Edinburgh All Ability Bike Centre

I had great pleasure in attending the Edinburgh All Ability Bike Centre at Saughton park in Edinburgh. The day took place at the centre’s base in Saughton Park, which offers people the chance to get cycling whatever their ability or background, using a range of adaptive bikes as well as standard solo bikes and tandems.

While there I enjoyed sampling the recumbent handcycle, which is very low but allows people with a higher, T6 in my case, injury to handcycle at a much more intense level.

The next cycle was a side-by-side where an able bodied co-cyclist does all the work and I was able to sit alongside and enjoy the view! Ha! ha!

The benefit of this cycle, apart from the obvious free ride was the movement of my legs which are velcro’d into the pedals and the movement allows additional blood flow which helps with bone density. The sit up position also meant I could enjoy the view as an ablebodied cyclist would, which adds to both physical benefits and mental benefits.

The huge array of different cycles means that there shouldn’t be any ability/disability which isn’t catered for. Even those who cannot transfer from their wheelchair can be accommodated in a cycle with a platform which accepts the chair which can then be clamped into position in front of the cyclist.

In addition, the handcycling project has two types of handcycles and has just taken delivery of a Triride wheelchair clip-on handcycle with power assist. The project is also due to take delivery of a pair of youth handcycles as well as a tetra equipped cycle and a special seat that can be raised and lowered to assist with transfers.

The park is large enough to allow a meaningful amount of exercise and can be experienced without pushing first timers beyond their own limits.

Drop-in sessions for all bikes are currently on Monday from 1-5pm and Friday from 1-6pm, with handcycle only sessions on Thursdays from 11am-4pm.

Contact Ken Talbot for further information on:

Ken Talbot Development Officer Edinburgh All-ability Bike Centre Handcycling Project Cycling UK

Mobile: 07788 646198 ken.talbot@cyclinguk.org www.cyclinguk.org Facebook: Enhance Edinburgh-abc