"Traditionally, boys were the only ones allowed to ride bikes," Ms Kamau said.

"They used to ride these big bikes and I was very tiny, and so I never really tried to ride one."

After coming to Australia in 2007 for university before moving to Canberra for work, Ms Kamau came to the realisation she was the only one in her family not able to cycle.

A Canberra-based program which began in 2017 teaches refugee and migrant women how to ride bikes. That program helped to rectify the situation for Ms Kamau.

Ms Kamau was one of 10 women in the Girls on Bikes program in the first year, and is now passing on her skills to new participants as part of this year's program.

Run out of Kaleen over a five-week period, this year's program has seen a surge in participants with 24 women taking part.

The program's founder and director Sophie Fisher said Girls on Bikes was about fostering independence.

"The plan was to connect migrant and refugee women in the community to learn a new skill set and meet new people," Ms Fisher said.

"When I found out that a lot of new arrivals in Canberra never had a bike or learnt how to ride, I thought we had to do something about it."

This year's program has taught people from Ethiopia, Somalia, Indonesia, South Africa, Iran and Vietnam, ranging from their early 20s to some in their 60s.

"We take it at their own pace, it makes it comfortable for them and it also reinforces a supportive environment where people feel safe to put themselves out there and give it their best go," Ms Fisher said.

The program is helped run through cycling organisation Pedal Power ACT and grants from the territory government.

The lessons start with participants gliding on the bikes and getting used to the feel, before starting to pedal and getting road sense.

Ms Kamau said there's a sense of camaraderie between the new riders, especially when they pedal on their own for the first time.

"You can't describe the feeling. When you start pedalling, everyone celebrates," she said.

Ms Fisher said it's good to see the cycle of learning continue, with last year's participants helping the new recruits.

"For many of us, we learn to ride a bike when we're younger, so it can be difficult to teach others because cycling seems so intuitive," Ms Fisher said.

"It's great to see people come back and support the new women, because they've been down that path themselves. They're the best coaches."

Girls on Bikes has proved to be such a success that a long waiting list is in place for the next program, which will begin in 2019.

The cycling doesn't stop at the end of the five weeks, with every participant receiving a free bike and helmet after the course.

Ms Kamau said since learning how to ride a bike, it has given her more freedom.

"We rode a lot together as a family over summer, just around the lake or around the neighbourhood," she said.

"I'm just enjoying the fact that I can ride with my kids, and also keep up."

To donate a bike, contact girlsonbikesact@gmail.com