Tracy and her guide dog
Meet Tracy and Russell from Merton Sports and Social Club.
They are a tandem team with a difference: Tracy is visually impaired so Russell has to be her eyes when they are on the road. Tracy has been riding with Russell for about a year, and they regularly compete in various races.
This September they will be cycling from London to Brighton to raise money with Team GLFB.
Tracy is not the only visually impaired person interested in taking part, but unfortunately as yet she is the only person able to find a front rider. Even though guide dogs look cute in cycle helmets, they cannot ride a bike! Volunteer front riders are needed for this event to enable everyone interested to take part.
Craig's first tandem ride
Our Head of Fundraising, Craig Linton, came to the tandem club and he was so excited by the challenge that he signed up on the spot:
"Getting on a tandem for the first time was a bit daunting, but once I got used to the wider turning circle and having handlebars behind me, it was really enjoyable."
Here he is on his first ever tandem ride (round the car park of the Guardian Centre!), with Roy Benjamin on the back. Soon Craig will be matched with a back rider and they can begin training.
Roy explained to me why he enjoys tandem cycling:
"Cycling is a fantastic form of low impact exercise so why can't visually impaired people take part? Well of course we can if we have a pair of eyes on the front. Not only is it a good form of exercise but riding tandems is also a very social form of exercise. It suits all levels from those who want to race to those who just want to feel the breeze in their hair or the satisfaction of having slogged to the top of a hill and experiencing the exhilaration of coasting down the other side..."
Here at the GLFB we are all really excited for the London to Brighton cycle; it promises to be a fantastic day out.
We desperately need more tandem cyclists, both front and back riders, to make it a success.
Let everyone know about this fantastic day, and if you are interested please do get in touch: 0207 620 2066.
For more information on the London to Brighton click here.
We work with clubs in Merton, Kingston and Greenwich – and they all need front riders. If you would like to know more about the clubs contact us.
