Paving the Way on the Legacy Trail North Extension

Kirk Bauer's Remarkable Journey to the Legacy Trail

Riding the Legacy Trail is always a pleasure — often because of the interesting people you meet along the way. Sometimes, they are just plain inspiring.

I distinctly remember passing a cyclist on one of my rides and, moments later, my mind was processing what I thought I saw. Was that cyclist pedaling with just one leg? I slowed down and he quickly caught up.

After some pleasantries, I introduced myself as a member of Friends of The Legacy Trail and said I was always on the lookout for stories that highlight the diversity of trail users. Without hesitation, Kirk Bauer introduced himself and gladly offered some of his personal journey.

Kirk lives in Baltimore, but was vacationing in Venice for a few weeks. “I’ve been here a few times before and love the great weather for outdoor activities, the restaurants, and being able to ride mostly flat rails-trails like the Legacy Trail. With just one leg pedaling, I don’t do as well going up hills,” he said with a smile.

“I lost my leg while serving with the Army during the Vietnam War.” I thanked him for his service and sacrifice. Recovery, physically and mentally, was not easy, he explained, “but I had great doctors, physical therapists, and outstanding role models around me to lean on and guide me.”

“I did some bicycling before I lost my leg,” he said. It was one of the many early skills he had to relearn. “Like a kid, I started out with training wheels and someone walking by my side in case I lost my balance. My first solo ride was a big deal for me.” Getting comfortable on the bike took some time.

“I have a prosthetic leg, but it’s uncomfortable cycling and doesn’t give me much leverage to pedal,” he explained, pointing to the short remaining portion of his left leg. “I find it better to ride my bike without it.” His typical ride is 40 to 60 miles. I told him to come back next year after the Legacy Trail extension to downtown Sarasota is complete and he could do that round trip distance right here on the trail.

His Army service and rehabilitation experience led to a lifelong career of helping other disabled individuals regain a sense of self, purpose, and accomplishment. Kirk was the executive director of Disabled Sports USA (now Move United) for over 30 years, growing the organization into national prominence. 

Kirk has many other notable accomplishments as well, such as being appointed by President George W. Bush to represent the United States at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, leading a team of amputee veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to reach the Mt. Kilimanjaro summit, and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in 2013.

As we approached the Laurel Road overpass, I noticed that he never lost speed or cadence going up one of the few “hills” along the trail. Later I saw on his resume that he’d once completed the 100-mile Three Notch Century bicycle ride over three mountain passes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Now retired at age 73, Kirk is still riding and inspiring others, including me.

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