Who are we?

We are Nathan and Ruben de Vaux from Machynlleth in Wales, United Kingdom. Aged 15 and 13 respectively, our hearts beat for one passion: mountain biking. Since 2016, we've been tearing up trails and racing against the clock. Yet, amidst our exhilarating journey, we've faced numerous barriers within the sport. Determined to break down these obstacles we are now on a mission to make mountain biking an accessible and inclusive adventure for all, and bring others along in the sport we love whilst we continue to progress our own racing careers.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We have created Trailrippers Project CIC with a vision to make mountain biking inclusive to all. Being from a low-income family and neurodivergent ourselves, we understand first-hand the barriers that can hinder participation in the sport. We're reaching out to others for support to gather the resources necessary to fund our initiatives and make mountain biking accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial background. Your contributions will play a crucial role in breaking down barriers and opening up the world of mountain biking to a wider and more diverse audience.

This first fundraiser is to cover our start-up costs such as the design of our website and logo, getting stickers printed and to launch our Dyfi Groms Fund for Summer 2024. The more we can raise, the more we can achieve.

How the money we raise will benefit the community

1. Dyfi Groms Fund

Mountain Biking is not a cheap sport. Having the appropriate equipment is often a first barrier to enjoy it in a safe way as bikes and protection all come at a considerable cost. Once the cost of coaching, access to bike parks and travel is added, MTB easily becomes inaccessible to those on lower incomes.

Through our Dyfi Groms Fund Trailrippers Project CIC provides support for young people in the Dyfi Valley area to access the fantastic network of trails around them. We will work closely with Rikki Barrett MTB who runs coaching programmes in the Dyfi Forest, and sponsor spaces on his sessions for those who experience financial limitations.

2. Trailrippers Racing

Trailrippers Race Team will remain our flagship and aims to become an inclusive development team for aspiring Downhill Mountain Bike racers. It will provide visibility to Trailrippers Project CIC on the international stage and show that mountain biking is for people of all backgrounds.

The Race Team aims to become a platform for development not only for the racers but will give opportunities into many other related professions within the MTB industry such as bike mechanics, photographers/videographers, social media, coaching/guiding.

3. Supporting Grassroots Projects

Nathan and Ruben are very lucky to grow up in the beautiful Dyfi Valley but are aware that many young people don’t have access to the outdoors as easily as them. Trailrippers Project CIC will work closely with local charity The Anne Matthews Trust, to bring the joy of mountain biking to people who would otherwise not get this opportunity. With the help of Wheelism, the young people who attend residentials at the Braich Goch Bunkhouse in Corris will be given the chance to experience mountain biking during their stay.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success! You can make a one-off donation or set up regular donations to keep us going long-term.

2. Enter our Prize Draw. We have an amazing prize from Dyfi Bike Park, over £70 worth of merchandise plus a £50 gift voucher. You can enter the draw here.

3. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

4. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

5. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. All you need is a fun idea!