http://www.nabd.org.uk is the website for them where you can find out about their great work, such as adaptations for disabled bikers, fund raising and raising awareness of the problem that todays blinkered society has created. They are having a rally, "You've been nabbed" on 7-9 May 2010 at Astle Park, Cheshire. More details from here - http://www.nabd.org.uk/rally/ybn19.htm
I myself am disabled. I suffer from fybromyalgia which can really limit what I do but it doesn't stop me from working on my baby, only a little bike I know but it is a 1975 Honda CB250.
Anyway, this is the gist of my little story:My name is Andrew, I am on the right side of 50 (just!) and three years or so ago, I saw a new GP.
I have had problems with my spine since an accident in 1992 where a cement wagon didn't see me and, well, you can imagine the rest although surprisingly, I didn't break anything. This new GP I saw said that in a way, it would maybe have been better if I had done, some things may have been spotted sooner. Anyway, I was diagnosed with fybromyalgia a couple of years ago now and at first, I was quite relieved to finally know what the problem was. Little did I realise that it was only the beginning. You see, fybromyalgia is not a common condition and quite often, even among GPs, it is dismissed as not being a 'real illness' much the same as M.E. Getting people to realise that this illness even exists in the first place is hard enough but when they look at you as if to say "well I can't see owt wrong with him" I so often want to grab them by the scruff and ask if they would like to try and live for just one day with this damned thing. I get so annoyed when people think that if you look 'normal' you can't be disabled. What do they expect? Purple skin, three heads and arms coming from the nether regions? I wish they could understand how much the pain and sheer exhaustion affects our everyday lives with this condition, if only they could walk a little in my shoes ...........................
I have found that so many people, especially some 'government agencies' think that if you can ride, there's nowt wrong with you. I've been very lucky, I have a GP who knows what he's doing, a family who are very supportive and even dealt with disability agencies who don't patronise. I love the freedom that a bike gives, although I also have a car for family use. I use the bike as often as I can as I love the freedom, the contact with the outside world that you don't get from a tin box and the cameraderie that only bikers seem to share. I don't have long, greasy hair or smelly leathers, I don't listen to Iron Maiden and Motorhead. I may have a beard but I like folk music (Not the finger in-the-ear-Arran-jumper-wearing stuff though!) I like real beer, old bikes and a nice cup of tea at a roadside cafe in Glasson Dock. Does that make me a rebel?
My only advice to other bikers with any disability, or even non-bikers is simple .... if you think there could be a problem DON'T let it slide, get it sorted straight away. Don't let it get away from you so that it's too late to have a life. Live life to the full but make sure you are going to live.
Thanks and God Bless you all.
Andrew.
Please, check out the site.
