ASFs WIM Riders Climb Over 2,200 Feet in Road Cycling Event

WINDHAM– Ten injured U.S. military veterans pedaled nearly 40 miles and climbed 2,261 feet through Windham and nearby towns during the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s (ASF) first Warriors in Motion® (WIM) event of the summer season: road cycling.

“I enjoyed this week a lot. While we were biking, nature is everywhere,” said U.S. Army veteran Cheung Yip. “I was able to use an e-bike this week, which I’ve never done before, and it made this trip great.”

The ASF welcomed the veterans to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday afternoon, where they met ASF staff and five volunteers who would cycle alongside them. The group shared sandwiches and conversation before getting fitted for bikes and safety gear.

Their first ride kicked off from the Windham Mountain Club parking lot, heading into Hensonville and looping back into Windham along State Route 23. After completing one lap around the scenic mountain town, the group voted to go for another. They logged more than 12 miles before checking into the Hotel Vienna and returning to the ASF lodge for dinner.

Originally, Wednesday’s long ride was planned from Palenville to Woodstock. But with rain in the forecast, ASF Program Director Tony Vasile made a game-time decision to keep the group closer to home. The revised route took the veterans from Hotel Vienna to East Jewett and back—about 15 miles of rolling hills and rugged roads. With a total ascent of 1,179 feet, the ride proved challenging, but the veterans rose to meet it. They returned to the hotel by noon, just before steady rain began to fall.

With afternoon showers looming, the group swapped their bikes for board games and stories at the lodge. Laughter and camaraderie filled the room before they wrapped the evening with another catered dinner.

Thursday morning brought the final ride of the week. Departing from the ASF parking lot, the group rode west along State Route 23 into Prattsville. Compared to earlier rides, the 10-mile route served as a cooldown—ideal for participants who may not have regular access to physical activity. The ride ended at the Prattsville park, followed by a shuttle ride back to the lodge for lunch and goodbyes.

“I really enjoyed the ASF’s Warriors in Motion program because it helps us veterans connect with each other,” said U.S. Army veteran and first-time WIM participant Regina Williams. “When I’m on these retreats with other vets, I feel the connection. I feel that it’s a place where I belong.”

The road cycling trip was the first of eight WIM events scheduled for the summer. The next, a long-distance hike, is set for Wednesday, June 11.

Thanks to grants and private donations, the ASF provides participants with equipment, helmets, water bottles, meals, hotel accommodations, snacks, drinks, sunscreen, bug spray, ponchos (if needed), and both digital and printed maps—at no cost to the veterans.