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Boasting over 100 miles of stunning trails, discover how PEDALL is using vanRaam cycles to open the New Forest National Park to riders of all abilities.
Exploring a National Park by bike is a wonderful way to experience nature. But for people with mobility challenges, enjoying these landscapes isn't always straightforward. In the New Forest, inclusive cycling project PEDALL is striving to change that.
Their growing fleet includes 20 vanRaam cycles that enable people of all abilities to experience the freedom of cycling through one of Britain's most treasured landscapes. From sociable rides with family and friends to opportunities for people returning to cycling after illness or injury, the project demonstrates how adapted cycles can help make natural spaces more accessible.
PEDALL is a New Forest-based inclusive cycling charity that helps people who face barriers to conventional cycling enjoy the outdoors. The organisation welcomes riders with different physical, learning and support needs, offering guided rides through the beautiful surroundings of the New Forest National Park.
Operating from Ashurst and Burley, they provide opportunities for individuals, families, schools, care homes and community groups to enjoy cycling in a safe, supportive environment. The project is all about helping riders build confidence, enjoy physical activity, connect with others and feel the benefits of spending time in nature.
When Operations Manager Gareth Jones joined PEDALL in 2017, the charity had just one vanRaam VeloPlus wheelchair transport bike, which is still in use today. After exploring different options, PEDALL settled on a Fun2Go through Get Cycling in York. Its accessible, sociable design proved a great fit for riders, prompting the charity to expand its fleet to include:
● 8 Fun2Go side-by-side tandems: Allowing two people to cycle alongside each other, making them great for supported and sociable rides.
● 3 OPair wheelchair bikes: Enabling a wheelchair user to enjoy cycling with a companion.
● 4 VeloPlus wheelchair transport bikes: Designed to transport someone while they remain seated in their own wheelchair.
● 5 Easy Rider tricycles: Three standard-sized models, one Compact and one Junior, providing stability and comfort for every body.
All of PEDALL's vanRaam cycles feature electric pedal assistance, an important consideration when navigating the New Forest's gravel tracks and uneven terrain. The charity also operates conventional two-wheel mountain bikes, so they can match equipment to individual riders.
For some, PEDALL offers their first experience of cycling. For others, it provides an opportunity to rediscover an activity they thought was no longer possible. Rides run from Tuesday to Saturday, between March and December, across its two New Forest locations. With up to three rides at each site per day, the team delivers 15 to 20 rides every week from 5km to 10km, depending on the riders.
The variety of cycles available means PEDALL can accommodate people with very different needs, including children with autism, people recovering from strokes, wheelchair users and people who require additional physical or emotional support.
The Fun2Go tandems have become particularly valuable because of their versatility. Sitting side by side allows riders to share the experience, communicate easily and receive support from a companion.
Operations Manager at PEDALL
For Tricia and John, PEDALL has made it possible to enjoy cycling together again. The couple, both in their 70s, had enjoyed tandem cycling for many years. But as Tricia's mobility became more limited, exploring the New Forest by bike became increasingly difficult.
Thanks to PEDALL's side-by-side tandems, they've been able to return to the forest trails they love, enjoying the outdoors, meeting new people and staying active. As Tricia explains: “Riding really gave me a boost, thinking I could go out in the Forest again to see pathways that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.”
Their story shows how inclusive cycling can offer much more than exercise, helping people rediscover their independence, confidence and connection with nature. Read Tricia and John's full story, and more in PEDALL’s rider and volunteer case studies.
PEDALL's routes primarily follow gravel tracks, ranging from compacted surfaces to loose, uneven ground. In wetter months, mud, forestry work and changing weather conditions can all affect the routes, so the team regularly assess conditions and adapt routes when necessary.
Even relatively flat trails can feel demanding when riding a larger adapted cycle. This is where electric pedal assistance makes a significant difference. For PEDALL, the electric assistance across its vanRaam fleet helps riders manage the additional effort required on forest tracks, making routes accessible to people who might otherwise struggle.
seating position and riding characteristics help riders feel more comfortable navigating uneven surfaces when compared with traditional upright tricycles. Having direct access to the forest tracks from both sites is another important advantage, removing the need to transport the cycles before every ride.
Behind PEDALL is a dedicated team of four employees, supported by around 50 volunteers. Volunteers receive ongoing training, with additional sessions during the winter covering ride leading, cycle maintenance, safeguarding and first aid. The team also works with organisations that use its services to better understand the needs of different rider groups.
PEDALL offers different ways for people to take part. Schools, care homes and other organisations can arrange group rides directly by email, while individuals and families can book public sessions through the PEDALL website. This combination allows the charity to support organised groups while making its activities available to the wider community.
Maintenance is an essential part of keeping the programme running. PEDALL reports that its vanRaam cycles have generally performed well despite the intensive use. Punctures and brake pad replacement are among the most common maintenance requirements, while more extensive servicing takes place during the winter.
The Fun2Go tandems, which are the charity's most frequently used cycles, receive particularly thorough attention, including replacement of bearings and other worn components.
Storage is another important consideration for organisations like PEDALL. Larger cycles, particularly tandems and wheelchair transport models, require significantly more space than conventional bicycles.
PEDALL makes careful use of its limited storage facilities and uses dedicated charging cabinets to manage its electric-assist batteries. To ensure cycles remain available throughout the day, the team keeps spare batteries charging while others are in use. This approach helps the charity manage multiple daily rides without running short of battery power.
For National Parks, Forestry England sites and other outdoor organisations considering adapted cycling, PEDALL's experience offers some valuable insights.
Offer a variety of bikes. We've seen how having a diverse fleet can help accommodate riders with different abilities, preferences and levels of independence.
Try before you invest. PEDALL recommends visiting an established inclusive cycling project, speaking to the team and trying the bikes firsthand to find the right fit for your visitors and environment.
Get the practicalities right. Suitable storage, regular maintenance, trained staff or volunteers and accessible routes are all important considerations when setting up a successful programme.
PEDALL's experience in the New Forest shows how adapted cycling can help more people enjoy the outdoors, stay active and share the freedom of cycling. Explore the range of vanRaam adapted cycles or contact our team to discuss which models could work for your location.
To find out more about PEDALL or book a ride in the New Forest, visit www.pedall.org.uk.
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