Veterans Enjoy Mountain Biking Excursion Through ASFs WIM Program

ASF warriors, volunteers and staff pose for a photo at Thacher State Park overlooking New York's Capital District

WINDHAM – Six veterans made the trip to Windham this week for some intense riding during the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s Warriors in Motion® (WIM) mountain biking event.

“This program makes me feel strong again, and that’s not something I feel on a daily basis,” U.S. Air Force veteran Laura Herbst-Agee said, who rode an e-assisted recumbent bike all week. “The ASF has the equipment that I’m able to use to get me out into nature, which is good for the soul.”

The veterans arrived at the ASF’s Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday, July 22, at noon to get fitted for the bikes and safety equipment they would use throughout the week. They then mingled with ASF staff and volunteers over lunch before heading to nearby Tannersville to ride the town’s Hathaway Trails.

Before hitting the trail, the group received guidance on how to properly shift gears and operate pedal-assisted e-bikes over rough terrain. Each rider made three runs down “Thriller,” a short and exciting downhill trek, to get a feel for their bikes. One highlight came when U.S. Army veteran Matt Garrad rode a stand-up bike for the first time in 10 years.

After finishing the day’s ride, the group returned to Windham to check into their hotels before reconvening at the ASF lodge for dinner.

On Wednesday, the group traveled north to Thacher State Park in Voorheesville, where they spent the entire day riding in one of the Capital District’s most popular outdoor destinations. Upon arrival at 10 a.m., the riders took in panoramic views of the Capital Region on a clear summer morning.

The group then practiced on the park’s training area, which featured berms and large rocks, before heading into the woods. They tackled the “Long Path” trail, which offered scenic overlooks that served as ideal water break spots. They completed the loop via the “Perimeter” trail, ending back at the training area for lunch under the Hailes Cave pavilion.

In the afternoon, the riders moved on to the Paint Mine and Hop Field trails, where they faced more rocky and rooted terrain. In total, the group covered nearly 11 miles and climbed 790 feet of elevation during Wednesday’s ride alone. They returned to Windham around 3:30 p.m. to rest and clean up before dinner at the ASF.

The final ride of the week came Thursday morning, once again at the Hathaway Trails. This time, the group held a friendly competition: a timed race down “Thriller.” Each participant and volunteer took two runs. Garrad, riding his stand-up bike, claimed victory and bragging rights with a time of 1:18.32—just 0.37 seconds faster than ASF Program Manager Tony Vasile.

After the race, the group returned to the ASF lodge to share stories and laughs over lunch before heading home.

“I come up here from Georgia, and I come up every year to be with my fellow warriors and to enjoy the camaraderie,” U.S. Army veteran Erik Morales-Goroshko said. “The ASF staff treats us very good here, and I’m very grateful for this program.”

The ASF’s next Warriors in Motion event will be a three-day kayaking outing, scheduled for July 29–31.