Paraplegic rides again - and how you can help...

[Honda_Star]

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/The%20Bike%20Experience/BELogo.jpg

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.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/The%20Bike%20Experience/bikecrash.jpg

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.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/The%20Bike%20Experience/skiing.jpg

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.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/The%20Bike%20Experience/OnBike.jpg

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/Disabled_Motorcycling/Welcome.html

Some footage of his riding
http://web.me.com/tskeelspiggins/Disabled_Motorcycling/Photographs_and_Video/Pages/bikeoct10.html


There is a fantastic article on Talan in Fast Bikes:
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a426/andrewsmith1708/Odds%20and%20Sods/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/

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/The%20Bike%20Experience/ontrack.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/The%20Bike%20Experience/lineup.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk315/Halina_r/ski.jpg

[wiltshire builders]

What time at combe? I might be able to finish work a bit early and pop down.

[Honda_Star]

Prob from about 9 until 2/3. What time do you finish?

[Scotty]

I'm sure that Talan will be an inspiration to anyone who meets him, looking forward to catching up with him whan I can :)

[R1chie]

Stickied.

Shame work commitments mean I can't get to this on Wednesday.

Best of luck with this, weather looks like it'll be onside as well

[wiltshire builders]

If I go balls out tomorow I might get there for Just after lunch. Customer doesn't have a roof at the moment so can't really leave until it's done.

[Dennis_Sinanan]

If I go balls out tomorow I might get there for Just after lunch. Customer doesn't have a roof at the moment so can't really leave until it's done.

If I were your customer and looked up and saw you on my roof with your balls out, I would probably send you home early!! ;D ;D ;D Very good plan ;D

[wiltshire builders]

If I go balls out tomorow I might get there for Just after lunch. Customer doesn't have a roof at the moment so can't really leave until it's done.

If I were your customer and looked up and saw you on my roof with your balls out, I would probably send you home early!! ;D ;D ;D Very good plan ;D
If only all my customers were as understanding.......

[RachaelEllen]

Talan, or Mr Skeels as we knew him, was my sports teacher at secondary school. He was the most enthusiastic and generous person, not only with his time but also his knowledge. I really wish i could come along to this but i don't think i can make either of the current dates. I do really recommend that if you can, just go down and speak to him, i'm sure he will be more than happy to talk to anybody, we had more of a problem trying to shut him up!

[Honda_Star]

Rachel - I am looking to organise an evening when Talan can come to talk to wb'ers, maybe at the H&C. Will keep you posted - I mentioned I know you via the biking world! :)

[Chappers]

Great seeing you getting so involved in this H [smiley=thumbsup.gif] Hope all goes well on Wednesday. Happy to donate some stuff - I have a Knox back protector and TCX boots you can have :)

[Honda_Star]

Great seeing you getting so involved in this H [smiley=thumbsup.gif] Hope all goes well on Wednesday. Happy to donate some stuff - I have a Knox back protector and TCX boots you can have :)

Aw bless ya - thank you so much. Really appreciate anything anyone can spare - it all helps! Will take some pics on Wednesday to show how it went! :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Honda_Star]

Bring it on - itv should be there filming too :)

[R1chie]

Good luck with tomorrow.

I might be able to pop over from work in the afternoon but if not, I hope all goes well [smiley=thumbup.gif]

[Bornagain]

Best wishes for your day H

Would be up there helping out in a heart beat but gotta drop little legs back to Northampton.
Looking forward to meeting Talan soon, when's he coming for a bash with WB's?

[Honda_Star]

OMG what an amaaaaazing day. I just got in and still have the biggest smile on my face ever. Will post a proper account of the day soon, as about to head out on the bike, but for those of you who are in this evening we are on ITV news this evening at 6 - 6.30!

Thank you to all your PM's and good wishes. Also big thanks to NickL for helping 'launch' and 'catch' on the day too. Thanks to Wiltshirebuilder for making an appearance too :) :) Will get Talan down to a WB shiin dig soon - Basil, he will be doing the Llandow track day and will be in your group so watch your ass ;) ;) ;) ;)

[Dabz]

Excellent to hear all about this tonight Star, you should be really proud! I'll have a think about how to raise some money for sponsorship

[njl]

Was a really good day, many thanks to Star and Talan. Sunshine has sent me pink which will teach me to leave the sun cream off til it was too late.

Didn't get the camera out til Talan and Scotts' runs were over, but some general pics from the trackday are up here

http://s898.photobucket.com/albums/ac189/nickl2/combe%20track%20day%20apr%2011/

[Honda_Star]

Excellent to hear all about this tonight Star, you should be really proud! I'll have a think about how to raise some money for sponsorship

Thanks so much....! Need to raise money to cover the cost of fuel/tyres for the day and also get some more kit (new or second hand) . If anyone is able to donate anything, we can take second hand stuff including leathers, Scrubbers Leathers have kindly offered to clean them professionally for us which is nice :) :) :) :)

[Morticia]

Damn, what a guy!

I'd love to meet him and help out.

Got no spare kit nor money, but enough enthusiasm and stamina to do just about anything that needs doing ;D If I can help, let me know.

[Nooj]

I have some kit to drop off (if you think it's suitable) Will try and bring it along next time I'm at the Polebarn.

