June | 2011 | The Blind Buzz

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 18, 2011

For more links to blind tandem cycling, please see my page,
Vince’s Parallax: Tandem Cycling and Blind People

Apologies for leaving it so long without putting one of these together – that’s why this entry is so enormous. Some entries are a bit out-of-date by now, but I thought it worthwhile to include them nonetheless.

3 Ways To Compete In Tandem Cycling For The Blind | LIVESTRONG.COM

A bicycle built for two | Sheila Hanlon – some UK tandem history, including a photo of a blind piano tuner with, in front (shock! horror!) a woman in the front seat.

[Video] Adaptive Sports Iowa Promo

Adopt a blind cyclist – scheme to get support from Australian companies to find blind employees and raise funds to enable them to cycle.

Aileen McGlynn: A naturally blonde winner – Scotsman.com Living – Aileen McGlynn has albinism and is registered blind, but would rather talk about her success on the cycle track.

Amazing Bikes: Recumbents – Velo Vision – All about recumbent bikes, from What is that? to Which one do I want?

An answer for blind cyclists | “Long/ Live/ the…” an interweblog by Marc Hummel {Philadelphia, PA} – a note about
Bicycling Blind, which connects sighted captains with blind stokers. USA based.

An Dubhlan (The Great Challenge) – Tahir was blind and overweight. but he ended up tackling a mountainous tandem ride from Trondheim to Oslo, Norway. In Scottish Gaelic and English (video no longer available).

Apparently, it’s open season on disabled tandem riders downstate – General Carlessness – some ugly aspects of driver/cyclist antagonism, misbehaving cyclists and terrible drivers causing serious accidents.

Arizona blind stoker seeking pilot

Baildon Club is the wheel deal for a fun time (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus) – Bradford Wheels For All is a cycling club for children with disabilities.

Bent- Up Cycles – Los Angeles recumbent bike and trike service and sale
See also the related blog
Bent Up Cycles

Bent Up Cycles RSS Feed

Bicycling Blind on Facebook – The U.S. Blind Tandem Cycling Connection is a resource to connect blind and visually impaired cyclists with tandem pilots across the USA so they can arrange rides for training, events, or races.

Bicycling Blind Web Site

Blind amateur triathlete seeks training partners in Hornchurch – Romford Recorder – Essex, UK.

Blind Ambition – Pacing Petaluma – Petaluma 360 – Petaluma, CA – Rocky is visually impaired through retinitis pigmentosa, and aged 57, but takes part in triathlons.

Blind athlete rides Cape Epic – Hein Wagner completed Stage 2 in this year’s Absa Cape EpicIt is the first time in its history that a blind rider participated in this extreme endurance event. You may also like to read
BLIND ABSA CAPE EPIC PARTICIPANT TO TEST HIS ENDURANCE AT CAPE ARGUS PICK ‘N PAY CYCLE TOUR THIS WEEKEND – Riverlodge Backpackers

Blind bicyclists bring muscle for tandem bike ride – Elmhurst, IL – Elmhurst Press – Elmhurst, IL – Ron Burzese waxes lyrical about the enjoyment of riding tandem.

Blind Bike Race and Trike Raffle set for Feb. 23, 2011 for Lighthouse, Breward, FL – a disabled couple, who run The Trike Shop, Ft. Lauderdale, help to launch the local Lighthouse Tandem Riding Program.

Blind Courage brothers look back at their epic fundraising challenge – two brothers, both legally blind, trekked through 5 Australian states on tandem bikes to raise funds.

Blind cyclist Penny Leclair shares her love for meeting people through cycling. – TUBULOCITY

Blind cyclist seeks front rider for tandem triathlon training – Chris Blackabee lives in the London Borough of Havering, and is seeking a training partner.

[Video] Blind Cyclist Keeps Competitive Edge – Karissa Whitsell is a world-class athlete who rides a tandem bike all around the world.

Blind cyclist’s tandem challenge | Newark Advertiser – Keith Lauder, 47, of Collingham, Notts., UK, has completed many challenges, recently planned a tandem ride from Newcastle to Edinburgh to raise funds for organisations that have helped him.

