A documentary on an inspiring bicycle trip around Taiwan by 10 visually impaired people, each accompanied by a sighted coach, will be released shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday.

The cyclists, dubbed the “knights in the darkness,” set out on tandem bicycles from Taipei on Nov. 19, and returned to the capital on Nov. 29, completing the 11-day 1,050km trip.

“In the beginning, we all thought it was impossible,” said Sandy Peng (彭玉慧), secretary-general of the Taiwan Ah Gan Spiritual Development Association, which organized the trip.

The cyclists, aged between 20 and 68, rode through towns and villages in all types of weather -and enjoyed a journey they described as “impossible without each other’s help,” said Peng, who was among the 44 staff members who accompanied the riders.

“Without my sighted coach’s help, I would not have been able to complete the trip,” said rider Zano Huang, one of the four female participants.

During the journey, the cyclists experienced local customs and culture, ate many kinds of foods, visited scenic sites and, most important of all, were warmly welcomed and cheered by people along the route, they said.

The association decided to make a documentary about the journey to encourage more visually impaired people to get out and about instead of staying indoors. Details about the film remain sketchy because it is still being edited.

“I am sure it will be at least 45 minutes,” Peng said, adding that it might have both Chinese and English subtitles.

Meanwhile, the association plans to make the nationwide bike trip an annual event and is also looking at the possibility of organizing a similar event in China this year.