Pedal Power

Jo Roach introduces Pedal Power, East London's cycling club for learning disabled people

Pedal Power is a cycling club for learning disabled people which started in 2004. During the four sessions we held in our first year we had about 80 participants. My daughter, aged 30 at the time of writing, who has learning difficulties now lives independently, and I was very concerned at the lack of exercise she was taking and that she was no longer riding a bike, which is something she really enjoys and is very good at. I discussed this with Beverly Jenkins the behaviour specialist at St Leonard's and she suggested that we start a cycling club for adults with learning difficulties to improve their cycling skills or if complete beginners to have an opportunity to learn.

Pedal Power now holds its sessions at Finsbury Park, with the excellent support of sports development officer Caroline Argent. We have paid some very good cycling trainers to work at the sessions and some club members have cycled for the first time, one young man with a severe form of autism rode a two wheel bike for the first time with the biggest grin ever.

Some of our members already cycle regularly and we want to encourage them to try for the special Olympics. Our disabled members are part of the management. At Pedal Power we encourage parents carers and support workers to cycle as this is an inclusive club, not one where we divide into participants and spectators. Often learning disabled people are treated like children but learning to ride a bike is a great equaliser and anyone can shine. We would like to fund raise for specialist bikes. One of our members who is also our secretary and uses a wheelchair has taken a wheelchair proficiency test and longs to have a cycle that "goes really fast".

A chance of adventure is necessary in everyone's life. We have a team of excellent volunteers, some are ex-racing cyclists who can train and challenge our members who want to race. Some of our volunteers haven't ridden bikes for years but have gamely taken to the track and improved their skills and fitness, one is contemplating using her bike to ride to work.

One of our volunteers has also unexpectedly taken up running so that he can accompany the young man who uses a wheelchair to go round the track. As well as all the health benefits and fun of belonging to a cycling club, Pedal Power stands for empowerment - strength and independence.

My daughter Suzie says: "It's fun - I've met some new friends - I like telling people about Pedal Power at my college - it's something my mum and I do together - it's great."

Contact Jo Roach ( 020 8809 7718 / jo4cakes@hotmail.com).