Rosie from Berkhamsted
Rosie has partial chromosome depletion and can't ride a bike on her own. Rosie and her Dad, Pete, are the first borrowers of the Essex based, Hiway Vertical tandem. Her Mum, Su, says, "Rosie is thrilled and we can't wait to go out for a family bike ride, something we've not been able to do since she grew out of the trailer bike over a year ago! Thank you, it's organisations like yours that make life with special needs a little easier."
Richard, who looks after the Essex tandems wrote, "Su and family came by this afternoon and have tried out the Hiway - very successfully. They are on their way back to Berkhamsted with it. Their daughter, Rosie (a namesake of my firstborn) was particularly happy with it." They have it from mid February 2012.
Richard, who looks after the Essex tandems wrote, "Su and family came by this afternoon and have tried out the Hiway - very successfully. They are on their way back to Berkhamsted with it. Their daughter, Rosie (a namesake of my firstborn) was particularly happy with it." They have it from mid February 2012.
Companion Cycling from Surrey
Companion Cycling have a range of Special Needs bikes and wanted to borrow a tandem from us. They are the first borrowers of our 2nd Blue Dawes Super Galaxy and have it from mid February 2012. Thanks to Martin of our Surrey outpost for arranging this. More details and a photo to follow.
Jan from Carshalton
Jan is visually impaired. She is the first borrower of our second Viking Saratoga tandem. It is the first tandem lent out from our Surrey outpost. She has the tandem from mid February 2012. She said, soon after receiving it, "We went out on it today for the first time and it was absolutely fantastic. I had really missed cycling and this brought it all back for me. We are going out again tomorrow". Thanks to Martin for arranging this. More details and a photo to follow.
Ben from Bristol
Ben has Retinitis Pigmentosa. He is the first borrower of the Orbit Gemini. He has had the tandem from the end of January 2012. He wrote, soon after getting it, "I took the tandem out for a proper ride on Wednesday and absolutely loved it. Was amazing to be on a bike again after so many years. We did a fifty mile round trip to Tintern, and it was beautiful..."
The tandem is a little small for him but he said that "It really was a brilliant day, and I'm so grateful to Charlotte's Tandems for making it possible. Looking forward to going out again soon."
The tandem is a little small for him but he said that "It really was a brilliant day, and I'm so grateful to Charlotte's Tandems for making it possible. Looking forward to going out again soon."
Adam from Sandbach
Adam is the current borrower of the U+1 and have had it since January 2012. His mum wrote, "I took Adam on the tandem today, first time, straight on it and we were off and did a three mile trek. He loves it.. And I did to, he was laughing all the time on it. Thanks for the opportunity." Thanks to Brian for arranging this. A photo will follow.
Caitlin from Runcorn
Caitlin and her dad are the first borrowers of the Grey Dawes Super Galaxy and have had it since the end of December 2011. Thanks to Brian for arranging this. More news and a photo to follow.
Tom from Northamptonshire
Tom is blind and picked up the Mercian tandem from us in mid December 2011. He and his friend Brad couldn't wait to have a tandem and started practicing before they got it. They are the Mercian's first borrowers and plan to cycle it a lot.
Dave from Worcester
Dave is blind, has riden a tandem before, and tried a few years ago to find another one to ride. Click here for a clip from his radio show where he talks about finding a Captain, borrowing a tandem from us and their first ride. Since his Captain, Mike, is 6'3", our huge Cannondale tandem is ideal for them. After their first ride Dave wrote, "I loved the freedom, fresh air, exercise, sense of space, relative speed compared with walking, and am itching to go out again as soon as possible." He found the saddle a bit narrow though and has bought himself a new saddle. He is now also going for rides with other Captains too.
Jacob from Cambridge
Jacob's dad has wanted Jacob to cycle for a while and now he can, thanks to the Dawes Galaxy tandem that he has borrowed from Richard in Essex. More details and a photo will follow.
Chris from Hertford
Chris and his Dad tried out a tandem, with the help of Richard. Unfortunately due to Chris' lack of strength they found out that a normal tandem is not suitable. Chris and his Dad are now looking to try out, and maybe buy, a tricycle tandem. If anyone can help then please contact us.
