A Humbling Experience

[pinkyfloyd]

I know a few of you 'orrible lot are on my facebook and have know what I got up to on Sunday. For those that did not. I spent a day with a charity that helps disabled bikers ride again.

The charity is called The Bike Experience and was set up by the man in the chair:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/502/19269909514_943a60efa5_c.jpg

He is Talan Skeels-Piggins and is probably the most amazing man I have ever met. He founded a charity called The Bike Experience and on Sunday the training school and a few ex students went to help out.

We arrived early, a long time before the riders were due for a briefing of what was to be expected of us throughout the day and after a few practice runs the riders arrived.

I could go into detail about what we got up to and what the charity does but it will work better with pictures and a brief explanation.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/456/19705894129_d94c57ed7b_c.jpg

The man in the scoot is Tim. He has MS and used to be a full time biker. Thanks to the work the Bike Experience do Tim can ride a modified motorcycle:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/19866323066_ed92471fb2_c.jpg

See!

But how does he get on? Well that is the easy part. He gets lifted on by the team around the bike in the first picture of Tim. How does he set off then?

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/420/19897586171_9702ffd3d3_c.jpg

This is the catch and release process. The bike is stable with the rider on board. The bike has a triptronic gear selector on the handlebar and the rider has velcro attaching his knee slider area to the bike. When the rider is ready the guy holding the front of the bike steps aside. The rider puts the bike into first and pulls away, out of the hands of the guy holding the bike at the rear.

How does he stop I hear you ask?

The rider rides towards the "catcher" who is standing with his arms up. As he gets close enough he slows down and "parks" the bike between the legs of the catcher. Since the rider cannot use his legs to stop the bike falling over this is how to stop the rider from falling:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/19897650841_a3ab6bcc3e_c.jpg

Then the holder at the rear steps in and the bike is secured front and back
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/493/19704596588_0d9b750b39_c.jpg

Meet Andy

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/463/19271608883_977e0422e7_c.jpg

Paralysed from the chest down after a motorcross accident. He still rides motorcross as the rider in a side car outfit and never thought he would ride solo again. He came down to have a look at what the TBEX crew do and was told, in no uncertain terms, that he was to go and get leathers on and he'll be riding today:

After a brief go on a 125cc bike with stabilising arms (which were paid for by fund raising our school done and yes it is a shameless plug!) he was put onto the SV650

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/419/19704508310_584677ab5d_c.jpg

We spent the day with these guys and each one of them were inspirational, from the crew who run TBEX to the riders who come and ride. We had a go on the modified bikes and during the practice run the amount of trust needed between rider and catchers is immense. You rely on the rider to actually stop because you cannot run away otherwise him and bike is on the deck and the rider relies on the catcher to support him when he stopped.

The day was a very humbling day for me and for us bikers, who take riding for granted, it gives an insight to what it would be like if that was taken away and for one day. just for a few hours, you can ride again.

I cannot think of a much more deserving charity than this for us bikers. The days are free for the riders, they do invite a voluntary donation but for the most part they rely on donations of gear and money from fund raising.

If they come to a track day near you, get involved. It will really make you think.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[JP7]

Very humbling indeed. Good on them all for refusing to be defeated, and to all those helping them get back in the seat.

[delsol]

Nice work pinkfloyd, good for you and the other volunteers for taking the time out to help determined riders have what I guess was a very memorable day.

I should re-think some of my spare time, moaning about the weather helps neither myself or anybody else.

and for doing something selfless.

[dannymassive]

I've read about this charity on another forum that I am a member of. Have seen some video footage too. The work they do is amazing, enabling guys and girls to ride again when they may have thought it was impossible.
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Previous Ride's - '01 Aprilia SR125 (Sold) '08 HONDA CBF600n (Sold) '96 CB500 (Sold) '01 FZS 1000 (Sold) '06 CB1300SA (Sold) '07 CB600F Hornet (Sold) - '93 Suzuki Savage LS400 (Sold) '98 Honda VTR1000 Firestorm (Sold) '05 CB600F Hornet (Sold) '01 FZS1000 Fazer (Sold) 2016 Harley Davidson Street Bob SE (Sold) '02 Kawasaki ZX9R (Sold) '98 CB600F Hornet (Sold) '04 Suzuki Bandit 1200s (Sold) '13 Yamaha FZ1-N

[bikertomm]

Epic post, brilliant.

Makes you realise the problems we have in day to day life are fuck all. I'm currently sitting here worrying about the cost of some alloy wheels.

Horizons < Broadened

So much respect for all involved, reminds me of Martyn Ashton (facebook) he rides a street triple with the stabilisers that fold up and down.
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Fucking hell pinky. Nice one.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
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[oscar777]

Absolutely amazing work. Makes me think I take every ride for granted.
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Push bike with a 80cc jerry rigged 2 stroke---> CBR125R ---> GSXR600 ---> Ducati 1098SF

[FlightRisk]

There's a cool little short film I saw about Talan a while ago: https://vimeo.com/109999643

He's one inspiring dude.
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Honda CB500S

[Polarbear]

Good work with that Pinky, and mega kudos to all those overcoming their disabilities.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[DrSnoosnoo]

This is a charity I like

Well done for chipping in.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[pinkyfloyd]

[Rogerborg]

Not a nobber, fair play.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[P.addy]

And here's me bitching about a lack of Internet and moped. Top job pinky

[SwartGevaar]

This is truly amazing!

It's great to see initiatives like this. My only regret is that there isn't anything more local to me (South West) as I would be keen in getting involved in this.

[Taught2BCauti...]

Could be that someone has accidentally found a use for one of those Gilera Fuoco things

https://www.uk.gilera.com/mediaObject/gilera/models/Fuoco/gallery/my14/1/original/1.jpg
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[pinkyfloyd]

[Wednesday Biker]

Fantastic

[waffles]

[winz]

Top work Sir, truly inspiring.

[cheeseman]

Thanks for this epic post Pinky!

Those stabilising arms look like they're on the front wheel? Must make the bike a bit of a nightmare. Would it not be possible to put them somewhere fixed on the frame or is this even worse?
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XJ600S->Sprint ST 955i * ; Now ST1100 + W650

[pinkyfloyd]