Wheelchair Tandem Hire – Where To Rent A Wheelchair Bike In The UK
August 9, 2012 in Accessible Days Out, Adaptive Cycling, UK
Wheelchair Bicycle Hire in the UK
After 2 Wheelchair Tandem Rides In Devon, I was hooked! So, I researched other suitable (preferably near a car free cycle path) places in the UK to hire a wheelchair bike. Here’s what I found so far:
Cornwall – Wheelchair Tandem on The Camel Trail
The Camel Trail is an 18 mile mainly traffic free route on an old railway line. Padstow Cycle Hire website offers a Duet Wheelchair Tandem for £20 per day or £9 evening ride.
Cumbria – Veloplus Wheelchair Bike near Carlisle
At Watchtree Wheelers Cycle Centre near Wiggonby, Carlisle they have a fun range of specialist bikes including a Veloplus . They are based at Watchtree Nature Reserve in Cumbria.
Derbyshire – Range of Adapted Cycles in The Peak District
The Peak District has a network of car free cycle paths like the High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail which are both suitable for all ability cycling if you miss out the section with the incline. Wheelchair Bikes and other adapted cycle hire are available at Parsley Hay.
Devon- Wheelchair Tandem On The Tarka Trail
Braunton to Meeth, 32 miles of car free cycling. Bideford Bicycle Hire have a Duet Wheelchair Tandem available for hire at £17 per day. Bike Trail at Fremington Quay did have a wheelchair tandem but apparently they sold it to a residential home. They have trampers now.
For detailed info see Wheelchair Tandem & Travel in Devon.
Devon – Disability Bikes at Haldon Forest Park
The Discovery Trail is 2.5km (1.5miles). There is a fleet of disability bikes available at Forest Cycle Hire including 2 Duet Wheelchair Tandems.
Find out more at Wheelchair Tandem & Travel in Devon.
Dorset – Wheelchair Bike in Moors Valley
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest. On the cycle hire website it says they have a wheelchair bike and that its free!
East Sussex – Wheelchair Bike in Brighton and Hove
Brighton Wheelchair Bike is a Duet Wheelchair Tandem and will soon be available for hire. The Brighton and Hove seafront cycle path is nearby.
Gloucestershire – Forest of Dean
Pedalabikeaway has adapted cycles including wheelchair bikes which you can ride on the Family Cycle Trail in the Forest of Dean.
Hampshire – All Ability Cycles in the New Forest
Cycle Experience have a good selection of all ability cycles at their New Forest cycle hire shop in Brockenhurst.
Kent – Adapted Cycles at Bedgebury
According to the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain you can hire adapted cycles at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest. Although Louise added in the comments below “ lovely forest but very hilly for a Duet or low gear bikes. We struggled a lot on the ‘easy’ trail.”
London – Special Needs Bikes in Dulwich Park
London Recumbents have the largest range of special needs bikes in England. Including the Duet wheelchair Tandem.
Somerset – All Ability Cycling on The Strawberry Line
Cheddar Cycle Store is a hire shop near The Strawberry Line. They have a good selection of all ability cycles including a Draisin Plus wheelchair tandem according to their website.
Surrey – Adapted Cycles at Alice Holt Forest
Quench Cycles at Alice Holt Forest has a wide range of adapted cycles.
Wrexham – Wheelchair Tandem Bike at Alyn Waters
Pedal Power in Wrexham has 26 specialist bikes including a Duet Wheelchair Bike by the look of the photos on their website. They also have a special bike track which runs through an attractive part of Alyn Waters Country Park. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 am – 5 pm . Prices range from £3.00 to £6.00 per session
Other Places in the UK – Center Parcs
Duet Wheelchair Tandems are also available to hire at Center Parcs.
Do you know of any other places where it’s possible to hire a wheelchair bicycle? And cycle on a car free path in the UK or abroad? If so, please let me know in the comments.
[...] recommend it. So much so, that I compiled a list of bicycle hire shops in the UK where you can rent a Wheelchair Tandem near a car free cycle [...]
We have done a number of trails on a Duet: High Peak in Derbyshire (Duet Hire and other ranges),
Prestatyn, North Wales sea front (Some years ago but hired a Duet – but be careful as the prom goes into steps without warning/signposts but there is a flat ramp at the side). The mobility shop /cycle centre offered a hoist to get in and out of the bike if needed.
We have used our Duet for the Tudor Trail (Tonbridge to Hever Castle, Kent) (there is a VERY steep hill after you go through the country park and lake). I have a video I took screaming all the way down!
The Hengoed Viaduct to Taff Bargoed which is one of Sustrans’ Routes2ride was ok. That has lots of ‘gates’ though so you have to disconnect a lot and push around the barriers separately – did about 8 miles, flat but not ideal because of the barriers.
Several cycle routes in Kent off road – I would say though that Bedgebury in Kent though is not very good – lovely forest but very hilly for a Duet or low gear bikes. We struggled a lot on the ‘easy’ trail.
Reculver coastal trail in Kent is also flat but not done that one.
Kent Hospice near Pembury has a Duet you can hire – we hired one for a few weeks before getting our own which we are now selling.
Hi Louise, Thank you so much for the helpful info, much appreciated! Having just bought a Duet, it’s great to receive some insider tips and to know which trails work for this type of bike. Also good to hear there are more Duets out there than I thought! Cheers, Marina
http://www.pedalpower.org
Cardiff !! Bike hire for the parks and Taff trail
oops! sorry Marina its not pedalpower.org but its definately pedal power full range of adapted bikes
Brilliant Sarah! I shall seek them out
Hi Marina
CTC, the national cycling charity is compiling an Inclusive Cycling Directory it’s on the map on CTC’s Inclusive Cycling page.
I’m working on this at the moment and wondered if it was worth comparing notes.
Nigel
Hi Nigel, yes, good idea! I’ve emailed you. Marina