By: Tom Lindfors
“Social isolation and loneliness are leading concerns in our community, which is why creating space for our riders to share their stories is central to our work,” said Matthew Stepaniak, CoFounder/Director of Limitless Cycling. “Storytelling is healing—and we don’t take that lightly.
Our pilots show up to listen, to engage, and to laugh at stories that may have been told a hundred times, as if they’re hearing them for the first time.”
Limitless Cycling—now the signature program of River Valley Trails—has been recognized with St. Croix Economic Development Corporation’s inaugural 2025 County Impact Award for its
positive impact on community health and connection.
“To St. Croix EDC, thank you for recognizing that belonging, mental health, and inclusion are economic issues, because thriving communities require connected people,” Stepaniak said.
For Stepaniak, bicycling is both the vehicle and the vision behind Limitless Cycling’s mission: to improve the mental and physical health of seniors, veterans, and individuals with developmental disabilities and cognitive challenges who cannot ride independently by providing piloted experiences on adaptive bicycles and Trackchairs®.
Stepaniak is open about his for-profit roots. Trained as an architectural draftsman, he built his career managing in the automobile collision industry. “I tended to take a very direct approach, focused on solving problems and moving things forward,” he said.
The death of his father in 2014, followed by caring for his mother after her stroke in 2018, reshaped his perspective and introduced him to the realities of caregiving.
During her recovery, his mother, Nancy, expressed a desire to get back on a traditional bicycle. Matthew and his wife, Tawnya, supported the idea—they just needed to reimagine what that looked like with an adaptive bicycle.
Matthew and Nancy’s first ride on an adaptive vanRaam Fun2Go bicycle ultimately proved the concept that would become Limitless Cycling. “We didn’t get very far because people kept stopping us and asking questions—‘What is this? Who are you? Do you do this for other people?’” Stepaniak said. “We realized very quickly that the need was much greater than my mom.”
At the same time, Darren Dobier, a longtime friend and collaborator, was operating DIRO Outdoors, a mobile outfitter bringing equipment like snowshoes, fat-tire bikes, paddleboards, and kayaks to locations such as Willow River State Park. As he observed more multigenerational groups, he recognized a gap—one where not everyone could participate—and began exploring more inclusive offerings. That mobile, meet-people-where-they-are approach would later help shape the foundation of Limitless Cycling.
In 2019, Stepaniak and Dobier co-founded Limitless Cycling. Drawing from Dobier’s mobile deployment model, they envisioned a program that would expand access beyond able-bodied riders—serving seniors, veterans, and individuals with mobility challenges.
Limitless Cycling uses various configurations of electric-assist, three-wheeled bicycles manufactured by the Dutch company vanRaam. These bikes are specially adapted to meet riders’ unique needs, with the pilot steering from the rear while passengers ride comfortably in front.
They partnered with River Valley Trails, a 501(c)(3) focused on developing interconnected trails across the St. Croix River Valley while promoting education and community connection through cycling, serving as a fiscal sponsor and affiliating with Cycling Without Age to further advance their grassroots mission.
Stepaniak and Dobier began collaborating with senior living facilities early on. “By meeting people where they are, we removed barriers like transportation, staffing coordination, and safety concerns,” Stepaniak said. “Once those partnerships were established, participation followed naturally.”
From the outset, the focus was clear: restoring independence—even for a few minutes—can help combat loneliness and the mental health challenges that come with social isolation.
“A stroke, PTSD, dementia, or mobility limitations can quietly shrink someone’s world from miles to hallways,” Stepaniak explained. “Trails they once walked become something they can only see through a window. When a rider says, ‘I never thought I’d be out here again,’ you can see
something return—confidence, dignity, connection.”
Despite its growth, Limitless remains lean. Stepaniak relies on partnerships, data, and continuous feedback from riders and caregivers to guide decisions. “We can’t fully understand our riders’ experiences without inviting them into the conversation,” he said. That feedback highlighted a key limitation: seasonality. “Our name has ‘limitless’ in it, and all of a sudden, we were limited. Darren and I took that personally,” Stepaniak recalled. In response, they began exploring ways to expand access year-round and reach individuals with more significant mobility challenges.
With seven adaptive bicycles already in use, planning for Trackchairs® began in 2022. At approximately $22,000 each, the investment was significant. Supported by donors, grants, sponsorships, and fundraisers, the organization grew in 2024 to include four Trackchairs®, putting Limitless two years ahead of its capital projections.
The impact has been clear. In 2025 alone, Limitless provided more than 800 rides – a 20% increase from the year before.
Pilot-passenger relationships remain at the heart of the experience. “Anyone can pedal a bike or walk alongside a Trackchair®, but not everyone can be a pilot,” Stepaniak said. “We look for people who can see the world through someone else’s eyes.”
Riders range in age from 5 to 105, representing a wide spectrum of physical and cognitive abilities.
Ironically, for an organization built on cycling, slowness is fundamental to its success. “We listen first,” Stepaniak said. “Our pace, our tone, our presence—it all matters. We want every interaction to be meaningful, not remedial.”
Rides move at the pace of a brisk walk, allowing family members and caregivers to participate. Every experience is tailored to the rider’s needs.
“We may only have five minutes together, but it means everything,” he said. “We’re going to honor that time with dignity and respect.”
Limitless also remains committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Diversity enriches us, equity drives us, and inclusion strengthens us,” Stepaniak said.
He sees accessibility as foundational to community health. “When we create access, we create connection. And when people feel seen and included, they belong.”
Recent economic pressures have shifted funding priorities, with many grantors focusing on basic needs. Stepaniak acknowledges this reality. “What we do matters, but we also understand that housing, food, and stability come first.”
Still, Limitless continues to evolve.
After seven years, demand for the program is beginning to approach—and in some cases exceed—what its current structure can support. The organization is now focused on investing in capacity while preserving its commitment to free services for those who cannot afford them.
As funding becomes more competitive, Stepaniak is exploring equitable revenue streams, including a fee-for-service model designed to support sustainability without compromising access.
One of the challenges in this transition is shifting perceptions around overhead. Stepaniak frames a potential 60/40 program-to-overhead ratio as a strategic bridge—not the destination—allowing for investment in people, systems, and infrastructure before returning to a more traditional 80/20 balance.
He advocates for a broader understanding of nonprofit effectiveness—one that values long-term impact over short-term optics.
“Nonprofits should be celebrated for creating opportunities for growth just as much as for-profit businesses,” he said. “If we can offset overhead by charging those who can afford it—while keeping services accessible for those who cannot—that’s the bigger picture. The real challenge is building a model where access and sustainability strengthen each other, not compete.
