My hero

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.