There
are a lot of people in the cycling world I would say inspire me. Paul Kippax
and his ability to ride so hard he nearly passes out (this is also massively
entertaining – see youtube), Charline Joiner breaking her back and competing in the commonwealth games in
the same year, my parents who have both had crashes on the bike in the last few
years and continue to get back on, Fred Smith who sacrificed everything to look
after his wife who was ill caring for her 24/7 because he didn’t trust anyone
else to do it properly.
If I had to pick one though, my absolute hero would be Robbie Duncan. Robbie is
67 and rides for Manchester wheelers. I know Robbie from track league – a daredevil
and awesome tactician. Always on the right wheel, bravely squeezing through the
smallest gaps, never out in the elimination and regularly places in the top
three.
One night in November Robbie had a big crash in the devil and ended up in
hospital with a broken pelvis, ribs and other injuries. I didn’t think we would
see him until the new season September 2015 earliest if he ever came back at all.
He was back riding and racing on the track in January - before doctors said he
would have been walking again unaided. This man is unstoppable. He is now back
racing on a Monday night in his opinion ‘slightly off the pace’, but I can
assure you he is not. He is on the front driving the pace, making the
breakaways in fast races. What this man has done is incredible.
When I think of the accident I had two weeks ago (if you haven't heard about it click here) and how I didn’t want to
drive, or ride on the open roads, I thought of Robbie. Would Robbie let the
risk of an accident stop him doing the things he enjoyed? No he would not.
