Blind cyclist Hein Wagner entered the records books this past weekend by bicycling solo in a 24-mile race in South Africa.
Wagner averaged 14 mph — up to 24 mph in the downhills — in the Construction du Cap Ninety Niner. He followed a friend who had a noise device attached to his bicycle, and two other cyclists followed to warn him if he was veering off the course.
“Emotionally it was very draining. I had to concentrate really hard for the sake of my safety and that of other cyclists and road users. … There was no room for error. It was frightening at some stages, especially when trucks passed us because they would mask the noise I had to follow.”
It's not uncommon for blind cyclists to take to the road, although it usually done on a tandem with a cyclist who can see.
One, Ron Burzese of Minneapolis, bicycled cross-country on a tandem several years ago. He enjoyed it so much that he raised money to buy two tandems for Blind, Inc., an adult training center where he works as a travel instructor.
Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo runs Eyecycle as part of its Adapted Physical Activity Programs. The program matches students with blind bicycling enthusiasts in the community; the student captains while the blind person stokes.
The US Association of Blind Athletes offers a page a tandem bicycle riding and racing.
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