Twenty-seven years ago Eric Slade had a collision with a car that left his right arm paralysed. He was certain his biking days were over, but, as he told Tony Long, life can be full of surprises...
AFTER a collision with a car on January 25 1978 left me with a paralysed right arm, my association with motorcycles was always through watching my mates - my days of riding seemed to be well and truly over.
Then last summer I went with my family and friends to my local pub, The Cricketers in Eastleigh, and discovered there was a bike show organised by the local Motorcycle Action Group (MAG).
My wife, Tracy, spoke with someone about my disability and love of bikes, and they were of the opinion that I could still ride and that we should speak with the lady at the MAG stand.
That was the organiser, Rose Neale, and I was very pleasantly surprised to be told about the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD).
I had no idea that such an organisation existed and when I got home looked up the Web address she had provided and I immediately applied for membership.
That was May 4, 2004. Next was to try to get a provisional licence.
I applied on July 24, 2004 and received a provisional motorcycle licence. I was over the moon.
Now I could start looking for a bike.
At our local bike shop, Spike Island, I discovered a beautiful 2002 Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer with about 8,500 miles on the clock.
My heart was set on it and the deal was done. Spike Island were very generous and let me borrow their bike trailer whenever I needed to move my bike.
I needed an engineer to adapt my machine and after several phone calls and more help from Spike Island I found Barney Chapman of Barney's Superbikes - a genius.
We discussed what had to be done and decided the best method was to link one of the front disc brakes to the rear brake and use a thumb brake for the other front disc.
Stainless steel brake hoses were used for improved braking efficiency.
Obliviously the throttle had to be put on the left and we decided on a good quality steering damper.
NABD does incredible work for riders with a disability including advice and financial support. On January 16 this year my grant was approved and we received a thumb brake kit in the post that week with a further £190 towards the work.
Things began to move fast and Barney had my bike ready for me to pick up on February 1. His work is excellent and everybody who has seen it has commented on the superb job he has done.
Insurance was arranged with Bennetts and that just left training - first the compulsory basic training (CBT) and ultimately my test.
Looking through my copy of Open House, the NABD magazine, I saw an advert for Motag Motorcycle Training (0800 652 0677). I called and booked my first three-day block of lessons including my CBT.
Training started on the morning of February 22, and it snowed - not much but it was f-f-freezing.
The next day of training I completed my CBT and on day three we went out on the road.
It was a beautiful clear, cold, February day and after 27 years I was finally there doing it. I was in control and riding again; I felt like I had won the Lottery.
My instructor Nigel Chandler was superb, always full of praise, and helped me overcome a very long separation from two wheels.
We spent all Friday out and about.
I was keen to take my test and booked the first available space, on March 8, and three days of further training with Nigel.
Sunday March 6 was the first day of my second block of training.
We went out all day and things were OK but the thought of that test kept me awake at night.
Roll on Tuesday.
Monday was a much better day for me. Things seemed to go better even though I'd struggled with the dreaded U-turn.
I went home feeling confident but again had very little sleep.
The sheer excitement and the terror of the test day was almost too much, but there was no turning back now.
The big day dawned and the weather was set to stay dry but a little cold.
We rode into the test centre at about 1.15pm, 18 minutes before my test, and after what seemed like an eternity the examiner came out and we were off.
About 45 minutes later we returned to the test centre, U- turn completed successfully, and went inside for some further questions, and to repair the worn-out carpet where Nigel had been pacing up and down like an expectant father.
"I'm pleased to tell you that you have passed," the examiner said.
Being slightly emotional I shed a tear. I turned to Nigel and gave him a big kiss on the forehead.
I know he was as pleased as me.
I couldn't believe I'd done it. Nothing can describe how I felt; it was just like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
The only thing that has ever been like this for me was the birth of my son, Andrew.
After about half an hour, when I had calmed down a little, we rode to my house and this time we went straight down the motorway.
I left my bike and rode on the back of Nigel's bike back to Motag HQ for a course debrief. When we arrived the Motag team had put up a "Congratulations Eric" poster on the office door - great people.
Now I have the freedom of being a biker again and it is thanks to all the people mentioned here.
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
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