Martyn Ashton update on 'bikeradar' site...

[GuinnessMK]

Brilliant and inspirational. Took the eldest there last October, and we had a brilliant time. Can't believe he's pulling the odd trick on the way down!

[aka_kerrly]

Spuffington said:

Truly inspirational.

Absolutely, as a teenager I was mad on bike trials. Videos like Chainspotting and Get a Grip (on VHS mind, no Youtube back in the 90s) and regular features in MBUK with Martyn Ashton on his Cannondale certainly encouraged me.

Trying to emulate his stunts had very mixed results!

[Kermit power]

Outstanding display!

[molineux1980]

He went up the hill at the Goodwood FOS on a modified Triumph Speed Triple. Got a huge round of applause form me and a few others who knew who he was.

Awesome and emotional seeing him back on a Mountain Bike. What price on him on an modified E-bike soon? :-)

[Vocal Minority]

Dude.

That is all.

[Kermit power]

molineux1980 said:

What price on him on an modified E-bike soon? :-)

I suspect Martyn Ashton would be very high up on a very short list of people who wouldn't be looked upon with scorn for riding an E-bike on the trails!

[Digga]

Usget said:

Usget said:

I was just about to come on and post this. What a total legend. And his mates seem quality too.

Watched the video and posted this without realising it was MacAskill and Askrigg!

I guess there is an unspoken bond between them; they've all three had fairly serious accidents, though only Ashton has suffered serious, permanent injury. As much as they were competing with one another and for sponsorship and attention, there must also be a bond, a camaraderie that can only come from being the absolute elite. Was wonderful - emotional actually - to see the three of them together in this way.

For anyone who has not ridden down Antur Stiniog, I can vouch for the fact that, although this is not the black (or doubler black) trails, it is nonetheless pretty full-on (I've helped an injured rider off the trails myself on one occasion) and not something I'd have the balls to try if I had to remain seated. Kudos.

[rhinochopig]

Kermit power said:

molineux1980 said:

What price on him on an modified E-bike soon? :-)

I suspect Martyn Ashton would be very high up on a very short list of people who wouldn't be looked upon with scorn for riding an E-bike on the trails!

I'd put money on him organising a paraplegic DH series. He even mentions in the video his curiosity as to which WC DH tracks he could get down.

[aka_kerrly]

rhinochopig said:

I'd put money on him organising a paraplegic DH series. He even mentions in the video his curiosity as to which WC DH tracks he could get down.

Have you seen the new quad wheeled mountain bike track at the Forest of Dean? I'd imagine that would be seen as no where near challenging enough for him!!

[SystemParanoia]

I wonder why he didn't use a fourcross bike ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udS8uq7JasI

[Kermit power]

SystemParanoia said:

I wonder why he didn't use a fourcross bike ?

I rather suspect "because he didn't need to"?

I don't in any way mean to denigrate people who get out and ride those - they're probably already in the top couple of percent in terms of physical achievements performed with a disability - but if he can stick his broken back aside and ride a track on a two wheeled bike that most of us able bodied lesser mortals would balk at, then why not?

Anyway, in the meantime, here's a cunning plan....

Martyn currently has a Just Giving page aiming to collect £10,000 for the charity Wings for Life. It currently stands at £9,023.15.

I'm about to stick a few quid on there. Surely there must be a few of the powerfully built PH crew who can dig some spare change out of the back of the sofa to hit that target?

[Craikeybaby]

Good shout, I've just donated too.

I saw some of those fourcross bikes(?) out at Coed y Brinin the other week, they looked fun.

[lufbramatt]

SystemParanoia said:

I wonder why he didn't use a fourcross bike ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udS8uq7JasI

IIRC last year he made a "bucket list" with the title "Try Before July" i.e. July 2015. The last item on the list was to get back on a 2 wheeled bicycle, much to many peoples disbelief. And he only bloody went and did it

ETA: http://www.trybeforejuly.com/about/

Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 7th July 23:17

[Kermit power]

I've just seen footage on Facebook (so don't know how to link to it here) of Ashton's first go on his new electric bike. New video coming soon, apparently!

[Mr Gearchange]

https://www.facebook.com/martynashtonfanpage

Excellent stuff - even doing a stoppie would have me panicking if i couldn't put my feet down. Huge respect to Martyn - not letting paralysis stopping him from riding on two wheels.

[aka_kerrly]

Mr Gearchange said:

https://www.facebook.com/martynashtonfanpage

Excellent stuff - even doing a stoppie would have me panicking if i couldn't put my feet down. Huge respect to Martyn - not letting paralysis stopping him from riding on two wheels.

Watched that video earlier, incredible stuff!!

Reminds me of the beach front car park where bits Chainspotting was filmed.

[Usget]

Mr Gearchange said:

https://www.facebook.com/martynashtonfanpage

Excellent stuff - even doing a stoppie would have me panicking if i couldn't put my feet down. Huge respect to Martyn - not letting paralysis stopping him from riding on two wheels.

Awesome stuff, he is a true inspiration. Videos like that are going to give some serious hope and joy to disabled people.

[Vocal Minority]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX_hn3Xf90g

Had cause to share this with a friend today and thought I would give it a bump...because you don't need a special reason to share this stuff