Hi Everyone,
As some of you may know I have been involved in setting up a charity called The Bike Experience with my friend, Talan Skeels Piggins. The charity aims to get riders who have been paralysed back on to a bike on track.
About Talan
In March 2003, Talan Skeels-Piggins, an active PE teacher, former Royal Navy fighter controller and experienced skier, suffered a motorcycle accident which shattered his spine and fractured his neck in several places. The odds of surviving this type of accident is estimated at 1 per cent, with only a 30 per cent chance of recovering from trauma suffered. Talan was left paralysed from the chest-down.
Following his discharge from hospital Talan was determined to get the most out of life and decided to live life to the full. He has not only completed the Bath Half Marathon in his wheelchair but also represented Great Britain in last year's winter paralympic in his sit-ski.
Always seeking new and exciting goals, Talan turned his attention to motorcycles, and more specifically track based bikes or road racing.
Starting off with a Suzuki GSX-R1000K6 might seem to be a bit extreme, but he was determined to make a dynamic come-back to riding. There have been numerous lessons learned along the way: stabiliser design, rear brake requirement, gear shifting controls, PCM III limitations, engine mapping.
Keen to involve more and more disabled riders, Talan has an adapted GSX-R600 which he uses to show riders how it is possible to ride again.
His experiences have led him to give motivation and achievement talks all over the country and to many different types of audience (from Primary School to Senior Management of Blue Chip companies). His talks are emotional and honest, showing just how tough the human spirit is.
Talan is also trying to get his ACU licence to enable him to race. No paraplegic has ever been issued a solo-motorcycle race licence by the Auto Cycle Union, so the ground remains unbroken, uncharted and unknown.......
The Bike Experience Charity and the future....
I have spoken to Talan and he will be more than happy to come and give his talk to WB'ers. We just need to decide on a date and venue. He is an absolute inspiration and I am sure you will all be interested to hear him talk.
The first charity track day is at Castle Combe this Wednesday 20th April. If anyone is interested in helping out this track day, or any others please let me know. We may need people to assist on the day to launch/catch the riders.
In addition, we are also seeking any kind donations of boots, leathers gloves as our students may be all shapes and sizes and the more kit we have, the more people we can help!
I will be looking to organise a charity ride out later in the year to try and raise funds - in addition Talan and I will be at the Castle Combe circuit for the Bike Safe event on the 4th June to raise awareness.
If you are able to help out with fund raising, track days, donating bike gear or anything else - please PM me.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you want to read more.....
Talan's Bike site is here with lots of pics, well worth a read.
http://web.me.com/tskeelspiggins/Dis...g/Welcome.html
Some footage of his riding
http://web.me.com/tskeelspiggins/Dis...bikeoct10.html
There is a fantastic article on Talan in Fast Bikes:
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/...ods/Talan1.jpg
You can read Talan's blog from the day of his accident onwards and his life experiences to date. It is a real inspiring read. If you have the time, I really recommend you sit down and take time to read it.
http://talant4trust.blogspot.com/
Originally Posted by dan_geoghegan