By | Wade Crowther
Photos by | Jacksen Skinlow
Video by | Jacksen Skinlow
November 11,2024
On January 20th, at 3 pm, Robbie Seaman's life took a dramatic turn. During a group UTV outing, the vehicle hit a patch of wet clay, causing it to roll. As the passenger, Robbie's right arm was ejected and crushed. The injuries were severe—his arm was degloved, bones shattered, and arteries severed, causing life-threatening blood loss.

His friends acted quickly, applying a makeshift tourniquet and calling 911. Miraculously, paramedics were nearby responding to an unrelated incident. They reached Robbie within 10 minutes, stemming the bleeding and saving his life.

Robbie underwent a series of operations, including grafts, in an attempt to save his arm. Despite initial hope, his arm became necrotic, and amputation became necessary to save his life. Thanks to the UMC Children's Hospital of Las Vegas, Robbie survived and began the challenging journey of adapting to his new reality.

The mental and emotional struggle was immense. Robbie was an accomplished athlete, excelling in lacrosse, basketball, and mountain biking, where he had achieved podium finishes in the Utah NICA League. Amputation seemed to shatter his dreams of competing.

However, with unwavering support from his parents (Rob and Wendy) and his mountain bike coaches, Robbie found the strength to look forward. He was determined to get back on his bike. Coaches Nate Talbot and Sam Stoddard spearheaded an incredible effort, reaching out to companies within the bike industry to help create a customized bike that would allow Robbie to not only ride but compete again.

The Bike of His Dreams

The cycling community responded with overwhelming generosity, donating parts and expertise to build Robbie a truly remarkable bike

    • Bicycles Unlimited: Donated parts and labor
    • Trek: Donated the frame
    • SRAM: Donated the drivetrain, including an electronic derailleur
    • RockShox: Donated the fork suspension
    • Tannus: Donated tire inserts for flat protection and performance enhancement
    • Fasst Company: Donated Flexx handlebars
    • Hope Tech: Donated brakes (dual brake levers on one side)
    • Dixie Flyers MTB Team: Donated the damper and parts
    • Preferred Protection: Provided clear frame protection
    • Shriners Children's Salt Lake City: Donated prosthetics

The Road Back to Racing

Receiving his dream bike was just the first step. Learning to ride with one arm, especially on technical mountain bike trails, was an arduous process. Robbie had to master balance, control, and new techniques, all while building strength and endurance. (Huge thanks to Shriners Children's Hospital of Salt Lake City for providing his prosthetic.) Through sheer determination, Robbie progressed rapidly and was ready for the NICA season in August of 2024.

His first race at Soldier Hollow was a test of his resilience. Robbie flew out of the staring gate and was crushing the technical course. Encountering a flat tire on his first lap dropped hopes of Robbie finishing the race. However, thanks to his donated Tannus inserts, Robbie was able to keep pedaling, fix the flat and finish the race, boosting his confidence. He pushed through a season of challenges with the help of all his donated equpment—flats, broken chains, and even his prosthetics slipping off—ultimately qualifying for and racing in the State Championships.

Looking Ahead

Robbie's goals extend beyond high school. He dreams of representing the United States in the Paralympics for mountain biking. To help Robbie and his family realize this dream, please consider donating to their GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-robbie-seamans-unstoppable-journey

Share Robbie's incredible story to inspire others to "Keep Pedaling!"

Additional Posts...

  • You Only Get So Many Weekends This Fall. Don't Lose One to a Flat.

    You Only Get So Many Weekends This Fall. Don't Lose One to a Flat.

    Fall doesn't last long, maybe six good weekends if you're lucky, and every one of them is already spoken for. Hunters are hauling gear off-trail before first light. Leaf peepers are chasing color down roads they've never ridden. And everybody's running their fat tires soft for grip, which is exactly what leaves them open to the flat that ends the day early. Here's why fall is the toughest season on a fat tire eBike, and how Tannus Armour keeps you rolling through all of it.

  • America's Worst Cities for Bike Flats, Ranked

    America's Worst Cities for Bike Flats, Ranked

    Every cyclist swears their city is the worst for bike flat tires. We checked. Using current state noxious weed registries, city task force records, and PeopleForBikes' 2026 City Ratings, we ranked America's 10 worst and 10 best cities for bike flats, and the answer isn't just "wherever it's dry." Denver runs two street sweepers for its entire bike lane network. Salt Lake City pays a bounty on the goathead thorns wrecking tires along the Jordan River Trail. Meanwhile, some of the most celebrated bike-friendly cities in the country, Fort Collins, Davis, Provo, sit smack in the middle of goathead's mapped range, proof that great infrastructure and flat-proof riding are two different problems.

    See where your city lands, what's actually causing your flats (goatheads, glass, or both), and why the fix isn't a better bike lane. It's the right tire for where you actually ride.

  • Sealant Has One Job. You're Making It Do Five.

    Sealant Has One Job. You're Making It Do Five.

    Tubeless sealant seals small punctures up to about 5-6mm, and checking it every 2 to 4 months keeps it working, that's the entire job it was built for. It won't stop a rim strike, cushion a pinch flat, or keep your tire from squirming at low PSI, three failure points that have nothing to do with a hole in the tread. This post breaks down exactly what sealant can and can't do, how goathead thorn country changes your maintenance schedule, and why pairing sealant with a tubeless tire insert covers the gaps sealant was never designed to close.

    Tannus Tubeless Inserts use hydrophobic Aither 1.1 foam that doesn't absorb sealant, so you get rim protection, pinch-flat resistance, and confidence at lower pressures without adding maintenance or wheel weight. It's the same setup racers run at events like Leadville and the Unbound Gravel Grand Prix: sealant handles the punctures, the insert handles everything else.

  • Armour, Tubeless, or Airless: Which Tannus Belongs in Your Wheels?

    Armour, Tubeless, or Airless: Which Tannus Belongs in Your Wheels?

    Nobody's ever finished a ride bragging about the flat they fixed on the shoulder. Tannus makes three flat protection products that stop that from happening, and yes, all three share the same name, which is exactly why riders mix them up. Tannus Armour is a 15mm foam insert built for tube setups. Tannus Tubeless Inserts protect rims and back up sealant on tubeless setups. Tannus Airless skips air completely with a solid foam tire built for commuters. Pick the one that matches what's already inside your tire and ride on.

    This guide lines up all three side by side, including who each one is actually built for: e-bike riders and commuters running tubes, gravel and mountain bikers protecting their rims, and city riders ready to retire air pressure for good. Read it once and you'll know exactly which Tannus belongs in your wheels, in about the time it takes to fix a flat.

  • A kid rides a bike at night, with fireworks in the background of the image.

    Why July Is the Worst Month for Flats (Nobody Tells You This)

    July doesn't have one cause behind its flat tires. It has four, all stacking up at once: softer asphalt that holds onto debris, tube pressure that climbs as the pavement heats up, and more broken glass and goatheads left behind after holiday weekends. That's the real reason bike tires go flat more in summer than any other season, and most riders only ever hear about one piece of it.

    This breaks down exactly what's happening to your tires this month, then shows what actually stops it. Tannus Armour is a foam liner that blocks debris before it ever reaches your tube, and Tannus Airless tires remove the tube and the air pressure altogether, so there's nothing left for the heat to work against.