Blind group launches new fitness sessions (From Warrington Guardian) – sociable tandem sessions are being offered by Warrington and Widnes Society for the Blind in Latchford on Fridays.

Blind Guy Biking Videos on YouTube – Richard Holloway’s extensive bike ventures.

Blind guy in the UK – this was actually myself trying to get some local contacts.

Blind Huddersfield Town fan Christopher Scrivener takes on 260 mile tandem trip to Brighton – Huddersfield Examiner to benefit the football club’s charity, "Keep It Up" For the end of this story, please read
A bit of blind faith rounded off epic Brighton bike ride | Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Blind Independence Greenwich (BIG), for all blind and partially sighted people in the London Borough of Greenwich and adjoining areas, plans to start a tandem project this summer (2011).

Blind Ride held in Mexico – People’s Daily Online

Blind rider seeks a guide | Stuff.co.nz – Rob Matthews, who has world records for running, now turns his talents to cycling.

Blind riders take to the roads on bicycles built for two Community – Ulster Star – Lisburn, Northern Ireland, played host to a tandem riding event, "It Takes Two to Tandem".

Blind Seeing Blind | The Blind Viewpoint – Erik Weihenmayer – Matt Gilman has lost most of his vision through diabetes, but competes as a solo cyclist. Visit his
Blind Bike Trials Rider site.

Blind Stoker Ride 5/21/2011 « Chicago Area Tandem Society Blog

Blind Tandem – Photo: Mario Roma and blind partner Adauto Belli during the Prologue of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai Forest outside Cape Town, South Africa on the 27 March 2011

Blind, visually impaired enjoy bicycle outing – The Daily News – Greenville, Belding & Montcalm County, MI – 20 visually impaired people enjoyed tandem event.

Blind_cycling Yahoo! Group – particularly for visually impaired people interested in tandem riding.

blind_mountain_biking_intro – "my first attempt at riding a bicycle of any sort (other than a tandem) in 22 years. this was just an intro and a short first ride for me to get used to the bike. please note, I said I was totally blind. I meant it. if you have problems believing a blind mountain biker can exist, check out matt gilman and his blind bike trials videos."

Boulder-based nonprofit pairs up blind, sighted cyclists on tandem bikes – Boulder Daily Camera – A University of Colorado student is launching a new nonprofit organization called Bike Insight, which pairs blind people with sighted partners for tandem bike riding.

Brands Hatch to host Paralympic road cycling at London 2012 – Kent News

Bronze for blind cyclist Parsons – Big News Network – New Zealand blind cyclist Jayne Parsons has won a bronze medal at the Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy. Also read
Gold medal just reward for overcoming the odds | Stuff.co.nz – Jayne Parsons with her pilot, Sonia Waddell, won gold at the same event.

Cairo to Capetown 2011. The ultimate cycle journey on earth – written by a supporter of eXsight Tandems, hoping to result in 10 tandems, allowing for visually impaired people of the Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia, to get out cycling.

Charity bringing more into sport – This is Grimsby – Foresight, originally set up for visually impaired people, now encourages people with many disabilities to get into sports, including cycling.

Club VIBES (Knoxville) – club for visually impaired youth, aged 14+, with strong cycling component.

Couple tackles life in tandem | Democrat and Chronicle – Kasey Hopper was diagnosed at 19 with retinitis pigmentosa. At 29, he entered the Tour de Cure charity bike ride for the American Diabetes Association at Mendon Ponds Park, supported by his wife, Erin.

Coventry Visually Impaired and Sighted Tandem Association (VISTA)

Cream Puff Cycles – Clark Rachfal (known as Cream Puff) is a legally blind paracyclist. He details his training and exploits in this blog.

Cream Puff Cycles RSS Feed

Cycling eighth sports branch for blind in Turkey – Today’s Zaman, Istanbul – scheme funded by Turkey working with the European Union.

Deafblind couple aiming to raise £20k for charity – Local Headlines – Donside Piper and Herald – Bob and Louise Nolan have undertaken a tandem ride of 1,000 miles over Scottish islands to raise funds for Deaf-Blind Scotland. Planned to finish on June 16th, 2011.
You may also like to read

After 1000 miles, it’s a dream ending for cycle duo [Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland)]

Disabled athletes begin 3-day ‘Cycle to the Sea’ journey | WCNC.com Charlotte – A cycling event, the annual Cycle To The Sea, to raise money for programs for athletes with disabilities took place in April 2011.

