“Just you, the track”: How MTB provides the perfect escape for the Trailrippers, the de Vaux brothers

Mountain biking has been pivotal in the lives of Nathan and Ruben de Vaux. Collectively known as the Trailrippers, the brothers view the sport as a haven.  

“Riding is just essential for those boys,” their mother stated. 

“When you see them come back from a ride, when you see them finishing a lap and just stopping by, they’re just buzzing. They’re on a totally different energy level. 

“As a parent, I’m always worried that they might get hurt but, at the same time, they have to do this because it’s their life lifeline, their lifeblood. They’re so passionate about it that when they’re able to do this, when they’re able to ride with their friends, go really fast, that’s it; there’s nothing that makes them happier than that.” 

Nathan, 15, and his younger brother Ruben, 14, are both neurodiverse. At 13, Nathan was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, while Ruben was diagnosed with Autism at the age of four.  

“It’s been helpful in some things and unhelpful in others,” Ruben has said. “Like, going in busy areas; it’s not helpful with that. I get stressed out more easily than most people. But then it can help me with my mountain biking quite a lot and getting hyper focus on certain things.” 

Neurodiversity relates to conditions that make the brain function a little bit differently from the mainstream, which then make certain situations more difficult. 

Mountain biking has become an unwavering passion for the boys, as well as a way of concentrating their focus and regulating their voices.  

“When they’re a bit bubbly, all over the place emotionally, or just when life is really stressful, they get on their bikes, and they always come back changed,” their mother added. 

“They’re always much calmer, much happier, because once they’re on their bike, once they’re doing what they love, everything else disappears.” 

“I find flow, when you get into the zone of mountain biking or any other sport, just when you’ve got a focus tunnel on what you’re doing,” explained Nathan. 

“Just you, the track, really. There’s not much that stands in between. You don’t really have many other thoughts other than what you’re doing, and you just zone out.

“You’ve got the track, you’re on the bike, and you’re just sending it down the track and nothing else really matters. It’s just the track and you.” 

The Geraint Thomas Cycling Trust was thrilled to be able to support the boys with a grant that allowed them to participate in competitive mountain biking.  

The boys have a special relationship in which they motivate each other to thrive, and that translates to when they’re on the saddle and racing down a track in a flash.  

“I love riding with Ruben,” Nathan beamed. “He’s just the best guy to be around. 

“I love the banter, pushing each other on, and learning new skills; it’s just so fun. 

“His riding style is really aggressive, really controlled, and so fast. For his age, he’s just going incredible.” 

As well as their bikes, the de Vaux brothers are their own support network, and are looking to push each other on as far as they can go. 

“The way he’s progressed through riding with faster riders, getting better, just constantly improving, just really makes me think that he’s going to get pretty far in mountain biking,” Ruben proudly stated about his older brother. “He definitely has a strong chance of getting world champion!”