Crank Camp: Where Skills, Confidence, and Community Come Full Circle

Oregon Adaptive Sports’ Crank Camp brings together handcycle mountain bikers from across the Northwest for a weekend that’s equal parts skill-building, trail exploration, and deep connection. For some riders, it’s a first taste of adaptive mountain biking. For others, it’s a return to a community they’ve helped shape.

Max W. is one of those returners — and for him, the journey to Crank Camp started before he’d even heard of OAS. A few years back, his friend Kipp was looking for people to join him on dirt trails. “I appreciated how excited he was about it, and I think we were both probably looking for that community,” Max says. “Kipp was so patient with me and willing to try anything. It was separate from OAS but integral to my involvement with them. He told me about Crank Camp and I was curious, so I gave it a try.”

Max’s first Crank Camp was in 2022. “That year I probably set a record for testing all the limits and boundaries of camp and my equipment,” he says with a grin.

What surprised him most was the level of understanding and adaptability from the instructors. “I was so surprised that able-bodied instructors on two-wheeled mountain bikes could coach someone with a disability. I was surprised and impressed that the instructors had ridden all the adaptive bikes and knew different strategies for making them work in different situations,” Max recalls. That firsthand knowledge built instant trust.

Why He Keeps Coming Back

For Max, the magic of Crank Camp is a combination of the trails, the instruction, and the community. Living in Portland, he doesn’t have quick access to the kind of trail networks available in Central Oregon. “There aren’t great trails within a half hour in Portland like there are in Bend. I have to drive an hour to be at my favorite trail system,” he explains.

But the riding is only part of the draw –

“Crank Camp is not just riding with other adaptive mountain bikers but also with teachers who could make me more confident. It’s always great to ride with other mountain bikers, of course, but the dedicated space makes it possible to connect in a different, more intentional way. Crank Camp is special to me because it provides camaraderie and community you can’t find anywhere else.”

Growing Into Confidence

Since that first summer, Max has seen his skills and mindset shift dramatically. “First camp, I tested all the limits — my limited confidence and ability riding made me a wild card. Now I feel like I’m a lot more reliable in my abilities,” he says.

One of the biggest changes is his ability to communicate his needs to his helpers on the trail. “Now I feel super confident in my self-awareness and ability to direct my helpers instead of being like, ‘I don’t know — what do you think we should do?’ OAS is really good at helping folks understand what THEY need and how to advocate for themselves.”

Paying It Forward

That mentorship became the highlight of Max’s 2025 Crank Camp. “It was fun to get to be an example and show him my tricks and strategies that work for me,” he says. Another standout moment was riding with his longtime friend Jeff. “We’ve known each other for over 30 years, and it’s been really cool for me to get to a point where I feel confident and have the awareness of riding to be able to observe my friends, especially Jeff, and watch them grow as riders and see their confidence grow as well.”

Returners like Max play a big role in shaping the feel of camp for newcomers. “Hopefully for newcomers, they feel there’s a special connection between us returners and an excitement to see how we’ve all grown as riders,” he says.

This year, Max had the chance to mentor a new rider with a similar injury — an experience that brought his own Crank Camp journey full circle. “Being a returner this year makes me think back to the time Kipp spent with me, teaching me — not because he had to, but because he wanted to. I was super excited to get to pay it forward as a ride buddy and as an example for a newer rider. I was able to help him with set-up, rode with him for a bit, and we all hung out socially.”

From the instructor’s perspective, returners’ contributions are invaluable. “Returners embody the OAS community during Crank Camp by bringing a sense of belonging, and they bring the stoke for mountain biking!” one coach shared. “Max brings such a warm and inviting presence that allows other riders to feel welcomed and have fun in a potentially new setting.”

That mentorship became the highlight of Max’s 2025 Crank Camp. “It was fun to get to be an example and show him my tricks and strategies that work for me,” he says. Instructors noticed it too — pointing out how Max not only rode Pine Drops with a new participant, but also took on a mentorship role to help that athlete build confidence on their bike.

For Max, another standout moment was reconnecting with his longtime friend Jeff. “We’ve known each other for 28 years, and it’s been really cool for me to get to a point where I feel confident and have the awareness of riding to be able to observe my friends, especially Jeff, and watch them grow as riders and see their confidence grow as well.”

A Life Beyond the Trail

Biking has had an impact on Max’s life far beyond Crank Camp. He didn’t start riding until ten years after his injury — and now wishes he’d started sooner. “There’s something special about not being a pedestrian OR in a motorized vehicle; being in that in-between space feels so freeing to me,” he says. “Biking is my favorite mode of transportation — I’ll use any excuse to use it!”

He’s even turned his passion into advocacy, serving on the Portland Bureau of Transportation Bicycle Advisory Committee to help get more people on bikes.

Always Looking Ahead

This summer, Max is only able to attend one of the three offered Crank Camps—he’s busy racing his handcycle in Hood to Coast, participating in Cycle Oregon, and competing in the Berlin Marathon. Still, Crank Camp holds a special place in his year. “I love Crank Camp, and I would be at every single one of them if I could,” he says. “It’s a dedicated space to find community with other adaptive riders, and I can’t find that anywhere else.”