Charlotte from Oldbury, West Midlands
Charlotte, like many other of our borrowers, is unable to ride her own bike safely, so Mum and Dad saw an advert of our tandems in a Contact a Family newsletter and are now the second borrowers of the Viking Saratoga. Her Mum and Dad rode on their own first, to get used to the bike, before taking Charlotte on it. Charlotte has been looking at pictures of people on tandems and been getting very excited. Dad, Mark, wrote our Facebook page, "At first, Charlotte was reluctant to go on the tandem. However, as we live on an hill, she appears to have realised this is the best way to get home - with dad doing all the work".
Barney from South Gloucestershire
Barney's Mum first thought about tandeming when she saw the Tandem Club Rally in Jersey in 2011. Barney is the second borrower of the Salerno. His Mum wrote a week after picking it up the following message,
"Barney loves the tandem, he has been out with his Dad about 5 times since we collected it. Today all three of us went out together something we haven't been able to do since Barney outgrew his tag along. The only down side is Barney asks every morning and every evening when are going out again! It really has been fantastic and I can't thank you enough,"
In February 2012, she wrote that they have been stopped by a member of the Tandem Club, who had seen their photo in the Tandem Club Journal.
"Barney loves the tandem, he has been out with his Dad about 5 times since we collected it. Today all three of us went out together something we haven't been able to do since Barney outgrew his tag along. The only down side is Barney asks every morning and every evening when are going out again! It really has been fantastic and I can't thank you enough,"
In February 2012, she wrote that they have been stopped by a member of the Tandem Club, who had seen their photo in the Tandem Club Journal.
Helen and Jerry from Wells, Somerset
Helen has never really riden a bike before but her husband, Jerry, loves to ride. When she lost her sight she thought that she wouldn't be ever able to ride. They were the first borrowers of the Viking Saratoga that we bought with donations and had it for a week in mid September 2011 until they had nowhere to keep it anymore.
Eve from Market Drayton
Eve borrowed the U+1 from September 2011 to January 2012. Her Mum, Rachel, wrote this lovely message, just two days after collecting it:
"Eve absolutely loves the tandem!! She went on it with me last night and although nervous to start with she now kisses it constantly and it was the first thing she signed when she woke up this morning! I've promised her another go on it tonight when she gets back from school. Thank you so much for letting us borrow it. We plan to do a family cycling day this weekend (weather permitting) around where we live, the first time ever for us that we'll all be able to cycle together as a family! I have a attached a photo of our 'maiden voyage' and will send more through over the coming weeks when we have travelled around a bit on it. Again, thank you so much. I expect we will end up buying a tandem eventually once we'd saved up a bit, but it is brilliant to be able to trial one first."
"Eve absolutely loves the tandem!! She went on it with me last night and although nervous to start with she now kisses it constantly and it was the first thing she signed when she woke up this morning! I've promised her another go on it tonight when she gets back from school. Thank you so much for letting us borrow it. We plan to do a family cycling day this weekend (weather permitting) around where we live, the first time ever for us that we'll all be able to cycle together as a family! I have a attached a photo of our 'maiden voyage' and will send more through over the coming weeks when we have travelled around a bit on it. Again, thank you so much. I expect we will end up buying a tandem eventually once we'd saved up a bit, but it is brilliant to be able to trial one first."
Stuart from The Forest of Dean
Stuart is a the first borrower of the Sun tandem: here is an article that he has written entitled "A little insight".
Hi folks. Having lost my sight suddenly about 3 years ago, I have become quite unfit through lack of exercise. I was told about Two's Company and went for a taster session and discovered just how unfit I was. I heard about Charlotte's Tandems and contacted them explaining the situation. I was fortunate in that they had a spare tandem available which they willingly loaned me AND at no cost! I had already foolishly agreed to a 12 mile ride with Two's Company in about 1 month's time. A keen cyclist friend of mine offered to take me out on 'Charlotte's Tandem'. This we did on several occasions during the intervening month. I was amazed how just a short ride teriodically, all be it spasmodic, had on my general fitness. I am hoping to continue riding but not just for the exercise but the opportunity of getting out in the fresh air and the companionship that develops with your 'front' rider. This is true, not just because he is a friend, but even with a stranger. May be it's because the front rider is a volunteer and does it to enable people like me to take part in an activity we can no longer do by ourselves. If it were not for Charlotte's Tandems I would not be in a position to undertake this sort of activity, so a big thank you to Alex and Kate. Did you ever think that your concern for Charlotte would have such a remarkable repurcussion. It proves what I have always tried to see, that 'every cloud has a silver lining'. You just have to look for it.
