Terrific Tandeming
Did you know the Tandem enables visually impaired people to cycle? A tandem lets two riders of different abilities cycle together without anyone getting left behind. Learn more about it, in this short story written by our volunteer Amy.
“Tandem cycling is a great way to give people with visual impairments the opportunity to cycle. A tandem bike ride involves the pilot who sits at the front of the bike and steers it and the stoker (VI person) sits at the back of the bike helping with the peddling. The pilot should communicate with the VI person letting them know what they are passing on the journey and alerting the person to any changes in the surface they are coming up to for instance going uphill. This type of cycling requires teamwork and is a great way to build up fitness as this can be challenging for visually impaired people (Info from VisionaWare).
Personally, I have not tried tandem cycling before. I think it is due to the assumption that I thought it would be done slowly and I am a thrill seeker so love fast things. However, one of my friends loves it! She is always telling me how much she enjoys it. She had this to say about it.
“I’d been track cycling for 2 and a half years. It was very nice to be able to take part in this activity like everyone else as I am blind and exercise is difficult. I was able to enjoy cycling, and it was exhilarating. Then, I also tried cycling in the park in a tandem. Again, this was fantastic, as I could be with someone and cycle while enjoying the fresh air, the birds ETC. I hope to cycle more in the future.”
Who knows maybe I will need to give it a go one-day let’s hope my pilot loves speed as much as I do.”
If you are wondering what it must be like to ride a Tandem, let us know. Bike for Good has a Tandem available through our bike shops. — Click here to get our contact details.