Get Solo Back On Trek

Friends, I’m starting a go fund me for my nephew, Solomon. He is desperately trying to raise funds to replace his lost mountain bike. Please read his letter. His words are far more touching than what I can offer as an explanation.

Dear Friends,

I’m 13 years old and I live in Spotsylvania, Virginia. I’m writing you to ask for help. I recently loaded my new bike onto our family bike rack and headed to my very first mountain bike race. While driving it came off of our rack. We searched the roadside for hours, along with friends and family. Unfortunately, we could not find it. I accept full responsibility for this. My parents double checked the bike rack before we left, but since I’m the one who loaded it, I own this mistake.

A coach allowed me to borrow an old bike to get through the season and I'm so thankful for the loaner. I have become obsessed with this sport. I ride every day. I competed in three races and placed first in one of them. I was awarded Rookie of the Year on my biking team. I have promoted up through all of the levels on my team, from the entry level newbies to the top level of most skilled riders. All of this on an old beater bike. Biking is the last I thing I think about before I fall asleep and the first thing I think about when I wake up.

More importantly than the biking skills I gained over the last months; I’d like to tell you what the last season of riding with the Fredericksburg Composite MTB team has done for me. I have severe ADHD. It’s hard for me to focus, to be still, to connect with friends and family. Biking has changed all of that. I have tried medications, therapies, and oils to give me moments of calm, but none have allowed me to self-regulate and master this beast of ADHD. Mountain biking has provided what nothing else has- a calm in my mind and a stillness in my body. For the first time I feel like I’ve found a place to belong. I’m making friends on the team. I’m happy. After a long ride I can sit to do school work. My body is tired and my brain is quiet. My relationship with my mom and brothers is also growing as we all ride and learn together. I’m even doing the next day’s schoolwork in the evening in order to go on early morning rides.

I’m only in 7th grade and I don’t have a lot of ways to make money. We don’t live in a neighborhood where I can cut grass or walk dogs. But I’m desperate for a bike. Losing my bike was a nightmare. My family sacrificed a lot to purchase my bike in March 2022 and we cannot afford to buy another one right now. What we are trying to buy is a machine very different from a standard steel Walmart bike. The amount I'm trying to raise may seem high, but this is actually the entry to mid-level price point to replace my bike.

Thank you for your consideration. Any amount will help and will add up. My mom thanks you too. I'm driving her crazy with nothing to ride.

Solomon Taylor