Blind cyclists will do motorway cycle on tandems

A GROUP of blind and visually impaired cyclists will take part in the M17-M18 Motorway Cycle from Tuam on Sunday September 10.

They are members of the Galway Visually Impaired Activities Club and they will take part on tandems, guided by a sighted “pilot”.
The club was founded over 11 years ago by Tom Langan, Paul Joyce and the late Michael Kelly, three visually impaired people. The aim was to organise activities which visually impaired people and their families can participate in together and enjoy.
The tandem cycling outings have been very successful, and some members even took part in a cycle from Berlin to Prague a couple of summers ago.
The cyclists have not yet decided how many of them will take the 100km Tuam to Gort and back route, and how many will settle for the 50km Tuam-Athenry route.
They will be in good company either way. Over 1,000 people have already signed up for the cycle, and online registration at €32 will remain open until August 31.
The cycle is organised by Tuam and Gort Lions Clubs and Tuam Cycling Club, with the participation of DirectRoute, motorway builders.
All funds raised go to local Lions Club charities, and to Tuam Cancer Care and the Galway Hospice.
It will be possible to sign up on the weekend of September 9-10, at a fee of €40 cash. You can save time and sign up on Saturday September 9 from 12 noon to 3 pm at the Steeltech display area on the Galway Road.
Registration on Sunday is from 8am. The 100km cycle rolls out at 9.30 and the 50km at 9.45.
Cyclists who have pre-registered can collect their wristbands, which they must wear to enter the motorway, on the Saturday (ideally) or on the Sunday morning.