Disabled IDF veterans bike south – Jerusalem Post – disabled Israeli veterans, including blind ones, participating in this large event.

Echolocation Makes Mountain Biking, Skiing Possible For The Blind – Here And Now « Mountain Bikes
You may also like to read
A Californian Blind Man Uses Echolocation To Ride A Bike | Inhabitat – Green Design Will Save the World

Expanding Horizons For Blinded Veterans – AMERICA’S HEROES & HEROINES – how veteran Jeff Henson triumphed at sports activities, including tandem riding, at age 50.

Exsight Tandems – group of sighted captains and blind stokers in New South Wales, Australia.

Friday Favs (part 2) – Out of Sight – Brittany is a visually impaired newly-wed, one of whose fave physical activities is tandem cycling.
Out Of Sight RSS Feed

Friends to complete tandem bike ride for Help the Heroes – Top Stories – News – Birmingham Mail – Dave Downe, who is registered blind, and James Ross aimed to complete a 50-mile tandem ride in April 2011 to raise funds for Help the Heroes.

From Land’s End to Bristol … on a bicycle made for two. – This is Bristol – in aid of Lifecycle, a local cycling charity that offers tandem cycling to adults and children with a visual impairment.

Get on Your Bike For Reading National Bike Week Events – not part of bike week, but also mentioned is the cycling 4 sight event on Sunday, July 17th, organised by Berkshire County Blind Society at The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell. Call (0118) 987 2803 to sign up to the 10k or 20k course and raise money for charity.

GTT tandem trike described here as the "limosine of trikes".

Guileful Glaucoma – THE ABC OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT & CVI – for Parents and Professionals – two friends in South Africa who cycle together are both visually impaired.

How can I cycle if I’m blind or have low vision? | VisionAWARE

I’m A Triathlete! – All Abilities Welcome – Shelley Ann Morris writes about how she got started.

Inspiring video short from Lend Your Legs rides | Austin On Two Wheels – Social Cycling Austin offers tandem rides for blind children in the summer. Also visit
Lend Your Legs Facebook Page

It’s here! It’s here! You are so right, Ms. Guinevere – The Last Leaf Gardener – the author looks forward to cycling events in May in New York City, with a blind element.

KKL-JNF makes nature accessible – JPost – Green Israel – Fun for everyone at the Forester’s House Path in Bet Keshet Forest. The event included cycling for disabled people (hand-cycles and tandems).

Leading the Blind – live-cycle – the author contemplates a first-time tandem trip from Edinburgh to Manchester with an uncle who is going blind.

Live-cycle Blog RSS Feed

Lands End to John O’Groats by Tandem – blog by Linda, hoping to raise sponsorship for
Talking Tandems

ATOM Feed

Leeds man’s blind bike ride – Latest News – Yorkshire Evening Post – Martin Sigsworthgets back on a bike, a tandem this time, after years without one due to his blindness, caused by glaucoma. He was planning a fund-raising ride at the end of May, 2011.

Letter: Belleville resident raises money for MS Society – NorthJersey.com – legally blind cyclist raising money for multiple sclerosis.

Lighthouse of Broward starts cycling program – Sun Sentinel – funds raised by the Trike Shop in Ft. Lauderdale buy 4 tandems to get the scheme started.

Mission Cycles, UK – "We specialise in Folding bikes for commuting, boating, caravanning etc. – Special Needs Trikes – Scooters – Trials Bikes – Child carriers and tag alongs – Cruisers – Tandems – Cargo trailers – Unicycles – Trikes for able bodied and special needs."

My Greenspeed GTT recumbent tandem trike – the author, Graham, is registered blind, and is making the transition from solo cycling to the tandem trike.

Negev Cross Trip – cycling by blind – Facebook – Negev Cross Trip, a cycling trip for blind people – was conducted from Dimona to Ein Bokek. In Ein Bokek – they were joined by Ein Gedi Preparatory students, the Preparatory school manager – Moti, and Head of Education at Tamar regional council.

