Caversham Visually Impaired Pedallers
Ride Tandem, Change Lives
Imagine the joy of cycling open roads, feeling the breeze, and sharing that freedom with someone who otherwise couldn’t experience it.
That’s the mission of Caversham Visually Impaired Pedallers (CViP) — a community-driven tandem cycling group that pairs sighted cyclists (pilots) with visually impaired stokers for monthly social rides around the Reading and Caversham area.
We’re a small, friendly collective making a huge impact, but we need more volunteers!
If you’re a confident road cyclist who can spare a few hours a month, becoming a tandem pilot or support rider is a rewarding way to give back. No special experience is needed (training provided) just a love of cycling, a steady hand, and a willingness to share the ride.
We’re also welcoming visually impaired stokers (rear riders) who’d like to get out and enjoy the fresh air, camaraderie, and exhilaration of tandem riding in a safe, supportive environment, with all the necessary training provided.
Whether you’re an experienced road cyclist looking for a meaningful way to volunteer, or you know someone with a visual impairment eager to get pedalling, Caversham ViPs would love to hear from you. Let’s get more people cycling — together.
P.S. As a side note: >80% of our stokers are women and >80% of our volunteers are men; we definitely need more female volunteers to support the riders. Last ride info: ~50km Ride @ avg 19km/h
John McKnight 07810 531559
jj_mcknight@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1482559713145622
Charlotte’s Tandems
Riding Together in Reading
We all love cycling, but for people with disabilities or additional needs, it can feel out of reach. That’s where Charlotte’s Tandems helps, by making the fun of cycling accessible to everyone.
The charity was inspired by Charlotte Reeves, a young girl with severe autism and learning difficulties. Her parents, Alex and Kate, discovered that cycling brought Charlotte joy, calm and connection. When she outgrew her tag-a-long bike, they took a leap of faith and purchased a tandem.
The experience was so positive that they began lending tandems to others with similar needs. The charity became official in 2011 and has since grown to include over 250 bikes nationwide, including right here in Reading.
As one volunteer shared: “Seeing someone ride for the first time with a big smile – there’s nothing like it. You know you’ve helped unlock something special.”
Our local volunteer is John Saunders, who coordinates loans of tandems and tag-a-long bikes. The best part? They’re loaned out completely free of charge, for up to two months at a time.
One of the standout bikes in Reading, a Dutch-designed Copilot tandem, was donated by a local supporter. The bike has enabled families in Woodley to enjoy shared rides, including one with a visually impaired child.
If you’d like to borrow a bike, this is how it works:
- Fill out a contact form on Charlotte’s Tandems website
- Get matched with a local volunteer
- Provide evidence of disability and complete a borrower’s form
- Enjoy cycling—then return the bike in good condition for the next rider
The charity also welcomes volunteers to help support inclusive cycling. Charlotte’s Tandems is cycling at its most inclusive.
To learn more or get involved, visit https://charlottestandems.weebly.com, and for all the latest inspiring good news stories follow the Charlotte’s Tandems Facebook page.
Susan Children
RCC Publicity Coordinator
Palmer Park Velo Club
Hello, I am Chloe, I took over as the Chair of the PPV Club in January and I have currently been faced with the task of trying to keep the club together, without a track!
The track has been closed since April and I still don’t have a confirmed date for opening, very frustrating, but I am predicting things will be open by the start of September.
By this time I will be having a real push to bring everyone back together and drum up some new members, so having a bit of info in your newsletter could be very helpful.
Palmer Park Velo is a racing cycling club for children aged from 8 to 18. We are based in Reading’s outdoor velodrome at Palmer Park Stadium.
The club was formed in 1976 and now has over 120 members.
We offer fixed-wheel and freewheel training sessions every Saturday morning at the velodrome; we also run some mid-week training sessions.
As well as track cycling, we offer coaching in other cycling disciplines, including road racing, cyclocross and mountain biking at various locations throughout the year.
PPV encourages and supports children to partake in racing events locally and further afield. Our rider ability varies from beginners to national and international standards. We are a friendly club run by British Cycling trained coaches.
New members are always welcome. More information can be found on our website: https://palmerparkvelo.net/
Chloe Cox, Club Chair
Palmer Park Velo Club
P.S. PPV are a great cycling junior club – my son raced with PPV all the way through his school years until going off to university. Although developing a taste for expensive sports bikes is probably the only downside!
Tony Carr
RBC Campaigner for RCC
