This page lists the questions which club members and those wishing to join most commonly ask. If you have a question related to tandem riding or the Club which is not answered here, please send your question to us and we will add it.
A: Bury Tandem Club was set up by our honorary president who is himself blind. It makes it possible for blind and visually impaired people to enjoy the challenge and exhilaration of cycling which would not be possible without the help of the club's sighted front riders. For more details about how and why Bury Tandem Club was formed and what it aims to achieve, please see our history page. To learn more about what the club stands for, please see our philosophy page.
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A: Club tandem rides take place every Sunday, starting at approximately 9.30 am and finishing at around 2.00 pm. Distances usually range from about 40-60 miles depending on the difficulty of the ride itself, weather conditions, time of year, fitness of participants etc.
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A: Tandem riding is quite similar to riding solo in most ways, but there are some major differences. For this reason, every new front rider is fully trained before being allowed to ride on the open road with a blind or visually impaired rear rider. To find out more about becoming a front rider, please see our front riders' page.
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A: Previous experience of cycling or tandem riding is not required to become a member of Bury Tandem Club. All you need is a reasonable level of fitness or the willingness to get fit and we'll do the rest. All new rear riders are now fully trained on tandems before being allowed to ride with a front rider. To find out more about becoming a rear rider, please see our rear riders' page.
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A: For safety reasons, we recommend that all front and rear riders wear a helmet, gloves and a brightly coloured cycling top with the Bury Tandem Club logo on the front and back. You can purchase cycling helmets and gloves from your local cycle shop, along with other useful accessories such as cycling shoes, waterproof jackets, padded shorts and long trousers, drinks bottles and even special pedals which some riders prefer to the standard ones. The brightly coloured tops with the Bury Tandem Club logo on the front and back are available through the club. All rear riders should also carry a first-aid kit which is also available through the club.
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A: Bury Tandem Club makes every effort to ensure that its tandems are in the best condition possible in order to make tandeming with us as safe as it can be. We do, however, insist that all our members take out personal insurance before riding. If you do not do this, we will have to cancel your membership. We also have a "Conduct whilst with the Club" page which explains the rules which you must follow at all times when with the Club.
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A: The fitter you are to begin with, the easier and more enjoyable you will find tandeming. If, however, your level of fitness is not particularly high when you join, regular riding will soon improve it.
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