This past weekend I had the privilege of speaking at Thrive Ballater Mountain Bike Festival about adaptive riding.

The Hall filled up, all the guest speakers sat together nervously at the front. When my turn came I shared my journey as an adaptive rider with the MTB community. From discovering the freedom that adaptive bikes bring for me and others, to taking the leap and becoming an Off-Road ride leader, alot was packed into a short talk.

We also explored funding opportunities available for adaptive riders and community projects. Support from festivals such as Thrive Ballater this can open the door for more people to get involved, which makes for more inclusive spaces.

A huge thank you to the Thrive Ballater team for giving me the platform, and to everyone who came along and listened to my part of the Film Night. The energy in the room reminded me why we do this — riding together, supporting each other, and pushing what’s possible on two (and three!) wheels.