Inaugural Biking is for EveryBODY event celebrates adaptive cycling
PORTLAND — Brenda Santoro can no longer ride a bike on her own. The 65-year-old was an avid hiker and biker before a multiple sclerosis diagnosis changed her life 20 years ago.
But thanks to biking nonprofit The Portland Wheelers, she and her friend, 76-year-old Jennette Morse who was diagnosed in 2020, go on lots of biking adventures.
With helmets atop their heads, Santoro and Morse sat gleefully on the front of wheelchair trikes Sunday at the Wheelers’ inaugural Biking is for EveryBODY festival in Portland’s Back Cove.
“MS can be very isolating,” Santoro said. “This gives me the opportunity to essentially do biking and to be with other people and Portland Wheelers are just a fabulous group of people. It’s just been a blast,” Santoro smiled.
Sunday’s event featured a slew of adaptive activities with the mission to prove that biking can be accessible to anyone, no matter their physical ability. With electric bikes, recumbent tandems and elliptical-style trikes, the event had an experience for everyone.
Oliver Penney, 8, of Portland rides a recumbent trike on a course set up by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine during the first ever Biking is for EveryBODY Festival in Back Cove. (Staff photo by Derek Davis) Purchase this image
“I think it’s really important for us to show people that for whatever their body needs, a bike is available,” Portland Wheelers Executive Director Pete Ryan said. “Like these things are just amazing, like where bike technology is at this point, where people don’t have to make do anymore.”
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The Wheelers have about 130 active volunteers year-round, and had about 40 throughout the day on Sunday leading workshops and answering questions about equipment. In partnership with Martin’s Point Health Care, the event was made completely free. Ryan said he’s grateful that volunteers and partners shared a common goal to remove barriers.
Showing people what they’re capable of is an incredibly special opportunity, said volunteer Allen Kropp during a speedy wheelchair trike ride on the Back Cove trail. Longtime volunteer Matt Hollyday added that he “just can’t quit it,” grinning at Morse, who he frequently takes on rides.
Jen Morse, 76, of Scarborough, left, and Brenda Santoro, 65, of Portland are steered around in a detachable wheelchair bikes by Polly Weidhas, left, and Mike Tranfaglia during the first ever Biking is for EveryBODY Festival, put on by the Portland Wheelers organization in Back Cove. “They are absolutely incredible”, Morse said about the Portland Wheelers organization, with whom she has been riding with for the last two years. Morse will ride twice a month with them and gets to explore around trails in Portland, South Portland and Scarborough. (Staff photo by Derek Davis) Purchase this image
Sunday’s festivities also featured a meet-and-greet with two-time Paralympian and world champion cyclist Clara Brown. For her, the bike is a “tool of freedom.” Seeing so many people turn out for an event like Biking is for EveryBODY warmed her heart, she said.
Brown found cycling later in life after a traumatic accident at a gymnastics practice left her seriously injured as a 12-year-old. Following her years-long rehabilitation, she found Portland’s Cycle Mania, where she bought her first bike; one that could accommodate a right-arm impairment.
“I fell in love immediately,” she smiled, dressed in her national team bib with USA blue mascara. “It’s cool to look around and see trikes, recumbent trikes, upright trikes, tandems, kids’ bikes, all sorts of things. I’m just excited to interact with everyone and see how the bike has helped them find their freedom,” she said before leading a bike parade.
Ryan said he’s eager to see the event grow. Watching people realize they can bike is like magic, he said.
“I think today my life is probably better than it’s ever been. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t have MS, so it’s a positive thing,” Morse said, adding that events like Biking is for EveryBODY are a big reason why she’s been able to accept her diagnosis.
Elite cyclist and Paralympic medalist Clara Brown joins a bunch of youngsters to lead the parade at the first ever Biking is for EveryBODY Festival in Back Cove organized by the Portland Wheelers organization. The parade was named Lulu’s Ride in loving memory of Lila (Lulu) Kerman, who was a large part of senior living communities that partnered with Portland Wheelers, helping residents experience the joy of cycling. Lulu’s family donated two brand-new adaptive trikes to help launch the organization’s active participation program. (Staff photo by Derek Davis) Purchase this image
By 1 p.m., dozens of bikers of all abilities were lined up at the informal start of the parade, dubbed Lulu’s Ride to honor adaptive biking volunteer Lulu Kerman, who died last year.
With John Williams’s “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” playing through a speaker strapped to a carriage-style bike, Brown and her fellow cyclists took off along the trail, showcasing their limitless capabilities.
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Tagged: back cove, bicycling, festival, Portland
Isabelle Oss is a community reporter covering Kittery, Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, York and Ogunquit. Born and raised in Colorado, she moved to Maine in April 2026. Isabelle holds a master’s. More by Isabelle Oss