‘oVo’ tandem unveiled – Velo Vision – designer Richard Cresswell aims to make small numbers of these from his base in Warwickshire, UK. Illustrations and video included on the page.

Para-cycling team for World Cup | infonews.co.nz New Zealand’s local news community – the team on May 4th included blind cyclist Jayne Parsons.

Paralympic Cycling Road some background to paracycling, and the prospects for London 2012.

Paralympics gives visually impaired kids chance to compete – HeraldNet.com – Local news – SNOHOMISH –Students who are blind or visually impaired will have a chance this week to learn what it feels like to be in an Olympic event. Story dates from early May.

Recession bites into charities’ income (From Warrington Guardian) – Cycling Projects, which organises cycling for disabled people, is among many local charities that have a funding deficit this year.

Ride 2 Recovery – Making a Difference in the Lives of Wounded Warriors. You may also like
Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge Oct 2-8, 2011, from San Francisco to the Santa Monica Pier.

Riding Blind : Dead Hippy Axle Dressing vs Situational Awareness « Blind Cyclists’ Union – a plea (or rant!) for some common-sense on the roads from all concerned.

San Diego’s 7th Annual Cycling for Sight, July 15-17 « The TandemGeek’s Blog

Seeking tandem road bike 4 triathalon for blind Ontario cyclist ramavery & hubby Need to borrow Potential #cycling mag story Pls RT – message on Twitter dated June 11th 20100.

Social Cycling ATX volunteers bike with blind students | Fit City – scheme for blind stokers to team up with sighted pilots in Austin, Texas.

Solanapalooza Community Fundraiser Set for June 27 | Competitor.com – Daniel Powell to raise money for the Challenged Athlete’s Foundation’s Operation Rebound, and Cycling for Sight, a charity bike ride benefitting the San Diego Center for the Blind and the Blind Stokers Club.

Sunchasers Trailer – legally blind champion cyclist Karissa Whitsell is one of the disabled women cyclists portrayed in this film.

“Taking Life for Granted” – Dan’s Devotionals – Dan Zimmerman, based in Longmont, Co, USA, urges you not to take life’s pleasures for granted as he contemplates a tandem ride for a blind cycling group.

Talking Tandems – Tandem Cycling for the Blind in Fife – serving western central Fife, scotland. Always looking for new members and volunteers.

Tandem bikes help blind ride – Tukandu Cycling Club, Loveland, Ohio, has a dozen tandems, and now needs more sighted captains to ride with blind members.

Tandem couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary – Community – The Star – Cyril and Joan Dack celebrated at Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind’s centre. Both have enjoyed trips on tandems in the past.

The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom and Wanderings -Kindle eBook – 25 contributors make up what sounds like an entertaining miscellany about bikes. Part of the proceeds will go to disabled veterans and blind athletes.

The Most Ultra Ordinary activity that I have never done before! – eHome of Edwin Lai . . – a cycle ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls (200 km) to raise funds for cancer attracted a wide variety of cyclists, including some blind tandem riders.

Tri-City Special Olympian too fast for old bike – Teresa Payne has cycled solo, but failing sight has made this too dangerous. She now has a tandem, and local people may even end up generously paying for it.

[Video] Two Blind to Ride The Americas 2012-13 – Tauru and Christi, both legally blind, plan to ride their tandem bike unsupported from the bottom of South America to the top of North America in 2012-13. Their goal is to raise awareness about the abilities of the visually impaired, and they will be visiting schools for the blind along their route.

Veterans Compete For Gold At Warrior Games | Wacky News – vets with a wide range of disabilities compete in a wide range of events.

Video montage – Velo Vision – A selection of videos featuring Velo Visionaries, recumbents galore, the ultimate cycle camping solution, auto vs velo and downhill madness.

Vision impaired veterans deal with challenge | The Augusta Chronicle – VA’s Blind Rehabilitation Center enables newly blind veterans to deal with life again. Activities include cycling by tandem.

Wagga couple enjoy tricycle custom-built for two – The Daily Advertiser – Colin and Ruth Rush are in their 70s, but find a tandem trike a great way to exercise together.

