By Cohen Frazer.
Imagine riding with your eyes closed, relying only on the person in front of you for instructions. How would you go? Who would you trust?
That is the reality for Michael Fogarty, who is ready to take on the challenge of the 2025 TAC People’s Ride on a tandem bike – Peter Gaull his pilot, and Michael as the stoker.
Born vision impaired, Michael’s disability has never suppressed his sporting ambitions. He keeps active, playing Swish (table tennis for visually impaired people) or indoor tennis when he is not walking or cycling.
Michael’s love for riding bikes started at an early age, riding with cousins and friends on camping trips away, down at Point Leo. As a child, Michael used to ride his own bike and follow behind his friends and family, relying on their instructions for the path ahead. Successful for the most part, it doesn’t take much to imagine the difficulty of this arrangement for both parties.
It was through Vision Australia that Michael was introduced to tandem bikes, riding regularly with an appointed volunteer. This led to Michael purchasing his first tandem bike in 2012, and taking every opportunity to get out of the city and explore all parts of Victoria.
Next on his list? The roads of the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong. Signing up for the TAC People’s Ride for the first time, Michael and Peter will be joining over 3000 riders taking to the same roads as the professionals in the UCI WorldTour sanctioned race at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
Much like any elite peloton, the pair never run out of conversation when riding, going quiet only when at the mercy of a steep hill. Significantly heavier than a regular bike, a tandem flies on downhill, set to be a thrilling experience when the pair descend to the Geelong Waterfront finish this summer.
Due to the nature of tandem bicycle riding, they have built a strong relationship with a lot of trust and effective communication skills. This friendship continues off the bike where they catch-up for a well-deserved drink.
For Peter, the love of cycling runs deep, with a “ride ‘till I die” attitude. While he loves the freedom, fitness and social aspects of cycling, nothing beats riding with Michael and helping him share these experiences alongside him.
Michael first met Peter at a vision impaired indoor tennis tournament over 12 years ago. As a volunteer, Peter rode to the event, sparking a conversation about bikes, where they quickly realised their shared passion. The rest is history.
Having participated in a variety of cycling events before, the 2025 TAC People’s Ride represents the next challenge to conquer for Michael and Peter, as they take on the long course on Saturday 1 February.
If you are out on the course, there is a good chance that you will hear them coming too – with a chorus of encouragement, good wishes and quite often astonishment following the pair as they ride. The support of their fellow cyclists is uplifting as they understand the magnitude of Michael and Peter’s endeavor.
For Michael though, it is just another day on the bike, following the cadence of his great mate and proving that cycling is genuinely a sport for all.
If you see them on the road, be sure to say hello!
Early Bird entries for the TAC People’s Ride end Saturday 31 August – sign up to ride the region as part of the celebration of cycling in Victoria at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.