Photo by Embry Rucker
Jeremy McGhee is a trail runner at heart but says he missed his calling.
When Jeremy was 25 years old, a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from his tenth thoracic vertebra (mid-abdomen) down. He can’t walk or run, but he can mountain bike.
“If I wasn’t in a wheelchair, I’d probably be one of those ultra marathon runners,” Jeremy says. “But the cool thing about this bike is it’s how I do that. It’s how I get out on the trail and go for a run.”
Making It Work
Catchin' a wave. Photo: Minaret Photography
Jeremy lives in Cardiff, Calif., largely because he can access his two favorite things easily from there: mountain biking and surfing. In a short drive from his house, he can be at a Southern California beach or at the trails of Los Peñasquitos Canyon. He also spends several weeks a year navigating the terrain at Mammoth Mountain.
“The major emotional issue I deal with on a daily basis is feeling claustrophobic,” Jeremy says. “You can’t just get up and go. Everything involves big equipment, straps and stuff. Being out in nature and feeling small is how I deal with that emotion.”
A big part of Jeremy’s life is minimizing steps so that he can spend more time doing what he loves and less time getting ready for it. Jeremy is a self-proclaimed Merino wool purist because of its ability to wick moisture and avoid smell. He loves the Aspect Base Layer and often wears the Ridge Merino Journey Tee since it can be worn on the trail, on the mountain, to the bar, and then to bed.
“It minimizes the transition,” he says.
Relaxing after a ride in his Ridge Merino wool base layer. Photo: Christina Fernandez