Two disabled motorcyclists have completed a ride from John O’Groats to Lands End in specially-adapted motor trikes.
The Martin Conquest motor trikes used by David Burdus and Carl Brunning have a built-in electronically operated ramp and allow them to sit in their wheelchairs as they ride. The £20,000 machines are made from the front end of a BMW 1200R with an aluminium rear frame.
“We decided we wanted to really wow people with these fantastic machines and give people a different view of disability,” Burdus commented, adding that between 30mph and 70mph it feels just like riding a motorbike.
Burdus and Brunning met 30 years ago after they were both involved in serious accidents. While they were in hospital together they talked about one day taking a long-distance trip on their bikes, but they drifted apart and lost touch.
After meeting up again recently, the pair made plans for the trip across Britain.
One of the aims of the trip was to support the Percy Hedley Foundation, a charity in the northeast of England that provides services to disabled people and their families. The riders wanted to raise money for the charity’s Splash appeal, which aims to raise £1 million for a new hydrotherapy pool for young wheelchair users.
They also wanted to promote Disability Confident, a government campaign that encourages employers to take a positive attitude towards hiring disabled people. On completion of the ride they met MP Mark Harper, minister of state for disabled people.
The trip was sponsored by Premier Inn, fuel retailer Jet and bakery chain Greggs. Accompanying Burdus and Brunning were two support staff and a cameraman who filmed their adventure for a documentary.
Having ridden from John O’Groats to Lands End, the pair are now making plans for their next challenge: a trip from Hull to Istanbul, Brunning said.