Mary’s story
I was already a keen road cyclist when a friend showed me a YouTube video of some tandems in a velodrome, with Para athletes racing professionally. Although impressed, I thought no more of it until I saw a documentary called “Chasing the Sun”, directed by Michael Clifford, which included a section about ordinary people using tandems to enable visually impaired people to cycle. Intrigued, I took to Facebook to find out if anything similar was happening locally. After learning that the rider at the front was the pilot, and the rider at the back was the stoker, I decided on an impulse to post a plea to be taught to pilot a tandem.
Several kind people responded straight away, and I decided to say yes to every offer of help. I soon found myself in Caversham joining a monthly tandem ride, organised by local bike enthusiast, John McKnight. Another pilot overslept that day, so I was unexpectedly riding a tandem for the first time over a 50-kilometre route. Who should be my stoker but Becki, a very experienced cyclist and without doubt the best teacher I’ve had. Reading’s many traffic lights gave me plenty of practice in starting, stopping, and balancing and Becki coped admirably with a fair few wobbles that day. We chatted non-stop for the whole ride and I couldn’t wait to cycle with her again.
We began cycling with the Caversham group each month. I mentioned that I was considering buying a tandem and Becki had a brainwave: she would lend me her tandem, which she wasn’t currently able to ride, as she didn’t have a local pilot. She and her partner Mark brought it down to Winchester, where it lived in my garage for several months and I fell in love.
Whenever we had the chance, Becki and I would cycle the beautiful countryside routes around Winchester and we took part in the Mass Ride organised by Cycle Winchester. Additionally, I started using the tandem to take my daughter to school, to dance classes, and to the shops. Being in control of the gears and the brakes, I was no longer so afraid for my daughter in the unpredictable traffic and narrow roads of Winchester. I could chat to her and I couldn’t lose her. As somebody who doesn’t drive, access to the tandem has been transformative.
Before long, Becki and I had ridden a sportive together, cycling 70km in the Tour of the Candovers with the Hampshire Tour Series, one of only two tandems taking part. Next, we entered a ten-mile time trial organised by the Andover Wheelers, at Thruxton racetrack, narrowly beating the other tandem competing.
But the jewel in the crown of our cycling together has to be tackling a velodrome. Track bikes have fixed gears, so you have to keep moving around the steeply banked track, or you’ll fall over. Ever calm, Becki encouraged me as always, and between us we managed it. Cycling at Herne Hill outdoor velodrome, and at Derby indoor velodrome have been fantastic experiences. They have really helped me understand how teamwork fosters courage which enables you to tackle more than you ever thought possible.
Cycling is my main method of transport because I don’t own a car. Living in Winchester, anything I want to reach locally is usually no more than 2-3km away, and with the right bike, a surprising range of objects can be transported.
Aside from that practical aspect, cycling keeps me fit, has drastically reduced my back pain and my stress levels… and to me it represents freedom and friendship. It can feel like the entire infrastructure of our beautiful but tiny city is geared up for cars but I like to imagine a cleaner, quieter, less congested city where people feel safe to cycle.
If you see Becki and me on the tandem, be sure to wave and say hello.
Becki’s story
Cycling has always been a major part of my life. When I was growing up my parents didn’t own a car. We lived in a tiny hamlet two miles from the nearest village and cycling was my route to freedom! When I started to lose my eyesight in my mid-20s I realised that I needed help. My partner and I invested in a tandem and went on to do the London to Brighton charity ride. A couple of years ago I was introduced to Caversham Visually Impaired Pedallers (CVIP). By then I had over 30 years of tandem cycling experience and as CVIP attracted new pilots and stokers I was often the guinea pig for new pilots. Mary was a natural and by the end of her first ride had mastered the tandem and we were cruising along like an experienced team.
Cycling is one of the few teams sports I can still do, and yes… riding a tandem is a team effort! It is amazing that I can experience the exhilaration of whizzing along even though I cannot see. Like Mary, it helps to keep me fit, provides social interaction and a sense of achievement. I am very proud of all the visually impaired cyclists I meet through tandem cycling and impressed by the kindness of the many volunteer pilots. On our busy roads the pilots take on a huge amount of responsibility for their stoker and themselves on a machine that is not as manoeuvrable as a solo cycle. More cycle paths and consideration from drivers would help to reduce some of the risk.
