About Us
Enabling visually impaired and sighted people to share the joy of cycling since 2017.
Our Story
VIE stands for Visually Impaired Edinburgh. "Vie" means challenge. In French "vie" means life, and "velo" means bicycle. Hence our motto 'Challenge Life', because our visually impaired riders refuse to let their condition restrict them.
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Cycling UK in Scotland supported our early years by developing plans with some of our visually impaired riders and by providing tandems, taster sessions and storage.
RS Macdonald Charitable Trust funded a fleet of new tandems and the production of our distinctive pink kit.​
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Our riders run the club and today we regularly have 15 tandems out on weekend rides. We are all ages 18 and over, with an equal female : male split.​ Join us!​
​​We continue to bring cycling joy and socialising to our riders thanks to the commitment and positivity of our community and the backing of our funders.​
We describe the essence of VIE Velo and the joy of tandem riding in this 35 minute episode of the Edinburgh Outdoors podcast.
“Joining VIE Velo was one of the best decisions I ever made. Everyone is so welcoming and having regular tandem rides and the opportunity to take part in cycling sportives is such a dream. I have met the most amazing people and made lasting friendships through the club. I always look forward to the weekend rides.”
Devin,
Visually impaired rider
Our Journey
2017
Cycling UK partners with RNIB to gather visually impaired and sighted riders and progress plans for a club with them. We run our first tandem taster sessions at Bangholm.
2018
RS Macdonald Charitable Trust funds our fleet of tandems and our distinctive pink kit. We publicise on Facebook in July and complete our first group ride in October.
2019
We move to our permanent home in Saughton Park and ride every fortnight at weekends. We complete our constitution, hold our first AGM and elect our first Committee.
2020
During Covid we take our socialising online with Zoom calls and have our first non-cycling in-person social event.
2021
We Pedal towards COP26 in Glasgow with 300 others in the pouring rain. We have our first 10 tandem group ride and develop our new rider training.
2022
We start Wednesday evening summer rides and join our first sportive, Poppyscotland. Cycling UK gives us the tandems, marking our formal independence.
2023
We become a registered charity with Board of Trustees, secure our first e-tandem, complete our first 100km ride, have our first weekend away, and our first 15 tandem group ride.
2024
We introduce short ride options and complete our Two Bridges fundraiser ride. We run ride leader and first aid training, as well as an Edinburgh Festival of Cycling taster event.
2025
We run a taster for Sight Scotland Veterans, and become a British Cycling Limitless Champion Club. 34 of us on 17 tandems ride to Carrington Village Hall for our Christmas lunch.
2026
We launch our website and hold our first tandem maintenance training session.
“As a pilot I can hear
the stoker’s smile behind.”
Dougie,
Sighted rider
How We're Run
Operations
We are volunteers. Our people power us, organising and leading rides, conducting training, fundraising, doing communications and events, and managing our finances. Greener Kirkcaldy maintains our tandems.
Policies
Our risk assessment guides actions we take before, during and after rides to keep us safe. We have insurance, a Welfare Officer, data handling and other policies.
Governance
Our Board of Trustees governs the club under our Constitution, meeting quarterly, reporting to our community at our October AGM, and filing annual accounts with OSCR.
Affiliations
We are Cycling UK and Scottish Cycling members and a British Cycling Limitless Champion Club. View our Cycling UK page.
Want to know more?
Check out this RNIB article and three minute video featuring our riders discussing VIE Velo.
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Thinking of starting a visually impaired tandem club in your area? We'll be delighted to share our experiences and tips to help you.