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Roger lives in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. He started mountain biking in the early 1990s and was instantly hooked, however a motorbike accident and subsequent infection in his leg caused him to become a below knee amputee in 2013.
Rogers thoughts soon turned back to cycling and he was determined to get back on a bike. He started out with simply trying to pedal around the garden, progressing to around the local park and then onto Wollongong cycleway. As his confidence grew he decided on an ambitious goal: to enter the 'Sydney To Gong’ fundraising ride for MS, a 90km road ride. With the help and support of cycling friends, he completed the ride twelve months after his amputation.
As an amputee, Roger had suffered with depression and anxiety. He knew being able to get back on a bike had huge physical, mental and social benefits and he wanted to share this with amputees and others.
In 2018, Roger held the first amputee ride day ride day at Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Park. Specialized provided their demo fleet of Specialized Turbo Levo electric assist mountain bikes, with Camden Cycles and Southern Prosthetics & Orthotics helping to adjust bikes and prosthetics where needed. The first ride day was a huge success. The star of the day was a 63 year old amputee who had not been able to ride a bike in 20 years; after being set up and some instruction he was joyfully riding around again having a lot of fun!
After his own personal experience and organising two successful ride days seeing how it impacts people socially, mentally and physically, Roger was determined to make his passion for getting others back on a bike an ongoing, formal project called Ability To Ride Worldwide.
Ability To Ride Worldwide offers a fun exciting way for anyone to explore cycleways and trails, from bush to beach, using electric assist bikes. No matter what your skill or fitness level, you will be guided by experienced bike riders and coaches on a ride tailored just for you, or a group of friends.
