The fun, freedom and exhilaration of cycling should be available to all, no matter your age, cycling ability or any physical or personal challenges you may face. Which is why the New Forest National Park is proud to boast a fleet of adapted cycles for children and adults of varying needs to enjoy the beauty of this unique landscape.
Whether you have a disability, limited mobility, a visual impairment, poor balance or you simply want to improve your confidence on a set of wheels then there’s absolutely nothing stopping you enjoying the miles and miles of easy access, traffic-free trails the New Forest has to offer.
Guided sessions
Riders can participate in inclusive cycling intro sessions and led rides organised by Pedall. These two-hour sessions take place in stunning scenery at Blackwater, Beaulieu Heath and Standing Hat and are aided by specially trained National Park Authority staff and volunteers. Parents, carers and other children are welcome to bring their own bikes as well as have a go on the adapted cycles themselves. To find out more about these sessions visit pedall.org.uk, email inclusivecycling@newforestnpa.gov.uk or phone 01590 646683 and ask for Jolyon.
Adaptive cycle hire
Alternatively, young person or not, you can hire a specialist bike by the hour or by the day from Cyclex – a cycle hire operator based in Brockenhurst, right at the heart of the National Park. They have a fleet of top of the range adapted cycles accommodating different ages and physical capabilities. Among them you’ll find a tricycle with a removable wheelchair unit for easy access into cafes and visitor attractions, tandem cycles that allows either or both riders to participate in steering or pedalling, semi-recumbent cycles that can be steered by the upper body and thighs for limbless riders, cycles with reverse-braking so your hands never have to leave the pedals, and electric bikes that can power you through steep or challenging terrain if your endurance levels are low. Cyclex will send you off fully kitted with safety helmets, a route map and a toolkit for your journey. For more information about Cyclex’s adapted cycling range and service, visit newforestcyclehire.co.uk.
And of course, there’s a wide variety of accessible visitor attractions, facilities, activities and places to eat and drink along the routes, so you can feel safe in the knowledge of a comfortable, stress-free and – most importantly – fun day out in the forest.
