Blind Cyclist

[eclectic]

A little different thread on the tandem topic

A good friend of mine has a disability much resembling MS but caused by - I even hate to say the words - Domestic Violence.

Her life has majorly changed and she went from a very active outgoing person to someone who constantly needs a walker to get around.

She met a friend that had a tandem and took her out on it. She started to cry with joy while riding because it gave her freedom and she was able to be back on a bike even if it was for a very short time

Sadly that person with the tandem has moved and I don't know of anyone else in town that owns one. I wish there was some type of buddy rides around here

[snapdragen]

Yup, a million years ago when I did the AIDs ride, there was a couple on a tandem, he was blind.

[Brina]

We were at a wedding labor day weekend - the groom has been blind since childhood. It has not stopped him from cycling, skiing, moutain climbing or skydiving. He used to work at The Lighthouse in Seattle and a bunch of him former co-workers flew in for the wedding. Most of them were mighty impressive in their accomplishments.

[GLC1968]

We just saw this at our local MS ride a couple of weeks ago. I was riding behind them for a stretch and I was wondering what the stoker could possibly be looking at for so long as his head was bent over.

At the next rest stop, I found out that he was blind! I'd had no idea! What an amazing feeling that must be...to be on a bike when you are blind. Way cool!

[SalsaMTB]

There is a blind downhill mountain bike racer named Bobby McMullen. I read an article about him recently, very interesting. He has a leader go down first and shout instructions so he knows what to expect on the trail. A quick google search found this:

http://www.mbaction.com/detail.asp?id=1485

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...2875-1,00.html (longer article)

[Denise223]

Hi Kitsune!

There's a bike shop near me called Quad Bicycles, in Arlington, MA.

http://www.quadcycles.com/

I read that there's a guy who rides with them (Bobby Mac), and he is legally blind. He's a part of their team, "Team Quad" . They have rides on Saturday/Sunday - I'd love to check them out one day!

Peace & Love,

Denise

[Deanna]

Here in Sonoma County, we have the Earl Baum Center for the blind, which has their own tandems. A few times a year the local cycling club does a group tandem ride, pairing up club members with blind stokers. If I thought I had any ability as a captain, I'd do it, but as it is, I'm afraid of hurting people.