The Montpellier Tandem Club Handisport is recruiting drivers

Tous les mois : sorties deux samedis après-midi et une journée entière.

The club allows visually impaired people to escape from everyday life by cycling. Presentation.

Pedal in pairs, in tandem. The pilot in front. The second, behind, who, due to his blindness or a motor disability, is unable to enjoy the joys of cycling independently. This is the generous and successful bet of the Montpellier Tandem Club Handisport, affiliated with the French Handisport Federation, which is celebrating its 37th anniversary this year. This group where "one sees, both pedal" leaves on the paths two Saturday afternoons and one full day during the week per month.

Departure from 114 rue Jules-Isaac, for around forty kilometers, mainly on the coastline or hinterland. Real cycling where everyone can find something for themselves. The pleasure of practicing physical activity outdoors, in safety, in a friendly atmosphere, "allows you to escape" and to let off steam, for the visually impaired. "I like cycling, I like doing sports, tandem outings are good for the body and the mind", testifies Abdel El Amrani, blind, 64 years old, who takes part in Saturday outings.

"I'm learning a huge life lesson. We share emotions, efforts"

A shared pleasure, authentic human exchanges, on the guides side, admiring devant "the self-improvement" of their teammates. "I'm learning a huge life lesson. We share emotions and efforts during Saturday afternoon outings, but also during other events, such as the Aude disabled sports tour, for a week in September. All kinds of cycles suitable for example for people who pedal with their hands participate. During the week, we also organize day trips. And in June, we leave for four days, this year on the Causse de Blandas, in the Gard, with two days of tandem and two days of walking. We are in the process of identifying the routes", testifies Jean-Pierre Meillan, president of the club.

"L 'access to cycle paths in Montpellier is difficult […] but you get used to it"

To become a guide, all you have to do is report to the association. A test will be carried out to ensure that the person is comfortable on the bike. "A tandem is a longer and heavier machine than a single-seater bicycle, it you have to take the turns a little wider for example. Access to cycle paths in Montpellier is difficult due to the pins or chicanes placed at the start to reserve access for bicycles, but you get used to it."

Contact: montpelliertandemhandisport.com.

Correspondent: 06 48 93 89 46