Roam Fest & Finding My Place in Sport

This past weekend I was sponsored by the Women’s Mountain Bike Network to attend Roam Fest, a women’s mountain bike festival like no other. As an adaptive athlete, I never imagined being part of a space like this. But with the help of my custom pink biking foot and a community that made room for me, I got to experience the sport I love in the most powerful way.

Growing Up Without Representation

I was an enthusiastic athlete as a kid, but not necessarily a “good” one. I wasn’t the fastest, strongest, or most graceful. And because I always played among able-bodied kids, the only athletes I had to compare myself to were kids with two real legs.

It hasn’t been until more recently that I started seeking out adaptive sports. I’ve tried amputee soccer and gone to a few running clinics through the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Meeting other amputees through those experiences was incredible—it’s powerful to be surrounded by people who really understand your struggles.

Levitate Running Clinic in Denver, Colorado

That said, I’ll be honest: running is not for me. It’s high impact, and frankly… boring.

Mountain biking, though? This is my sport. My husband has been teaching me, and I absolutely love it. Learning how to balance, move with the bike, and push myself on the trails has been such a fun challenge. I can feel myself getting stronger and more confident every time I ride.

The only problem? There aren’t any sport-specific prosthetic feet for biking like there are for running. Devices like that are hard to come by in the prosthetic world. Thankfully, I work with Evergreen Prosthetics, and when I shared my idea for a biking-specific foot, they helped bring it to life. Together, we built a custom bright-pink bike foot—just in time for Roam Fest.

Mountain Biking with my DIY Pink Bike Foot

Roam Fest is a women’s and femme-centered mountain bike festival designed for everybody. The energy there was incredible. I got to meet other adaptive athletes and even connect with amputees who share this same love for biking. On top of that, being there as an ambassador for the Women’s Mountain Bike Network—who sponsored me to attend—was surreal.

The Power of Finding Your Place

All of this reminded me of something important: find your place. Getting here wasn’t easy. It took practice, persistence, and refusing to give up even when options felt limited. But it paid off. I walked away from this festival with new friends, new confidence, and the best experience of my life.