Friends buy disabled Freeport man new bicycle after his is stolen

Before Ryan Glick, 27, reached the age of 1 year, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors told his parents he may never walk, and certainly never ride a bicycle. Glick proved them all wrong.

Faced with life in a wheelchair, Glick taught himself how to ride a bicycle at the age of 9. He said he pushed himself watched friends how to do it. Since that time, Glick said he has never looked back. He said being able to ride a bicycle keeps him out of a wheelchair. Its what keeps him mobile. He said he is happiest when he is on two wheels. He logs a lot of miles.

Glick is disabled. He struggles to make ends meet. He is also a common fixture in Freeport, riding his bicycle all over the city, stopping to say hello at businesses along the way.

He bought his last bicycle in 2008. Since that time, he logged more than 15,000 miles of riding. His bicycle has taken him from the Jane Addams Trail north to the Badger Trail in Wisconsin. With winter coming, he traded in his summer tires to the thicker wider tires to help him get around in the snow. Because of the wider tires, Glick was unable to park his bike properly in the bike rack at Lincoln Mall this past week. He made the mistake of not locking his bicycle up when he ate lunch at Garden Deli.

After Glick finished lunch, he quickly saw his world fall apart. Someone stole his bicycle. He was not only stranded, but he was angry at the thief and angry at himself for not locking the bicycle up for the first time in his life.

Im a friendly guy. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is get on my bike, Glick said. In the summer, I ride more than 25 miles a day its what keeps me walking and out of a wheelchair I need my bike.

When I saw my bike gone that day, I got so mad I called a friend I didnt know what I was going to do, he added.

Sadness Sets In Glick said he had no way to buy a new bicycle. He had to save his money for the last bike. He said his grandparents offered to help, but he was not comfortable taking their assistance. Glick called the police to report the stolen bike. Glick said he would love to find the stolen bicycle, but is resigned to know it is gone forever.

My heart just sank when I lost my bike it was the worst day in my life, Glick said.

Friends Step In Glicks plight reached all the way to California. His friends Dean and Nikki Hofmaster live near San Diego. When they learned Glick had his bicycle stolen, they offered to buy him a new one. Glick said he appreciated the help from his friends. He picked up his new wheels Thursday from Freeport Bicycle Company. The new bicycle is a Trek MT 220.

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Friends buy disabled Freeport man new bicycle after his is stolen