"I'm just a guy who likes to try his best at stuff," Canadian cyclist Ross Wilson says about his first paralympic medal.

Last time Wilson tried his best at something, he lost more than 100 pounds. He challenged friends to a weight loss competition five years ago and dropped about a third of his body weight.

As a reward, he bought himself a bike.

Canadian paralympian Ross Wilson says he started cycling after losing 100 lbs and buying a road bike as a reward. (Supplied/Ross Wilson) "I thought it would be a good way to keep the weight off," he said. "I also thought a 160 pound guy versus a 280 pound guy looks okay in Spandex."

After three years of competitive cycling, Wilson chased down Canada's first medal of the 2016 Rio Paralympics. He won silver in the men's C1 3000-metre individual pursuit final on Friday.

"I just absolutely fell in love with the training and the racing atmosphere and just liked really going fast," he said. "It just became a bit of an obsession and snowballed into this world-class adventure."

One speed

Wilson is diagnosed with a neurological condition that affects nerves and muscles, Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Disease.

But when racing Wilson, members of his Edmonton cycling club say any thought of his disability is usually drowned out by sweat and the sound of their own panting.

"It takes quite a lot for his limitations to start to kick," said Dan Nelson, one of Wilson's training partners. "He pushes the envelope on us a lot of the time and we're forced to chase him down."

He has kind of one speed so you've got to just try and keep up with him. - Dan Nelson

Nelson remembers his first race against Wilson with a grin.

"He was punishing us and beating us up," he said. "He has kind of one speed so you've got to just try and keep up with him."

A grainy photograph of Wilson already hangs from the wall of fame at Edmonton's Juventus Cycling Club. A silver medal dangles from his neck, won at the 2015 Para-Cycling Track World Championship.

"He's very fierce," said Gail Wozny, the club's president, as she points out the picture.

Gail Wozny looks at paralympian Ross Wilson's photo on the wall of fame at Edmonton's Juventus Cycling Club. (Zoe Todd/CBC) "He will not give way to anybody under any circumstance, but he's also a lot of fun. We all recognize he does have some limitations but we don't cut him any breaks either."

She's still waiting to update Wilson's photo with his full paralympic achievements. He has another chance at gold in the men's road race time trial on Wednesday.

Wilson said he'll think of his friends at the cycling club when he straps on his helmet before that race.

"Having those people who are willing to race with me and deal with my competitive nature is what helps to motivate me," he said. "I always joke with people that the best part of racing isn't winning, but beating able-bodied people."