I am still the same person I was back then. But I started a new life. A different life.
My journey began just after my seventeenth birthday, around 45 years ago. While riding my motorbike, I was involved in a road traffic accident that left me with a life-changing spinal cord injury at the T3-T4 level, paralysed from the chest down.
Today, I remain dependent on a manual wheelchair and other assistive technologies to help with day-to-day activities.
After leaving the Spinal Injury Unit over four decades ago, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to get involved in various wheelchair sports — including basketball, powerlifting, and athletics. I quickly realised that staying as fit and active as possible would be vital for my long-term wellbeing, both physically and mentally.
I have always been a competitive and dedicated person.
Sustaining a life-changing injury didn’t change that — if anything, it gave me even more drive and determination to succeed.
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With focused training, I competed at every level: local, regional, national, and ultimately international, including World Championships and the Paralympics. It was a time in my life I am extremely proud of — and one I remain deeply thankful for, to have had the privilege of representing.
One sporting passion that has stayed with me through everything is cycling.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have an adapted cycle of one type or another — hand cycles, recumbents, arm- and leg-operated trikes — you name it, I’ve ridden it.
Cycling has been more than just competition; it’s been about having fun, keeping fit, and sharing that joy with family and friends.
Before my accident, I was working as a motor technician and had signed up for the Royal Navy to become a Marine Artificer. The accident ended those career paths — but after hospital rehabilitation, I retrained as an electronic technician and spent many years working for a specialist electronics company.
It was during that time that my passion for sport truly began to grow.
And deep down, I knew it was time for something new.
I left the security of full-time employment and went on to study Sport Science and Physical Education at Loughborough University.
Three years later, armed with an Honours degree, I moved into an industry that supplied products aimed at enhancing health and wellbeing for disabled individuals.
With the loving support of my wife, Alison, we launched our first business venture, Active Linx, in June 1999.
Active Linx supplies a range of innovative and cutting-edge assistive technology designed to promote active lifestyles and maintain health and wellbeing for people living with physical disabilities and neurological disorders.
We also developed a research and development division, headed up by Paul Byass — a talented Product Designer whose attention to detail, creativity, and experience can turn ideas into reality.
Throughout my experience, one thing has always stood out:
When it comes to physical activity, consistency is key.
Adapted cycling is an incredible way to achieve that — but traditionally, it’s seen as an outdoor activity, which brings its own challenges, especially with the weather and shorter winter days.
We knew it was time for innovation.
After several years of planning, research, and development, our new brand was born: Velotrain.
Velotrain’s accessible rollers provide a solution for cyclists who use specialist and adapted equipment, helping them to maximise their custom setup, exercise easily and often, and do it all from the comfort of home.
We thoroughly tested existing products and quickly spotted a clear opportunity:
To design a lightweight, compact, and user-friendly accessible roller — one that truly met the needs of disabled cyclists.
Then the world changed.
The initial concept for Velotrain was born during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 — a time when my own ability to exercise outdoors was limited like never before.
From that point, we knew exactly what we wanted to create: A high-quality, durable, and visually appealing indoor training system — practical enough for everyday use, and built to empower.
I truly believe we have achieved that.
And this is not the end of my journey — not even close.
I’m just getting started.
Let’s roll, Paul Moore
