Metro Blind Sport enjoy Lee Valley VeloPark
Metro Blind Sport members enjoyed an unforgettable day at Lee Valley Velo Park, with blind and visually impaired participants experiencing the excitement of tandem cycling on one of the country's most iconic sporting tracks.
Metro Blind Sport creates accessible sporting and physical activity opportunities for blind and visually impaired people, using sport to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and bring people together. The Velodrome session offered members a unique opportunity to challenge themselves in a supportive and inclusive environment.
For Fran Burns, who led the session, the experience stood out because of the venue itself and the impact it had on participants.
“What made the Velodrome experience so special was the opportunity to take part in an activity at such an iconic venue. Many of our members were amazed by the scale of the environment and felt a real sense of excitement being somewhere with so much sporting history.”
The session welcomed participants with a wide range of cycling experience. Some had never ridden a bike before, while others had not cycled since losing their sight.
“It was fantastic to see. For some participants, cycling was something they had never experienced before, often because they didn’t think it would be possible with a visual impairment. Seeing their faces light up as they gained confidence, felt the speed of the track and enjoyed the excitement of the experience was really rewarding.”
One of the highlights for Fran was watching the anticipation build as participants prepared for the session, before seeing them grow in confidence on the track.
"I liked watching everyone get their equipment on. It really built excitement and anticipation for the groups. It was great to see a participant who had never ridden a bike before going so high on the track.”
The experience helped participants overcome barriers that can often prevent visually impaired people from accessing sport, including a lack of accessible equipment, specialist support and opportunities to try new activities.
Several participants arrived believing that simply staying on the bike would be an achievement. By the end of the session, they were confidently cycling around the track and riding high on the banking.
“Watching people go from feeling nervous and unsure to achieving something they never thought possible was incredibly special. The smiles at the end said it all.”
The response from members after the event was overwhelmingly positive, with many keen to continue cycling and explore other opportunities available to them.
“It was the most incredible day and an incredible experience. Many participants were asking whether we could do it again and wanted to know about other tandem cycling opportunities they could get involved in.”
Fran believes experiences like this play an important role in building confidence, encouraging independence and helping people realise what they are capable of.
“For many participants, it wasn’t just about the cycling. It was about building confidence, becoming part of a community and realising what they can achieve. Experiences like this often encourage people to become more socially connected, more physically active and more willing to take part in future opportunities.”
Looking ahead, Metro Blind Sport hopes the session will have a lasting impact, inspiring members to stay active, make new friends and continue exploring new sports.
“I hope the lasting impact will be that participants take up a new sport on a regular basis, include it in their routine and make new friends.”
Summing up the significance of the day, Fran described it as:
“Empowering, uplifting and a truly incredible day. A day where members and volunteers could not stop smiling.”
Ready to discover what's possible? Find out more about Metro Blind Sport and the opportunities available for blind and visually impaired people to get active, make friends and try something new.
Discover more at Lee Valley VeloPark: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/velopark