[Honda_Star]

I have some kit to drop off (if you think it's suitable) Will try and bring it along next time I'm at the Polebarn.

Hey Nooj

Yep that would be excellent - or I can come to you if that's easier. Just PM me and let me know - cheers!! :) :) :)

[Talan]

Finally pulled my finger out and joined. Lovely to read what people have said and I have had been fortunate to meet a few of you.

Wednesday saw the second Bike Experience event take place. Lindsay and Chris were our next two riders that wanted to see what it was like to try and ride again. It is a big step to make and the inherent risks of riding are still there, so even turning up on the day shows that they are ballsy. We were supported throughout the day by a great group of volunteers and helpers, some of which were only contacted on the Monday sue to some other pulling out. The days could not really go ahead without their support, so I am eternally grateful.....that goes out to you...Steve/Ross/Nick/Maca....and anyone else I forgot to mention (I blame my bad memory on my medication).

We started off in the paddock, with both riders learning to get on the bike, launch, stop and get off.
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab166/tskeelspiggins/Bike%20Experience/be2.jpg

We moved the riders between the two bikes, SV650 and GSXR600, so that each was comfortable on a bike for them to ride on the track. Chris, who was shorter the Lindsay suited the GSXR and Lindsay was happy to be on the SV, so there were no complaints!
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab166/tskeelspiggins/Bike%20Experience/be4.jpg

When we moved into the pit lane, the rain began. This made the track pretty slippery, as one track day rider found out when his bike went away from underneath him, slid down the track right next to us and then burst into flames. Not the greatest confidence boost for the two nervous riders, which was slightly compounded by the Snr Instructors briefing who claimed the track was really slippery and we needed extra care! These factors really set off the ‘demons’ in Lindsay’s head, and try as she might, she couldn’t shake them off and felt unable to get out on the track. We never force anyone to do anything they don’t feel comfortable doing, so I took Chris out around the track for his first session whilst Lindsay had some time to relax.
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab166/tskeelspiggins/Bike%20Experience/be14.jpg

Chris did really well and we made it back in one piece, despite the slippery track, to much cheers from those with him and helping him. We made another few track sessions with Chris, but each time Lindsay tried, the worries grew. It wasn’t to be her day, but she has said she wants to return and try again, the sign of real determination to overcome and get back to riding a bike.
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab166/tskeelspiggins/Bike%20Experience/be12.jpg

So, despite the weather, we had a great day and as an event we learned a few more things and saw that even with the best will in the world, there are still huge mental challenges for all who come to the track. But as we all know, it’s not the knock-downs, but how you get back up from them that matters.
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab166/tskeelspiggins/Bike%20Experience/be11.jpg

[Scotty]

Hi Talan, I'm glad that I saw Chris at a mate's funeral in Northampton last month, kind of put two and two together and was fortunate enough to catch up with him just before he left the proceedings and got his contact details. By all accounts he had a really good time, nice one [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Star got all her Bike Experience gear yesterday - it's pretty funky and she's well chuffed with it - are you at Combe on June 4th? I could come along to that for a look-see - not sure about catching duties, I crocked my left knee on Sunday when my road bike rolled off its stand and hit me in the side of the knee and then bent it 90º sideways :'( Hobbling around on crutches at the mo, going to Llandow for the SWB day there next Friday but I doubt I'll be riding, keeping fingers crossed that I'll be in a fit state for Cadwell in mid-June...

[Nelly]

Talan. Just to let you know i will be available t help on 10th & 24th Aug if you would like me to be there.

[Dabz]

come on 24th Nelly - there's a load of WBers on the track that day too :D

[Beamer]

Hey Talan....do you do your track days every wednesday??

Sorry if it already says that up there ^ but I tried to flick through quick and didnt see anything (nowt unusual for me to be honest hehe)

:) :) :)

[njl]

Hey Talan....do you do your track days every wednesday??

Sorry if it already says that up there ^ but I tried to flick through quick and didnt see anything (nowt unusual for me to be honest hehe)

:) :) :)
We currently use castle Combe every time they have a bike track day which is 2 wednesdays a month. Come visit if you fancy & say hi!

[njl]

10th is the next one btw

[Beamer]

Ahhh cool thank you....my friend from work is very interested in helping out and she's facebooked the page..... I said I'd find out for her.....am hoping to be at Castle Combe on the 24th myself for the WB trackday so will pop over and say hi.....not sure if i'll be able to help much as I shall have my 9 yr old with me.....but my mate said shes off that day so shall hopefully bring her along too.. :) :) :)

[jacquib]

Wednesday August 3rd Bike Night @ Castle combe Race circuit in aid of The Bike Experience ..
We have raised over £200 with the raffle so far for Wednesday night .. Amazing but we need more .. Prizes include a bike track day at castle Combe 2 subriptions for fast bikes magazine.. £30 voucher for AR Racing .. a Mot at MRG Garage .. clothing from Avon Tyres ... 2 Tickets for rally car day in September A remote Controlled helecopter and there are still more coming in .. So pleeease come along to the circuit from 5.30 pm .. There will be a bar b cue and live music !!! See you all there .....

[Dabz]

I'll be there tonight :D

[Senna(Dan)]

A great montage of photos for the day. Check it out guys and gals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM16lYwcYYs&feature=youtu.be