Finley from Trysull
Finley and his parents collected our South Staffordshire based Claud Butler tandem at the end of July 2020 and they are its first Borrowers. Mum, Anna, wrote to our Facebook group a couple of weeks later, "We borrowed a tandem from Andy (south staffs helper) 10 days ago for our 10 year old son Finley. He hasn’t been able to master riding a bike independently yet due to his dyspraxia and other mobility problems. Since collecting the tandem Fin and his dad have done quite a few bike rides, and the bike even travelled to Lincolnshire this weekend and discovered lots of fab places to cycle. We are so very grateful! Thank you!"
Catlin from Durham
Catlin and her Mum, Jill, collected our Newcastle based Orbit tandem at the end of July 2020. They are it's first Borrower but at the end of September Jill reported, "We have been struggling to get Caitlin used to the tandem."
Arusha's daughter from Kendal
Arusha collected our newly donated Lancashire based Viking Timber Trail tandem in late July 2020, but at the end of September, David our Lancashire Helper reported that they haven't ridden it.
Samuel from Matlock
Samuel and his Mum, Sarah, collected our Manchester based Viking tandem in late July 2020. More details and a photo are to follow.
Anna from Poulton-le-Fylde
Anna and her Mum and Dad, Michelle and Craig, collected our Lancashire based Dawes Galaxy tandem in late July 2020. Our Halper, David, wrote to our Facebook group, "Anna's dad, Craig, has been practicing riding the Lancashire based Dawes Galaxy. Today Anna was confident that Craig knew what he was doing, so they went for a ride together."
Dylan from Belfast
Dylan and his Mum, Siobhan, collected our Northern Ireland based Viking Valhalla tandem in July 2020. He has been reluctant to ride it however.
Elsie from Huddersfield
Elsie and her Dad, Greg, collected our Manchester based Trek tag-along bike in late July 2020.
Molly from South Staffs
Molly and her Dad, Dave collected one of our South Staffordshire based tandems and a pair of Crank Shorteners in late July 2020. More details and a photo are to follow.
Robert from Saddleworth
Robert and Trish collected our Yorkshire based Landescape Atlantic tandem at the end of July 2020. Ian, our Yorkshire Helper wrote on our Facebook group, "After a short test ride Trish noticed that Robert's stoker seat looked far more comfortable so I swapped it with the captain seat, a few more adjustments and they were away! They have taken two of our new hi viz vests and plan to wear them on their outings...along with their new helmets (not shown in photo!!)"
Robert from Saddleworth
Robert and Trish collected our Manchester based Orbit Velocity tandem in late July 2020. Unfortunately they didn't get on with the drop handlebars so returned it soon after, see above.
Emily from Dunkinfield
Emily and her family collected our Manchester based Viking Tronheim tandem at the end of July 2020. They wrote soon after that the photo shows, "Emily with her Daddy having a test ride on the Tandem we got yesterday , looking forward to getting out on long rides with the rest of the family". They then wrote that they'd has a 13 mile family ride.
Toby from North West London
Toby and his Mum, Michelle, collected our Berkshire based Reflex Timberline tandem at the end of July 2020. They rode to Buckingham Palace on it and put some photos on our Facebook group.
Hope from Dereham
Hope and her Parents collected our Norfolk based Viking Pennine Trail tandem in late July 2020. Jenny, our Norfolk based Helper, wrote on our Facebook group, "Hope and her Mum and Dad picked up a tandem this morning and sent me this photo this afternoon. Her Mum says "We are totally enjoying the bike!!!! Hope is loving the freedom!!! Thank you so much!""
Ian wrote, "Well we've had our tandem from Jenny in Norwich for 3 days now and the weather has been awful! Rainy and very windy! But tonight Miss H came down at 1900hrs and asked to go gor a bike ride! So we kitted up and headed out. Within 15 minutes she was having so much fun she was actually singing out load lol. This is us after an hour and a half of riding around the Norfolk countryside. I'm so so happy that Miss H loves riding so much can see this being a life long thing for us. Thanks Charlotte's Tandems for the loan of this amazing bike."
Ian wrote, "Well we've had our tandem from Jenny in Norwich for 3 days now and the weather has been awful! Rainy and very windy! But tonight Miss H came down at 1900hrs and asked to go gor a bike ride! So we kitted up and headed out. Within 15 minutes she was having so much fun she was actually singing out load lol. This is us after an hour and a half of riding around the Norfolk countryside. I'm so so happy that Miss H loves riding so much can see this being a life long thing for us. Thanks Charlotte's Tandems for the loan of this amazing bike."
