ACCESSIBILITY AT DALBY FOREST CYCLE HUB.
Dalby Forest offers a cycling experience like no other. Breath-taking vistas, challenging trails, and a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. The rush of the wheels and freshness of the air just can’t be beaten. That’s why we want everybody to be able to experience riding here.
Cycling is for everybody, and should be accessible for all.
Dalby Forest Cycle Hub have been working hard to expand the offering here. We’ve established a venue for people with impairments, allowing them to enjoy cycling to the fullest. Our extensive fleet of adapted bikes for disabled visitors mean that cycling is accessible for all. No exceptions.
Bikes are only half the story. In addition to our range of adapted bikes, we also have support staff to ensure you have a great experience out on the trails.
We cater for individuals and carers, and can accommodate larger groups too. Our Directors, Rob Brown and Peter Blood, are champions of accessibility and will be only too willing to discuss how we can meet your needs.
TRAILS There are many trails to enjoy in the forest, we promote two in particular as accessible. Both trails are great for e-assisted bikes, which simply eat up the miles, but may not be suitable for manual wheelchairs due to the steep gradients.
Ellerburn Trail
Grade: Green. Suitable for beginners or novice cyclists.
Length: 1.7 miles, with an optional 1.1-mile extension.
The Ellerburn Trail also makes for a lovely ride. A three-mile circular route along a multi-user pathway, it follows Ellerburn Beck with a short detour around Ellerbyrn Pond and Bird Hide, by the entrance to the bat cave – spooky!
It’s a great workout and offers stunning views of the forest.
Xplorer Trail
In partnership with Forestry England, we’ve recently developed the Xplorer trail. Wide, fairly smooth, and well-signposted – it’s easy to follow. Along the route, you can find various points of interest. You don’t need to worry about getting lost with our handy map (free of charge!). Just relax and take in your surroundings.
THE POWER OF SUPPORT & ELECTRIC ASSIST
- a Stroke victim case study
Roger
Volunteers
In December 2018, my father, Roger, dropped to the floor of his barber’s salon. He’d suffered a bleed to the brain stem that, according to a specialist, should have killed him. The specialist painted a dark, but clear, picture of his fight for survival from that point on. Nearly 4 years later, Roger is still riding the roller coaster of recovery.
The greatest impacts upon Dad’s function were to his vision, sense of balance, his severe dizziness and general proprioception. Proprioception is the sense that tells the body where it is in space. It’s very important to the brain, as it plays a large role in self- regulation, co-ordination, posture, body awareness, and the ability to focus and speak. Proprioception is the sense that lets us know where our different body parts are, how they move, and how much strength our muscles need to use.
I wasn’t aware just how determined my Dad was until I watched his unerring commitment to recovery. As a lifelong sufferer of Ankylosing Spondylitis (inflammation of the spine and large joints, resulting in stiffness and pain), he was used to just ‘getting on with it.’ But his stroke had added significant problems to what was already a debilitating and complex medical condition. He was, and still is, supported greatly by his partner in all aspects of his life. Life, however, would never be the same again for either of them.
Maintaining fitness after his stroke was a priority. His GP and physio suggested that he used a recumbent trike in order to get outdoors and exercise. He took their advice, and this was the first step towards a remarkable recovery. He visited Dalby Forest Cycle Hub CIC just 4 months after the stroke. Here, he met Rob Brown (one of the Founding Directors) and Mike and Dave who, with a masterful mix of expertise and care, encouraged him to do weekly sessions on a recumbent KMX trike.
As his confidence and stamina grew, he decided he would like to purchase his own recumbent trike and Rob suggested he look at the range of e-assist trikes manufactured by ICE (Inspired Cycle Engineering). Dalby Forest Cycle Hub was interested in becoming a stockist, and ICE were visiting with some of their trikes. Roger was impressed by the quality, and purchased an electric assist model. With this, his recumbent trike adventures began.
Unfortunately, the roller coaster ride to recovery had another downward turn; soon after the purchase, Roger had what was believed to be another stroke. He was hospitalised for 6 weeks, and – even worse – contracted Covid-19. For two years, he recovered in a local care home.
Remarkably, he remained undeterred. He had always loved cycling and walking, and he was not going to let fate take that away from him. He was Roger, he had his recumbent and, somehow, he was going to ride.
