My name is Ben and I'm a front rider for Bury Tandem Club for the Visually Impaired. I'm in my early 30s and moved to Greater Manchester after getting a job in this area. I've been cycling for years but it had tailed off in the last few years. I needed to get fit again and to meet new people, so when I saw an advert in the local paper, asking for new front riders, I contacted the Tandem Club. I joined in early 2000.
I'd never been on a tandem before, so I was quite worried about it, but the existing members looked after me, answered my questions and away I went. I love it. Tandems are faster than normal bikes, on the flat and downhill and it's a great way for me to get to know the surrounding area and to get fit.
So far I've only ridden with a couple of the blind riders and it's great fun - you get the chance to chat a bit on the tandem, most of the rides have challenging bits but aren't too hard and there's a real mix of standards, at both ends of the bikes. The other great thing about being on a tandem is that car drivers tend to give you a wide berth, so you don't have to worry so much about traffic.
I haven't found out yet whether members of the club meet up socially, when they're not on the bikes, but it's something I'd be interested in. I didn't join Bury Tandem Club 'out of the goodness of my heart'; I joined because I wanted to ride and meet more people. The fact that half the riders can't see doesn't make much difference when you're cruising at 20 or 25 mph, with the wind in your hair.