Olivia from Thornton-Cleveleys
Olivia and her parents collected our Lancashire based Dawes Duet tandem in late July 2020. Here she is with her Dad riding near Fleetwood.
Tom from Wigan
Tom and his Dad collected our Lancashire based Viking Derwent tandem in late July 2020. David, our Lancs Helper wrote on our Facebook site, "This morning Tom made good on his promise to dad Richard, they rode the Lancashire based Viking Derwent for the first time." See a video of them in action on there too.
Oliver from Torquay
Oliver and his parents collected our Gloucestershire based KHS Alite tandem in late July 2020. See a video of them in action on our Facebook group and also a photo of them having and evening ride in Torquay.
Ed from Bristol
Ed's Mum, Victoria, collected our newly donated Gloucestershire based Wehoo tag-along bike in late July 2020. She wrote on our Facebook group soon after, "7 year old Ed in our first ever family bike ride!! Thanks so much to Alex at Charlotte’s Tandems Gloucestershire for the loan of this Weehoo tag-along, meaning that Ed can now join in. Look how happy he is! Amazing charity."
Astrid from Chelmsford
Astrid and her Dad, Cedric, collected our Suffolk based Ammaco tandem in mid-July 2020. At the end of September, Ced wrote, "I have not managed to get my Daughter on the tandem yet, she is a bit scared of it. I hope to persevere with it." A photo is to follow.
Grace from Lancs
Grace and her Mum, Clare, collected our Lancashire based Viking Companion tandem in mid-July 2020. Clare wrote on our Facebook group, "Grace is having a great time already and is excited for more bike rides. What a fantastic charity. Thank you x" and "Furthest we’ve been put on the Viking. Plan to do a little bit longer each time. Still lots of smiles from Grace (and mummy) and with each ride she is becoming more confident x"
In August Clare wrote, "Yesterday Dad took Grace on their first ride together. It’s usually me but Dad raised the seat and was able to do a 5 mile cycle early morning to avoid the heat. Grace is still loving her rides and her confidence has come on in leaps and bounds. It’s amazing to see her happy to do something most children take for granted. Thank you again for such an amazing experience x"
In August Clare wrote, "Yesterday Dad took Grace on their first ride together. It’s usually me but Dad raised the seat and was able to do a 5 mile cycle early morning to avoid the heat. Grace is still loving her rides and her confidence has come on in leaps and bounds. It’s amazing to see her happy to do something most children take for granted. Thank you again for such an amazing experience x"
Finley from Wisbech
Finley and his Dad, Ben, collected our Cambridgeshire based Viking Valhalla tandem in mid-July 2020. The next day, his Mum, Sarah wrote on our Facebook group, "Finley could not have been more excited this morning to get out on the tandem! We have been so lucky to have had this tandem loaned to us for the summer from Charlottes Tandem Charity xx First ride 5.2miles! Xx Thank you so much #charlottestandems"
Jake from Dorset
Jake and his parents collected our Gloucestershire based Viking Companion tandem in early July 2020. He told Alex that the tandem was "Awesome!"
Rebecca from Siddington, Glos
Rebecca's husband and daughters came to collect our Gloucestershire based green Thorn Adventurer tandem in early July 2020. They wrote in mid-August, "What an amazing feeling , my wife being able to get on a bike again and enjoy the feeling of open space, freedom and outside the four walls she feels trapped in after 6 years since she fell ill with MS.
Thank you so much to Charlotte's Tandems and all the team behind the scenes, it is amazing what you do and the effect it has on people's lives, can't thank you enough."
Thank you so much to Charlotte's Tandems and all the team behind the scenes, it is amazing what you do and the effect it has on people's lives, can't thank you enough."
Chris from Shrewsbury
Chris and his Mum, Lyn, collected our brand new Shropshire based Viking Timber Trail tandem in early July 2020. They have borrowed a tandem from us previously.
Thomas from South Wales
Thomas's Dad collected our newly donated Gloucestershire based Raleigh U+1 in early July 2020. In late July James said, “The picture was taken at Castle Coch in Cardiff. We've been out on it twice so far and Thomas has loved it. Going out again this weekend weather permitting.”
Joe from Royal Wotton Bassett
Joe and his Dad, Graham, collected one of our Gloucestershire based Viking Salerno tandems in early July 2020. Graham said on our Facebook site the same day, "Joseph was so excited we had to stop at Grandma's and show her his new bike on the way home. He loves the bike,"
Molly from Yatton
Molly and her parents collected one of our Gloucestershire based Viking Salerno tandems in early July 2020.
