By Gravel Champ David Toste, Dirty Freehub

I’m wasn’t strong enough: I assumed the bike required a version of me that didn’t have MS. As someone who wasn’t active before my diagnosis, I could never imagine being active after.

I don’t have the right gear: Cost. But after staring my journey on a donated State All Road Steel bike, I didn’t need a several thousand dollar bike (although that’s what I did after competing my century ride)

It’s too dangerous: MS affects my balance and coordination—what if I crash? Although true, I actually found that I do better on a bike, then I do let’s say running. Especially with foot drag and fatigue.

I’ll be too tired the rest of the day:Fatigue is real—and I feared the ride would wreck me. So when if I tired, I don’t ride. Believe it or not, an advice lifestyle helps my fatigue in the long run.

I don’t know where to go: I didn’t know how to find routes that felt safe, doable, or interesting. Great intro to Dirty Free Hub.

I’ll be embarrassed if I have to stop: I thought walking a hill or taking breaks made me a failure. I learned the biking community is awesome and everyone has done nothing but to help me through, not judge.

It’s just not for people like me: Maybe gravel riding was for the ultra-fit, the healthy, the fast—not someone with MS. It wasn’t until I was searching for an outlet that didn’t fit the mold of typical MS groups that I then found a few riders who have MS. That really showed me I could do it!