Customer experience Fun2Go duo bike and Twinny tandem - Elkeneen Thús
Five days of cycling, with strong wind, rain and sunshine. Day-care centre Elkeneen Thús took part in the Onbeperkte Elfstedentocht with two Fun2Go duo bikes and a Twinny tandem. Gerry shares what it took to keep going together, help each other and enjoy taking part.
Cycling together at Elkeneen Thús
“I’m Gerry Bleeker from Elkeneen Thús. We are a small-scale day-care centre where personal development, social skills and physical activity play an important role. Going out on the bike together is part of that.
We have two Fun2Go duo bikes and a Twinny tandem from vanRaam. We use them for cycling trips, but also to get to a sports venue or the swimming pool. For us, cycling is not just a fun activity. It is also a way to get somewhere and take part.
In 2024 we saw a report about the Onbeperkte Elfstedentocht (an accessible cycling tour), but we were too late to sign up. In 2025 we made it, and for the first time we stood at the start of this tour, organised by Sport Fryslân."
Five days through Friesland
"From Wednesday to Sunday we cycled through the Dutch province Friesland. We started in Leeuwarden and went via Dokkum, Franeker, Workum and Sloten back to Leeuwarden. On average we covered 45 to 50 kilometres a day.
Alongside our two Fun2Go bikes and the Twinny, we had a handbike and another tandem with us. On the way we experienced all kinds of weather: strong wind, rain and sunshine. The wind in particular sometimes made cycling quite challenging.
But a week like this is much more than covering kilometres. You are outdoors all day, in the middle of nature. You take breaks together, meet other participants and are cheered on by people at the roadside. Those moments are especially valuable."
Helping each other to the finish
"On the second day we rode from Dokkum to Franeker. The weather was bad, with a lot of wind on the long, open stretches. On the way we discovered that the handbike battery had not been charged properly. Halfway through, it was empty.
Giving up was not an option. A roadside assistance vehicle followed us all week. They helped us rig a cable connection between the handbike and a duo bike, so the handbiker could keep cycling with some help from the duo bike.
It was a remarkable moment. When faced with a technical problem, a group thinks in terms of solutions and helps each other to the finish. You experience being part of a team. Pushing through the rain and strong wind, and then overcoming a mechanical problem as well, gives you a euphoric feeling!"
Riding side by side creates connection
"During the tour we also noticed how much it means to ride side by side. On the duo bike there is more interaction than when you sit behind each other on a tandem. For our participants, going out together, meeting other people and spending a whole day outdoors are not always a given. They need help and support. A week like this offers the chance to take part, experience something together and achieve something as a team.
It is not only the big moments that stay with you. Taking a break together and the encouragement along the way make the tour special."
This week helps everyone take part in society.
Elkeneen Thús
Taking part is not yet a given everywhere
"This week made us aware, once again, of the obstacles you meet along the way. An accessible toilet is not available everywhere. Handbikes and duo bikes do not always fit between the bollards on the cycle path. Uneven paving slabs can also be a barrier. These may seem like simple things, but they repeatedly require adjustments from the participant or the support staff. That shows we still have a long way to go on accessibility.
That is why it was so helpful that we could borrow an extra battery from vanRaam. It meant we could cover the kilometres every day without extra charging stops. Extra stops and changes can be difficult for our participants. This support helped the days run as planned."
Achieving something together
"For us, the Onbeperkte Elfstedentocht was a wonderful opportunity to cycle together, get out and be part of a team.
The best thing is that you do it together. You encourage each other, look for solutions when things get tough and help each other onwards. That makes this tour far more than a cycling week for us."
Gerry Bleeker, Elkeneen Thús – Sint Annaparochie, the Netherlands
Bikes: Fun2Go duo bikes and Twinny tandem
Curious about what their adventure looked like? Below, you can see more photos of the Onbeperkte Elfstedentocht.
Pros & cons
- Riding side by side on the Fun2Go creates more interaction
- Cycling together makes outings and transport to sports activities possible
- The bikes help participants take part and achieve something together as a team
- Bollards and uneven surfaces on cycle paths can be obstacles for adapted bikes
Want to share your experience?
Feel free to send us a nice picture of your vanRaam bike along with an explanation.