Bill's Story
“Cycling Gave Me Freedom, Fitness & Independence“
Limitations
For a long time, Bill struggled to find a way to get active. He was never a “gym person,” and local options were limited. Living with motor dyspraxia, Bill was apprehensive about his abilities, and “professionals” had spent years telling his mother that he would never achieve the kind of physical independence he dreamed of!
Belief
The turning point came when a social worker suggested Cyclopark. Despite his initial nerves, Bill was met by David from the volunteer-led Cyclo4All programme, who truly listened to his needs and understood his limitations. Starting on a two-seater, side-by-side Fun-2-Go adaptive bike, Bill slowly built his strength until he moved onto a three-wheeled trike!
Thriving
Today, Bill has defied the odds and moved from three wheels to a regular two wheeled bike. He is now doing laps around the track and has even signed up for a 15 mile charity ride in May. The confidence he gained has spilled into all aspects of his life and has inspired his entire family to join our FREE Movement Not Meds 4 All programme!
Watch The Video
Read The Story
Discover Bill’s full perspective on his experience at Cyclopark and how he gained the freedom he once thought was impossible.
Read The Story
Discover Bill’s full perspective on his experience at Cyclopark and how he gained the freedom he once thought was impossible.
Support The Stories
Bill’s journey didn’t happen by accident. It happened because a team of dedicated volunteers showed up, because specialist adaptive bikes were available, and because a charity chose to invest in people others had written off.
Cyclopark Charity delivers over 100 days of adaptive cycling every year — with one of the largest fleets of adaptive bikes in the Southeast. None of this is funded by the government. Less than 10% of everything we do receives public funding. The rest, we generate ourselves.
Every session Bill attended, every volunteer hour, every piece of specialist equipment — made possible by people who believe that independence shouldn’t be a privilege.
The Cyclopark Charity Effect
Our targeted programmes and expert support create a welcoming environment for people to change their lives, just like Bill!
Cyclo4All
This volunteer led programme provides access to specialised cycling equipment and suppport, to helping adults with various physical and learning disabilities to find their path to movement.
At Cyclopark we have one of the largest adaptive bike fleets in the country. Our bikes range from side-by-side two seater tricycles to recumbents, to electric trikes, hand cycles and wheelchair cargo bikes.
We work with each individual’s ability to pair them and their carer to the correct adaptive cycle. Our aim is to get everyone moving with these amazing bikes.
For Bill, the bond formed with the team — including David, Josh, Martin, and Kevin — was what made the difference, providing him with the gear and the faith he needed to succeed. Find out more about Cyclo4All
Community Centre
Bill’s transformation would not have been possible without him discovering and taking part in our Cyclo4All programme At Cyclopark Charity.
Since then, Bill has gone from strength to strength with his cycling skills and confidence, but has also branched out to taking part in our Spin4All sessions with his family through our FREE Movement Not Meds 4 All programme.
We firmly believe that access to facilities and support should not be restricted for anyone.
Impact On Bill
For Bill, finding our venue and benefiting from the specialised support we offer has been life-changing From being someone who couldn’t balance to a cyclist planning solo rides, Bill has regained his independence Not only has he improved his physical health, but he has also gained the confidence to go out on his own—something his family once thought might never be possible.
Now, Bill and his family are regular faces at our FREE Spin 4 All classes, moving forward together toward a healthier future!
Bill's Story
In His Words
I needed to get moving and I’ve never been a gym person. My mum and I had been looking for something to get me moving, but locally, the options were quite limited. Unless you’re a fan of the swimming pool — which isn’t for everyone, myself included — there isn’t much support.
We were chatting to my social worker, who mentioned the Cyclopark. We phoned up and asked what we could do, the lady on reception was so friendly and so helpful and explained all the options. She explained the volunteer-led Cyclo4All programme, now I was apprehensive because I didn’t think it was something I could do, but mum encouraged me and we gave it a go.
When we arrived, we weren’t sure what to expect, but David came out to meet us. He really listened to my needs. Having motor dyspraxia, it was vital that he understood my limitations and worked with me. He wasn’t fazed at all and clearly knew his stuff.
David started us on a two-seater, side by side Fun-2-Go Adaptive bike. In the beginning, I’ll admit, Mum was doing all the heavy lifting. She wasn’t exactly thrilled about it, and she certainly let me know it! It was hard work, but slowly, my strength started to show up.
I eventually moved onto a three-wheeled trike; that was the first time I felt true freedom. Having that independence to move on my own was something I’d never really had before. Mum, bless her, didn’t think I’d ever get to that point, let alone what came next!
Learning to ride a two wheeled bike as an adult is a different beast. When you’re a kid, you fall off, bounce, and get back up. But as an adult, you’re very aware of how much the tarmac hurts!
That fear was the hardest bit to shake, but David and the guys from Cyclo4all were brilliant. They didn’t push too hard, but they didn’t let me give up either.
After a short stint on the trike, they moved me onto a regular, bicycle. They had more faith in me than I did. Then, one day, it just… clicked. And I was out on two wheels!
I’m now doing laps around the track, building up stamina with help from Josh riding alongside me. It’s a bit of a shock to the system, especially since Mum had spent years being told by “professionals” that I’d never achieve something like this.
Seeing her sat there during this interview, looking so proud, made all those shaky starts worth it!
The bond I’ve formed with the lads there is what made the difference. Martin even gave me a bike and Kevin gave me a helmet of my own so I could start getting out by myself — my next goal is building up the confidence to get out on the roads.
I do have some Big News, too — Martin and Josh have encouraged me to sign up for a local charity ride around the local area!
It’s a whopping 15 miles around Gravesham, in May. I didn’t think for a second I could do it, but Josh was convinced, and that’s the only reason I agreed. It’s a massive jump, but I’m really looking forward to it and enjoying the training ahead of me
The confidence I’ve gained has spilled over into other aspects of my life, I’m more confident to go out on my own, again, something mum thought I wouldn’t be able to do.
I go to a group at Spadework, and I’ve even started showing off my cycling skills in front of my friends there, something the old me would have never even thought of doing!
Quite importantly, I’m fitter and healthier and it’s inspired my whole family to get involved in moving more with Cyclopark Charity!
We’ve now moved on to the Movement Not Meds 4 All programme; I attend Spin 4 All classes with my Mum, Dad, and sister. There’s a bit of healthy competition involved, though I try to go easy on Mum — she hadn’t been on a bike for 40 years before we started this!
I’ve gone from someone who couldn’t balance to someone planning solo rides. It’s been a long road, but I’m really enjoying the fitness and, more importantly, the freedom!