We’ve told you before about Nils Amelinckx. He’s told you about himself in his award winning story ‘Excess Baggage’. And now we’re here again to tell you about another piece of the story – this time, it’s the tale behind the Ortlieb Velocity Rider Resilience bag, launched today. Over to the official PR…
Most products that you see in stores or online usually start in a design office of a company, with teams of people trying to figure out how to sell more products to their target audience. The story behind this bag is quite different. It originated from an eleven-year connection, from a family, from the darkest moment in one person’s life, and the community that was born from those moments and connections. This product is not just a bag, but a testament symbol of the power of adventure that couldn’t have been made without all those people supporting something much greater and more important.
Like many stories, this one starts with people, or more accurately one person, Nils Amelinckx. An enthusiastic adventurer and cyclist, Nils often found himself mixing passion and profession. In 2012 Nils relocated to Kendal and began his career at Lyon Equipment. Quickly moving up the ladder at Lyon, Nils soon began the role of looking after ORTLIEB in the UK. He and the ORTLIEB team became very fond, and it was from here that some of his closest relationships began to blossom. Nils and the ORTLIEB team have a common interest that goes beyond their professional lives- their love for bikes. This was evident when Nils decided to embark on a remarkable journey from the UK to Germany by cycling in order to attend their annual business meeting. Their shared passion for cycling has become a powerful bond that has created a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose between both parties. It is obvious now that Nils’ relationship with ORTLIEB extends beyond just a working relationship; it’s a profound connection based on years of friendship and a mutual love for adventure.
In 2017, Nils’s path was marked by an unimaginable challenge—an incurable cancer diagnosis. Upon learning that he had a limited life expectancy of five years, he found solace in the activities of cycling and photography. It was during these pursuits that he discovered a mental clarity that helped him cope with the difficult times he faced. This devastating news could have easily shattered his spirit, but Nils continued to defy the odds. He did not let cancer define him, instead, he used his diagnosis as a source of motivation to inspire others.
After receiving treatment that forced him to take a break from cycling, he was determined not to let his condition defeat him. He sought inspiration from others and with a persistent attitude and unwavering resolve, he gradually started pedalling again, determined not to let his illness dictate how he lived his life. He faced numerous obstacles on his journey, including seven rounds of surgery, five rounds of radiotherapy and over sixty of chemotherapy but he never lost his determination to keep moving forward. He firmly believes that the bike played a crucial role in his recovery and provided him with noticeable healing powers, he’s sure that he wouldn’t be here today without it.
The fulfilment Nils got from riding bikes and the camaraderie of the cycling community was like no other. This experience inspired him to create Rider Resilience, a not-for-profit organisation that would offer similar support to others facing similar challenges. The movement aims to draw on stories of bike-derived resilience and the strength of the bicycle community to encourage anyone in the face of adversity to get out and ride a bike as much as possible throughout their period of hardship, as well as offering funding for aligned projects. It is centred around the belief that riding bikes have healing powers, allowing you to bounce back quicker.
Rider Resilience revolves around two main axles:
- NURTURING RESILIENCE through inspirational posts, storytelling and the curation of a library of inspiration
- Generating FUNDING to in turn support causes that share our ethos
Nils’ cancer journey has been a testament to the unbreakable spirit of a rider. Rather than retreating from life’s challenges, he has embarked on a new journey—one of courage, hope, and resilience. His determination to continue cycling, even during treatments, has been nothing short of remarkable.
The hard times Nils faced were made more bearable by the relationships formed through years of work, which had cultivated a sense of extended family within ORTLIEB. Like any friends and family, when someone you care dearly for is going through hard times you do anything to try and help. For ORTLIEB, they wanted to do what they do best and use their global platform to spread the message of Rider Resilience. The idea was born to create a limited edition run of backpacks, of which a proportion of profits would be donated to Rider Resilience. With its hard-hitting graphic designed by Scotsman Graeme Stewart, better known as “Stormstatic”, the bag’s artwork attempts to visualise the concept of a dawn raid analeptic, a drug that restores a person’s strength yet one that is solely derived by bottling the endorphin charged euphoric feeling of having ridden to the top of a mountain in time for sunrise. The blood bag is a nod to sharing this feeling with people who are most in need and the camaraderie of the bicycle community known for helping each other to “ride out” the harder times.
Nils’ story serves as an inspiration to all, reminding us that no matter the obstacles we face, our spirit can remain unbreakable, and our adventures can continue to thrive.
‘Life should not be an expression of the amount of breaths we take but of the moments that take our breath away.’
Nils Amelinckx
For more information about Rider Resilience or Nils’ journey head to http://www.riderresilience.org
The Velocity Design Rider Resilience will be sold on the Rider Resilience website, via ORTLIEB stockists and via the ORTLIEB website.
While you’re here…
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