The Miami News from Miami, Florida • 39

Thursday, December 25, 1980 frhe Miami News 7PS Tennis CynthiaWilliams Wright Wheelchair not a handicap for pro day's wheelchairs are practically sports models; lighter and able to turn faster and more quickly. Springing up are such sports as wheelchair basketball and track, but tennis seems to suit the disabled woman the best. Charlie Pasarell, international tennis circuit veteran, said, "Disabled persons have the same needs as the rest of us; the only difference is that they must find other ways of accomplishing tasks." Wheelchair tennis is not just for the disabled, however. It can be played with able-bodied people. The only adjustment is that the ball is allowed to bounce twice on the handicapped person's side.

This slows the game so players can maneuver their chairs to the ball. Parks has beaten many able-bodied professionals. The only stroke he finds difficult is a lob when he is covering the net. Wheelchair players prefer to hit from behind the baseline as it is easier to move forward than backward. Most players use that strategy, handicapped or not.

There will be an exhibition of the sport at Flamingo Park on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. The United States Tennis Association and the Florida Tennis Association have scheduled a free clinic for those who are sports-minded but confined to a wheelchair, and also for coaches, parents, therapists and the public. According to Saltz, "Handicapped athletics is making tremendous strides in helping disabled people "mainstream" toward a full and rewarding life." Tennis is now serving a whole new group of ost of us would not want to be faced with the kind of test of courage Brad Parks must confront every day. Parks is a man who has met the challenge of his handicap and won.

Parks Is the chairman of the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis, an organization dedicated to helping paraplegics learn the benefits of tennis. He is also a player, researcher, coach and spokesman for wheelchair tennis. For many years, he was an outstanding athlete. He was an avid surfer, skier and basketball player. Then an accident on the slopes left his legs paralyzed.

After the accident, Parks set an example for thousands of handicapped people by learning to play tennis from a wheelchair. Last January, David Saltz and Parks joined together to form the non-profit NFWT. Wheelchair tennis is said to be a sport uniquely suited to the recreational player of any level. It is reputed to be great for the circulation and muscles and good for the spirit, and also gets people out into fresh air. Parks and Saltz are putting together manuals on stroke production, strategy and theory techniques.

They will soon be publishing a monthly instructional newsletter. The Foundation is planning regional and national exhibitions, along with a wheelchair tennis movie and a sports camp for disabled youth. These well-intentioned plans have a firm base. To III, I'W'BiA Brad Parks, wheelchair tennis star, shows how it's done Biking Joe Avalos Santa's helpers can make mistakes, so check out new bike before riding 13 I TOP QUALITY TUNE-UPS HI ho, ho or bah humbug, as the case may be, to all of you on this Christmas Day. And a special happy holiday to those of you who found a brand new bike in your stocking er well, under the tree, anyway.

A word of caution: Santa's helpers sometimes are awfully tired when the magic night rolls around, so let's check a few things before we Jump on the bike for a ride. Install New Plugs, Points, Condensor ftl ft Adjust Belts, Carburetor 11 mr Choko, Timing Ltboi Only Avalos Chock PC Valvo, Battery, Charging Circuit SPECIAL 5- CHECK AIR C0ND. HEATER SYSTEM Cl Belts, Compressor, Freon Level Temperature gauge, AC Outlets FRONT END SPECIAL there. B) Don't respect you when they do, and, C) don't give a darn for anyone but themselves. So much for those of you who can ride bicycles.

For those who, regardless of age, now have in their living room a lovely two-wheeled doorstop because they never learned how to ride here is a holiday present for you. We will be having a little get-together. Just you, me and some other folks just like you and I will teach you to ride. If you have minimal complement of arms and legs and no severe inner ear problems you can ride a bike. The next session is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

at Dade Cycle (3043 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove). Call 443-6075 and let me know you're coming. It's free. Bring your bike if you have one; if you don't, one will be provided. Last Saturday, I held a class.

Three students attended. There was Jan, who is just over 8, and Susan, who is almost eight, and Ms. a full-grown lady with the determination of a bulldog with a good grip, who shall remain anonymous. We adjourned to the parking lot. Susan and Jan grimly followed orders, perhaps less because they wanted to than because they had to.

One of the peer group's bonding for friendship was that they couldn't ride bikes and all of their friends could. About three minutes into step one of the lesson, Jan was saying "When do I ride?" And, of course, the big bully running the affair (me) responded with "Keep practicing" and "Nothing worthwhile is easy" and other such meanies. After half an hour, we were stuck at step 3'2 (out of four). Ms. X.

was grimly ambulating back and forth and almost, almost again riding. Jan and Susan were dogging it. And then, all of a sudden, Susan got the foot on the pedal, and when she tilted, she turned, and pedaled again, and rode the bike. Jan, however, still hadn't. Eight-year olds are capable of grim determination akin to that of the Washington Monument in refusing to move and Jan was no exception.

Once it was evident that it could be done, within 10 minutes, she, too, was riding and grinning. And if you don't think that is the best Christmas present this teacher could ask for, think again. (Ms. X. will ride.

I will nag her unmercifully. She will be there next Saturday). Merry Christmas to all and thanks, Jan and Susan. Align Front End Balance Four Wheels Check Adjust Steering Lubricate Inspect Under Complete Vehicle SPECIAL Check the tires. They should be hard, but should give a little when firmly pinched.

They should not spread out more than 10 per cent with all your weight on them. Check the brakes. Hand brakes should be tested by squeezing the lever hard, and seeing that sqMeezing each lever will lock the appropriate wheel. If you feel something slip, or the wheel won't lock, readjust the brakes or get someone to do it before you ride. Foot brakes are best checked by climbing aboard the machine, pedalling forward and then reverse pedalling firmly.

If the bike doesn't stop don't ride today. Take the bike back to Santa and tell him one of his elves goofed. Check the steering. The best way to do it is to stand in front of the bike, facing it, and lock the front wheel between your legs. Grasp the handlebars and twist firmly.

If the bars slip, and turn and the wheel doesn't move them back to center and tighten that hexbolt in the middle of the stem. (The stem is the part that connects the handlebars to the bike.) Adjust the seat. If you find you need to stand on a fireplug to mount your new bike, lower the seat. If it's all the way down, and you still are having altitude sickness and nose bleeds, Santa may have given you Wilt The Stilfs bike. You should see Santa to straighten things out right away.

Check the gears. Ninety-six per cent of Santa's lists asked for geared bikes. If your new pretty is not familiar to you, the best way to check is to read the owners' manual and then ride in circles in a large park ing lot, practicing shifting. If something doesn't work, don't force It. Get expert help; adjustments are easy and cheap; repairs can be expensive.

OK. We've checked it out; now let's take it for a ride. Please, be careful. Bikes share the road with cars. People who drive cars: A) Don't see you even when you are right BBBBBaBHBBBnOnBDBdBBI For do it ydurselfers, bring this ad for a 15 DISCOUNT on all parts or accessories.

Simply KEEP THAT GREAT GM FEELING Ifrfiftl GM QUALITY fJJI llSr SERVICEPARTS gg WITH GENUINE GM PARTS. GENERAL MOTORS PASTS DTVISION (I, Ml.