Rob’s commitment to supporting Roger did not end with the purchase of the trike. Rob’s a Founding Director of Scarborough and Ryedale Community Cycling CIC (SRCC), a voluntary organisation created to support disabled and disadvantaged people get into cycling. Their volunteers come from various backgrounds, but all have key factors in common – they care about people, they value the importance of community, they enjoy cycling, and (most importantly) they like to eat cake!
Roger was introduced to volunteers Andy and Paul, and on a weekly basis he was supported to ride his trike and explore the local area with them, with Rob coming along when he could.
Pedal stroke by pedal stroke, Roger became stronger and more determined. It is relationships in life that provide us with a sense of security, belonging, and purpose. I watched from a distance as my Dad gradually thrived with the help of these people. Yes, they were trained to support disabled and disadvantaged riders and, yes, we all know how beneficial exercise is. But the greatest benefit to Dad was the improvement in his mental health from the stimulating and supportive relationships built on a foundation of absolute care and compassion offered by these volunteers.
On one occasion, I was fortunate enough to ride with them. I watched as they went about their business facilitating my Dad’s weekly exercise, but that wasn’t the whole picture. This was not just a bike ride, it was a mutual camaraderie. I considered what my father had lost on the day he dropped to the floor of his barber’s salon; a working life of human contact, mental stimulation through everyday shop conversation, sharing, and caring. He lost all that, and was forced into retirement.
The wild roller coaster has levelled out considerably over the last 6 months, and me and Roger’s ever-caring partner put so much of this down to the voluntary support provided by the Scarborough and Ryedale Community Cycling group. We thank you!
OUR ADAPTED BIKES
ICE Recumbent Trike with Electric Assist
New to us this year, we’re excited to offer the ICE Adventure HD recumbent trike with electric assist. The extra boost gives riders the power to explore further with ease.
This really is an ICE cool piece of kit.
Recumbent trikes are ideal for riders who prefer a lower centre of gravity, or have balance issues. A larger and more supportive seat and low trike means that if you want to go a bit faster, it provides an exhilarating sensation of speed – a bit like driving a sports car!
Tandems
A social form of riding, tandem bikes make for a fun riding experience. Riders can chat, laugh, and work together through the forest.
Design elements of the tandem make cycling a breeze. They can be particularly good for visually impaired riders and those who require extra upper body support.
Tandems can have two, three, or even four wheels. We have standard two-wheel tandems, with one rider in front of the other, and also have side-by-side tandems with three or four-wheels, allowing riders to sit beside each other.
With side-by-side tandems, the pedals work independently for each rider – meaning one rider can pick up the slack if the other slows down, or even stops! Arm rests and a harness also make the tandem a comfortable experience.
Hand Crank Trike
Hand-powered cycles are similar to regular trikes, with one important difference - they’re powered by the arms and upper body, rather than the legs! These bikes are ideal for cyclists with limited or no lower body mobility, allowing them to ride independently.
Hand-powered cycles are also a great option for riders looking to improve their upper body strength and make those muscle gains!
Small Child Trike with Support
This tricycle is designed for younger riders who require body support.
It’s constructed from a strong yet lightweight frame, and fitted with an easy to pedal fixed gear. The seat can be adjusted forwards, backwards, and upwards, and handlebars can also be adjusted to ensure the rider is in the optimum position for pedalling. Added supports assist the rider in maintaining a safe and comfortable seating position. It’s child’s play!
Wheelchair Transporter Bike
Our large wheelchair transporter bike does exactly what it says on the tin. Wheelchairs large or small, including electric wheelchairs, can be smoothly loaded onto the large platform at the front of the bike. Strap in, and you’re ready to ride!
Don’t be put off by its large size, the wheelchair transporter is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre. Old Faithful remains a firm favourite with visiting groups, as no-one gets left behind!
Standard Trikes – Large and Small
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, for many people standard trikes are the most comfortable and practical of all cycles. Whether you want to leave the car at home when popping out to the shops, or just want to enjoy a leisurely ride in the countryside, trikes can make cycling a fun experience.
They’re not for the faint-hearted, however - standard trikes require great skill to ride, and may not be suitable for novices. If this is your first trike rodeo, make sure you take one for a test ride before booking.
CONTACT US AT DALBY FOREST CYCLE HUB.
For additional information about bike hire, our models, or to discuss your requirements with a member of our team, contact us today on 01751 460585 or email info@dalbyforestcyclehub.co.uk