Shifting into High Gear: One Man's Grave Diagnosis and the Epic Bike Ride That Taught Him What Matters

Most inspiring book you will read this year! Kyle was diagnosed with a debilitating, life-shortening, energy-deprivation disease called Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) at age 17. His book charts the course of his transformation as he journeyed across the United States on his tricycle, with a team in tow. You can’t put it down. You feel like you are experiencing the wind, sand, and rain right there with him and his family.His amazing story shows that you can take the road of action and service instead of self-pity. He powers through extremely tough terrain and personality conflicts that might have shut down even the strongest of humans. He is a true athlete with a mission.You travel cross-country with him through the American Southwest, Texas and the South, the trip becomes the background to a series of choices you can make in every moment, I think we all know how we react under extreme stress. This is non-relenting. Kyle and mom and dad, along with his team share a bond so powerful that you want to be a part of it.You will find yourself cheering him on, you can’t help it. When he completed his cross-country trip, the ride was honored with a $100,000 Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award, and “rideATAXIA” was born. Every year they conduct fundraising bike rides in six major cities. His program welcomes 2,500 people per year and has raised over $5 Million since 2007. In 2016 alone, the program raised $1 Million.As founder/director of rideATAXIA, he has become the pubic face of FARA, building a steady platform with an online community that reaches more than 32,000 individuals.Check out his website is http://kyleabryant.com/ and his wonderful podcast that he started with Sean Baumstark - twodisableddudes.com guests including Paralympic athletes, professional speakers, psychologists, and leaders of rare disease organizations. Once you read his story, you will want to be on board to help him and others. Do not be surprised to find your fist pumping in the air!He makes you want to be a better person.

This book is a great read that sheds light on the humanity of rare disease. There are approximately 7,000 rare diseases known to exist, meaning 1 in 10 people are living with a rare disorder. If you don’t have one, you likely know or know of someone that does. Typically we think of these people with sadness and pity, and feel some gratitude before moving on with our lives. Kyle embodies the spirit of the rare disease and ataxia communities, namely that we all have a valuable life worth living and can grow beyond ourselves to becoming a integral member of our community. Kyle leads you through his metamorphosis out of his own fear and anger with his diagnosis and into a life of inspiration, hope, and purpose. We can all learn from Kyle, and it shouldn’t take a rare disease for us to do it.Kyle also walks through the relationship of ataxia patients with the research community. He insightfully describes the areas of disconnect and how patient advocacy organizations are bridging the gap between patients and research. There has been a lot of growth in patient advocacy in the last two decades, and it has led to better understanding of these diseases. With scientific insights, hopefully there can eventually be treatment. Kyle does a good job of explaining the research process from the perspective of a patient.Bottom line- read it! You won’t be disappointed you did. Even if you don’t know anyone with a rare disease, it will give you empathy for the over 25 million people in the US who are living with rare disease and encourage you to be an active member of whatever community you belong to.

Shifting into high gear is not a story of thriving inspite of a disability, nor a book about cycling, at least to me; although I suppose it could be for some. To me, it is a story about finding a passion and purpose for life and taking it on with a steely determination. While reading, part of me felt that same anticipation and intensity as my little girl self reading "The Little Train That Could". I knew Kyle could make it, but obstacles of sand, wind, rain among many others were so descriptive that it almost gave me a headache and I'm certain I actually winced with worry while reading.Yes, there are moments that speak to the rare disease community in a language that few others can truly comprehend, my favorite being, "Following a diagnosis of a life-threatening disease you're metaphorically quarantined from the general population", but mostly this book is for anyone seeking examples in excellence.As in real life, there is no happy ending tied up with a red bow, and Kyle's story is nowhere near done. But you are left with wanting more, wanting to be a part of something bigger than yourself....part of a journey that leads you to the desert, sharing a beer with a half-naked man.I don't feel sorry for Kyle, I feel sorry for anyone that gets in his way.

Amazing people – I’m talking Winston Churchill, Steve Jobs or that lady who invented Spanx – light into our midst and set our world on an entirely new and better path.That’s Kyle Bryant. And Mom and Dad Bryant. These three emerged from a super quiet California suburb and tapped into their inner grit. They crossed the U.S. – biking from San Diego to Memphis – together, just the three of them. Mom in the RV and dad riding aside Kyle.Kyle’s memoir explains how he discarded his everyman-life to transform into a truly great leader ready to pound this awful disease called Friedreich's ataxia from earth.After reading Shifting into High Gear, I paid Amazon Prime to watch The Ataxian movie about Kyle and Sean Baumstarks’ documentary on their participation in The Race Across America (RAAM): crossing the U.S. – ocean to ocean – by bike in nine days.I’d give this memoir a sixth star if I could because the minute I finished it, I was wishing Kyle had written more about his truly stunning life.

Delivered next day and on a Sunday. Exceeded expectations