I help pensioners discover freedom through cycling

It was 2008. I was working as a recreation coordinator at a wellness center in Riga, and honestly, I wasn't thinking about cycling at all. But then I noticed something that stuck with me. There was this group of older adults — mostly people in their 60s and 70s — who'd come in for general fitness programs. They were often hesitant, a bit stiff, moving carefully.

One summer, we organized a casual cycling trip along the Daugava. Nothing fancy. Just a flat route, easy pace. I'll never forget what happened afterward. These same people came back the next week asking if we could do it again. But it wasn't just about the cycling. They were talking, laughing, making plans with each other. The social energy was completely different.

That's when it clicked. Age isn't the problem. Badly designed programs are. These people didn't need gyms and exercise machines — they needed something that felt like living, not training. So I started reading everything I could find about senior recreation, adaptive sports, and gerontology. Went back to school. Got certified in adaptive coaching. Spent years learning what actually works.

In 2018, I launched Latvia's first "Silver Routes" initiative. We mapped every flat, safe cycling path suitable for older riders. Partnered with municipalities. Created guides. Trained local coordinators. And when I discovered Pāvilosta's coastal network — perfectly flat, beautiful, genuinely accessible — it became the centerpiece of everything I do now.

Today at stevenlano Solutions, I focus entirely on this. Senior cycling programs. Accessible route documentation. Evidence-based health guidance for older riders. Over 3,000 pensioners have participated in programs I've designed. And I'm still learning from every group I work with.