Amputee MBR

Spinning the pedals as an above the knee amputee.

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3 months out with a virus, chest infection and sinusitis has not been much fun at all, can’t remember ever feeling that bad but feel much better now and ready to start pushing on. Must say I am rather disappointed as I had plans of doing some charity rides this year and plenty of cycling on the Welsh mountains, Lets see how it goes.

I have managed my first 2 gym sessions of the year and 2 cycles of just 5 miles so plenty to do, can’t believe how much of my fitness I have lost! but at least I am back on it. Going to try my local 12 mile circuit tomorrow, just got to keep pushing.

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Brian Bartlett

The talented Brian Bartlett professional downhill racer and designer of the Bartlett Tendon Knee.

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Quick morning blast

This was  just a quick few miles in the morning after the guests had left over the christmas period.

Santa Cruz from http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com

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First go at a downhill trail

This was at Stile Cop and my first attempt at a downhill track along with Tim, no accidents so a good start. This is clearly where the Bartlett Tendon shines and now can't wait to build the skill level to get it on some longer downhill runs, I think there is going to be some serious fun to be had on BTK (Bartlett Tendon Knee) with stiff settings on a long downhill run.

Santa Cruz from http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com

Clothing and protection from http://www.chainreactioncycles.com

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Llandegla, Wales

I now have a full suspension MTB, yay!!

Winter 2014 and Tim and myself head for our first cycle in Wales. Found it quite tough and remember the map being soaked so we could no longer see our route, the light fading fast and beginning to get a tad concerned we would still be out on the trail in the dark with no lights, luckily we got back to my car just as the last light was upon us.

Santa Cruz 5010 from http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com

Clothing, protection & accessories from http://www.chainreactioncycles.com

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Tim joins the cycles

My old mate Tim who has always been a keene cyclist joins the fun on what is  now the weekly visit to Cannock Chase.

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

Clothing, protection & accessories from http://www.chainreactioncycles.com

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Cannock Chase

This was my first visit to a trail centre doing red trails at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire. Took me a while to build the confidence up to come here on my own but once completed I couldn't wait to return, this was the first of many visits, a fantastic trail centre considering the flat ground we have here in central U.K. Together the Follow the dog and the Monkey trail combined cover a distance of 15 miles, I remember how much I was aching after the first full circuit. 

It was great to have a play with the Bartlett Tendons settings and I like how it can be stiffened right up to keep position easier on downhill sections.I now just need to build the skills and start adventuring into more downhill in the future.

Bring it on!!

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

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Rutland Water

Mid summer 2014 and have had the Bartlett Tendon a few months now and am  extremely impressed with it. 

Not been to Rutland Water (one of Europe's largest man made lakes) for years so thought would make the most of a beautiful day and cycle the 26 mile loop around the reservoir.

Very impressed as I managed to get round without stopping off in one of the pubs you pass for a quick pint.

Giant Talon from  http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

Clothing from http://www.chainreactioncycles.com

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The Best Cycles

Golden moments when I am out with my family on our bikes. This was out near conkers, I don't think we found the route we intended to take but had a nice cycle together

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Wakerley Woods

Just across the road from Fineshades wood, Wakerley wood is a small circuit of 2.7 miles of mini rollers, berms and switchbacks and a great little place for me to play around with the Bartlett Tendon. I took my daughter along the second time I visited and she really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to get back again.

A perfect little trail to have your dog following.

I decided after this that I was confident enough to give Cannock Chase a try.

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

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Hicks Lodge

Found this nice little place with a blue graded 4.7 mile circuit with mini table tops, mini rollers and plenty of berms so again a nice place to have a mess about on the Bartlett Tendon and play with the set up a bit. Took my daughter out for her first try of a blue trail and she had a blast and put in a dam good effort, bless her.

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

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Fineshades Wood

Thought I would give Fineshades wood a try, a circuit of about 5 miles with some blue graded loops so a chance to play with the Bartlett Tendon settings a bit, my four legged friend 'Cracker' joined me and he loved it.

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

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Monsal Trail Peak District

A nice cycle along the old central railway now the Monsal trail in the Peak District, shame about the weather I got absolutely soaked and found out it is not a good idea to take leg off in the rain as it is does not want to stay on once the inner liner is wet.

Fitness has improved.

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Foxton Locks

A local afternoon ride to Foxton locks and back making a 24 mile round journey.

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Building up the fitness and new bike

A 34 mile cycle along the Brampton valley trail from Market Harborough to Northampton and back on my new Giant Talon 650b, my furthest cycle and a bloody killer.

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

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Trial of Bartlett Tendon Knee

I had now decided that the way forward was to try the Bartlett Tendon Knee as I had a view to try some more extreme cycling, starting with cross country and developing into downhill and the Bartlett Tendon was the only knee that was going to allow this to happen.

This was when I first tried out my Bartlett Tendon Knee (BTK) from Leftsideinc and supplied and fitted by Pacerehab, Chesham. This photo was taken with two other lucky BTK users, Glyn in the centre being one of the first to have BTK in the UK. This was at the end of summer 2013 where I was trying out test socket with the help of Glyn, I took the leg home full time in February 2014. 

Giant Talon from http://www.juliescycles.co.uk

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Where It All Started

This was back in the summer of 2013 where I discovered it was possible for me to ride a bike, I had a little go on my daughters bike for a laugh and knew then that I wanted to get cycling again. This was me on my first bike since accident with my first cycling leg that the local NHS had kindly agreed to supply, only took the NHS 10 years to agree to give me a leg for cycling. 

I remember these as very exciting times indeed also a wake up call to how unfit I was, on this venture I think I managed about 3 circuits of local cricket pitch and was totally knackered.

It was a few weeks after this that I became aware of the brilliant Bartlett Tendon Knee, the only knee that allows the above knee amputee to cycle leg over leg out the saddle.