here there's good possibilities.
4:03 And um Breanna is key to Spokes here.
4:13 So now, I have groups all over country.
4:21 So, uh I uh travel to each group.
4:29 What a life! Just uh teaching, or showing
4:35 people how to get back their lives.
4:42 Example: uh Jake from Tucson.
4:47 He come to a presentation, and we first saw Jake in a wheelchair.
4:58 Two guys uh help him up and out, and placed him on the trike,
5:11 and believe it or not, every stroke survivor has one leg
5:21 and they're able to move the trike with one leg.
5:29 First, they doubt. but
5:33 But now, four years later, okay.
5:39 (He's) moved out of uh his parent's house
5:45 has a full-time job,
5:47 and is triking all the time.
5:52 I've help so much people, and every
5:58 group I started, they're now triking on as a group.
6:05 I love uh teaching or showing people,
6:12 and riding uh all across country.
6:17 I have three uh cross-country trips already. All in a trike.
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We talked with Dan Zimmerman from Spokes Fighting Strokes at 2023 Pedal Point Rally about his experience touring the United States with his organization, and his recovery from a stroke in 2005. Dan will be stopping in Marshfield and Stevens Point to hold two adaptive cycling clinics on July 14th and 16th, 2026 and he will also be joining us this July 17th and 18th, 2026 for the Hostel Shoppe's 7th Annual Pedal Point Rally.
Dan will once again be visiting the Hostel Shoppe on his 2026 Spokes Fighting Strokes Summer Tour across the U.S.A. and he will be visiting the Wildwood Park in Marshfield on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026 from 10 AM to 1 PM for the first clinic. The second clinic will take place later that week on Thursday, July 16th, 2026 at the Hostel Shoppe from 1 PM to 4 PM in Stevens Point. Both of these clinics will include seminars from Dan, a ride on local trails, and recommendations on trikes. This clinic is meant to act as a resource to help answer questions or provide support to those on their rehabilitation journey. Hostel Shoppe will provide refreshments and snacks.
Cycling, Dan says, has improved his health and more importantly, given him a purpose in life. He wants to raise awareness of HHT, the disease that killed his brother and mother and is present in Dan and his younger son. He also wants to raise awareness of stroke prevention and inspire other stroke survivors to fight back against the disease. He is eager to present to stroke survivors, folks with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Parkinson's, and people with other disabilities and their support teams.
Itinerary & Registration
When:
- Clinic 1: Tuesday, July 14th, 2026 from 10 AM to 1 PM
- Clinic 2: Thursday, July 16th, 2026 from 1 PM to 4 PM
Where:
- Clinic 1: Wildwood Park, 1800 S. Roddis Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449
- Clinic 2: Hostel Shoppe, 3201 John Joanis Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482
What: Presentation and test rides by Dan Zimmerman of Spokes Fighting Strokes. Snacks and refreshments provided by Hostel Shoppe.
Price: Free
Contact: (800) 233-4340 or info@hostelshoppe.com
More information about Dan and his organization: www.spokesfightingstrokes.org
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A ride in Marshfield at the 2025 Spokes Fighting Strokes Clinic.
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Dan Zimmerman from Spokes Fighting Strokes talks with a stroke survivor.
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A man test rides a trike at the Hostel Shoppe Spokes Fighting Strokes clinic.
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Breanna, Hostel Shoppe owner, helps adjust a trike for a clinic attendee.
