Do you have an article you would like to share? Send it to website@scottishcycling.org.uk
This week we recieved a great article from National Charity Charlotte's Tandems. We are delighted to be able to share Charlotte's Tandems story. Do you have an article you would like to share? Send it to website@scottishcycling.org.uk
Charlotte's Tandems is a National Charity that lends tandems and tag-along bikes to people with disabilities and special requirements. You can find out how to borrow a tandem and more about the charity its self below!
Charlotte's Tandems lends relatively inexpensive, tandems and tag-alongs to anyone with an additional need or disability anywhere in the UK, for FREE. The Borrower has the bike for at least two months, to use as as much as they wish which allows them to enjoy the wonders of the open road.
The scheme which began in April 2010, now has over a hundred tandems and tag-alongs in the fleet and have Volunteer Helpers all over the UK, allowing you to borrow a tandem locally. The bikes range from fast road tandem bikes to leisure, mountain bike style tandem bikes, tandem trikes, tag-along bikes and a tag-along trike.
Charlotte's Tandems became a small charity in April 2011 then a Registered Charity in July 2012 and is named after seventeen year old Charlotte, who has severe learning difficulties, autism, challenging behaviours and is non-verbal.
Charlotte loves to be out on her tandem; whizzing down the Cotswold Escarpment and sitting back, allowing her Dad to all the hard work, as they climb back up the hills. Since she enjoys tandeming so much, the charity was set up so that other people could experience the delights of tandem riding, without splashing out on their own machine.
In Scotland the charity have a tandem based in the Highlands and several based near Edinburgh. There are also others just over the border, so plenty for people to hire!
The charity would love to hear from anyone who would like to borrow a tandem or tag-along. Contact Alex via the website, CharlottesTandems.co.uk, and he'll put you in touch with the nearest Helper. As you can see from the website, almost anyone can and should ride a tandem!
Feedback and photos of the many Borrowers feature highly on the charity's website CharlottesTandems.co.uk, Charlotte's Tandems Facebook Group and Twitter Feed (@CharlottesTand).
