ASF To Host WIM Mountain Biking Event Next Week

WINDHAM — The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) is set to host its Warriors in Motion® (WIM) mountain biking event next week from Tuesday, July 30-Thursday, August 1. 

Six retired U.S. military veterans are expected to attend next week’s event, including army veteran Matt Garrad, who has participated in WIM programs before, but this will be his first time mountain biking with the ASF. “I’ve been on a bike two times in the last month, which equates to biking two times in several years,” Garrad said with a laugh. “I really enjoy the activity itself, but I’m most looking forward to spending time with other veterans. I love doing strenuous activities but doing them with other people makes it more enjoyable.”

Garrad and the five other warriors are scheduled to arrive at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday around noon. They will meet with the ASF staff and volunteers and enjoy a lunch before getting fitted for their bikes and safety equipment. Once everyone is comfortable with their ride, the WIM group will head to CD Lane Park in Maplecrest for its first ride of the week. The warriors will then. Check into their hotels and relax a bit before enjoying a catered dinner back at the ASF.

Wednesday the riders will leave the mountaintop and head north to Thacher State Park. Located in Albany County, Thacher State Park has. 25 miles worth of hiking and mountain biking trails and it boasts some incredible views of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. The WIM group is scheduled to arrive at the park by 10:30 a.m., where it will ride until 3 p.m. with a break for lunch in the middle. The ASF shuttle bus will take the participants back to Windham in time for them to wash up and relax a little bit before another dinner at the ASF lodge. 

The warriors will begin the month of August with a friendly competition. For the third-consecutive year, the riders will head to the Tannersville Bike Park and spend Thursday morning competing in a time-trial race on the downhill trail “Thriller”. The trail name lives up to the experience, as this provides the perfect way to end a mountain biking trip in Upstate New York. Once the contest is over, the participants will then head back into Windham and enjoy a lunch at the ASF lodge before they depart. 

“This program allows me to remain active, no matter the capacity that I’m able to function in at any given moment,” Garrad explained when asked about the importance of the ASF’s WIM program. “For example, if I’m not up for riding an upright bike, the ASF has the adaptive equipment such as e-bikes and hand cycles that I would need to keep enjoying the activity and myself. This program keeps me exercising, which keeps me healthy both physically and mentally.”  

Thanks to grants received and private donations, the ASF is able to provide equipment, water bottles, all meals, hotel rooms, snacks, water, sports drinks, sunscreen, bug spray, ponchos (if necessary) and maps, both digital and paper copies.