Tag: cycling event

Two’s company for visually-impaired Edinburgh and Lothian cyclists

Lothian tandem riders are gearing up for Poppyscotland’s popular Sportive event, proving visual impairment is no barrier to cycling.

Edinburgh-based Vie Velo cycling club pairs sighted “pilots” with blind and visually-impaired riders for regular social bike rides.

Now 30 group members have challenged themselves to complete the Sportive on Sunday 25th September, cycling up to 68 miles on routes through East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.

They will join around 1000 cyclists at the event, which is Poppyscotland’s biggest fundraiser outside the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Now in its seventh year, it has already raised more than £250,000 to support the Armed Forces community in Scotland.

This year’s Sportive aims to be the most inclusive ever, opening up the route to tandems and e-bike users.

Ken Reid, 63, from North Berwick, chair of Vie Velo, took up tandem riding in 1990 when he found his eyesight deteriorating due to retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive condition.

He helped set up the club in 2019 with the support of Cycling UK and grants from RS MacDonald Charitable Trust and Transport Scotland.

They now have almost 90 members, with around one third affected by visual impairment, and meet at Saughton Park for bike rides at least twice a month.

Ken said: “We were looking for a challenge for our group and were keen to support Poppyscotland. We felt there was a close connection since many veterans in Scotland are affected by sight loss.

“I kept cycling solo as long as I could when I realised I was losing my sight. But then I decided to buy a tandem and found a group of mates who would take turns to go out with me.

“We were delighted to be able to set up the club to get more blind and partially-sighted people engaged in cycling. We’d like more people to know about us and be aware they have the option of getting back on a bike again.

“The most important thing in tandem riding is trust. You have to place all your trust in the pilot, and that can be a big change if you’re used to having control. But it’s also great fun and very sociable – we’re not racers and all our weekend rides include stops for coffee and cake!”

The Sportive, sponsored by Fred.Olson Renewables, will start and finish at Prestonpans Community Centre. Entrants can choose between three routes of different lengths, taking in stunning coastal and country roads. The most challenging 102-mile route covers the Lammermuirs, before dipping down to Chirnside and Duns in the Scottish Borders.

Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome the riders from Vie Velo, and very grateful for their support. They are truly inspirational and really do show that cycling can be for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

“We’re excited that the Sportive is returning to East Lothian and the Borders after a two-year break. This year’s event aims to be the most inclusive ever, and we’re encouraging riders of all abilities to take part, whether on a traditional bike, an e-bike or a tandem.

“The Sportive is always very popular, but there’s still time to join in, get fit, and raise funds for a great cause Participants can choose between three routes, taking in stunning coastal views and country roads, with a timed hill climb to challenge the most experienced cyclists.

“We’d like to thank Fred. Olson Renewables for continuing to sponsor us this year. This means 100 per cent of the sign-up fee and any sponsorship raised will go towards providing vital welfare support to veterans, servicemen and women and their families across Scotland.”

The Sportive is an “open road” cycling event, meaning that no roads will be closed in order to minimise disruption to the public. Riders can have a free place if they are supporting a cyclist with a disability.

Cyclists can register at Prestonpans Community Centre on Saturday 24th September between 2pm and 6pm, or on Sunday 25th from 6:30am to 8:30am. 

For more information, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive

Poppyscotland cancels Sportive cycling event

One of East Lothian’s best-loved events of the year has become the latest to be cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Poppyscotland’s Sportive cycling event sees almost 1,000 riders take to the roads of East Lothian and the Borders in September, with many helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the leading Armed Forces charity. However, organisers have taken the agonising decision to cancel the 2020 Sportive.

Gordon Michie, the Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: “This has been a really difficult decision and one we have not taken lightly, but we feel it is the right course of action.

“There are several key reasons why we have taken this decision, including the ongoing uncertainty regarding mass participation events and when they can safely start again.

“It is imperative that we ensure the safety of our participants, suppliers and volunteers, and we concluded that it would be difficult to keep feeding stations and other facilities at the event clean and managed according to government guidelines.

“By cancelling the event until next year, we have reduced any potential risk to the communities of East Lothian, the Borders and beyond as it is imperative that we maintain the strong relationships that we have built with them over the past seven years.”

However, Mr Michie added: “Yes, this is disappointing news for us all, but we already have the date in the diary for next year’s event with the Sportive returning on Sunday, 26th September 2021. We will be back bigger and better than ever, especially given that next year we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Scottish Poppy Appeal.”

Sgt Frank Parisi, a full-time Reservist with Edinburgh’s very own 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, RAF Reserves, is a member of the Poppyscotland Sportive committee, and has taken part in the event several times over the years.

Like many, Frank is disappointed that this year’s event will not go ahead, but he has a poignant message for Poppyscotland supporters and the wider public: “It was perhaps inevitable that this year’s Poppyscotland Sportive would fall due to the unprecedented pandemic that we are all living through.

“It will be a great miss for avid cyclists such as myself, but I believe it is important that we keep on doing all that we can to support the country’s Armed Forces community during what may be proving a very tough time for many.

“Vulnerable veterans and their families need Poppyscotland’s support more than ever so as well as keeping their registration in place for the 2021 Sportive, I’d encourage everyone to get involved in some of the virtual events such as the Poppy Cycle Challenge to make sure this special charity can continue to provide their life-changing support during these challenging times.”

Participants in the 2020 Poppyscotland Sportive will have their place in the event transferred automatically to next year’s event, but are welcome to a refund. Poppyscotland is also asking riders if they would consider doing a ‘virtual Sportive’ – known as the “Poppy Cycle Challenge” – as an alternative.

Details can be found at https://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/get-involved/runs-and-challenges/poppy-cycle/.

This would have been the seventh consecutive year of the Poppyscotland Sportive, an event that has already raised more than £250,000 for the organisation’s work in supporting veterans and their families across the country.

The Sportive’s lead sponsor is renewable energy firm Fred. Olsen Renewables and the event is also supported by Bramik Foods Ltd, Cirrus Logics and Leith Cycle Co.

Best known for running the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal, Poppyscotland reaches out to those who have served, those still serving, and their families at times of crisis and need by offering vital, practical advice, assistance and funding. The charity believes that no veteran should live without the prospect of employment, good health and a home, and that we all have part to play in achieving this.

To take part in the 2021 Poppyscotland Sportive, or for more information about the cancellation of this year’s event, please contact Poppyscotland’s Events Team, on 0131 557 2782, or at events@poppyscotland.org.uk, or by visiting www.poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive.