[Sportsandrec] finding guides

Thu Nov 13 14:16:01 UTC 2008

Ashley,

With a program like BORP in the San Francisco Bay area they provide a bike 
and pilot for people to try. There are also tandem groups around the country 
so maybe looking at tandems of America. I am not aware of any organized 
programs on the East coast, but I'll be on the lookout.

I don't want to discourage, but just because you have a tandem doesn't mean 
it makes it any easier to find a pilot. I still struggle finding people at 
times. I've had to show up at the bike shop in the past before the local 
rides took off and just ask--I don't like going that route, and in fact 
haven't done this lately, so maybe that's why I don't have a regular person 
to ride with right now.  Keeping up with the spin classes is good so that 
when you do have a chance to go out on the road you'll have some fitness, 
plus spinning is good for developing a smooth pedal stroke.

Keep looking!

Lori

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] finding guides

> Kathy,
>
> I think I might ask a cycling club if I can find one; there is likely one 
> in
> my area; I know there are running clubs.
> The thing is in my case I need the pilot to supply everything.  I do not 
> own
> a tandem and cannot rent one.  They are thousands of dollars and unless 
> I'm
> going to ride on a regular basis, paying for one is really not worthwhile.
> I'd ride recreationally whereas Ron rides competitively.
> I'd rather not pay someone either but would say thanks in other ways such 
> as
> a dinner treat.
>
> Its been my experience that its difficult to find people to be of
> assistance.  I had lots of trouble two semesters finding readers and I was
> even paying a good hourly rate!  I've also found readers not so reliable 
> and
> I hope this would not happen with a recreation guide.  These would be 
> adults
> whereas my readers have been students so hope its different.
>
> Ashley
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kathy McGillivray" <kjm at usfamily.net>
> To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List"
> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] finding guides
>
>
>> Hi. I want to add a few comments to what Ron has said. While I am nowhere
>> near as experienced or skilled as he is at finding pilots or at cycling, 
>> I
>> need to agree with him. It can be a pain sometimes to try to find pilots
>> or "guides", as you say. The best way to find them is to ask. There's a
>> verse in the Bible which I think applies here: "You have not because you
>> ask not." While it's talking about asking God for things, I think it
>> applies to people, as well. I have not paid people to ride with me,
>> although I do treat them to dinner at times or try to help them in other
>> ways. I've met some great people through tandem cycling. A lot of them
>> just want to bike and want to make it possible for me to bike, too. One
>> person I've biked with some in the past year was in the market for 
>> atandem
>> and wanted me to show him some tips for being a captain to his 
>> girlfriend.
>> He wanted to try a tandem out first before buying one. I rode with him 
>> for
>> about two hours and he bought a tandem a week later. (Hey, I'll take what
>> I can get.)
>>
>> The main things I would say are ask and don't give up. I don't mean that
>> you should keep pestering the same person, but I do mean that you just
>> need to keep asking different people. Finding a cycling club can really
>> help. I have Ron to thank for getting me hooked up with the bicycling 
>> club
>> in the twin cities. Try going on google and seeing if there is a club in
>> your area.
>>
>> I'm just sad that it's under 30 degrees today in Minnesota and my main
>> biking season is over. I do have a pilot who bikes all winter though and
>> wants to try it some with me, so maybe I'll stop being a wimp and try the
>> under 30 degrees stuff one of these days.
>>
>> Hope that helps.
>>
>> Kathy McGillivray
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Ron & the bears" <rockthebike at usfamily.net>
>> To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List"
>> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] finding guides
>>
>>
>>> Ashley Bramlett wrote, "Hi all,
>>> :
>>> : I'm impressed with the recent bike stories and hearing about past
>>> accomplishments. I am glad  I am active, or try to be, for recreation
>>> purposes.
>>>
>>> Hi Ashley, I am happy to hear that we purked up your ears. That is one 
>>> of
>>> my
>>> hopes when I go off on one of my long, explanational e-mails.:) I want 
>>> to
>>> share the fun and the notion of how to get started, or pursue whatever
>>> goals
>>> you may have. You mention "recreation purposes", that is really what it
>>> is
>>> all about. After years of riding tandems for fun, fitness, and other
>>> personal goals, , I eventually got into competitive cycling as a natural
>>> progression. In fact, it is that competition that helps keep me 
>>> motivated
>>> to
>>> stay in shape. If I skip a workout, I may lose some fitness, but when I
>>> think of how I might pay the price when racing, or let down my teammate,
>>> then, I have more of a reason to train. The goal of fitness is more
>>> secure
>>> at that point.
>>>
>>> Ashley wrote...You all seem to have it all covered wich is impressive. 
>>> A
>>> big barrier from my experience, and I'm sure many blind people, is
>>> finding
>>> people to assist you outdoors.  It takes coordination of schedules and a
>>> commitment from the other person.
>>>
>>> Ron...Well, actually, it may seem that way at times, but it is a lot of
