Charlie from Bedfordshire
Charlie and his parents collected our Berkshire based Hase Pino tandem on New Year's Eve 2023. His Mum, Nicki, told our Facebook group straight away, "We’ve just picked up this from Reading. Thank you John & Charlotte’s Tandems. We couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. We’ll keep you posted once home!"
Cerys from Crawley
Cerys and her parents, Paul and Karen, collected our Berkshire based Mission tag-along in late December 2023. Paul told out Facebook group the next day, "Cerys' first trip out, which was a big success. A big thank you to Charlotte's Tandems for giving us the opportunity to ride together. More photos will follow of future rides."
Roy from Cambridge
Roy and his Mum, Eynat, collected our Cambridgeshire based Raleigh Adventurer tandem in late 2023. She reported in late January 2024, "I just wanted to thank you for the amazing tandem bike. We are using them all the time and absolutely love them! I am sending you a picture of Roy with the tandem at school pickup (it was hard to get a picture of him holding the bike and riding them full speed ). We are truly grateful for this opportunity! It make a big difference for us."
George from Andover
George and his Dad, Oliver, collected our Hampshire based Viking Companion tandem in mid-November 2023. Here is George, with our Hampshire Helper (also called George) on their test ride.
Liam from Wrexham
Liam and his Dad, Ross, collected our North Staffordshire based Dawes Duet tandem in late October 2023. Hilary (our North Staffs Helper) told on Facebook group, "He couldn’t wait to get out on it - look at that big smile!"
Nikki from Devon
Nikki and Hal collected our Gloucestershire based Van Raam Twinny tandem trike in mid-October 2023. The next day, Nikki told our Facebook group, "Apparently piloting a trike is a very different experience from piloting a regular tandem, so Hal needs to try getting used to the idea without me on the back. As it was such a nice day today, we thought it was a great time to have a go. No time like the present and all that! So here’s a brief video of his first solo journey up and out our street."
The photo is from their second video, with Hal being far more confident.
The photo is from their second video, with Hal being far more confident.
Michel from Shrewsbury
Michel swapped our Shropshire based Thorn tandem for the Shropshire based Barracuda tandem in October 2023. More details and a photo are to follow.
Justin from Leeds
Justin and his Dad, Martin, collected our Calderdale based Dawes tandem in mid-October 2023. Here they are on their test ride.
Ester from Wigston
Ester and Peppe collected our Derbyshire based Dawes Galaxy tandem in mid-October 2023. She told our Facebook group, "Finally nice weather to try our recently borrowed tandem! It was great fun and Peppe and I are already looking forward to our next ride. Thank you Charlotte’s Tandems Team!!!"
Khloe from Maidenhead
Khloe and his Mum, Jayne, collected our Berkshire based KHS Sausage Dog tandem in mid-October 2023. This is the second time they have borrowed a tandem from us. More details and a photo are to follow.
Ella from Milton Keynes
Ella and Eunice collected our Berkshire based Mission tag-along trike in early October 2023. Eunice wrote soon after, "It’s been a great hit, another activity she can enjoy independently. Thanks for making our lives."
Jem from Lewisham
Jem and his Mum, Alice, collected our Surrey based Reflex Timberline tandem at the start of October 2023. Alice told our Facebook group, "We also got to try out our Woking based loan today in a bid to get my son more confident on the road. Thanks Charlotte's Tandems"
Michel from Shrewsbury
Michel and neighbour Richard collected our newly donated, Shropshire based, Thorn Discovery tandem in late-September 2023. Helper Ray told our Facebook group that Richard is "taking the reigns" and "looking forward to taking Michel out on local rides, mainly along the nice river path (NCN Route 81). Happy cycling both!"
Jenni from Redcar
Jenni and Mark collected our Newcastle based Thorn tandem in late September 2023. Jenni wrote that day, "Yes we are now the proud borrowers of a tandem. Once we arrived home we took it for a test ride for 5 miles. Runs like a dream. Our daughter took some photos of us setting off. We have a planned bike route for tomorrow for 15 mile trying to build up to join our local tandem team who go for shorts rides of 40 miles . Still got a way to go yet but will get there. The cycle club is called Stockton Wheelers who gather on Sundays with other tandems. Thank you so much for this opportunity. We can now have a cycle aim for the outdoors, so much more fun than indoor cycling."
George from Oxford
George and his Mum, Caroline, collected our Oxford based Thorn Kiddyback tandem in late September 2023. Caroline said that "George absolutely loves it" and that a photo is to follow.
Garth from Derbyshire
Garth and his friend, Brian, collected our Derbyshire based Orbit Lightening tandem in mid-September 2014..
Josh from Northern Ireland
Josh and his Dad, Maurice, have had our Northern Ireland based Viking Valhalla MTB tandem since mid-September 2023. "Joshua, our son with a disability, has been in a graduated transition arrangement in order to reside at Camphill Glencraig, Seahill, County Down. We live in England and have tandem-biked with Josh for decades. Learning of Charlotte's Tandems was a revelation and very honestly, it has made such a contribution to bridging Josh's life from Norfolk in England to County Down.