What Does Cycling Mean To You? Your thoughts needed! – you’re not being asked for money. What the author wants is ideas for framing an appeal for a tandem for an 11-year-old boy who has had retino-blastoma.

where amazing happens | Jinji Sadan – Roei Jinji Sadan with his bike Emona cycling around the world – Jinji describes the experience of piloting a tandem with a blind woman as stoker.

Whether a Stoker or a Captain, It’s All In Day’s Fun – Elmhurst, IL Patch – a report from the first tandem outing of the year, where all the stokers were blind.

Wildomar gold medalist to compete in race :: The Valley News – the Marine Corps Trials were a preliminary to the Wounded Warrior competition in February.

Worksman Cycles Tandem – berstineijet – a recumbent tricycle built for two.

World T.E.A.M. Sports Athletes to Compete in Capital of Texas Triathlon | PRLog – this event, held in Austin, involved disabled veterans, and other disabled athletes, such as Tina Ament, who has been blind from birth.

Worth a Thousand Words: Disabled Marine Cranks His Way to Recovery – Ride to Recovery has helped Chuck Sketch to get on to a recumbent tandem bike, despite his being blind and a double amputee.

Wounded veterans cycling across Texas, stop off in San Marcos – the Ride to Recovery program held a 350-mile trek for wounded veterans in March, 2011.

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The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 1, 2011

I’m pleased to carry the following information from Paul West at British Cycling.

EXTRA EVENT

11th June – Hillingdon Circuit Races, West London

Open to all riders
Race Distance – 1 Hour.
Time of Start – 2.00pm

Entries to- Paul West, British Cycling, National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester M11 4DQ
Cheques Payable to – British Cycling (£10.00 – Non BC Members, £15. Add £5 to both fees for late and entries on day )

Entries Close 2nd June.

Entries on BC Entry Form only. Please contact British Cycling to obtain one.

Round 8 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

19th June – Horwich Town Centre Circuit Races, Lancashire

Open to all riders

Race Distance – 1 Hour.

Time of Start – 12.15pm

Entries Close 6th June. Entries on BC Entry Form only. Please contact British Cycling to get one.

Round 9 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

25th June – BC National Paracycling Circuit Race Championships

Open to all Paracyclists who are British Nationals who are members of British Cycling and hold a Full British Cycling Competition Licence

Race Distance – 1 Hour.

Time of Start – 12.00

Entries Close 10th June. Entries on BC Entry Form only – please contact British Cycling to obtain one.

2nd July – Prissick Circuit Races, Nr Middlesbrough

Open to all riders

Race Distance – 1 Hour.

Time of Start – 3pm

Entries Close 18th June. Entries on BC Entry Form only. Please contact British Cycling to obtain one.

Round 10 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

9th July – CDNW Circuit Races, Preston Arena

Open to all riders

Race Distance – 1 Hour.

Time of Start – 2.30pm

Entries Close 24th June. Entries on BC Entry Form only Please contact British Cycling to obtain one.

Round 11 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

30th July – Darley Moor Circuit Races, Darley Moor, Ashbourne, Derbyshire

Open to all riders

Race Distance – 1 Hour.

Time of Start – 2.30pm

Entries Close 15th July. Entries on BC Entry Form only. Please contact British Cycling to obtain one.

Round 12 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

For details on future events its worth keeping an eye on the calendars on
www.britishcycling.org.uk and
www.ctt.org.uk

I hope that you find the above helpful, but any queries do come back to me.

All the best

Paul West
Events Development Officer – Cycle Speedway, Paracycling, Track
British Cycling, National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ,
Telephone: +44 (0)161 274 2021
Mobile: +44 (0)7507 641267

britishcycling.org.uk

blind, british, cycling, events, paracycling, uk, visually impaired

The Blind Buzz

Archive for June, 2011

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Good news from the Blind Stokers Club

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

EXTRA EVENT

11th June – Hillingdon Circuit Races, West London

Round 8 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

Round 9 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

2nd July – Prissick Circuit Races, Nr Middlesbrough

Round 10 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

Round 11 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

Round 12 of BC National Circuit Race/Time Trial Series

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