‘Next evolution’: Adaptive downhill a first for MTB National Championships

Adaptive riders are gearing up to shred at the 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships in Lake Macquarie, where for the first time they will have the opportunity to race Downhill as well as XC.

While adaptive XC has been included at the national championships since 2017, adding adaptive DH to the upcoming championships in Awaba was the “next evolution” in the sport, AusCycling Executive General Manager Sport Kipp Kaufmann said.

“We should always be offering equal opportunity across all our National Championships,” Kaufmann said.

“Hunter Mountain Bike Association has been a great supporter of adaptive for some time now, which has assisted in supporting its inclusion.”

It follows a strong showing of eight riders in the adaptive category at the 2023 Enduro National Championships at Red Hill.

Adaptive riders at the 2023 Enduro National Championships in Red Hill.

Amongst them was HMBA adaptive rider Luke Searl, who went on to win the A3 title at the national champs.

Searl welcomed the inclusion of adaptive DH for the national championships.

“I think it’s great that AMTB is pushing into new areas. There are a few people pushing hard behind the scenes for AMTB to be included more broadly across AusCycling events, so it’s a credit to them,” Searl said.

“It’s still very early days but the more visible the sport becomes the more likely that it is a matter of course for AMTB to be involved.

“From what I’m hearing the category is going to be well attended so it will be good to get amongst it.”

Finding the joy in riding after life-changing accident

The adaptive trails at Awaba Mountain Bike Park were developed by HMBA about three years ago, funded by the NSW Government in association with Lake Macquarie City Council and Hunter Mountain Biking Association.

Among those involved in the trail development was club stalwart Coleen Kehoe, who in a tragic turn of events, suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury whilst riding those same trails.

“Before I had my accident, I was part of the build crew that helped put in a lot of the trails,” Kehoe recalled.

“I was doing about 2km/h around a b-line, it was the last run of the day and I just taking it easy, went over the handlebars and landed on my head.

“I blew out my T4. It’s pretty devastating.”

The experienced mountain bike racer and coach became paralysed from her chest to her feet.

Since her accident Kehoe is back riding the trails, now on a three-wheel adaptive bike which she is still learning to master, and has since become an adaptive instructor.

“Riding a three-wheel bike, you have to be conscious of not only what’s in front but also behind of you.

“If you have two wheels on the back you need to be aware of its width, and if it’s a single wheel on the back you need to think about where the rear-wheel is,” she explained.

“My body is steering the bike as well. My bike is an articulator bike, so it dips from side to side; I’ve got no core muscles and you have to try to push with hips, to steer.”

Despite the physical, mental, and emotional challenges since her accident, Kehoe has found joy riding her adaptive bike on her home trails with her husband Rick and their friends.

“The mental space after going out for a ride is such a positive. It feels like a shot of four Red Bulls afterwards!” Kehoe laughed.

“The hardest part is relying on someone else to go riding with. I can’t get on the bike my myself, I need to ride with my husband, and we need a tailer because the bike is so big.”

Kehoe is still deciding if she will race national champs, having not raced since her accident, but says she is getting a lot of encouragement to take part.

She described the national champs trail, Faulk Line, as “high speed”.

“It starts half-way up the hill, and goes straight down. You come down fast, and you can come unstuck pretty quick,” she explains.

What is adaptive MTB?

Adaptive Mountain Biking (AMTB) encompasses a broad range of riders who require adapted equipment, such as hand cranks, electronic shifting, and power-assisted pedals, and trails to suit their abilities.

It includes kneeling, upright and recumbent three-wheeled hand cycles, as well as two-wheeled bikes for riders with limited upper-body strength but have partial or full use of the lower limbs.

Trails are built to be wider and flatter, and are designed to accommodate the lower clearance and longer shape of trikes.

Hunter MTBA has undertaken additional work to upgrade the trails to ensure all adaptive riders can safely participate, and Kehoe said the major factor to consider when building an adaptive-suitable trails were width, camber, corners, rollovers and drop-offs.

“You’ve got to have a wide track, minimum 1200mm to get your bike around. You want big wide corners because the trikes are longer, and corners can’t be too sharp. Trails need to be relatively flat, and you need to be conscious of drop offs because the bike clearance of trikes is low. Tabletops are really good.”

AusCycling anticipate adding additional structure around National Championship categories to distinguish between bike types (e.g. e-bike, standing, recumbent).

2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships

Location: Awaba Mountain Bike Park, Lake Macquarie, NSW
Dates: March 12-17, 2024
More information:2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships

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The 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships are proudly supported by Lake Macquarie City Council, and the NSW State Government through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.