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Enthusiasm Trumps Weather for Tandem Clinic

Originally planned for July, our clinic for new front (pilots) and back (stokers) riders was delayed to late August due to the winter peak of COVID-19 infections.  Despite some lingering winter showers on the day, it was a great roll-up for our training session, sharing tandem riding hints and skills among new and experienced riders.

Taking advantage of sheltered facilities at the George Burnett Leisure Centre together with a nearby quiet track in the Karawara parkland, our cohort of new volunteer pilots were taken through our induction program by Connie and Beau, two of our experienced front riders.  Our volunteer pilots had a great range of cycling backgrounds, so it was an easy transition from theory to practice.  At the same time Jo and Yew-Li shared their experience as stokers with new vision-impaired riders who also took to the bikes like ducks to water. A special thanks to all participants for coming along for the morning.

Also, a huge thanks to WATCAC members for enabling the clinic. This will help WATCAC pair up blind and vision-impaired stokers for our upcoming spring and summer ride program. We are always on the lookout for experienced female cyclists who may be interested in piloting a tandem. So, if you missed our August clinic, we’d love to hear from you.

The Western Australian Tandem Cycling Advisory Council was formed as a community organisation in the early 1980’s to better promote tandem cycling as a part of mainstream cycling and support our riders as members of Western Australia’s enthusiastic cycling community. Our riding program includes group rides, social rides, community events and rides with associated groups. A collection of road and gravel tandems is available to members for group rides or personal hire arrangements.

For enquiries, please visit our contact us link.

A group of 17 people stand together with 7 tandem bikes for a group photo while one member celebrates with a start jump at the back of the group. Oh what a feeling!
A group of 17 people stand together with 7 tandem bikes for a group photo while one member celebrates with a start jump at the back of the group. Oh what a feeling!

 

Two tandems and a single bike are riding along a shared path in the George Burnett Reserve.
Two tandems and a single bike are riding along a shared path in the George Burnett Reserve.

 

A new pilot shows the V for Victory salute as he rides along with a WATCAC stoker on a white and blue tandem.
A new pilot shows the V for Victory salute as he rides along with a WATCAC stoker on a white and blue tandem.

 

Another new pilot rides a white and red tandem on a circuit of the training track with another of our experienced WATCAC stokers.
Another new pilot rides a white and red tandem on a circuit of the training track with another of our experienced WATCAC stokers.