Having suffered a brain haemorrhage when he was just nine-years-old, Tomas Evans has had a life filled of hospital visits and feeling profoundly unwell, but cycling has always been his form of escape.
So, when he set up inclusive cycling club Active Wheels in Merthyr Tydfil in 2018, it was Tomas’ way of helping others to experience his love of cycling too.
Tomas’ ambitions have been well supported by the National Lottery, with the club receiving two separate grants during the last couple of years from Sport Wales’ Be Active Wales Fund, which uses Lottery funding.
The grants – which total £16,842 – have helped to pay for e-bikes, regular bikes, a storage container and various items of safety equipment including lights, helmets, locks and hi vis vests.
Tomas said: "Active Wheels caters for riders who feel that existing mainstream clubs are a little bit too much for them to join in with."
Led by volunteers, Active Wheels meet for a short ride on Saturdays, a longer scenic ride on Sundays, and they also offer one-to-one track sessions at Aber Taf High School.
All of the club’s rides and sessions are tailored to different abilities, and fun is always the priority, as Tomas adds: "There is a strong focus on the social element and we always schedule stops at cafes along the routes! All of our rides are determined by the ability of the group and we ride together – it’s all about making people feel confident and comfortable.”
