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Biography

Mother Shipton's Cave, the summer of 1981. We were out on a family day trip and I was given a few pence to throw in the wishing well. "I wish for a Chopper" I said as I threw the coins down the well. Looking back, I got my wish in two respects! But that Christmas I got what I had hoped for. The Raleigh Mark Two, in cool purple! My first 'real' bike and I loved it so much. Every day I was out in the park, by the railway, or at the local cricket ground causing trouble. I remember trying to impress a local girl by doing some tricks, forgetting that the Chopper wasn't really a tricks bike. I flew over the handlebars and limped home, walking my bike, front tyre punctured and my ego seriously deflated!


Me & my brother, Martin circa 1981. Were vests
ever cool on kids?
 

Two years later and the Chopper was out of fashion. Everyone had the new Raleigh Mag Burner BMX. The distinctive Blue and yellow frame and the oh-so-cool padding over the handlebar and frame. Even better, you could do tricks on this one! Our back street was turned into a bike dirt track for a whole summer. Every kid had a BMX at some point and they are still used today! BMX was made an Olympic event at the 2008 Beijing games. My BMX lasted about two or three years before I got my first racing bike. I remember going to buy it, second hand from a guy near Ferrybridge Power Station. It was an old, brown racer. I really hated it. The only reason I ended up with this


BMX circa 1983.
The drying washing just makes this picture!

depressing looking contraption was because my dad had grudgingly driven me to the house late one evening and after looking at it he  mumbled in an annoyed fashion "Do you want it or not? Make your mind up". I wanted a new one! But I said yes just to get me out of there. I don't think I rode it more than two or three times. Later that year and after some weeks of pestering I managed to get a brand spanking new racer for Christmas. This one was a lot better. Red and white with cool drop down handlebars, twelve gears and it looked the part.

   

I was quite a loner as a teenager. Things weren't so good at home. My parents separated when I was fifteen and divorced a year later. Both re-married within a couple of years and new step brothers and sisters arrived. I was also coming to terms with the realisation that I was gay. All this on top of the stress of exams and trying to get a career in radio was trying to say the least! I often spent hours out on my bike during these years. Whole days too sometimes, just out exploring and using the solitary time to think and

come to terms with what was going on elsewhere in my life. It was a rough couple of years, but I developed more as a person because of it. Independence, confidence and a realisation that I could fulfil my own ambitions were all positives that developed during my early adolescence. My love of cycling grew and it was a good stress releaser. Some of those times stayed with me even now. I find the time spent out on my bike enables me to think clearly and sort out issues that have been at the back of my mind. It's very therapeutic, as well as good exercise!

 

Throughout my twenties and early thirties I continued to enjoy biking in one form or another. Working forty hours a week and restraints on disposable income meant that I couldn't afford the types of bike I wanted. Nevertheless, I always had a bike of some kind. My main enjoyment comes from cross country and mountain biking. I love to explore, checking out Google Earth for new paths, woods or tracks to discover. My favourite bike is my mountain bike, mainly because I can explore all terrains. Woods,

boggy pathways, across fields as well as roads. The freedom and peace that comes from exploring the countryside is something I enjoy. Being alone outdoors with miles of nothing but nature is great.
   


Leeds & Liverpool
Canal Ride 2009.

In 2008 I set up the Brenda Fox Tribute Fund, supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This was a fantastic motivation for me to cycle further and faster than I was used to. My first challenge in 2009 was to cycle the length of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. After successfully completing the return trip in just over 22 hours I found out I'd set a record for the journey. Now I'm training harder than I ever have before. I spend about ten hours a week training at the gym and about the same again out on my bike. My latest challenge saw me cycle from Lands End to John o'Groats in July 2010. I completed the 888 mile journey
in 64 hours and 52 minutes over eight days. Since then, I've developed arthritis in both knees and a few other injuries. Next step is some keyhole surgery, physio and I'm hoping to be back on the bike late next year.
   

Until my knees are strong enough to begin biking again I've had to think up some new ideas to raise money and keep the tribute fund going. During the heavy snow at the beginning of December I challenged my Facebook friends to donate £20, and in exchange I would clear some snow from outside my house naked! To say this was a popular event is rapidly becoming an understatement!

To be continued...

 
 


 

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