We have just celebrated our birthday. From our beginnings as “Olympic Bikes” –  a grassroots idea born in the run-up to the 2012 Games – through to today, we’ve held one vision: to make cycling accessible to everyone. What started as a response to inequality in East London has grown into a social enterprise with impact across the capital, and beyond.

As we approach our 20th anniversary in 2026, we’re taking a moment to reflect. The journey has been full of collaboration, persistence, and belief in the power of cycles as a tool for good. One of the clearest examples of that vision in action is our Inclusive Cycling Hub, based at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

A Capital Investment That Built a Legacy

The Inclusive Cycling Hub stands as a testament to what’s possible when vision meets support. The London Marathon Foundation played a pivotal role in turning our idea into a physical, living hub.

Their investment wasn’t just about creating a building. It was about removing barriers to activity and inspiring participation for people of all ages and abilities, especially those who are too often excluded from cycling. The Hub provides access to specialist cycles, expert support, and a welcoming space –  disabled people, older adults, their families and carers experience the freedom and wellbeing that cycling brings.

Through their capital investment in the Hub, the Foundation created a lasting legacy in East London: a space that continues to be activated through programmes, inclusive cycle sales, and outreach. Built to endure beyond the initial investment, the Hub reflects the Foundation’s mission to improve lives through physical activity, inclusion, and accessible spaces.

 

In Their Words

We’re proud to share this journey with the London Marathon Foundation, whose vision and support helped make the Hub possible. Here’s how they describe the impact of their capital investment:

Hal Davidson, London Marathon Foundation’s Head of Impact, said:
“The Inclusive Cycling Hub is a fantastic facility that supports our vision to inspire activity for all. When you create new opportunities for people to be active, it can completely transform their lives – especially for communities who for too long have faced the biggest barriers to being active. With support from our Active Spaces Fund, Bikeworks has created a community-led space that’s already engaging thousands of people in inclusive cycling – allowing more people to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits that come from being active, today and for years to come.”

Recognition for Design With Social Purpose

Designed by Foster Kirk Architects, the Hub has gained recognition not only for what it enables, but also for how it was built. Awards and features include:

• RIBA Journal MacEwen Award 2024 (long-listed) – recognising architecture “for the common good.”
• Open House Festival 2023 – Design Partner (winner) – one of just five projects chosen that year for architectural merit and public/social value.
• Architects’ Journal Retrofit & Reuse Awards (shortlist) – under £500k category.

 

 

We partnered with Constructive & Co, East-London makers with experience delivering joinery across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, including for Plexal at Here East. They produced robust, high-quality fitted elements for the Hub, built to support frequent movement of specialist cycles and the demands of an active adaptive-cycling environment. The finish reflects the ambition for a durable, quality and welcoming space that can stand up to daily programme delivery.

The result is a fit-out designed for heavy daily use and specialist equipment, without compromising quality.

 

Cycling in Action: The All Ability Club

Right outside the Velodrome, the Hub comes alive every week through our All Ability Club. Here, people who are disabled or have limited mobility, along with their friends, families and carers, can try from our fleet of specialist cycles in a safe, welcoming space.

It’s about more than learning to ride. It’s about joy, confidence, and connection. Week by week, we see people discover cycling for the first time, or return to it after many years, often saying they never thought it would be possible.

Participation has almost tripled in three years, demonstrating both rising demand and the impact of consistent, relationship-based delivery.

All Ability participation (Apr 2022 – Mar 2025):

8,100 → 16,400 → 22,400 experiences

2,300 → 4,000 → 5,600 participants

The growth is driven by people returning, bringing others, and becoming part of the community.

This shows the scale of demand and the life-changing impact inclusive cycling brings. With the Hub as a base, the All Ability Club isn’t just an activity – it’s a movement that breaks down barriers and makes cycling part of everyday life for thousands of Londoners.

This growth shows the scale of demand, and the life-changing impact inclusive cycling brings. With the Hub as a base, the All Ability Club isn’t just an activity – it’s a movement that breaks down barriers and makes cycling part of everyday life for thousands of Londoners.

The Hub Today: London’s First Inclusive Cycle Salesroom

Today, the Hub is home to London’s first specialist inclusive cycle salesroom – the only place in the capital where you can try and buy adaptive bikes. From trikes and handcycles to side-by-side tandems, cargo bikes and recumbents, we provide expert guidance on specialist cycles for disabled people, families and older riders.