Hi folks. Having lost my sight suddenly about 3 years ago, I have become quite unfit through lack of exercise. I was told about Two's Company and went for a taster session and discovered just how unfit I was. I heard about Charlotte's Tandems and contacted them explaining the situation. I was fortunate in that they had a spare tandem available which they willingly loaned me AND at no cost! I had already foolishly agreed to a 12 mile ride with Two's Company in about 1 month's time. A keen cyclist friend of mine offered to take me out on 'Charlotte's Tandem'. This we did on several occasions during the intervening month. I was amazed how just a short ride teriodically, all be it spasmodic, had on my general fitness. I am hoping to continue riding but not just for the exercise but the opportunity of getting out in the fresh air and the companionship that develops with your 'front' rider. This is true, not just because he is a friend, but even with a stranger. May be it's because the front rider is a volunteer and does it to enable people like me to take part in an activity we can no longer do by ourselves. If it were not for Charlotte's Tandems I would not be in a position to undertake this sort of activity, so a big thank you to Alex and Kate. Did you ever think that your concern for Charlotte would have such a remarkable repurcussion. It proves what I have always tried to see, that 'every cloud has a silver lining'. You just have to look for it.
Larry from Birmingham
Larry was the first borrower of the Viking Salerno and has autism and learning difficulties. His Dad, Jon, wrote just after they got the tandem, "Larry and I had our first trip out today and he really enjoyed it! Got some envious looks in the park! Just on the flat for now but we will build up and try different places. Thanks a lot."
At the end of August 2011, Jon wrote, "It is being used a lot and Larry is enjoying it. I have a bit of an injury at the moment but we are still getting out on it. We are hoping it will lead to him being motivated to learn to ride a bike. We have been to Red House Park a lot and around Sandwell Valley."
The Salerno was bought with donations from various people (see the homepage). Larry had the Salerno from the end of July to the end of September 2011.
At the end of August 2011, Jon wrote, "It is being used a lot and Larry is enjoying it. I have a bit of an injury at the moment but we are still getting out on it. We are hoping it will lead to him being motivated to learn to ride a bike. We have been to Red House Park a lot and around Sandwell Valley."
The Salerno was bought with donations from various people (see the homepage). Larry had the Salerno from the end of July to the end of September 2011.
Calvin from Gloucester
Calvin is in his late 20s and has severe learning difficulties and autism. His Mum, Julie, says that he can ride his own bike but has no road sense, so wanted to try out a tandem so that they could go on rides together. They were the third borrowers of the Columbia and had it from late June to December 2011. Julie says that they've tried to ride it but he hasn't enjoyed it as he always likes to be at the front, especially when walking. Oh well, at least thay had a go.
Summer from Stroud
Summer was the second borrower of the U+1 (July & August 2010) and had the U+1 again for the summer holidays of 2011. Her Mum, Karen, wrote in 2010, "Hi, my daughter is getting on really well on the tandem. We haven't been on it so much at the moment, but as both children have finished school now, we have arranged a lot of bike rides with family and friends". In 2011 she wrote, "We thoroughly enjoyed having the tandem over the summer holidays. We went on long rides along the canal to Stonehouse and along the cycle track to Nailsworth, stopping at Egypt Mill for a well deserved drink!"
Adam from Stroud
Adam and his Dad, Nick about to set off. Adam and his family were the second borrowers of the Columbia. They had it from late May to late June 2011 and enjoyed two long rides. See the Charlotte's Tandems Facebook page for more photos.
Joel and Zoe from Oxfordshire
Joel and Zoe have been thinking of buying a tandem for a while. Zoel is Registered Blind so he was the stoker and Zoe was the Captain. They've tried a few tandems elsewhere but haven't found a suitable one yet. They borrowed the U+1 from us, because this means that Zoe can get on and off easily, from mid April to mid June 2011.
Zoe says, "We have been enjoying it; slightly worried that when going fast downhill in the park Joel said, I used to like roller coaster rides!!!"
Maybe we need to get a dog trailer too.
