Robert's Blind Bike Ride

My name is Robert Taylor, I am 66 years old, and a resident of Great Massingham. On Saturday 12th September, my pilot Michael Jay and I are taking on a massive challenge. We will be riding 100km on a tandem bicycle during the annual Norfolk Churches Trust Charity Bike Ride, with a goal to visit 25 different churches along the way. Our ultimate target is to raise £2,500 for two fantastic causes.
This journey is deeply personal. I am registered as Severely Sight Impaired, meaning I only have a small amount of peripheral vision remaining. Before this year, I had not ridden a bicycle in well over fifty years. That all changed in late May when I answered a call from Vision Norfolk, who were advertising for blind "stokers" to pair up with cyclists from the West Norfolk CTC.
Mounting the tandem for the first time was an unforgettable experience. From the very first push down on the pedal, I absolutely loved it—my only regret was that cycling had been missing from my life for so long!
It wasn't without its early hurdles, though. I was a bit on the wobbly side to start with, but soon got the hang of it. The worst thing about it in the beginning was when my first pilot, Colin, told me that as the bloke on the back, it was down to me to make the directional hand signals. I hadn't even contemplated taking my hands off the handlebars! Thankfully, we got there in the end.
Now, with over 300km of training under my belt from the past month, Michael and I are ready for the big day. We are raising vital funds to be split between:
Vision Norfolk: The incredible charity that gave me my confidence back, reintroduced me to the joy of cycling, and empowers visually impaired people across the county.
St Andrew’s Church, Little Massingham: My nominated church for the Norfolk Churches Trust event. The funds raised will help preserve this cherished piece of our local heritage for future generations.
Every donation, large or small, provides independent lifelines and protects our local history. Please sponsor our tandem team and help us smash our £2,500 target!