From Tandems to the OAM: Peter Granleese’s Ride for Inclusion

When Peter Granleese learned he had received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), his reaction reflected his characteristic humility.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” he admits. “I didn’t think what I’ve done was anything out of the ordinary, really. I’ve been pretty active in the community for a long time, and it was just the sort of thing I did.”

At 79 years old, Peter has been a Pedal Power member for more than 20 years and is widely admired in Canberra’s cycling community. His tireless work with Fitability and passion for tandem riding have opened doors for countless vision-impaired riders to experience the freedom of cycling.

Peter’s journey into tandem cycling began after his retirement from the public service. What was meant to be a short-term commitment turned into nearly two decades of service with the Canberra Blind Society.

“I was asked to take it [Canberra’s Blind Society] over for a period of 12 months to start with, and see whether I liked it or not. And I stayed on for seventeen years as their president – so I liked it, obviously,” he says with a laugh.

At one of the Society’s “come and try” weekends, Peter was introduced to tandem cycling through Fitability. “All of us, including me, had a go at tandem riding, and I sort of liked it. What I liked most about it was that I’d recently retired from the public service, and I wanted something I could do in my retirement that would keep me fit.”

Since then, Peter has been riding with Fitability, a program pairing vision-impaired riders with volunteer pilots on tandem bikes. Together, they train and take on cycling challenges across the ACT and beyond.

“I’ve been doing the Hartley for 10 years now. We’ve got five vision-impaired people and we’re putting a team in this year. We’re always looking for pilots to help us. We need pilots, and we’re always on the search,” Peter says.

The Hartley is no easy feat. “Both days are pretty hilly and pretty hard riding,” Peter explains. “Now it’s a two-day event. It’s much shorter, but it’s harder. You’re just going up and down hills the whole way.”

Over the years, Peter has had his fair share of memorable moments – from riding through tough conditions to a close encounter with a kangaroo on the bike path at the foot of Black Mountain. “He was travelling at speed, we were travelling at speed, and he just missed us by about a foot,” Peter laughs. “People being hit by kangaroos is not a pleasant experience!”

For Peter, cycling is about much more than fitness. “As you get older, it’s very important to stay involved with the community. Cycling is one way I could do it.”

At 79, he still rides most weeks and is helping prepare with the Fitability team for another Hartley Challenge. Training rides begin this month, and there’s still time for new pilots to get involved.

“I don’t feel my age, actually. I just think of all the things I’ve got to do today and tomorrow and the next day.”

Peter will formally receive his OAM medal at a ceremony in September.

From all of us at Pedal Power ACT: Congratulations, Peter! Your dedication, energy, and humility inspire us all.