Tandem Vision: Meet the Blind Cyclist Riding STP 2025
- Clark Roberts has completed STP 11 times on a tandem and is going for 12 in 2025.
- When his riding partners fell through, Cascade helped Roberts find a “captain” to pilot the tandem.
- STP Ambassador Evan Kniestedt stepped up to tandem with Roberts, building trust, communication, and friendship.
Paul Tolmé
Clark Roberts never imagined that bicycling would be possible until his pastor invited him on a youth summer camp biking trip to the San Juan Islands.
That was 36 years ago in 1989, and Roberts, who is blind, has been riding tandem bikes with friends and family ever since–completing the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic 11 times.
He’s part of “Team Ultimate Vision” through his charity, Ultimate Vision Initiative, where Roberts gives motivational speeches about becoming blind at 24 (he's now 70) and continuing to participate in endurance sports.
In tandem lingo, Roberts rides in the rear “stoker” seat while a sighted person rides up front and steers as the “captain.”
When Roberts’ usual captains fell through this year, he sent a message to the Cascade community asking for help.
Without hesitation, STP Ambassador Evan Kniestedt stepped up to ride with Roberts on the 46th annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic presented by Alaska Airlines and Zenni Optical. “This seemed like a unique opportunity to help someone fulfill their dream, and also learn how to captain a tandem,” Kniestedt says.
Building trust and communication when riding tandem is key to a successful STP journey, especially over the course of 207 miles. They have done multiple training rides in the weeks since, often meeting in or near Olympia where Kniestedt lives.
“Evan is a radical dude," Roberts says. “He’s stoked about giving of his time to help a fellow human. We’ve become friends.”
From strangers to friends, thanks to STP and the Cascade Bicycle Club community.
Follow Kniestedt on Instagram to see his STP Ambassador training journey with Roberts. If you see them on the road, say hello and be a good human. Kniestedt may even give you a Top Banana sticker, which STP Ambassadors hand out to fellow riders, volunteers or individuals who make STP a warm and friendly event.
Registration for STP 2025 closes on Sunday, July 6, at 11:59 p.m.
Register for STP and say hello to Team Ultimate Vision!
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