Josh's disability is one of learning and behaviour. However he is fit and can cooperate in situations that he trusts and is familiar with. We have used the bike just about every day where any reasonable weather would permit, and when it didn't interfere with his transition schedule, we typically four to five times used per week. Josh and I typically tandem five to seven miles in a single ride, and Josh is a happy bunny as he pedals along, calling out to and waving to passers-by. Our high point was to put the bike on the train from Helen's Bay to Titanic Junction. Josh and I then cycled through East Belfast to reach the Comber Greenway, (a 7-mile disused railway line). So we cycled the full length of the Greenway, turned around, cycling all the way back to Belfast, his Mum taking over as captain, again riding through East Belfast and back to the train station."
Josh's disability is one of learning and behaviour. However he is fit and can cooperate in situations that he trusts and is familiar with. We have used the bike just about every day where any reasonable weather would permit, and when it didn't interfere with his transition schedule, we typically four to five times used per week. Josh and I typically tandem five to seven miles in a single ride, and Josh is a happy bunny as he pedals along, calling out to and waving to passers-by. Our high point was to put the bike on the train from Helen's Bay to Titanic Junction. Josh and I then cycled through East Belfast to reach the Comber Greenway, (a 7-mile disused railway line). So we cycled the full length of the Greenway, turned around, cycling all the way back to Belfast, his Mum taking over as captain, again riding through East Belfast and back to the train station."
Wali from Birmingham
Wali and his Dad, Kamal, collected our North Staffordshire based Viking Pink Link tandem in early September 2023. Helper Hilary told our Facebook group the next day that they "have been making the most of the nice weather on their first ride already! Great to be able to make a difference and enable Wali to enjoy cycling again"
Noah from North Greenford
Noah and his Mum, Brigid, collected our Berkshire based Tomcat tag-along in early September 2023. Brigid told our Facebook group, "Thank you so much Charlotte's Tandems! I took Noah out yesterday on our loaned tag-a-long thinking that if he lasted 5 minutes, I’d be happy. 40 minutes and 5km later, I had one very happy camper!"
Freddie from Hillsborough
Freddie and his Mum, Alison, collected our Lisburn based Viking Valhalla hybrid tandem in early September 2023. They also borrowed it last year. More details and a photo are to follow.
Emma from Weybridge
Emma and her Dad, Richard, collected our Berkshire based Mission tandem in early September 2023. She told our Facebook group, "We had the best time, thank you so much!"
Hugo from South East London
Hugo and William collected our East Sussex based Trek tandem in early September 2023. Hugo said in mid-September, "I’ve collected the tandem thanks and survived two 50k+ rides so far. Thanks to you and Richard for all the help!" On Facebook in mid-October he posted a video and wrote, "Here’s a short video of the first pedal strokes on the tandem kindly loaned by Charlotte’s Tandems. 60k with fish and chips stop was achieved on the first ride. Thank you so much to the team and particularly Richard for their help. This really helps people like me stay in touch with their friends and continue cycling. I just need to persuade a few more of my friends to volunteer for captaining now!"
Issac from Didcot
Isaac and his Mum, Lizzie, collected our Oxford based Viking Timber Trail tandem at the start of September 2023. More details and a photo are to follow.
Mosh from Reading
Mosh, a blind cricket player who has recently got picked for England, and his pilot Shaun, collected our recently donated, Berkshire based, Landescape tandem at the start of September 2023.
Madison from Congleton
Madison and her parents swapped a North Staffordshire based Weehoo tag-along for our newly donated North Staffordshire based Giant Half-wheeler tag-along in late August 2023. See a video of them in action on our Facebook group.
Will from Bath
Will and his parents swapped our Gloucestershire based Dawes tag-along for a Gloucestershire based Weehoo tag-along in late August 2023. More details and a photo are to follow.
Delphine from Shrewsbury
Delphine collected our Shropshire based Viking Companion tandem in late August 2023. Our Shropshire Helper, Ray, become her pilot. Ray told our Facebook group, "Here's Delphine from Shrewsbury out on a ride with Ray, organised by Cycling4All, Shropshire. Took National Cycle Route 81 from Shrewsbury Sports Village to the pub at Uffington. A great success! Mum and brother Alex also took part riding solo bikes."
Rupert from Newbury
Rupert and his Brother, James, collected our Berkshire based Mission tandem in late August 2023. He wrote that day, "They have borrowed from us before. James said today, "Many thanks guys. We are having a great time ! Rupert and James with the help of cameraman Fergus!"
Sam from Telford
Sam and his Carer, Nicky, collected our Shropshire based Barracuda California tandem in mid-August 2023. They didn't provide comments or a photo.
Sheba from Oxford
Sheba and her Mum, Lucie, collected our Berkshire based Duet wheelchair tandem in mid-August 2023. Unfortunately they didn't supply a photo or comments.
Holly from Stourport on Severn
Holly and her parents collected our South Staffordshire based Dawes Toucan tandem in early August 2023. Her Mum, Sarah, told our Facebook group, "We are so grateful for the freedom our loan tandem has been giving Holly. We have had a family bike ride every weekend so far."
Luke from Slaithwaite
Luke and his Dad, Andrew, collected our Manchester based 24" wheel Trek tag-along bike in early August 2023. Andrews said in mid-October, "Sorry for the delay! It’s great thank you. Getting along great with it. Thank you so much! It took me a while to get set up as I couldn’t get a back rest but I’ve adapted one myself so we’re up and running."
