About Us

The U.S. Blind Tandem Cycling Connection is legally recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. 

Mission

The U.S. Blind Tandem Cycling Connection endeavors to increase the participation of individuals who are visually impaired or blind in the exhilarating sport of tandem cycling.

Vision

Our vision is that everyone with a visual impairment has the opportunity to experience tandem cycling, with its’ feeling of freedom and sensation of speed. Also, we look forward to more sighted cyclists experiencing the satisfaction of captaining tandems and sharing the ride.

Our aspiration is that every school for the blind and every major city will support a blind tandem cycling club. Our hope is that more visually impaired individuals will cycle regularly, meeting new people, joining training rides, and competing in events.

Our website went LIVE on January 19th, 2010. Our database of captains and stokers is increasing and more dots, representing riders, are showing up on the USA map. The more cyclists that create profiles, the more riding opportunities there will be for everyone.

What We Do

We serve as a resource to:

• Connect blind and visually impaired cyclists with sighted cyclists
• Educate people about tandem cycling
• Disseminate information about cycling clubs, events, and opportunities
• Address the needs of the blind tandem cycling community

Board of Directors

Steve Diaz of Mt Shasta, California, has been a tandem captain for many years. He is a fan of the Northwest Tandem Rally and shared the ride with a blind stoker at the Ride the Rim event at Crater Lake National Park. Steve is a retired firefighter with decades of leadership experience.  He has held professional positions in event planning, incident management, logistics, and emergency medicine.  When he is not cycling, Steve enjoys kayaking, cooking, being a father and Grampy,  and doing anything else his grandchildren need.

Brandy Pinder “absolutely loves riding tandem bikes”.  She began cycling in 2014, having discovered the sport when she moved to New York City.  As a stoker, she has completed two centuries, multiple triathlons and a Half Ironman.  Brandy has experience with fundraising to benefit recreational opportunities and guide dogs for the blind.  She is active in disability advocacy and helped make it possible for visually impaired athletes to swim around the Statue of Liberty.  Brandy’s dream world includes tandem cycling opportunities in all communities, whether it be a large city or a rural area.  Brandy works as a licensed massage therapist and loves animals, food, and bikes.

Christine Tinberg, Founder and President, is an Assistant Professor in Kinesiology at Los Angeles City College.  She captained a tandem at the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes’ 2008 Developmental Cycling Camp held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The following summer, she trained with, and was honored to ride a tandem with Nancy Stevens in the 2009 U.S. Paralympics Road Cycling National Championships. Christine holds a B.S. degree in Sports Medicine and a M.S. degree in Ministry from Pepperdine University, and a M.S. degree in Exercise Science from Arizona State University. She cycles on the road and on the dirt in the Santa Monica Mountains near her home.

Nancy Stevens stoked a tandem 3000 miles from Portland to New York City in 2000.  She won three gold medals at the International Triathlon World Championships in the Visually Impaired Division in 2005, 2006, and 2007.  A talented teacher and trainer, Nancy organized two Tri-It Triathlon Camps for blind athletes and sighted guides in Glenwood Springs, CO, in 2007 and 2008.  Nancy is passionate about encouraging others to be confident, to set goals, and to make things happen. We appreciate her energy, enthusiasm, and experience.