Cycling fun for everyone
Award-winning cycle hire at a 95-acre country park near Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.
Cycle sessions are run by the charity Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust at Milton Country Park.
If you want to cycle with You Can Bike Too, find more information and book at Milton Country Park.
You Can Bike Too began in 2011 with one young man’s dream to cycle with his family and friends. Aaron wanted to experience the wind on his face as he pedalled to freedom and independence, but his balance problems and learning disability made it really hard to learn to ride a two-wheeled bike. Ruth, a keen Cambridge cyclist, worked with Aaron to make it happen. And they did!
Ruth and Aaron discovered that there were many other people who, for various reasons, found it very challenging to learn to ride a two-wheeled bike. After much hard work, over seventy people turned up in the pouring rain at a taster event with a range of bikes to try.
Thousands of cyclists, over twenty bikes, and the sweat and tears of many volunteers later and You Can Bike Too continues to get people pedalling for the first time. Bikes are available to hire with support from specialist instructors at Milton Country Park.
You Can Bike Too is unique.
You Can Bike Too proves that we can all make a positive difference to our communities, whatever our abilities or disabilities.
By working in this way, You Can Bike Too has won local and national awards, met members of the Royal Family, carried the Paralympic Flame, and – most importantly – got thousands of people pedalling on our bikes.
The team are now looking to share their approach and way of working with others and share the message of seeing potential instead of barriers.
We have already been invited to speak at a range of different events, inspiring thousands of people to see potential instead of barriers when creating change in the community. Hear the full story for yourself and learn more about the power of cycling to change lives by inviting our team to speak at your event.
The Team
Angela Sanford is an Ambassador for Change at the You Can Hub, where she tells the You Can Bike Too story alongside her own experience of learning to ride a bike. Angela now cycles every week on a two wheeled bike.
Angela believes that, if you want to, you can do anything. She learned to cycle independently in spite of a visual impairment and a learning difficulty, while also being instrumental in the development of You Can Bike Too. She has been recognised nationally for her achievements by winning a ‘Point of Light’ award from the Prime Minister for her inspirational volunteering. She is an ambassador for the health benefits of cycling outdoors, and a trailblazer: An example of what can be achieved with determination.
Angela has now spoken to over a thousand people at events all over the UK. She inspires ‘doing,’ not just talking, with her signature catchphrase: “Action!”
Angela presents with her sidekick, the original founder of You Can Bike Too, Ruth Brannan. Ruth is a keen leisure cyclist who co-founded the project and was the first project co-ordinator. Ruth still regularly volunteers at cycle sessions and helps with social media.
Together they form a formidable speaking team with support from The You Can Hub, a small non-profit based in Cambridge that empowers people to make a change in their life and have fun doing it.
If you would like to invite the team to speak, please submit a speaker enquiry via The You Can Hub.
“It was riveting to see a mainly academic audience engaging with a speaker with a learning disability. Angela’s enthusiasm for her topic, her general excitement for life and the exciting projects she is involved in all helped to reinforce our powerful message of exercise as a treatment for mental health problems and chronic illnesses.”
Shelley Surtees, organiser, Moving Mountains Conference
“You Can Bike Too brought their own perspective to this conference with a very powerful message – the message that we can all make changes to our communities whatever our disability.”
Feedback from Moving Mountains Conference
“Angela presents with real personality and passion. The presentations that Angela and Ruth deliver are a great double act, really thought-provoking and very inspiring. The presentation really showcases what people with learning disabilities can achieve given the right support and encouragement. Angela is a real showstopper!”
Rebecca Gilbertson, Disability Sport Co-ordinator, English Federation for Disability Sport
If you would like to invite the team to speak, please submit a speaker enquiry via The You Can Hub.