Tyler J. Ashton is biking across Canada through biting winter winds and freezing rain, turning his daily battle with chronic pain into a beacon of hope for others. The Port Coquitlam, B.C., native, who lives with the autoimmune disease ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rode through Portage la Prairie this week en route to Winnipeg from Brandon. His 11,000-kilometer ride aims to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Association (CSA) while proving that movement - despite immense physical challenges - can be transformative.
Turning pain into purpose
Diagnosed with AS, a condition causing spinal inflammation and eventual fusion, Ashton faces relentless stiffness, brain fog, and pain. Three years ago, he weighed nearly 300 pounds. Now, after losing over 200 pounds and gaining back about 35 pounds of muscle, he credits cycling with keeping his symptoms at bay. “Exercise is the only 'cure' for this disease, because right now there is no cure,” he says. “When I’m riding, I’m in the least amount of pain.”
His custom bike, equipped with a drop seat to ease hip and spinal pressure, has become both a lifeline and a symbol of resilience. Yet the journey is far from easy. Regular biologic injections, critical to managing his inflammation, add logistical hurdles. “I have to be in certain places by certain times each week to take my injection,” he explains. “It’s a challenge I’m ready to face daily.”
Battling prairie winters and headwinds
Ashton’s ride has been marked by brutal prairie weather. From -9°C freezing rain to 70 km/h headwinds, he’s endured what he calls “Manitoba’s lion-like winter.” Locals have joked he’s “two months too early,” but Ashton shrugs off the cold. “There’s no pain I can feel on the outside that I’m not already feeling on the inside,” he notes.
The Canadian legend, Terry Fox, inspired his cross-country trek, but community reactions keep him going. “People say they’re inspired, and that’s what matters,” he adds. Despite the isolation of winter riding, he invites others to join him: “Get your body moving—it’s a really nice ride.”
Riding for a future without limits
Ashton’s goal is twofold: spotlight AS, which affects more Canadians than ALS, MS, and rheumatoid arthritis combined, and amplify support for the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Association’s resources. Reflecting on his diagnosis, he shares, “I found the charity that I’m trying to raise funds for. They have support groups, and those groups helped me when I really needed it.”
The CSA provides critical information and peer connections for those navigating AS. “Having someone who understands the pain… the impact was immeasurable,” Ashton says. His journey is chronicled on his website, ElectrifyAS.ca, where supporters can donate, track his progress, or join his mission. The site is also prominently linked on the CSA’s homepage.
As he pushes toward Winnipeg, Ashton’s message is clear; movement, no matter how painful, can redefine limits.