[blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding

  • From: "Carl de Campos" <carldc@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 06:35:23 +0200

That's really cool to expose sighted people to the many activities they take 
for granted.
This should be done more regularly at corporate events, schools etc.
I ran a Scout base a few years back at the farm where we blind folded the scout 
kids and made them walk with sticks through an obstacle course.  Of course this 
was extremely entertaining and most got lost or crashed into the thorn bush 
which I warned everyone about.

Thanks / Regards

Carl de Campos
SQL DBA 
Business Connection for Edcon

E-Mail:  carldc@xxxxxxxxxx
Cell:  078 750 0307
Skype:  carl.de.campos
Personal Web Site:  
http://carldc.net

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jacob Kruger 
  To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 21:11
  Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


  With regard to blindfolding them, that's what we did at both awareness events 
here in kempton - at the movie night - they were blindfolded for around an hour 
and a half, making them try normal things like eating, pouring drinks, and 
drinking them, dancing,walking to bathroom with bit of assistance, listening to 
some of a narrated movie soundtrack etc.

  At the pub2pub walk, at each venue on the route, we also got them to try out 
things with blindfolds on, including throwing darts, playing a shot on a pool 
table, pouring a beer without spilling, throwing a blind cricket ball, etc.

  Stay well

  Jacob Kruger
  Blind Biker
  Skype: BlindZA
  '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Carl de Campos 
    To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 3:26 PM
    Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


    Oh yes I heard about Hein's scale to 10 navigation method, must work very 
well.
    My friend with the 4x4 had the 5 degrees, 10 degrees thing, but never knew 
how accurate that was.

    Blind folding a sighted driver must be quite a funny thing, I know how 
useless a sighted person can at times be when blind folded, just because 
they're not used to it at all.
    Thanks / Regards

    Carl de Campos
    SQL DBA 
    Business Connection for Edcon

    E-Mail:  carldc@xxxxxxxxxx
    Cell:  078 750 0307
    Skype:  carl.de.campos
    Personal Web Site:  
    http://carldc.net

      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Jacob Kruger 
      To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
      Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 14:10
      Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


      Other difference noticed is that Hein uses a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 
meaning he would need to go more left, 5 is head on, and 10 would mean go a lot 
more to right, but my friends and me just went for little bit left, little bit 
right, doing fine, etc. etc.

      First time rode at Phakisa in 2006 was actually up and down the main 
straight 4 times or so, in just first gear, and, yes it made everyone a little 
more nervous - including me since there's less leeway for veering off course, 
but we still reckon one day not too far from now I will do also at least one 
corner...the friend who was directing me reckons he'll sit on back, and as long 
as he stays relaxed, while he couldn't really do anything to handle bars, or 
brakes, his positioning/posture might also just help sort of pass messages on 
to me, as well as helping a bit with counter steering if we get it right.

      I've also taken boats around dams once or twice, but with someone 
standing next to me on the small speedboat thing, and while I was still in 
hospital, some of my sighted friends reckon they tried out driving a car on 
normal roads with a blindfold and the passenger directing them once or twice 
just because it had occurred to them...<smile>

      They also occasionally do a form of nascar flat track car racing in 
america, with blind drivers and sighted navigators.

      Stay well

      Jacob Kruger
      Blind Biker
      Skype: BlindZA
      '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: Carl de Campos 
        To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
        Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 1:20 PM
        Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


        Oh yes, I guess a nervous person on the back of a bike can be a 
problem, less than on 4 wheels.

        Hein had a pro navigator in the car with him, I guess from a safety 
point of view, someone in or on the same vehicle can grab the steering in an 
emergency, depends how they trust you.
        My one friend let me park his brother's bakkie in the garden parking 
about 3 m from the swimming pool.  He was outside the car, and I only had to 
move it out of the driveway and park by the pool to make space for other 
vehicles.  It was a Ford bakkie, so if I had my way I would have parked it in 
the pool and it wouldn't leak oil in the driveway, but in the pool rather.