What makes it different is the knowledge and lived expertise of our instructors and staff. They don’t just sell cycles; they help people find the right fit, gain confidence, and discover the freedom of cycling in ways they may have thought impossible.

For anyone searching for adaptive bikes in London or looking for inclusive cycles for sale, the Hub is a unique destination.

Why Visit?

The Hub sits at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, surrounded by world-class venues and new cultural landmarks. Visitors can:

• Combine a trip to Bikeworks with a walk through London’s most iconic park.
• Explore the East Bank district: V&A Storehouse, Sadler’s Wells, BBC Music studios and UCL East.
• See the Olympic legacy in action – not just in sports arenas, but in community spaces where inclusion and wellbeing come first.
• …and see how inclusive cycling sits at the heart of the Park’s legacy as a place for everyone.

With easy transport links and parking nearby, the Hub is a place to experience both cycling and the wider life of the Park.

 

Why Buy Social?

When you buy a cycle from Bikeworks, you’re not just purchasing from a shop – you’re supporting a social enterprise. Every sale helps us deliver programmes like the All Ability Club, giving thousands of disabled people, children with SEND, families and older adults the chance to enjoy inclusive cycling.

Choosing Bikeworks means your purchase directly funds social impact, keeping inclusive cycling accessible for the communities that need it most. In other words, when you buy a cycle from us, you buy social.

Reflecting Back, Looking Forward

As we reach this milestone, we’re proud of what Bikeworks has achieved, and excited for what comes next. The Inclusive Cycling Hub stands as proof of what can be built when funders like London Marathon Foundation back bold ideas rooted in community need.

As we look to 2026, our 20th anniversary year, we’re inviting partners, stakeholders, and visitors to Join Our Journey.

Together, we can keep breaking down barriers, creating access, and using cycles as a tool for good.

You can be part of it too:

• Test ride a specialist cycle at our weekly All Ability Club outside the Velodrome.
• Or book a visit to London’s first inclusive cycle salesroom to try, compare and buy – with specialist cycles and expert advice from our team.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy adaptive or specialist cycles in London?
At Bikeworks’ Inclusive Cycling Hub in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – London’s first inclusive cycle salesroom. We stock a wide range of adaptive bikes and specialist inclusive cycles from leading brands such as Van Raam, ICE Trikes, Hase, Pashley and more. You can try, compare and buy with guidance from our expert team.

Can I try a cycle before I buy?
Yes. At Bikeworks you can book a visit to our inclusive cycle salesroom for tailored advice and test rides, or join our weekly All Ability Club outside the Velodrome to try different adaptive bikes in London in a safe, supportive environment.

What types of cycles are available, and who are they for?
Our fleet includes trikes and e-trikes, handcycles, recumbents, side-by-side tandems, and cargo cycles. These cycles are designed for disabled people, disabled children, children with SEND, older adults, families, and carers, anyone looking for inclusive cycling opportunities or the chance to try adaptive bikes. Visitors travel from across London and all over England to find the right cycle for their needs.

The start of our journey together began with a simple question: can cycling bring people together who feel isolated or excluded? Working alongside Westminster City Council through a Department for Transport Tackling Loneliness with Transport pilot, we found the answer in motion—riding side by side, sharing stories, and feeling part of something bigger.

By listening to residents, we learned that the joy of cycling is about more than the bike. It’s about being alongside others, chatting while you move, and removing practical barriers—cost, storage, confidence—so people who never thought cycling was for them can experience freedom, companionship, and connection.

How Cycle Connect makes a difference

• Shaped by lived experience. Residents told us what they needed; together we built a service that works for them.
• Ride together. Up to three people can ride with one of our trained Cycle Pilots—sharing the journey, conversation, and the simple joy of being side by side.
• Freedom to choose. Pedal, ride as a passenger, or add e-assist support—your ride, your way.
• Friendly guidance. Pilots offer route advice, local tips, and encouragement throughout.
• Connection at the heart. Every ride is about belonging and shared moments in motion.

