I bought my first motorbike, a 1971 Honda 50 for £50 when I was 16 yrs old. I rode that around fields and private roads for a year and then bought my big bike, a 1973 Honda CB125. I loved that bike and took my first courier job with it. Alas, it couldn’t take the needs of a Dublin courier. Roll on my first engine strip down with a lovely old man called Paddy Leeson. He became friends with my dad after my dad accidentally shot him whilst hunting rabbits. I’m so glad Paddy didn’t die or hold a grudge as I learned a lot from him.
One of my best friends at this time was a chap called Matthew Hanly. I taught him how to ride and within a year he was chopping bikes, building bikes and doing stuff I could only dream of. We decided that oul Petunia, the CB125, had to be put out to pasture and I bought the legendary CG125. Another complete rebuild with this and Sally was born! I did everything on that bike, even brought home a Christmas tree! Alas, on June 10th 1993, Matthew was killed off a CB750 near Crosby in the Isle of Man, the 13th and final person killed that year during the TT. His death shocked me like nothing I’ve ever known. We played together in our prams, played Cowboys and Indians, Hide and Seek, football and we rode together when we got older. His death hit hard, I stopped riding. I didn’t ride a bike again for ten years. I just couldn’t believe he had gone, and he was a far more skillful rider than I.
But, when bikes are in your blood there is nothing you can do about it. And so here I am, 34 years after first riding the amazing little Honda 50 and now being a part of this amazing group that is the Bikers Shed. The support, camaraderie and friendship in this group is something that just has to be experienced and the aims of the Bikers Shed are aims that every biker will understand and appreciate. I am so looking forward to making many more memories with the Shed Team and with you guys.