About Us
Our mission, our team, and the program that's changing lives.
We set up the Wrestling MS Bike Program and Cycling Team specifically to assist MS patients to take up cycling. We know cycling can improve the balance, muscle control and strength of many MS patients.
Through our partnership with Primal Wear and their "I Ride With MS" program, every MS patient that cycles is eligible to become a member of the Wrestling MS National Cycling Team. We are not a competitive cycling team — we are a team for MS patients who cycle. We also have non-MS patients who ride as part of our team to support MS patients through encouragement, coaching and peer-to-peer fundraising.
If you are an MS patient who cycles, we welcome you to join the team and ride with us, enjoy great friendships and help other MS patients get on a bike. As part of our team we are committed to providing you camaraderie, support, hope, coaching and training.
But we know MS can affect more than a person's health. It can affect their income — and we don't want that to be a hindrance to an MS patient who wants to get on the road to a healthier life. So, through our Bike Program we provide FREE bikes and cycling gear to MS patients who cannot afford to purchase a bike and bike gear on their own. We call them a "Sponsored Rider." Beyond just providing them bikes and gear, they become a full member of our Wrestling MS National Cycling Team as well.
"We know the hope, support, coaching and encouragement were, and are, critical to success. We believe every MS patient on our team deserves the same — every member of our team is treated as an athlete."
The Sponsored Rider Program
The standard bike we provide a "Sponsored Rider" is a new two-wheel hybrid bike from a quality manufacturer like Specialized, Cannondale, Trek, or Fuji. Each bike is bought to size and custom fit at one of our professional bike shop partners.
If an MS patient cannot ride a two-wheel bike, we will do all we can to assist them in obtaining the bike they need. As we have a budgeted amount per bike, we may not be able to cover the entire cost of a recumbent or specially equipped bike. In that case, the Sponsored Rider may have to cover the remainder beyond our standard budget.
We have no requirement or expectation that the Sponsored Rider is an accomplished rider when they first join the team. In fact, we presume they are starting from zero and may have some trouble with balance and muscle control. That's why we have an assessment ride as part of the selection process.
The Training Program
All we ask of the Sponsored Rider is to have the determination, drive and perseverance to try to ride a bike. And no matter at what level they start, to participate in our training program to see if it improves their balance, muscle control and strength.
Normally the training program starts in late May with 2–3 rides per week over a 10-week training program, with the goal of riding 10–40 miles with the Wrestling MS team in mid-September. That distance may seem impossible when a Sponsored Rider starts — but we believe the program will increase their balance and muscle strength to where they can successfully complete the ride with the team.
And as a result, we believe their health and life will be transformed.
10 Weeks
Training Program
2–3x/Week
Rides Per Week
10–40 Miles
Goal Distance