Disability | Circe Cycles

Customising a tandem

admin — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:25:16 +0000

Every tandem rider is different; different sizes, different fitness levels and different needs. As tandem riders and enthusiasts ourselves, we are aware of the sort of use to which a tandem might be put, and, like most tandem companies, specify our models to meet those needs. However, we also want customers to have the best tandem for their type of cycling and recognise that this is often only achievable by modifying our existing models or even ‘ground up’ builds.

One of the most important things when riding any bike, particularly a tandem, is comfort, and we work with customers to optimise their riding position, in particular, with reference to existing bike fit and to contact points; saddle, handlebars and pedals. This can mean, with new tandem riders, working with dimensions from their solo bikes; something we frequently do.

For many customers one of our standard specification tandem builds, with any required tweaks, and attention to the fit and comfort, is perfect, but for others, the whole customisation gamut is available. This can sometimes seem daunting, but it’s as simple as having a conversation working through needs and projected usage. Some customers already have preferences which we are happy to implement, but otherwise we make suggestions to work towards the best tandem for your needs.

Here are some recent custom tandems we’ve done.

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Peterborough to Paris on a Circe Helios tandem

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 14:55:18 +0000

To cycle 430 miles from Peterborough to Paris is an impressive ride by any standards, even more so when suffering from the devastating neurological illness, Parkinson’s disease. Marjorie Abbott has been a sufferer for 12 years, but is passionate about the importance of regular exercise in controlling or delaying the development of symptoms. To meet her and go cycling with her is testimony to that belief!

As a result of her illness, Marj cannot ride a solo bike, so she and her husband, Clif, ride a tandem bicycle where he is responsible for the steering and balance. She, and they, are an inspiration, not just to other Parkinson’s sufferers for whom they regularly do events to raise money, but to us all.

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Cycling with dementia.

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:50:17 +0000

Contrarily, with advances in medicine and diet, and the consequent increases in longevity, dementia, or the diminution of mental faculties, has seen rapid growth, with nearly 1 million sufferers in the UK. At present, there is no cure, but research indicates that exercise can delay the onset and on-going decline of the brain and its abilities.

At a personal level, my mother had cycled until she was 82 – I was with her on her last solo ride into the country for dinner, and remember how alert and sprightly she was. With the coming winter and gradual diminution of her faculties, she never rode her solo again. Over the next few years, her deterioration continued, but with the development of the Morpheus, I wondered whether it might be possible to strap her onto the front seat and for her to pedal a bike again. It took some persuasion and I was in dread of the possible consequences, but that first ride was one of the most poignant moments of my life. For the first time in ages, she became engaged and interested, and this energy stayed with her for a few days. That first ride, we managed about 5 miles, but over the course of the summer we built up to a couple of rides approaching 20 miles. She always pedalled the whole way and it was clear that after each ride, she had a few days when she was energetic and aware, mentally and physically, well beyond her norm.
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Cycling with the visually impaired

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:27:55 +0000

A tandem is the ideal way for the visually impaired to get out on a bicycle. When the Cambridge based charity, Camsight, celebrated its centenary, by organising a two day ride of 100 miles for the visually impaired people with whom it works, we joined in with a couple of Circe tandems. For our team, with little experience of blindness, it was a remarkable and fun experience. We rode with the whole spectrum of visual impairment, from moderate to profoundly blind, and the ride, which started out with some trepidation, turned into a great achievement for all concerned.
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