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The different types of bikes
available for |
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It really doesn't matter if you are deaf, blind, have cerebral
palsy, ADHD, learning difficulties or anything else, there will be
something that will suit you For more information about the Cycleability site, bike try outs or anything else, please contact disabledcycling@cycleability.org.uk and/or download the Promotional Presentation in pdf format. Planning also continues for the first All Ability Cycling Network Conference in April 2012, with interest growing in leaps and bounds together with the possibility of also doing the British Cycling Disabled Cycling Workshop the day before! "It was a huge eye opener for me into the vast range of equipment that is available to enable all to enjoy the sport which we love so much."
All across the UK, there are many people who deal with dehabilitating problems of various sorts ranging from mental health issues and learning difficulties to physical disabilities but they should never be excluded, rather encouraged to participate and that is what we are aiming for here in Cornwall .. cycling as other Wheels for All projects have proven, not only improves their health but also gives them that all important sense of inclusion.
A colleague, Martin Symons, who is involved with the CTC's All Inclusive Forum did the Coast to Coast using the demonstration model Boma in July 2009. To see why he needed to use one, click here .. to find out more about his journey across England from Bowness to South Shields, click here. In my experience, what puts the special into 'special needs' is the individual characters that you meet and believe me when I say it is the best thing that has happened to me., you really do meet some very special people. That is what makes the world an amazing place and it is time to break down any barriers and get it sorted as it gives people who have previously thought it impossible, independence they didn't know they could ever achieve. This is born out by Steve Hillman, the Disabled Support Development Officer for the Cornwall Sports Partnership who recently set up a taster day with Quest 88 at Treviglas College in Newquay and immediately saw the benefits of it. He agrees that you only have to watch their faces as they cycle. He has already put his name on the list for training by Cycling Projects!
Together we can do this and it will bring a lot of happiness into a lot of people's lives if we do! Just giving people that little bit of independence means so much to them. We already have a head start with one qualified ride leader and two or three bikes to get us going .. from little acorns etc. and one will but we need your help to achieve it!!
More recently, as a result of another friend who has a three wheeler recumbent as it is the only way she can still enjoy cycling having had a serious brain injury in a car crash about 20 years ago, I have discovered a TANDEM recumbent no less from Westcountry Recumbents., now you have to admit, that is pretty cool! About 5 months prior to his untimely death, I had a conversation with Lord George and this is what he said to me .. "I remember when the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, visited the Sir James Smith School in Camelford and he specifically referred to the provision of sport outside of schools that must benefit the community as a whole, including those with disabilities. " "The Wheels for All Centre in Cornwall is a wonderful way of addressing that objective and I wholeheartedly support the project. I hope that the commercial sector in Cornwall will feel able to contribute to the funding of these specialised bikes. " (Dictated over the phone for a press release that never actually saw the light of day.) Since then however his widow, Lady George has offered to take up the baton and continue to support our endeavours and naturally, we accepted! As a result of there now being one trained ride leader in county, we are now one step closer to achieving our objective and opening cycling up.
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DISCLAIMER: Whilst every reasonable care has been
taken to ensure accuracy of information provided on both this page
and the website, we cannot be held responsible for any errors in |
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In addition to the large range
of bikes, there are other accessories and adaptations that also make
it possible such as harnesses for wheelchair models, handle bar
adaptors including feeding both brake cables into one side and
neoprene gloves to help with gripping the handle bar (but slide off
to the side), pommels so that the rider does not slip off the saddle
and back. side and neck supports as well. Another option is
adult stabilisers as show on the left ..
