Cycling

[Walking, Walking with aid, Standing, Standing with support, Sitting, Transferring, Sitting with support]

Cycling is a great way to get your heart rate up and is also a good strengthening activity for your legs or arms and core muscles. 

If you can get out on your bike and cycle on a nearby trail or safely around your neighbourhood then get that in your plan [remember to wear a helmet]. 

If balancing on a two-wheeled bike is not the right thing for you but you really want to get out and about, then there are many different options for cycling.  There are a large range of specially adapted bikes available for hire - for example, ‘Pedal Power’ based in Cardiff. 

For hire locations in Wales, take a look at https://www.bikeabilitywales.org.uk

For locations in England, take a look at https://cycling.org.uk/locations

Hase trikes, ice trikes, wheelchair trikes, recumbent and hand bikes make cycling possible for pretty much anyone – and give access to almost every terrain.  It’s also a good way to do something active with friends and family.  Take a look at the types of bikes available for hire here https://www.cardiffpedalpower.org/

If you are more of a home bird and balance is the main thing stopping you cycling then think about trying a static bike, at home if you have one, at your local leisure centre or gym. 

For anyone who doesn’t fancy any of that so far, what about using static pedals in sitting, or from a wheelchair, or better still get along to a leisure centre of local therapy department which has an active assisted bike.  These pieces of equipment can be accessed straight from your chair and you can change the level of resistance in the pedals to make it easier or harder.