Bike
Trial Biking
Martyn Ashton: Everybody should ride a motorbike
We chat to the biking legend about chasing adrenalin, handbikes and near-death canoe experiences.
Martyn Ashton became a YouTube sensation when he shocked the world with his mind-boggling road bike stunts - his inaugural video Road Bike Party racked up over 11 million views!
He started life on two wheels riding motorcycle trials, then in 1992, the dawn of mountain biking - he got rid of the engine and decided to try his hand at trial biking. With his motorcycle background he quickly moved up the trial biking ranks and became a pioneer in the sport, setting the bar for those that followed. Hopping and tricking his way through life - Martyn inspired generations with his skill, charisma and talent on two wheels.
However, in September 2013, while performing at one of his routine Animal Bike Tour shows he sustained a life changing injury that resulted in him being paralysed from the waist down. But, Martyn isn't one to let any challenge defeat him and actively chases a life filled with adrenalin. We talk to him about his 2015 plans, #TrybeforeJuly and his involvement with Wings For Life World Run.
I’ve got to work out how to ride a motorbike again - I decided that when I was in the hospital. That was one of my things. Me and my friend Pete Tomkins (who invented the Crud Catcher mudguard) came up with a plan then and there…
Getting back on the Triumph was one of the best days of my life I never thought I’d have one of the best days of my life after I had my injury – I thought they’d all happened before. But to have one after it, that was a really great thing. You must think your best days are ahead. Even when I’m 98 I want to think that.
It was terrifying getting back on the bike, we didn’t know what was going to happen at all. It’s a big heavy bike and if it all went wrong it would’ve been pretty horrible. We weren’t quite sure what was going to happen when I pulled away – was I going to be able to control it? But as I pulled away it was immediately obvious that it would be fine.
Something that everyone should try is riding a motorcycle. It’s the greatest invention on the planet I think. You accelerate off down a road – go through a few phases of thought, but the last one will be – is this allowed? It feels illegal – It’s just the craziest idea ever and feels great.
I hate hand-biking and all people seem to do is ask me about hand-biking… It’s one of those things that I use as a training device, like something you’d use in a gym. I don’t like the riding position – It’s like laying down on a mobile sunbed.
I’m over it - like people are with running machines; It’s just that kind of relationship. In the summer. It turned out that all I was doing was loads of hand-biking – tonnes of it – I think I made myself sick of it! There’s no skill involved... you can go fast but that’s about it. It’s like a go-kart.
It’s an ego thing I think. I’m used to going out on my bike and people thinking what I’m doing is cool. Going out on a hand bike gets two responses – either people think it’s really worthy ‘oh good on you!’ I don’t like that... And others just think it looks kinda stupid.
#TrybeforeJuly Is an initiative Martyn set up to challenge himself to regain more of his independence and involved doing everything from playing basketball with the Cardiff Celts to rowing, swimming, canoeing and racing.
Canoeing was a disaster – I just couldn’t do it – they’d push me off the side and I’d tumble over and nearly drown. I just couldn’t balance it at all - I was velcroed in and couldn’t get out – I nearly died about 4 times – but that’s the one activity I think I really treasure the most. My family were there and every time I came up for air they’d just belly laugh at how ridiculous it was.
You’re creating moments – things you can look back on and the most valuable ones made me laugh. Each thing I tried I was initially sceptical and a bit nervous. But when you come home and think 'god that was brilliant' those moments afterwards are what I really liked.
This year I’m looking for things that are going to be more of a disaster than a success. I spoke to someone about sit-ski waterskiing… I’m not expecting to be good at it – but because of the laughs I had trying to do the canoeing – I'm keen to give it a go and learn what I can’t do. There’s nothing wrong with failing – you’ve got to fail to learn
I had a breakthrough moment really recently – but I can’t quite talk about it! I’ve got a video project on the go at the moment – which is taking up my time. It’s taking a lot of adrenalin! It’s good – it’s going to be fun! The idea is to release a video later this year…
[Martyn wasn't giving anything away about his secret project but said it may have something to do with the teaser photo below]
The Wings for Life World Run was such a cool event. It’s got a really different vibe to it from anything else. It’s a cool thing to be part of and a really different running experience.
This year I’ll be racing alongside everyone else… last time we had a separate wheelchair race – so I’m really excited to line up with everyone and go off at the same time.
My wife Lisa is going to be running it with me – I think she’s going to get really frustrated for having to go so slow. I’ve got other friends and family going too but I’m hoping this year a few more people from the cycling world will be going along to give it a go.
My nan and her walking aide go much faster than me up hill. I’m going to get caught a lot sooner than I like. But I’m going to try and go as fast as I can - the course was quite hilly last year and pushing a wheelchair up hill is incredibly slow…
On the start line there really is a sense of how many other people you can’t see are about to do the same thing. And that really is unique – you can’t get that feeling anywhere else. I’m about to run and someone else across the globe is about to set off with you. That’s really cool.
The car chasing people down feels like such a celebration each time people were caught – they were like, ‘Oh finally! Where have you been? I’ve been running for ages.'
It was really memorable. It’s not got the same pressure of a typical race – people just went out and were a part of it, they didn’t necessarily care about being caught by the car. They just went out to have a great time.
Sign up here to join Martyn on the Wings For Life World Run and keep up with Martyn's latest adventures on his Instagram page.
