Hi, I'm Robin and this is my story. As you may have gathered, I'm disabled, hard to see but it's definitely there, BIG time. Where to begin and keep it short. I was born in 57, the eldest of two sons from a mining family who had moved from Durham in the NE, to a miner's estate in Biddulph N .Staffs. The first memory of bikes and me was aged around three. I had a trike, which I would just sit on, and rev, making all the right moves and noises. My own memories come a little later, the "60's". I can remember sitting in a local cafe surrounded by bikers in leather jackets listening to the latest tunes on a jukebox. Outside was a line of Brit iron. Velocette and Vincent were big names in Brit bikes, which I later on became aware of. However, for me "V" was for Vickers and Vincent, two local families with several lads who had bikes, our own "Rockers" or "Hells Angels" as I came to know them. My second most memorable biker memory was I think sometime in the early "70's", and is rarely mentioned on TV. Everyone else talks of Brighton and the SE coastal runs, where the "Mods and Rockers " battled their summers away. However, little known is the almost mother of all fights that very, very nearly kicked off in Biddulph. The word quietly spread of the arrival of a large number of Hells Angels into Biddulph. The radio news had been full of it all day. Gangs of Mods on their scooters were heading north, and equal amounts of Hells Angels were heading south. There was tell of Scots HA's riding in kilts waving their claymores. The Police had closed off Biddulph; you needed a very good reason to get into the Village, but knowing all the back allies and streets, a mate and I rode in on my old Rudge Sports bike (push bike to you). The site for me is etched, the memories like yesterday. The only interest I had was in the bikes. However, it never happened, the Mods regrouped and spent the night a few miles down the road in Hanley Park. They awoke to the Police and Fire Brigade giving them a good soaking for their troubles, and that was the end of that. I started work and at 18, I got my first bike a Honda 250 G5. However, I had already had my first work related injury, to my back and I have known about it every day since. My girlfriend, now wife, Julie replaced a bike-racing career, and our son came along instead of a brand new bike. Several years, jobs and injuries (all work induced) later. Christmas 97/98 I now had a reasonable job, Julie has a better one and our now grown son Austin was also working, which only leaves our daughter Naomi (in her early teens) to care for. Time to think seriously about another bike. I had always wanted a Kwaka Z13, the big six, a straight six and 1300cc, BIG, get the point. We eventually found and bought one in the January 98. August 98 and a machine that I was loading a roll of fabric onto started up and snatched me and my arm down it, I have never worked since and probably never will. Having to sit STILL for months, to avoid causing even more pain in my shoulder caused me to put on five stones. By the Xmas 98 I had strange numb feelings in my feet, come May 99 I was diagnosed as a diabetic. My feet, well that is all down to your weight Sir, lose it and the pain and numb feeling will go. Two years later, I am told that I have POLYNEUROPATHY. This is a non contagious disease which attacks the nervous system destroying the covering of the nerves thus causing suicidal amounts of constant pain if not controlled, plus a lot of other problems. At the present I have it worst in my feet, its like walking on very hot stones with volcanic eruptions and electric shocks going off 24/7. I stagger and fall over so I sometimes need to use a walking stick. It is also affecting my hands and other body parts. Together with all my other defects, I am a mess. For me my life had ended, apart from just managing to drive, all I did was sleep, eat and more sleep and that was only when the pain let me. I had a claim in for my work injury; it was due to payout around Xmas 2001. As I already knew that I would have a problem trying to ride because of my feet, I was looking for something to help me ride again. We went to the NEC, and that is where I met up with NABD. It was the best day I had had for a very, very long time. I was given another chance to ride by what I was shown and told by the guys on the NABD stand. Together with NABD's help and my compensation, I would have another bike. As for my payout, I was robbed. After three years off work due to the injury , I got 3 months pay plus some for pain and suffering. Less than a years wages. I was told that I'd had the diabetes and polyneuropathy waiting for the right moment to trigger it, and that my injury could therefore not be to blame, cop out I say. Due to my injuries, I am only able to ride sit-up bikes, plus now I could only change gear either by up shifting using the welt of my boots or by taking my foot off the peg and using the back of my heel. Due to the loss of feeling, I often missed or down shifted, which was very hairy at least. I tried a Honda CB 1100 SFY X-ll (naked blackbird). It was some bad bike! and that is all I will say on the matter, except for, do I miss it! I had always wanted the new Triumph T-Bird Sport, the opal white/tangerine model. They are discontinued now and very hard to find. So when one came up, I had to make a decision fast. It cost me a lot, plus I needed to borrow a lot; also I still miss the Honda. But we feel that I made the right decision for the long term, and now that I can ride safely using my new KLIKTRONIC gear shifter, I am extra PLEASED. Now all I need is to feel up for it body wise and for a good day to "klick-to-gether" and then, I am out there loving every minute of it. Plus, the adrenalin produced is the only real pain relief I really get. Now for the hardest part. To find the words to show my appreciation and gratitude for all that the NABD and Bob and Keith of Kliktronic have done for me, not only for the adaption of my bike, but even more for so for giving me something to "LIVE" for again and that feeling doesn't come cheap. However, I am lost for words, and thank you doesn't seem to fit the bill. So I hope you know how I feel deep down. THANK YOU ALL. Editor's note: |
