Ride With Us
Our Rides
Weekend long rides
09:30am-3:30pm, First Saturday and third Sunday of every month, 20-40 miles, Always feature a leisurely lunch stop.
Weekend short rides
09:30am-12:30pm, First Saturday and third Sunday of every month, 10-20 miles, Good for newer riders, usually include a coffee stop.
Wednesday evening rides
5:30pm-8:30pm, April to September, 15-25 miles, Making the most of the light evenings, often feature an ice cream stop.
Special rides
Weekends away, cycling events and sportives, fundraising and picnic rides, rides with visitors, we keep our calendar interesting.
All our group rides start and finish at Saughton Park, Edinburgh.
“I have enjoyed cycling all my life. However, my severe sight loss now prevents me from safe solo cycling. VIE Velo has enabled me to enjoy riding again. It's more than just the enjoyment of cycling. The lunchtime cafe stops are a great chance to catch up and support others with sight loss.”
Eddie,
Visually impaired rider
What to Expect
Sociable pace
We ride together in small groups, with leaders front and back. We cycle at a leisurely pace on e-tandems and tandems to suit everyone. No-one is left behind.
Togetherness
Lunch, coffee or ice-cream stops, socialising on and off the bike is just as important as the cycling.
Varied routes
We explore around and outside Edinburgh riding interesting routes in all directions. We favour bike paths and quiet roads.
Safe riding

We plan our rides diligently using risk assessments. Our careful approaches to training, equipment, rides and riders keep us safe.
No cost
Joining our rides will always be free. We provide the tandems, equipment and someone to ride with.
New rider friendly
We welcome newcomers. We pair riders carefully to ensure safety and comfort. We train our pilots in visual awareness and guiding.
“I joined VIE Velo in 2021 having never cycled before. As a youngster I did not have enough sight to ride a bike. I now have no sight at all. My first ride was very scary because I was anxious but everyone was so helpful, understanding and supportive. I persevered and now I really love it. Now I'm able to cycle 60 miles on a ride. Apart from the exhilarating feeling of freedom, it's so good for my mental and physical health. I am so glad I was encouraged to join the group. If you are thinking about it, give it a go!”
Ann,
Visually impaired rider
Get Started...
1.
Beginner friendly
Don’t worry if you’ve never ridden a tandem before. Most haven’t. We’ll teach you how! If you’re visually impaired you don’t need to have cycling experience. Sighted riders should be confident cyclists and have a basic level of fitness.
2.
In safe hands
Our rides are carefully planned, risk assessed and led by experienced club members. All riders must complete our training programme before joining us on a tandem. We have appropriate policies and safeguarding procedures.
3.
Training for all
We run “Come & Try It” training sessions every 2 to 3 months. These are fun and informal sessions. Before partnering up on group rides, we make sure our pilots are demonstrating the 3 Cs of tandem riding: communication, control and confidence.
4.
We provide the bikes
We have a fleet of high quality and well-maintained tandems, helmets and hi-vis vests, tools, lights, a planned route, and someone for you to ride with. Just bring yourself, some water, money for lunch or coffee, and wear comfortable clothes.
5.
It’s free to ride with us
Joining our rides will always be free. Our regular riders make an annual donation towards our running costs if they are able to.
“I have enjoyed every ride I've been on. The routes and the company are always varied and I've met a lot of really lovely people. VIE Velo helps people to get on with exploring the world without letting sight loss get in the way. I had never ridden a tandem before but I love being able to share my love of cycling with others. It's great being able to chat as you cycle, which is so much easier on a tandem!”
Fran,
Sighted rider
