Cycling for the Blind/Visually Impaired
Blind cycling (also called tandem cycling) is an accessible and rewarding sport where a visually impaired cyclist rides on a specially adapted bike alongside a sighted pilot. It offers fitness, adventure, social connection, and competitive opportunities for cyclists of all ages and ability levels.
Blind cycling uses tandem bicycles, where
– A pilot/front rider (sighted) steers, brakes, and gears
– A stoker/rear rider (visually impaired cyclist) pedals in tandem
This format allows blind and visually impaired riders to experience speed, teamwork, and the joy of cycling safely and inclusively.
The best way to start is by connecting with organisations and clubs that support cycling for persons with visual impairments. Blind Cycling is active in all provinces of South Africa.
What Assistance are you Looking for?
Blind Cycling
i. About Cycling
ii. Classification
iii. Governance
iv. Eligibility
v. Categories
vi. Classification Process
vii. Blind Cycling in South Africa
About Cycling
Cycling for the Disabled was first developed by blind cyclists who competed using tandem bicycles.
It was introduced as a Paralympic Sport in Seoul in 1988.
Depending on their classification, athletes use a bicycle, tricycle, tandem or hand cycle.
Cycling can be competed in, in both track or road events for individuals and teams with Sprints, Individual Pursuits, 1,000m Time Trial, Road Races and Road Time Trials. These events are for both men and women, with the cyclists grouped together according to their functional ability. They are open to athletes with a variety of types and degrees of disabilities – including persons with a visual impairments, who participate in classes depending on their degree of function and the skills required for Cycling.
The sport is governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
Classification
Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their disability or combinations of disabilities and can competed at social, club and Provincial level, as well as at International level.
Para-cycling classification, classifies participants into four functional disability types.
There are fourteen classifications based on functional disability type. The blind classifications are based on medical classification, no functional mobility classification:
– Visualisation of functional vision for a B1 competitor
– Visualisation of functional vision for a B2 competitor
– Visualisation of functional vision for a B3 competitor
Athletes who are blind or visually impaired compete using a two-person cycle known as a tandem, with a sighted “pilot” in the front seat.
Beyond the level of vision impairment, research done at the Central Institute on Employment Abilities of the Handicapped in Moscow has found differences in functional capabilities based on differences in visual acuity. This does not play a significant role in tandem cycling.
Under UCI rules, a professional cyclist must not be active for 24 months in any UCI Tour in order to apply as a para-cycling pilot.
Governance
Classification is handled by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). While the CP-ISRA has an interest in the sport because it is open to people with cerebral palsy, it is not governed by them. In 1983, the rules for this sport and approval for classification was done by the UCI coordinated Federation Internationale de Amateur de Cyclisme.
Eligibility
As of 2012, people with physical and visual disabilities are eligible to compete in this sport. In 1983,
Cerebral Palsy-International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) set the eligibility rules for classification for this sport. They defined cerebral palsy as a non-progressive brain lesion that results in impairment. People with cerebral palsy or non-progressive brain damage were eligible for classification by them.
The organisation also dealt with classification for people with similar impairments.
For their classification system, people with spina bifida were not eligible unless they had medical evidence of loco-motor dysfunction.
People with cerebral palsy and epilepsy were eligible provided the condition did not interfere with their ability to compete.
People who had strokes were eligible for classification following medical clearance.
Competitors with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and arthrogryposis were not eligible for classification by CP-ISRA, but were eligible for classification by International Sports Organisation for the Disabled for the Games of Les Autres.
Categories
Athletes are categorized according to gender, division, and class, defined by degree of impairment
GENDER
CYCLING
HANDBIKE
TRICYCLE
BLIND/VI
TANDEM
MALE
MC1-MC5
MH1-MH5
MT1-MT2
MB
TCB
FEMALE
WC1-WC5
WH1-WH5
WT1-WT2
WB
TCB
Para-cycling classes, as defined by the UCI, can be easily decoded.
The first letter stands for the gender (M for men, W for women). Subsequent letters stand for the sport division:
– C for Cycling
– H for Handbike
– T for Tricycle
– B for blind or visually impaired – also known as TCB for Tandem Class Blind)
The final number is the class in that division – with the lower the number, the greater the degree of impairment.
Therefore WH3 stands for the class Women’s Handbike 3.
Classification Process
International classification is undertaken by a UCI panel which consists of “a medical doctor, a physiotherapist and a sports technician” who will assess the athlete and assign them a class. The evaluation is done in English, and athletes are allowed to be accompanied by an interpreter and/or a representative of their country’s National Federation in the sport. Classified athletes will be issued a para-cycling classification card.