Shifting Gears

The Adaptive Rider Collective founder looks beyond film success to the future of adaptive cycling

- Neil Russell

PROGRESS has been rapid for the Adaptive Riders Collective and its founder Neil Russell. Set up in 2022, the Collective's work in providing off-road adaptive cycles for people with various disabilities instantly found a market. Now, their acclaimed 45-minute documentary, Three Wheel Drive, is available to watch on YouTube, after showing at various film festivals to audience acclaim.

The Scots Magazine caught up with Neil at the start of the outdoor season, and at the end of the winter's planning and preparation, shortly after a trip down to Kielder to film a segment for the BBC's Countryfile.

"There's only a full-time team of two, so it's keeping us busy. There's not really an off season; it's the paperwork, logistics and getting everything ready over the winter. We're doing well considering we only started in September 2022.”

With three years of press and promotion, Neil’s used to explaining his back story.

“I have spina bifida. I was born with a disability and had an amputation at the age of 18 — a choice I made because of problems I’d had with my leg growing up. As a kid, cycling a two-wheeler was fantastic because it meant I could keep up with my friends. Cycling was freedom for me.”

After repeating it so often, does Neil ever get tired of detailing his life? Would three-wheeled riders prefer to discuss their disabilities or would they rather simply be another bunch of bikers on the trails?

“Sometimes, but I recognise that it gives context and it helps people understand,” he explains. “So yeah, sometimes it's like, ‘Here I go again’! Some people joke that I should have a pamphlet to hand out! It’s a tricky one, and everyone takes a different approach. In general, when people don’t know anything, we're educating non-disabled people or people that don’t have experience of disability.