>>> work. I am promoting myself for tandem pilots all the time. Sometimes, I
>>> am
>>> subtle, other times, I need to be more direct and just ask. It is a 
>>> feast
>>> or
>>> famine venture. Some of my best support actually comes from Lori, from
>>> this
>>> list. Sometimes, I get pretty discouraged and complain to her. I cry on
>>> her
>>> shoulder and she sends me back out there, inspired to ride again.
>>> However,
>>> when it comes together, it is all worth it. That is what I need to focus
>>> on
>>> to keep training.
>>>
>>> Ashley...It would be nice to run or power walk outdoors or bike, weather
>>> permitting.  But I settle for the gym only because I don't have help.
>>> I'm
>>> sure most blind people are in my position and you all are the minority.
>>> As
>>> anecdotal evidence, as I ask blind people what they like to do they
>>> mention
>>> sedentary activities like computers, tv or reading.  Blind children tell
>>> me
>>> reading or singing or a musical instrument.  Rare do I hear of an active
>>> activity.  I think there is one runner out of perhaps twenty people in 
>>> my
>>> nfb chapter, one member.
>>>
>>> Ron...Much of what you just said, I think, is as much an American
>>> epidemic
>>> in general. There is not as much interest in physical exercise and
>>> therefore, there is not the infrastructure of role models to mentor
>>> potential participants. Perhaps blind people have one more excuse. One
>>> reason I, myself, am on this list is to gain motivation from learning
>>> about
>>> the athletic pursuits of others here.
>>> :
>>> Ashley...So my question.  How did you find guides to assist you in
>>> running,
>>> biking swimming, etc?
>>>
>>> It is an ongoing thing for me. However, I have to give credit to God for
>>> my
>>> first tandem pilot. It took me over a year to buy my first tandem. The
>>> one I
>>> wanted cost over $4,000. With my partial eyesight, I actually rode it
>>> myself, down to the bike shop for some speed parts. As I was leaving, a
>>> man
>>> tapped me on the shoulder to ask me about my new machine. He and his 
>>> wife
>>> were planning to buy that exact model. I confessed that I was blind and
>>> planned to be on the back seat. He gave me his card and became my first
>>> pilot. On my first ride with him, I met my second pilot at a gas 
>>> station.
>>>
>>> Ashley...Are your guides paid?  If not what motivates them?  In the
>>> activity
>>> do you feel you can set the pace and own the workout or does your guide
>>> say
>>> something?
>>>
>>> I cannot bring myself to pay a pilot, though it probably would help me
>>> find
>>> more. I do take them out to lunch or dinner, buy gas or entry fees, or
>>> contribute to the friendship other ways. I think what motivates them is
>>> the
>>> whole tandem idea. Remember, sighted people buy tandems for that
>>> experience
>>> of togetherness and teamwork. It is fun to ride the tandem for many of
>>> them,
>>> because it is generally faster. I have had some riders want to ride with
>>> me
>>> in order to keep up with their friends, or beat their husbands for a
>>> change.
>>> I think my pilot for Saturday's epic ride feels that she has a better
>>> chance
>>> of completing the entire ride with me on the tandem. Without her, I may
>>> not
>>> be riding it at all, so it is a fair deal. Some of my best pilots are so
>>> experienced with their single bike that they want a new challenge, or to
>>> simply give back to the community.
>>>
>>> As far as owning the workout, I think the tandem has an advantage here.
>>> If
>>> you two are just out for fun, then either one of you can ride as hard or
>>> easy as you like. The only thing that needs to be the same is your
>>> cadence,
>>> or the speed of your pedalling. As for the effort, it can be 50/50, or
>>> 75/25, or whatever.
>>>
>>> It also depends on what rides you do. When I was getting ready for a
>>> recent
>>> time-trial, Tom, my pilot for our regular training ride asked me what my
>>> goals were for the ride. Though he was not in as good of shape as me, he
>>> put
>>> us in front of the group and told me to hammer for a while. That was the
>>> race workout I needed. Other times, I will work hard on some hills, 
>>> while
>>> my
>>> pilots do their own comfortable pace. If I am tapering for an event, I
>>> may
>>> become the slacker, but I try to set the expectations before we ride.
>>> With a
>>> tandem, at least you are always together.
>>>
>>> Ashley...Thanks.
>>>
>>> Ron...Thanks for asking!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --- Get FREE High Speed Internet from USFamily.Net! --
>>> http://www.usfamily.net/mkt-freepromo.html ---
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Sportsandrec mailing list
>>> Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Sportsandrec:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/kjm%40usfamily.net
>>
>>
>>
>> --- Get FREE High Speed Internet from USFamily.Net! --
>> http://www.usfamily.net/mkt-freepromo.html ---
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sportsandrec mailing list
>> Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Sportsandrec:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net
>>
>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>> signature database 3607 (20081112) __________
>>
>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>> http://www.eset.com
>>
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sportsandrec mailing list
> Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Sportsandrec:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/twilight2%40kconline.com
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.2/1783 - Release Date: 11/12/2008 
10:01 AM