        I guess the skid pan was fun, I drove a Nissan 3.3 v6 double cab on the 
skid pan at West bank, but my brother was in the passenger seat.  I've never 
tried driving been navigated by a radio or cell phone coms, must be even more 
exciting, as no-one is in the car with you.

        Thanks / Regards

        Carl de Campos
        SQL DBA 
        Business Connection for Edcon

        E-Mail:  carldc@xxxxxxxxxx
        Cell:  078 750 0307
        Skype:  carl.de.campos
        Personal Web Site:  
        http://carldc.net

          ----- Original Message ----- 
          From: Jacob Kruger 
          To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
          Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 11:59
          Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


          I've had people offer to ride on the back of a normal 2 wheeled bike 
with me, and I tell them no!

          They can ride another bike behind me, and use walkie talkies or 
something to instruct me, but remember that, especially on a 2 wheeled bike, 
balance, body language, etc. are part of the riding activities, so a stressed 
person on the back wouldn't help at all...LOL!

          Riding with a side car is completely different to riding a normal 
bike, but FWIW, when Billy Baxter did a lap of donington on a Ducati, I think 
there was just someone riding behind him on another bike, and in terms of 
things like Hein Wagner, he might have had someone in the car with him - not 
sure - but could work almost as easily with someone just talking to him using a 
radio/phone etc. as long as they maintain the right positioning/alignment, etc.

          Last time when I rode my bike across skid pan at Phakisa, I only got 
up to around 3rd gear - 70km/h, and the guys watching me were at one side, but 
had a friend talking to me over cellphone earphones inside helmet, and he was 
just telling me when to slow down, when to veer slightly left, slightly right, 
and when to stop and turn around to ride back in other direction - did it 
around 10 times in that session, but I did also have another friend riding a 
bit of distance away from me on his own bike, up and down, and that was him who 
said he wanted to be close enough in case something went wrong, but he didn't 
interfere/involve himself in my actual riding at all.

          The friend instructing me over phone was also making jokes during 
process as well - we kept it light hearted/relaxed as well.

          Main thing for me is due to having done around 105000km on that same 
bike in around 4 years before my accident, I don't even think about specific 
riding activities, but just think about where I want it to go...LOL!

          If ride happens again this year, it should be on a different bike, 
but light, well balanced, nimble, well maintained etc. so can also just worry 
about environment etc. as opposed to worrying about bike itsself, and same with 
offroad bike if I ever find the suitable place to play around with it.

          Stay well

          Jacob Kruger
          Blind Biker
          Skype: BlindZA
          '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

            ----- Original Message ----- 
            From: Carl de Campos 
            To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
            Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 11:43 AM
            Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


            The sidecar idea should work if you have a good understanding 
between you and your navigator.
            I sometimes ride a quad bike with a sighted navigator on the back, 
so if worst comes to worst, he can grab my elbows to rectify any steering 
errors.
            Thanks / Regards

            Carl de Campos
            SQL DBA 
            Business Connection for Edcon

            E-Mail:  carldc@xxxxxxxxxx
            Cell:  078 750 0307
            Skype:  carl.de.campos
            Personal Web Site:  
            http://carldc.net

              ----- Original Message ----- 
              From: Jacob Kruger 
              To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
              Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 10:45
              Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


              Idea is to ride bike on open road with sighted passenger in side 
car, but the other one is to ride a normal bike into parking area at biker 
daytime party/jol, and then climb off it after maybe attracting a bit of 
attention by revving it or something...all as part of the awareness joke, but 
anyway...LOL!

              Same way have already had at least a couple of people who thought 
I was making a bad joke by using cane until they realised it was for real...

              I have found that common opinion is still that blind/VI guys 
don't ever get out into/do anything in the real world...

              Stay well

              Stay well

              Jacob Kruger
              Blind Biker
              Skype: BlindZA
              '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

                ----- Original Message ----- 
                From: Carl de Campos 
                To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 9:57 AM
                Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


                Ha ha, I like the idea of parking a bike/side car combo, and 
then walking with your cane into the shopping centre, can imagine the comments.