Zoe says, "We have been enjoying it; slightly worried that when going fast downhill in the park Joel said, I used to like roller coaster rides!!!"
Maybe we need to get a dog trailer too.
Dee from Herefordshire
Dee is a very tall lady with partial vision. She loves riding a bike but has found it hard to find a tandem big enough and of a reasonable quality. She has found one: our Cannondale. Her Tandem Club member friend picked the Cannondale up for us in mid January 2011 and returned it to us in October. The photo shows her with another of her friends, Claire.
Dee said, "I am having a fabulous time with the tandem. I have been out a couple of times a week and am truly won over. I have been lucky to have it throughout this lovely weather. The countryside has been stunning".
In October 2011 she wrote, "I would like to thank the donor and Charlotte's Tandems for the loan of the adult tandem. As I am partially-sighted the tandem is the only way that I can cycle and, never having ridden a tandem before the loan, has enabled me to try one without committing to a purchase. I am now 'hooked' as I have had great fun and I cannot thank you enough!"
Dee said, "I am having a fabulous time with the tandem. I have been out a couple of times a week and am truly won over. I have been lucky to have it throughout this lovely weather. The countryside has been stunning".
In October 2011 she wrote, "I would like to thank the donor and Charlotte's Tandems for the loan of the adult tandem. As I am partially-sighted the tandem is the only way that I can cycle and, never having ridden a tandem before the loan, has enabled me to try one without committing to a purchase. I am now 'hooked' as I have had great fun and I cannot thank you enough!"
Ollie from Fairford
Ollie and his Dad Stu on the Columbia. Ollie was the first borrower of the Columbia. They have now returned the Columbia having had it from August 2000 to February 2011 and were the 4th borrowers of the U+1 (from Feb to mid April 2011), as that has a lower step-over at the front, making it easier for Mum to ride. His mum writes,
"I never managed to get a photo of Oliver on the Raleigh but this is a great one of him on the 1st tandem we borrowed. He loved riding around waving like Royalty around Fairford. He always made people smile. I found the Raleigh quite heavy but it was a much better size for me. I am sure there is the right one out there for us somewhere.
Thank you so much for doing what you do, hopefully it will enable many more families to enjoy cycling as a family."
"I never managed to get a photo of Oliver on the Raleigh but this is a great one of him on the 1st tandem we borrowed. He loved riding around waving like Royalty around Fairford. He always made people smile. I found the Raleigh quite heavy but it was a much better size for me. I am sure there is the right one out there for us somewhere.
Thank you so much for doing what you do, hopefully it will enable many more families to enjoy cycling as a family."
Alfie from Plymouth
Alfie was the third borrower of the U+1. They had it from September 2010 but his Mum said that he didn't get used to it being with them. She returned it in at the end of January 2011.
Joel from Gloucester
Our first feedback, received via the Tandem Club Discussion board. Joel was the first borrower of the U+1. Sarah Bushell writes, "Just like to say a big thank you to the gentleman who donated a tandem to Alex, and Alex and Kate, for lending us the tandem. We had been thinking for a while of purchasing a tandem to enable us to take our son on cycle rides. Our son has ASD and severe learning difficulties and therefore it is very difficult for us to go out as a family. We borrowed the tandem for a while, but unfortunately he did not enjoy riding the tandem and was very reluctant initially, then refused to ride it at all. Allthough this doesn't sound like positive feedback, we are very grateful for this opportunity to borrow the tandem as we could have bought one and wasted our money. So once again, thank you to all involved."
Charlotte from Dursley
The first tandem that was donated was a Dawes Super Galaxy. After restoring it, Charlotte decided that she preferred to ride this over our Raleigh Pioneer Venture U+1, so we are using the Dawes now and started lending out the U+1. She loves riding it and in summer 2010 we took it to Holland. We rode every morning, afternoon and evening and she kept taking me back to it to ask to go on it again.
Back in England we love cycling along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal towpath, overtaking the solo bikes, and riding top speed down the Cotswold Escarpment.
Check out the Charlotte's Tandems site on Facebook for some videos.
Back in England we love cycling along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal towpath, overtaking the solo bikes, and riding top speed down the Cotswold Escarpment.
Check out the Charlotte's Tandems site on Facebook for some videos.