“I never thought I’d cycle again after my stroke, but riding on Cycle Connect has given me back a sense of freedom. It’s not just the movement, it’s the laughter and company that make it so special.” – Westminster resident

Celebrating impact

Last year, Erma Ryan and Zoe Portlock had the privilege of attending the Active Westminster Awards, where Bikeworks won the Inclusive Award for Cycle Connect. This recognition celebrates how inclusive cycling can deepen connection and enrich everyday life across the borough.

Here’s Harry, one of our passionate Cycle Pilots, on why the rides matter and the difference they make for residents:

“Cycle Connect builds community engagement;  it gets people out and about, in the fresh air, and able to do things that they might not normally be able to do. They can go to appointments, meet new people and do some exercise. It helps them live their lives.”

A place-based, inclusive cycling offer

Cycle Connect is part of a wider network of activities available for Westminster residents:

• All Ability Club – Regent’s Park: every Wednesday – bookable spaces
• All Ability Club – Little Wormwood Scrubs: every Friday and alternate Saturdays – turn up and ride
• Family SEND cycling – Ashburnham School: inclusive sessions for children and young people with SEND for the whole-family support

Ride with us, partner with us

Cycle Connect shows what’s possible when we work together: we reach people who’ve been overlooked, create meaningful connections, and unlock the freedom of cycling for all.

 Residents: Book a Cycle Connect ride or join an All Ability Club – more info on our website HERE.
 Community groups & services: Partner with us to extend our reach and deepen impact – Join Our Journey – more info HERE.

 Get in touch: enquiries@bikeworks.org.uk

Together with Westminster, we’re proving that cycling isn’t just transport — it’s movement, connection, and belonging.

Social prescribers connect people with the activities and support that make the biggest difference to their health and wellbeing. And what better tool than cycling — affordable, sustainable, confidence-building, and joyful. This summer, Bikeworks joined forces with the GLA, TfL, and the Tower Hamlets GP Care Group to launch a new Santander Cycle Hire offer, designed to put cycling firmly into the hands of social prescribers across the borough.

A true partnership in action

Behind the scenes, partners from GLA, TfL, and the GP Care Group worked closely with Bikeworks to shape an experience that would let social prescribers feel the benefits of cycling first-hand, before offering it on to their patients and communities.

On 30th July, more than 20 social prescribing link workers gathered in Victoria Park for a cycle skills session using Santander bikes. Led by Bikeworks’ qualified instructors — including Co-CEO Jim Blakemore — the group explored off-road routes, rebuilt cycling confidence, and rediscovered the simple joy of riding together.

As Zoe Portlock, Co-CEO of Bikeworks, reflected:

“At Bikeworks we’ve seen time and again how cycling can transform people’s confidence, wellbeing, and connection to others. As an inclusive cycling social enterprise, we’re proud to bring our expertise into partnerships with health professionals like the GP Care Group — making cycling part of everyday care and support, and ensuring the people who will benefit most have the chance to rediscover it in a safe and welcoming way.”

Positive first rides

The energy on the day spoke for itself. Many participants hadn’t cycled in years, while others were trying Santander bikes for the very first time — and the feedback was immediate.

Elsa Robinson (GLA) reflected on the impact: “There was some really nice feedback from people who hadn’t cycled in a long time and loved it.”

For Preet Johal (Tower Hamlets GP Care Group), the session went beyond enjoyment, sparking inspiration among the team: “The social prescribers said they had a lovely time. I think you may have inspired some of us to get back into cycling!”

And as Sahdia Warraich (Social Prescribing Manager) shared the following morning, the experience was still resonating: “Everyone had a great time. They were all talking about it at this morning’s Social Prescribing team meeting!”

Cycling as “More Than Medicine”

This pilot shows the potential of integrating cycling into the “More Than Medicine” approach that social prescribing is built on. By working together — the city-wide reach of GLA and TfL, Bikeworks’ expertise in inclusive cycling, and the trusted role of GP Care Group link workers — we are opening up cycling to people who might otherwise be excluded.

The session gave social prescribers the chance to experience cycling first-hand. With this confidence, social prescribers can now champion cycling as part of their work, encouraging residents who are less likely to cycle — whether because of confidence, cost, or lack of opportunity — to give it a go.

This is just the start. By equipping social prescribers to lead the way, we can ensure more people across Tower Hamlets — and beyond — discover the freedom, confidence, and connection that riding a bike brings.