                I used to go 4x4 trips with a friend, and he would let me drive 
the 4x4 through some challenging obstacles, but he was a good navigator, and 
then he would make me park it, get out, and walk around the car with the cane.


                Thanks / Regards

                Carl de Campos
                SQL DBA 
                Business Connection for Edcon

                E-Mail:  carldc@xxxxxxxxxx
                Cell:  078 750 0307
                Skype:  carl.de.campos
                Personal Web Site:  
                http://carldc.net

                  ----- Original Message ----- 
                  From: Jacob Kruger 
                  To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                  Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 07:20
                  Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


                  Well, I have a sidecar here in my garage, and still just need 
to find the right bike to fit it to, and the idea (part of it anyway) is that I 
might be able to persuade some sighted person to sit in the side car and direct 
me while I ride the bike - although it's not quite the same.

                  Otherwise, always say at some stage, similar to how I get 
instructed when riding on the pit area of Phakisa, I want to wait until a 
busyish - but not too busy - time at a day jol, and ride into the parking area 
myself, park the bike, climb off, take my helmet off, pull out cane from inside 
my jacket, and walk up to entrance fee table - all of this just to hear the 
comments etc....LOL!

                  Lastly, how does that one song go:
                  ...open your eyes, and see me...

                  We can break their assumption barriers, but we need to make 
sure we make a good impression (mental impression, not a physical one <smile>)

                  Have also already had at least one guy come up to me while 
was dancing on main dance floor in front of band on stage at a bike rally, and 
tell me I just made him feel 'stupid' about ever having worried about having 
only one eye.

                  Like always say, my one friend's saying is:
                  live with it, deal with it

                  Just that some of us swap it around a bit:
                  deal with it, so you can live with it...

                  Stay well

                  Jacob Kruger
                  Blind Biker
                  Skype: BlindZA
                  '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

                    ----- Original Message ----- 
                    From: Carl de Campos 
                    To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                    Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 6:56 AM
                    Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


                    Thanks Jacob, appreciated.
                    I tend to brag a bit or sound a bit too confident at times, 
but then I love my horse and what he does for me, I feel he's worth bragging 
about.  But ja the idea is to make sighted public aware of the various 
activities blind people can do, especially if those activities are thought not 
to be blind friendly at all.

                    Ps:  When are we going to start a Blind Hells Biker group, 
as long as we have a few sighted bikers with extremely loud pipes to follow.

                    Thanks / Regards

                    Carl de Campos
                    SQL DBA 
                    Business Connection for Edcon

                    E-Mail:  carldc@xxxxxxxxxx
                    Cell:  078 750 0307
                    Skype:  carl.de.campos
                    Personal Web Site:  
                    http://carldc.net

                      ----- Original Message ----- 
                      From: Jacob Kruger 
                      To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                      Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 20:14
                      Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


                      Already downloaded and listened to it, and it came out 
nice - and Carl sounds good/confident - good to let sighted people hear about 
things of this nature.

                      Stay well

                      Jacob Kruger
                      Blind Biker
                      Skype: BlindZA
                      '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

                        ----- Original Message ----- 
                        From: Carl de Campos 
                        To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                        Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 7:40 PM
                        Subject: [blindza] Fw: Radio SAFM interview on riding


                        Hi list, if anyone's interested in hearing my chat on 
horse riding, on the Disability Report last night, I managed to link it via my 
web site.

                        http://carldc.net

                        Right-click on the SAFM Interview link and "Save Target 
AS", it's 5 MB.

                        Thanks / Regards

                        Carl de Campos

                        ----- Original Message ----- 
                        From: Jacob Kruger 
                        To: Carl de Campos 
                        Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 19:01
                        Subject: Re: Radio SAFM interview on riding


                        Came out nice etc.

                        You're also welcome to post this to blindza etc. - 
obviously...<smile>

                        Stay well

                        Jacob Kruger
                        Blind Biker
                        Skype: BlindZA
                        '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'




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