|
Thanks to all at NABD for the grant that bought the thumb brake and the Kliktronic gear-changer, which rounded off the Trike conversion of my Blackbird.
I am a lifelong biker and rode as often as possible for pleasure on the road often touring Europe until in 1998 I started racing which over the following few years became an all consuming passion taking most of my time and my income!
I enjoyed some success, finishing third in the Auto 66 Club formula 400 championship in 2001, and developed a taste for pure road racing entering the Manx Grand Prix in 2002 on an R6. I was accepted for the Newcomers race on the Monday and the Senior race on the Friday.
Having achieved a 105mph lap in practice I completed the Newcomers race and looked forward to the Senior race later in the week. The race was going well until on the last lap 10 minutes from home, looking forward to my 2nd finishers medal, I misjudged a 140mph corner at Brandywell on the mountain section. I remember seeing my front wheel let go in the dirty grit at the side of the road and we headed for the heather.
So easily done, a momentary lapse of concentration, and BANG! CRASH! Ground, Sky, Ground, Sky, Air ambulance!
Six months in hospital and the rest of my life in a wheelchair paralysed from the chest down. I broke my spine in two places, fractured six ribs, fractured my shoulder blade and dislocated my shoulder.
Still, shit happens, Eh!
I have always been a “Glass Half Full” sort of person and spent the later part of my time in hospital working out how I was going to get back on a bike. I soon gave up the idea of riding two wheels after investigating stabilisers and the like and my research brought me round to Trikes.
I still had my Blackbird in the garage which I bought new in 1997 and saw one Triked on the internet.
It all slipped into place when I got in touch with Hank at Trike Design near Cardiff (formerly Hank’s Chop Shop). Hank and the guys were brilliant, they hadn’t done blackbird before but did a brilliant job as you can see from the photos.
It was suggested by them that I might get some help from NABD. I had already joined the club so I got in touch and they kindly agreed to award a grant for the purchase of the thumb brake and Kliktronic gear changer.
The Trike is fantastic, not only is it a real head turner but it has reverse gear in the diff assembly and it goes as fast backwards as it does forwards. I am working on some brackets to attach my dismantled wheelchair to it so that I can travel independently taking my chair and some luggage with me. Just over one year on from my accident I was back in the saddle.
I am now building my strength up and am starting to be able to ride it how it should be ridden. I wonder if they’d let me start a new class at the Manx Grand Prix?
This NABD Grant of £490.00 was sponsored by a
donation from
The Virago Star Owners Club
|
