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Rider limitations
One of the tangents we went off on in the "Overtaking" thread was blind riders on tandems. So as not to divert the thread further, I'd like to explore that idea a little further here.
One of the comments was to the effect that there are some things people with disabilities should accept they shouldn't be trying, or words to that effect.
I'm not sure if it's up to us to set those limits when they aren't setting them for themselves.
This video might I hope provoke some further thought along those lines.
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Why should an able bodies person be setting limits for a disabled person.
Should Kurt Fearnley have been told not to drag himself over the Kokoda Track? Crazy stuff I hate going all PC but really everyone should be able to push the limits of what they can do.
Better go get bubble wrap so we can all protect ourselves from ourselves.
The original comment stemed from the arguement whether or not tandems should be allowed to compete at races like the mont (the original suggestion was abled bodied riders) and I think there are some obvious reasons why course full of winding single trail isn't the most suitable place to be racing a tandem that have nothing to do with trying to discriminate against the blind or vision impaired.
As for disabled athletes having a crack. Game on though I still doubt a tandem in this situation is suitable.
One of the most inspiring things I have come across was a chick at one of the early ws12hrs who had 1 hand and the other glove was rigged up with a pedal cleat which clipped into the handle bar. Back when the V ditch and shaunos chute were in the course and it was pissing down
if the BEST tandom is worse/less capable than the WORST individual rider then perhaps this kind of argument would have some weight - i feel that this probably wouldn't ever be the case though (maybe i'm wrong).
If a particular group of people are ALL slowest/least capable in the pack then you maybe you could have different categories - over 65s, under 10s, penny farthing class, bright-fluoro-morphsuit-wearers, hungover executives, 1st time racers etc
my point is that someone isn't more/less capable based soley on any disability they may have - some people with disabilities would be more capable on some courses than me, so why shouldn't they be allowed to participate..
if a couple individual riders are causing a little disruption to a race due to them being less capable or slower than you/joe average would you stop all individual riders from competing?
Flynny I specifically didn't mention the capabilities of the rider in my initial question. For the benefit of the discussion the situation I'm considering is a numpty master's Captain and a vision impaired 70+ y.o Stoker.
In the spirit of getting a broad range of opinions as well as trying to inform myself of things I hadn't considered I put the question out there. In no way would captain or stoker want to disadvantage any other rider unreasonably or unfairly, and when the time comes to discuss the possibility of racing MTB tandem we will have a broad church of opinion to help us make our decision.
I personally dislike point to point races, though I do see that 50km events, with their generally less technical and beginner friendly courses, could be ideally suited for such a riding outfit. My motivation is secondary in this scenario. What is even more important is I can see justification for a whole garage load of new toys, and the basis for a lifetime of new adventures by bike.
The difference between a slow rider holding you up in single trail rather than a tandem is once it opens up or becomes fire tral you normally get around the slow rider very easy whee as the tandem takes off and leaves you behind only to hold you up in the next bit
And no matter how good the riders are you are much slower in tight single trail on a tandem
There are just some corners that tandems won't make it round. Off the top of my head, Awaba, Welby, Rydal and Kinross have sections that are tight for a normal bike let alone something over 2 meters long. Imagine getting stuck behind that in a race.