Vision Sports Ireland and Cycling Ireland Guide the Way with Tandem Pilot Course Launch
Vision Sports Ireland and Cycling Ireland are proud to announce the launch of a Tandem Pilot Training course. The course has been developed to give cyclists the skills and confidence to pilot an individual who is blind, or vision impaired on a tandem bike. Courses will be rolled out nationally over the coming years with the aim to create a National Register of Tandem Pilot Volunteers, increasing tandem cycling opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired across Ireland.
Pádraig Healy, National Sports Development Manager with Vision Sports Ireland stated
“We are delighted to collaborate with Cycling Ireland to provide training opportunities for cyclists to join a national register for tandem pilots, this will allow us to create more opportunities for our members across the country to engage in the activity of cycling. Tandem Cycling is a rewarding experience for both the sighted pilot and stoker. We plan to collaborate with Cycling Ireland affiliated clubs for the role out of workshops over the coming months and years.”
Cycling Ireland Chief Executive Matt McKerrow, commented on the launch
“We are very happy to launch the Tandem Pilot Training Course developed between ourselves and Vision Sport Ireland. We hope to encourage and grow participation for visually impaired cyclists and open up more opportunities for both pilots and stokers to enjoy cycling together, following on from the successes of our high performance Paracyclists.”
Speaking at the launch, Irish Para Cyclist from Tullamore Cycling and Touring Club Josephine Healion commented,
‘’I am delighted to announce the launch of Vision Sports Irelands in collaboration with Cycling Ireland, Tandem Pilot Training Course. Tandem cycling has been a game changer for me. It has opened so many doors from building friendships to competing at a high-performance level, and so much more. The blood pumping high speeds had me hooked from the start. Tandem biking is a team effort and there are lots of laughs along the road. Go as easy or as hard as you wish, it got me outdoors, involved in sport and part of a club, which I didn’t think was possible but how wrong was I?’’
Vision Sports Ireland and Cycling Ireland are delighted to host a Tandem Pilot Training Course on Saturday November 19th in Bray, Co Wicklow in partnership with Bray Wheelers Cycling Club and Wicklow Sport Partnership. This training is suitable for competent cyclists who are members of Cycling Ireland and are interested in volunteering to be a pilot.