Yannah from Stretford
Yannah and her Mum, Debbie, collected our Lancashire based Why? Bikes Tandem and a backrest in early July 2020.
Harrison from Woodley, Berkshire
Harrison and his Mum, Tanya, collected our Berkshire based Duet wheelchair tandem at the start of July 2020. Tanya wrote in late July, "Here is a couple of pics of Harrison on the tandem, he is absolutely loving it. Feel very lucky to have had this opportunity, many thanks."
Helen from Suffolk
Helen and her husband collected our Suffolk based Claud Butler tandem in early July 2020. In early September she wrote, "Here I am last weekend. We cycled out for breakfast on our anniversary. Sadly in these COVID times it’s not so easy to get a picture of us both but I hope this works, I am Very much enjoying being chief Stoker"
Jaimee from Kidderminster
Jaimee and her Mum, Ella, collected our Shropshire based BuddyBike in mid-July 2020. Ray, our Shropshire Helper wrote on our Facebook site, "Here's Jaime testing out the Shropshire buddy bike for the first time on getting it home. Mum reports that they have been out a couple of times and its so fab but has found it a challenge to steer using those extra wide handlebars. 'Thank you for this opportunity I am so so grateful'."
Kate's Dad from Rochdale
Kate and her Dad collected our Lancashire based Viking Derwent tandem in early July 2020. Unfortunately no photo or comments were supplied.
Asa from Buxton
Asa and his Parents collected the Manchester based Trek tag-along at the start of July 2020. They wrote to Dave in a card, "Thank you so much for the loan of the tag-along. We will keep in touch with how we are doing." Son after they swapped the Trek for our newly bought Manchester based Weehoo. At the end of July they wrote on our Facebook group, "A HUGE thank you to Dave Pickett (Manchester helper) for the loan of this brilliant Weehoo! Asa has had a super happy morning trialing the back roads near our home in Tideswell, Buxton, Derbyshire. Daddy & Asa are back on it now, whilst I catch up on some very overdue paperwork, but I hope to join them on the Monsal Trail next weekend".👍😃
Carys from Bridgend, South Wales
Carys and her Dad, Jon, collected our newly donated, Gloucestershire based, Dawes Super Galaxy tandem in the start of July 2020.
Joel from Notts
Joel and his family collected our new Lincolnshire based Viking Companion tandem in early July 2020. Nicola, our Helper wrote on our Facebook group, "Joel and his family took the Lincs Viking Companion for a test ride before borrowing it. He’s going to make a brilliant stoker and looked to be enjoying the ride 😁"
Chris from London
Chris and Darren collected our Lancashire based Hase Pino tandem at the start of July 2020. They plan to ride from John O'Groats to Lands End on it.
Isaac from Somerset
Isaac's Dad, Julian, collected one of our Gloucestershire based Richmond tandems at the start of July 2020. His Mum, Judith, wrote, "He enjoyed it but part of his autism is that he takes a while to get used to new experiences I’m sure he’ll enjoy it over the school holidays from next week and he’ll get more and more confident "
Thomas from Oxford
Thomas and his Mum, Amanda, collected our brand new Oxford based Viking Timber Trail tandem at the start of July 2020. Amanda reported that they were taking things slowly but then reported that they couldn't get him on the bike.
Abbie from Hayes
Steve, our Hertfordshire Helper wrote at the start of July 2020, "Abbie and Mum Jennie make a spirited first ride in the rain as they collect our Herts based Viking Valhalla tandem today."
Ella from Hutton-le-Hole
Ella and her Mum, Briony, collected our Newcastle based Viking Pennine Trail tandem at the start of July 2020. Briony said on our Facebook site, "Can't thank you enough. The sheer joy on Ella's face and how proud we both were that she was on a 'real' bike. We have been granted freedom which will certainly help us get through lockdown and the summer. We've been out probably done around 7 miles but phone didn't record. Hopefully we will get out lots more.😃😃Hopefully she will start using her legs more than her mouth."
Felix from Hingham,Norfolk
Felix and his family are the first Borrowers of our newly donated Mission Piggyback tag-along trike. They collected it at the start of July 2020. His Mum, Cristal, wrote on our Facebook group, "Felix on his first try on the mission tag along trike. I was a little apprehensive as he didn't seem keen at first but he loved it! Thank you to Jenny and Charlotte's Tandems 😊"
Jai from Brentford
Jai and his Mum, Mariette, are the first Borrowers of our newly donated, Berkshire based, Thorn Voyager tandem. They collected it at the start of July 2020.
