Blind cyclist Hein Wagner entered the records books this past weekend by bicycling solo in a 24-mile race in South Africa.
Wagner averaged 14 mph -- up to 24 mph in the downhills -- in the Construction du Cap Ninety Niner. He followed a friend who had a noise device attached to his bicycle, and two other cyclists followed to warn him if he was veering off the course.
"Emotionally it was very draining. I had to concentrate really hard for the sake of my safety and that of other cyclists and road users. ... There was no room for error. It was frightening at some stages, especially when trucks passed us because they would mask the noise I had to follow."
It's not uncommon for blind cyclists to take to the road, although it usually done on a tandem with a cyclist who can see.
One, Ron Burzese of Minneapolis, bicycled cross-country on a tandem several years ago. He enjoyed it so much that he raised money to buy two tandems for Blind, Inc., an adult training center where he works as a travel instructor.
Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo runs Eyecycle as part of its Adapted Physical Activity Programs. The program matches students with blind bicycling enthusiasts in the community; the student captains while the blind person stokes.
The US Association of Blind Athletes offers a page a tandem bicycle riding and racing.
