4.        RAPID CYCLING DEVELOPMENT OF FIRST BLIND CYCLIST, SEAN MURPHY

RAPID CYCLING DEVELOPMENT OF FIRST BLIND CYCLIST, SEAN MURPHY

Sean aka Smurf has half of 1% vision which is slowly deteriorating.  He works in I.T.  Sean, and his wife Deb, have two young children. 

Phil Johnston met Sean the Saturday after receiving Sean's e-mail which had asked for assistance.  Phil and Sean rode on a borrowed tandem at their initial meeting in Sean's neighbourhood.  Phil's inaugural ride on a tandem was on a rusty old clunker which Sean had borrowed with a blind guy on the back.  Within 3 weeks, Sean completed his first lengthy tandem bicycle ride (67 km) on a St Ives to Warriewood ride.  The following Sunday, Sean rode 77km with the group.  Alas his progress stalled over the subsequent months as Phil pursued obtaining a new tandem by approaching two charities to become involved, predicated upon donors obtaining tax deductions for donations from 3rd parties towards the cost of a tandem.

In mid-August 2005, Phil Johnston purchased a KHS tandem bike for Sean.  Sean and Phil rode the tandem 106km the following Sunday on a very hilly route from Turramurra to Windsor 'n back climbing Galston Gorge, from Cattai Ridge creek and up from Berowra Waters ferry.  This was an admirable feat for anyone who hadn't been on a bike for 10 weeks, let alone a blind person whose avenues to develop muscle strength is limited.

The longest ride Phil and sean have completed is 127km from Cowan station to Spencer and onto Wyong.