Gateway Wheelers, a cycling group based in Houghton-le-Spring, has been named Limitless Club of the Year, supported by Bikmo, at the 2026 British Cycling Awards, presented by Lloyds. The category honours clubs that actively support disabled people.
The group, now in its 30th year, supports around 200 unique users to get involved with cycling. It works with a variety of people, including stroke survivors, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) schools and groups, and also supports organisations and councils with making active travel more accessible.
Recognition after rebuilding the club
Sara Bateman has been the Lead Project Officer at Gateway Wheelers since 2020, rebuilding the club after COVID wiped out much of its support structures. Bateman, along with the group's trustees and volunteers, will receive the award in Manchester on 14 November 2026.
Bateman said: "I think with me, it's recognition of all the hard work that I've put in to get the club going again and to offer more."
"The club itself, because we're so niche, sometimes you think 'are we doing it right, does anybody know what we actually offer'? Winning this award is recognition that we are doing something right and people are paying attention to what we're doing."
Wide range of accessible cycles
The group offers bike maintenance for those with their own accessible cycles, as well as nurturing those with a passion for mechanics. Bateman and Gateway Wheelers have supported the charity Rise North East to deliver a Mario Kart experience for 60 SEND students.
They have over 50 accessible cycles on offer, from two-wheelers to trikes and go-karts, and run regular Everybody Cycles sessions.
Bateman added: "We don't promise miracles, so we may get it slightly wrong the first one or two times because we've got such a selection of cycles.
"We may get the wrong one, but then we'll change it. We've never had a case where we haven't gotten someone cycling. We don't see people with disabilities here. Everyone is good at something, and that's where we can pick up what are you good at?"
Transforming confidence
Bateman noted that some members have become volunteers and that people's confidence and belief in themselves have transformed. She mentioned one person who said he would never cycle, but after getting him on a hand bike, his confidence completely changed. Now he volunteers with the group.
British Cycling's Limitless programme has inspired over 7000 disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to experience the joy of cycling, with the programme growing every day.
