Hemel Hempstead Cycling Club

Hemel Hempstead CC was recently asked to provide some local knowledge and support to disabled cyclist Max Burt who was cycling 714 miles from Aberdeen to Trafalgar Square on a specially adapted recumbent bike. It was Hemel's Hector Selth who accompanied Max on the last leg of his ride. Hector takes up the story.

In 1999 Max, on his usual route home from work, was involved in a collision with a fire engine answering an emergency call. The accident left him with severe head injuries that mean he is unable to balance, or walk, or talk properly.

When I knew I would be helping him I checked the route he intended from Hemel to Watford along the canal towpath and through the town centre to Bushy Arches. I decided that it was not a suitable route for a 3 wheeled bike although there were no steps.

I met Max and his 2 carers/back up support at Aplsey Lock at 8.30 on 31st August. Hemel to Trafalgar Square was his last leg and he intended to arrive at Marble Arch at 6 o’clock to meet anybody who wanted to do the last section with him.

He was sent off for his leg from Bedford to Hemel by the local Mayor. There was only me accompanying him for the last leg.

When I met them ( riding my winter road bike) they were adamant that the route would be up the canal towpath, turning off just before Uxbridge. After about an hour at an average of 5 mph I was a bit worried that they would not make Trafalgar Square on time. I had only intended to go as far as Watford with them but as no other help was forthcoming from other cycling clubs I said I would go as far as Uxbridge.

Although Max cannot stand or walk unaided he overcomes his problems on the bike with a steady pace and can cycle for a good hour without a rest.

The best part of the towpath is through Hemel, after that it becomes very rough and uneven, not really suitable for a three wheeler with road tyres. The towpath has a number of ramps as it crosses the canal and roads. We managed to give Max a bit of a push up the ramps but going down was usually concrete and the last bit often dropped a few inches to the mud. This started to take its toll on the recumbent and eventually the chain jammed and the bike was immobile. Justine was all for returning 2 miles to the support vehicle but I managed to fix it by adjusting a couple of the pulleys in the transmission system.

We were unable to turn off onto a cycle path a few miles before Uxbridge as it was not accessible for Max so we carried on to the centre of Uxbridge. I left them once we got onto the road to London, probably the only time they needed directions.

Max arrived at Marble Arch at 6.30 and carried on with Justine to Trafalgar Square arriving at 6.45 with no welcome from the London Mayor as he had hoped for, nor from anyone else.

To find out more about more about Max and his charity, visit his website:

www.everythingispossible.org.uk