We are beyond proud of GMAS Board member and avid mountain biker Kim Bean for recently earning her BICP Level 1 Adaptive Mountain Bike Fundamental Skill Instructor certification.
The BICP Level 1 course offers comprehensive hands-on training on the fundamentals of mountain biking. All participants get a foundation for teaching mountain bike skills, including personal riding skills, proper form, systematic methods, and terminology.
Kim was invited to participate in this three-day clinic held in Cape Cod, MA by Terry Downey of Spaulding Rehab Sports Centers. “There were seven of us; four from Spaulding and three from other organizations; Steve Robinson from Waypoint Adventures, Geoff Krill from NEDS, and myself,” explains Kim.
Kim first got interested in mountain biking after grad school “because I needed a fitness and social outlet. My middle son had been riding on the MS/HS team by then and was a big influence on me getting into riding. I was hooked and now ride year-round,” explains Kim.
Partnerships through Mountain Biking
Kim’s passion for mountain biking has opened doors for many interesting partnerships. This is her third year acting as a VMBA (Vermont Mountain Bike Association) Ambassador, she has volunteered as a mentor for Little Bellas for the last five years, co-leads a ladies’ weekly ride in Woodstock, and volunteers with WAMBA, her local chapter.
Kim has been involved with adaptive sports since late 2020, after witnessing her friend’s bike crash that left her a paraplegic. Soon after the accident, Pascale Savard, also a GMAS board member who had met Kim and her friend at a mountain bike event earlier that summer, reached out to ask her to get involved with adaptive sports. Soon after, Kim joined the GMAS board.
New Skills to Pass along
“The experience at the clinic was amazing. There was a lot of information and a lot of riding. My mind and body were tired by the end of the weekend! What I learned that will benefit me the most in working with adaptive mountain bikers was how to break down of the skills and how to communicate that to the rider. There are a large variety of adaptive bikes and a lot to look at and coach riders through. This experience gave me a foundational understanding of all of that,” adds Kim.
She concludes, “My favorite part of the clinic was getting on the adaptive bikes and really testing my riding abilities. It gave me a whole different perspective and experience that I can bring back to instruction when working with athletes. The worst part was I got to ride a Nuke for a lot of the testing… it had no e-assist. My arms were noodles by the end!”
We look forward to seeing Kim use this knowledge at the many adaptive mountain bike events she attends, including at the Stowe aMTB Weekend on August 23-24 when she will act as lead coach.” Congratulations!
by Pascale Savard
May 27, 2025
All photos courtesy of Terry Downey