Evolution (FILM): Why E-bikes Changed the Game

Andy McKenna of GoWhere Scotland and Stoked* On MS presents Evolution, a film produced with Shimano to share the pure joy of mountain biking. A follow-up to This Way Up (2017).

As a teenager Andy McKenna was swept along by the first wave of mountain biking in the 80s. It took over his life, relationships and career – until a life-changing diagnosis in 2007 truly opened his eyes to the healing power of the bicycle and flicked a switch on an evolution Andy could never have predicted in his lifetime.

Going higher, further, always escaping – like for many of us, bikes mean freedom to Andy. A Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis threatened to change all that. MS is a mountain biker’s worst nightmare: a progressive, incurable neuro-degenerative disease threatening to rob Andy of his sight, balance, grip and mobility. Never one to take life’s setbacks lying down, Andy figured out (and continues to figure out) ways to overcome the challenges that emerge. 

Despite the uncertainty of not knowing what tomorrow has in store, Andy’s passion for mountain biking remains strong. In fact – it’s not an exaggeration to say – Andy’s love of exploring and riding the world’s most technical terrain still drives him forward today. Andy recognises that he may never completely outrun the debilitating effects of MS, but as you’ll see in this short film – Evolution – they’ll have a pretty hard time overtaking him as he continues to evolve and adapt – riding, exploring and bikepacking his way through the remote, rugged terrain of his homeland, Scotland.

Finding new ways to ride, seeking support from friends and family when he needs it, and embracing every available technological opportunity means Andy can still reach the heights in new ways. Andy’s still having so much fun reaching the mountain tops on his EP8 equipped Santa Cruz Heckler, he hopes everyone will be enticed to experience and share the pure joy of mountain biking.

Follow Andy’s adventures on Instagram:

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Amanda Wishart

Art Director

Amanda is our resident pedaller, who loves the climbs as much as the descents. No genre of biking is turned down, though she is happiest when at the top of a mountain with a wild descent ahead of her. If you ever want a chat about concussion recovery, dealing with a Womb of Doom or how best to fuel an endurance XC race, she's the one to email.

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