Paralympian to Make History as First Blind Solo Cyclist in NYC Century Ride

Paralympian Shawn Cheshire is set to make history this weekend as she becomes the first blind solo cyclist to complete the 100-mile NYC Century Ride. Cheshire, who is also the subject of the upcoming documentary "Blind AF," will serve as the event's Grand Marshal.

For Cheshire, the ride is more than just a physical challenge; she describes it as an "empowering" experience. "There’s no limitations," she told The Post. "We do it to everybody, not just people with disabilities — we put people in boxes and we have these ideas of what people can and can’t do based on whatever ideas or thoughts that we have or fear we have."

Cheshire, 51, lost her sight in 2009 after sustaining a head injury while working as an EMT and struggling with a combative patient. The vision loss led to a period of severe depression, from which she began to recover by cycling.

She has since achieved numerous athletic milestones, including representing the U.S. at the Invictus Games and the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Her cross-country cycling tours, chronicled in "Blind AF," include a 3,600-mile journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans in 2021 and a 2,700-mile ride from Canada to Mexico the following year. She has also become the first blind person to hike across the Grand Canyon without a sighted guide and has partially climbed Mount Everest.

Cheshire noted that the most challenging aspect of cycling while blind is not maintaining balance, but rather the intense multitasking required to process auditory cues, road sensations, and directions from her guide, all while navigating traffic. "The hardest part of being blind riding a single bike is the multitasking of doing all of that and following sound and forgetting how scared you are," she said.

Her upcoming documentary, "Blind AF," is set to premiere on October 28th and focuses on her 3,600-mile cross-country ride. The film highlights her resilience and determination in overcoming significant physical challenges.

Cheshire views these athletic adventures as a crucial part of her healing process and a way to cope with the losses she has experienced. However, for the NYC Century Ride, she anticipates a more joyful experience compared to the emotional intensity of her longer journeys. "I’m expecting to have a lot of fun. Meeting new people and joking around, being very present in the moment and taking it in. I’m very excited," Cheshire stated. "You can have hard times and still have fun. I have learned that."