This September, six NRP riders will set out from Land’s End to cycle 535 kilometres — 332 miles — to Guildhall in London.

Matt Kennedy, Alex Stebbings, Dean Walker, Ryan Hicks, Joe Cowley and Richard Wightman are taking on the five-day challenge with one goal: to raise £10,000 towards increasing Bikeworks’ specialist cycle fleet for disabled children and young people.

NRP has chosen Bikeworks as its charity partner for Cycle 535. When NRP first approached us, Chief Executive Matt Kennedy explained why Bikeworks stood out:

“As we explored potential partners, Bikeworks stood out immediately. Your mission of using cycling as a tool to transform lives, tackle inequality and create stronger communities resonates strongly with both our organisation and the aims of the conference.”

Cycle 535 will take place ahead of the London Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Conference at Guildhall, which NRP sponsors. It also comes as Bikeworks marks 20 years of using cycles as a tool for good.

What are they riding for?

Disabled children and young people can cycle. Too often, it is the opportunity that is not provided.

Only 26% of disabled children and young people have consistent access to PE or school sport, despite 40% saying they want to be more active. This makes access to physical activity beyond school especially important. Inclusive cycling provides another way to take part — but only when suitable specialist cycles, knowledge and support are available.

At Bikeworks, the number of people taking part in our All Ability Clubs has grown from around 2,300 to approximately 5,600 in just three years.

That growth matters. Disabled children and young people, and children and young people with SEND, are still excluded when activities do not have the specialist equipment, knowledge or flexibility required to respond to different physical, sensory, learning and communication needs.

A standard two-wheeled cycle will not work for everyone. One specialist cycle will not work for everyone either.

At one of our All Ability sessions, access to the right specialist cycle and an experienced instructor meant one family could cycle together for the first time:

“This is the first time we’ve been able to cycle as a family. My son felt safe, supported and so proud of himself. It’s given us confidence to keep coming back and trying new things together.”

Our All Ability Clubs bring together a shared fleet of specialist cycles, experienced Inclusive Cycling Instructors and regular, free sessions in community settings. Children and young people can try different cycles, find one that works and return to build skills and confidence.

That is what Cycle 535 is riding for.

 

Where the £10,000 will go

Cycle 535 is raising £10,000 towards increasing Bikeworks’ specialist cycle fleet for disabled children and young people.

The immediate priorities are:

• A van Raam Easy Rider Compact Small, offering a stable seated position and back support.
• A van Raam Easy Rider Compact, making this type of cycling available to a wider range of riders.
• An ICE Sprint X Pixel, adding a compact recumbent trike with a different riding position and handling experience.

Each works differently. Adding these cycles to the fleet would mean more younger riders can find a cycle that works.

New cycles purchased through the campaign will join our shared All Ability fleet and be ridden across our clubs for years to come.

 

Back Cycle 535

The challenge will end at Guildhall after five days. New specialist cycles purchased through the campaign will stay in our shared fleet and be ridden session after session, for years to come.

Donate to Cycle 535 through GoFundMe and share the campaign.

Theo joined the Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability Club with Full of Life, a local community centre, for his first ride on the new Veloplus.

The Veloplus

The Veloplus is a specialist platform cycle for wheelchair users. It allows people to ride without transferring out of their chair, making it one of the most important cycles in an inclusive fleet. Across Bikeworks All Ability Clubs, Veloplus cycles are among the most popular because they open up riding to people who may not be able to use a standard or adapted cycle.

At Little Wormwood Scrubs, the new Veloplus now becomes part of regular weekly provision.

“Our All Ability Clubs respond to the people who attend each week. The team know which specialist cycles are most needed locally and what equipment will widen access. Having a Veloplus permanently based at Little Wormwood Scrubs means more people can now ride as part of the weekly club.”

Jamie Lawson, Inclusive Cycling Advisor at Bikeworks

Full of Life

Full of Life has been part of the Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability community, bringing local residents to ride, spend time outdoors and participate in a regular club offer. The new Veloplus strengthens what the club can provide for wheelchair users, families and local groups who come to the sessions.

The cycle has been made possible through local partnership between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London Cycling Campaign and Lime’s Share The Joy Fund, with continued support from local stakeholders.

Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability Club

Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability Club is a regular community space where disabled people, families and local groups can access inclusive cycling using specialist cycles, adapted cycles and support from Bikeworks instructors.

This is what place-based inclusive cycling looks like in practice: local partners, a regular club, the right specialist cycle, and a community asset which can be used week after week.

For Theo, it started with a first ride on the Veloplus.

For the club, it means more people can now ride using the right specialist cycle at Little Wormwood Scrubs.