Accessible cycling

I never thought I would be able to ride a bike again when things started to get really bad with my health. After all, I can't stand up or walk, so how could I possibly expect to so something as complex as cycling. Except that today I did. I went cycling with my whole family.

We used a local charity who hire bikes out to people to encourage equality. They have a variety of different types of cycle available by the hour by a beautiful, level lake and carers are free. I went and had a chat with them a few weeks ago to ensure they would have something I could use and finally had a good enough day today to go ahead and brave cycling. In public. I was well prepared with a hoodie on to be able to cover my neck if needed, hand supports, an arm sleeve, incontinence knickers (how sexy) and both ankle supports on.

My youngest and eldest, A and J, can both ride a bike. J had a new bike today from a local company who refurbished bikes, but A wasn't feeling like riding hers with stabilisers today so was driven around in a bike trailer.

G cannot ride a bike and will not ride a bike. She has previously ridden tricycles for children with additional needs and does pretty well on a pedal go kart, but as soon as she saw the tricycle today she instantly reacted badly. I spotted it early enough to stop her running away completely. No amount of coaxing or calm persuasion was helping so we decided the fewer adults around the better. I had reserved a two seater side by side bicycle with seat backs and asked for my feet to be strapped down. This was the bike with the trailer attached for A. Then J had his new bike to ride and G was booked onto a special tricycle. It ended up that we had two of the two seater bikes, one as planned but for me, J and A, then my husband and G  caught us up on a second one.

G had a seat belt on to feel more secure and, like me was on the left side so was not in control of steering or braking. I pedalled most of the way around because I found it made my tremor less obvious and also is better exercise than just sitting there. I had my side in first gear so my muscles didn't cramp up or fatigue too quickly. J was doing most of, if not all of the work, and made a big deal of that too. After a lap of the lake we swapped over a bit... My husband and J swapped places so I coukd ride a bike with my husband. G was reasonably happy with that as long as we were in front setting the pace. I managed three laps in total before the pain in my back and neck was too much. Myself and A were taken to the cafe whilst G and my husband continued on their two seater and J rode his new bike around the lake. We saw moorhen chicks, a Swan sat on her nest, ducks, Canada geese and white geese as well as a lot of dog walkers and families out enjoying the sun.

It turned out we had planned things perfectly as within ten minutes of us all being in the cage together the heavens opened and it didn't only rain, it hailed. My husband had to go and rescue J and A from the play park and we retreated to the car park to feed the geese and ducks from the car. This always works well because those who want to get out can do, I can stay warm and dry whilst getting some lovely photos and others can choose what they wish to do. Plus the birds get fed very well. Now we are on our way home with A asleep in the back of the car, J's bike hanging on the bike rach at the back of the car (I keep checking in the visor mirror to see if it is still there!), G looking very unimpressed because she didn't bring anything to do in the car and me trying to stay awake (hence I am writing this now). We will be back to cycle again soon. If you think you can't cycle again I woukd encourage you to look in your local area because there were so many different types of bike available. Bikes you wheel a wheelchair onto for others to cycle you along. Bikes for two people like we had with the seat backs Bikes for two people side by side with a large bucket type seat on the front The bike trailer we used A range of different sized bikes and tyicycles A hand bike with a wheelchair attached Really something for most people I think. I literally just had to hold on to the handlebars today, anything more was by choice.