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Since I was a young lad I had always wanted too own and ride my own bike, the nearest I got to this was when I was 17 years old and I had saved my money up to buy a 175cc motor cross style bike, however when I had finally got the readies together and had a weekend off from the army I found that the impatient git had already sold the bike.
Shortly afterwards I was posted abroad for six months and so what was once a dream had now become pushed to the back of my list of priorities, like many other people I ended up buying a car.
Its now 2004 and my 40th birthday is fast approaching, I had always promised myself that I would pass my bike test and own my own machine...this was looking increasingly unlikely, firstly I wasn’t flush with cash, and secondly I only had one leg.
Ten years previously I had lost my left leg whilst serving in an infantry battalion, I had also suffered major trauma to my right leg. After two years rehab I was given the boot out of the army for no longer meeting the required fitness levels that are expected of an infantry soldier. I must admit at that point my world came crashing down around me, all I had known since the age of 16 was the army, to cut a long story short, due to ongoing medical problems I could no longer hold a job down. This had turned me from an out going and happy guy to a depressed recluse, I was stuck in the house all week as my wife had the car for work. It was then that I saw a programme on men and motors about the NABD, from that point on I knew that I would get a bike.
I finally got the bike in July, I then phoned the offices of the NABD and enquired about what sort of things they could do for me. I spoke to a very helpful lady who explained everything that I needed to know. I was told that I could apply for a grant to help with the fitting of a Kliktronic gear changer, I was also told that it didn’t matter that I wasn’t a member of the NABD, all the paperwork would be sent through to me.
Within the week I received the paperwork to apply for the Kliktrinic and a grant, I filled in all the relevant stuff, at the same time I made myself and my family, members of the NABD.
At the beginning of September the committee agreed that I could receive a grant of a Kliktronic Gearchanger plus £90.00 toward the fitting costs, this was it, I was ready to get the bike fitted up. Then came the hard bit, no one in the Preston area seemed to want to touch it, I phoned everywhere but the answer was always `No`.
As a last resort I went back to `Keith Dixon’s Motorcycles in Accrington (Tel: 01254 231221), the place where I bought the bike from. Ian who I had dealt with when I bought the bike made a couple of phone calls to the NABD and Kliktronic, he then phoned me to say that Mike from the shop would do the job.
Along came the van and off went my bike. I then had to pass my CBT and this I did on a twist and go at Riverview Rider Training at Hesketh Bank near Southport. I then booked myself in for the theory and hazard awareness test, with the help of the official DSA publications I passed first time. Now I booked my self in for a direct access course with Riverview, I must admit that the guys were top class with me, they had never done an amputee with a modified bike before, so this was going to be something new.
When I got my bike back I couldn’t wait to get on it and have a crack at the Kliktronic, it worked like a dream, Mike had done a great job, as you can imagine I could hardly wait to start my course, this I did on the second week of September, Pete my instructor was a top bloke, he made me relax and put no pressure on me whatsoever, however he must have had kittens watching me, I fell off the bike a total of six times (in my defence though it was at slow speed and I always fell over to the left). I found that once the bike got to a certain angle I could no longer support the weight of it with my false leg.
Well the big day came to take my test, and yes I ended up with the chief examiner! After my ride he said it probably wasn’t my best ride, but I had passed.
I have been out on the bike every day, it’s the best thing I have ever done. The freedom it has given me is hard to describe, but thanks to all the people from NABD, Ian and Mike from `Keith Dixon’s Motorcycles, and Graham and Pete from Riverview Rider Training and Bob and Keith from Kliktronic. I have now realised a dream that I thought would never happen.
Thanks can never be enough to you guys, but that’s all I can say for now. I can’t wait for next year when I can attend one of the parties and maybe see you in person and buy you a pint or three.
Andy Fuller
This NABD grant of £400.00 was sponsored by
donations from Roughley’s Stockport Bikeshow
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