This Blind Cyclist Found His Passion for Triathlons and Aims to Compete at the Paralympics
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Name: Irwin Ramirez
Age: 35
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
Occupation: Product development support specialist with National Industries for the Blind
Time Cycling: 5 years
Reason for Cycling: It makes me a more well-rounded athlete.
I had more sight when I was younger, and wore prescription glasses. I was into sports while growing up in Guatemala and played soccer, cycled, and every once in a while, swam at the pool or in rivers. However, my vision worsened in the later years of high school. I had trouble seeing the board and started bumping into chairs in classrooms, which led me to not exercise as much.
When I moved to the Washington D.C. area in 2018, I became part of a local cycling group called Tuesday Night Tandem (TNT). The group matches captains/pilots with blind riders. I really loved the social aspect and the benefits of cycling.
Although I first started cycling as a kid and learned to tandem occasionally, I really started cycling more in 2020 and completed my first century ride that year.
When the pandemic hit, I was given a tandem bike to practice riding. My friend Zack and I met on Tuesdays to go for bike rides during that time, and trained that year to do a century ride together on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail that starts in Arlington, Virginia and goes to Purcellville, Virginia.
Later in 2021, I came across the New York City Triathlon, which I found out had a bike and running duathlon event, and with just two weeks to race day, I signed up and did the ride with a friend, Stephanie Choi. I had been doing marathons since 2014 after connecting with Achilles International, which brings together volunteers that serve as guides and support the runners, so I felt ready for triathlons.
Stephanie learned to pilot the day before the event, and with just a few bumps, she nailed it. We did well—passing many people throughout the race and placing second in the blind division. After that experience, I realized I could have a future in triathlons.
Last year, I met Kyla Aiuto through Achilles International and we have been training together ever since for the New York City Triathlon. She has been very supportive of my training. We’ve had great rides in Virginia, swim training in pool and open water sessions, and have done a few local 5K races.
As a blind cyclist, I am also proud to represent my Latino and Guatemalan background. There are not many blind triathletes in the sport, and my goal is to make it to the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
I’m proud that in only two years of competing in triathlons, I obtained a Paralympic ranking while representing team USA at the World Triathlon in Long Beach, California. I also most recently won the Paratriathlon National Championships in the blind category at the Patriots Triathlon Festival in Jamestown, Virginia.
Triathlons are a very difficult sport to pursue while juggling a full-time job, the costs of coaching, travel, gear, and the time training is a lot! However, cycling and sports in general have been a great outlet that has given me an inclusive community and not only helps in confidence, but has taught me the value in being goal-oriented and disciplined, which has expanded to many other areas of my life.
These three tips have made my cycling journey a success:
1. Be consistent
Always show up to the workout. Fitness gains happen over a long period of time. It is defined by months or years of continuous training; it is not from a particular workout that you can define your fitness. It’s okay to fail at first, but keep at it and the results will come.
2. Be flexible and have fun
Have a plan, but be adaptable to shifting the plan depending on how training unfolds. You’ve also got to enjoy what you do. If you are not having fun or get too stressed about it, then I don’t think it’s worth it.
3. Keep your days organized
I follow a simple training philosophy: easy days easy, hard days hard. I am a great believer of polarized training and including multiple sessions in a day. My advice to other cyclists: keep training. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.
Irwin’s Must-Have Gear
→ Garmin Forerunner Watch: This gives me a guide in training with heart rate variability and training intensity. It also helps me adjust my training according to those factors.
→ Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets: I like the taste, and it’s so important to stay hydrated for performance gains.
→ Maurten Nutrition: It works well for me for endurance sports, as it helps me ensure I have all the calories I need to perform at my best when it matters.
→ Peloton Bike and App: I love the community and the variety of workouts. It has totally played a big role in my cycling training.
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