TPT 1IN7 – One Leg 7 Days Coast To Coast

Summary

Last year, Derek had a conversation with his daughter about doing a bike ride for the LA. So the idea of the TPT 1IN7 was born. Here is the story of his epic journey.

An Introduction

Hi, my name is Derek Hand, a left leg above-knee amputee since 2017.

During a period of isolation in Covid 2020, due to my son testing positive, I decided to rebuild my mountain bike, which I hadn’t been able to ride for over 10 years. After rebuilding the bike, I tried to ride it as an amputee. 

There were many problems to start with: the leg socket coming loose, so my leg came off; I couldn’t negotiate the crank properly; I couldn’t keep my foot on the pedal, etc., so I set about tackling each problem in turn, eliminating each issue one at a time, until eventually I was able to ride the bike over short distances again. This led to using an electric-assisted bike (as I have no power on my left side), and I started riding every Saturday with a few friends. 

I became able to ride for over 10 miles at a time, and last year I decided I would try and cycle the Trans Pennine Trail, coast to coast, as a sort of cycling holiday. A task which, as far as I know, has never been done by an above-knee amputee, solo and unassisted. I increased the mileage I was cycling gradually, trying not to do too much damage to my residual limb or overstrain my good leg, and I was soon managing 30-mile bike rides without sustaining any ill effects. In November last year, I had a conversation with my daughter about doing the bike ride for the Limbless Association. So the idea of the TPT 1IN7 was born.

Day 1 Southport to Ferry Tavern (Fiddlers Ferry)

With a great friend of mine, Andy, doing the driving from point to point and providing support at checkpoints, we set out at around 7.15am on the 10th April from the Southport Trans Pennine Trail gateway.

The trail’s first part went along the coast road toward Aintree, and was initially a big challenge due to map reading. I had paper maps of the trail and was using my phone to pinpoint my position. This involved stopping and starting whilst checking I was on the correct path. There is an electronic map which I had purchased from the TPT organisation, but when trying to download it into my bike’s satnav, it kept failing after a few minutes due to the satnav only being able to accept a download of 250km and the TPT coast to coast is 215 miles long. 

It was a nice ride with plenty to view along the way. There were a few wrong turns, but on the whole, an uneventful ride. I arrived at Aintree train station around 9.30am, which was our first checkpoint. Andy had arrived here about 30 mins before me, and it was unlucky for us that it was Aintree Ladies’ Day, just the way things fell. The police, however, after Andy had explained what we were doing, very kindly allowed Andy to park up at the station and wait for me. After landing at Aintree, a quick catch-up and a Snickers bar for energy, and I was off again, but not before a photo opportunity with one of the police officers. 

The next part of the ride saw me make a wrong turn, and I actually wasted about an hour before finally realising my mistake. This was put right, and I found myself heading along the Liverpool loop line trail towards Halewood before a mix of trail paths and roads out towards Wirral and the river Mersey.  From here, I followed the river onto the St. Helens canal before reaching the finish point for day 1 at the Ferry Tavern at Penketh around 2.45 pm. 

Seven hours in the saddle and some 45 miles completed. It had been a long day.

Day 2 Ferry Tavern, Penketh to Godley train station

The day started wet, so waterproofs were worn. I set out at around 7.00am along the St. Helens canal, down to Sanky bridges and on to Wilderspool, where I followed the ship canal to Thelwall, then back on to the trail path towards Lymm. 

It was during this section that I started to notice a black line appearing on my bike’s satnav system, and as I continued the ride, it became clear that this line was marking out the trail ahead of me. This made navigation now so much easier, as I didn’t have to stop as much to check my position and maps as often, and there were certainly a lot fewer wrong turns.  

The trail then went to Carrington and on to the River Mersey at Sale, eventually reaching our checkpoint at Chorlton Water Park. This area I know really well, having grown up in Withington, and I had done most of my training for this event around the part of the trail.

I arrived at Chorlton Water Park around 10am, and the weather had changed a lot. It was now warm and dry, and I was sweating a lot due to the amount of clothes I was wearing (waterproofs, etc.), and my socket was causing my residual limb to sweat a lot, so it was becoming very sore. I decided to make another stop at my home, which is only 200 yards off the trail in Heaton Mersey. Here, I could clean up and put on fresh clothing and creams to sort out the sweating issue. I set off from Chorlton Water Park, along the Mersey and through Didsbury, and 45 mins later arrived home, where Andy was already. 

A quick brew, wash and change saw me heading out again about an hour later. Heading along the trail towards Reddish Vale and the Tame Valley. Some beautiful scenery around these areas, so a few photo opportunities were taken. Finally finishing at Green Lane in Godley, then making my way over to Godley train station to meet Andy and my eldest son, Chris, at the Day 2 finish point. I arrived around 2.00pm, having covered another 44 miles with another seven hours in the saddle.

Day 3 Godley to Silkstone train station

Day 3 was another wet start. This was the day I was riding over the Pennines, so the weather was a big issue from a safety point of view. For long periods, I would be uncontactable and not near roads, so safety was paramount before setting out. We arranged checkpoints at the small car park at the Woodhead reservoir, and again at the Trans Pennine Trail high point at Windle Edge. 

The ride over to Hadfield and Longdondale pass was wet, but a nice ride with a village feel about it. Then some great scenery on the Longdendale Pass before meeting up with Andy on our first pit stop. I had done some damage to some parts I had made for my pedals to keep my foot in place, but as part of the prep for the ride, I had made several spares. So in the car park, the tools came out, and I replaced the damaged parts. After this, it was off over the Pennines. 

Once in the open, the wind picked up, and this, with rain, made it very difficult riding. There were several parts where I had to virtually carry the bike up some hills. I also crashed into a ditch, and the bike got tangled up. I had difficulty finding where the bike ended, and I started! I lost a front light as well on one of the spills, but eventually I emerged at Windle Edge to meet up again with Andy and have a quick catch-up. After this, it was downhill all the way towards Penistone, following some of the River Don, and along the old railway part of the trail to Silkstone train station. The countryside and scenery around this area is really beautiful and didn’t disappoint. I finally arrived at Silkstone around 1.30pm; a long, tiring, but very satisfying ride.

Day 4 Silkstone to Braithwaite

The weather had finally turned, so no rain was expected and more sun, although it was still a little chilly. This day’s ride was one of the most scenic so far, with some stunning countryside and little villages.

Our pit stop was Bentley train station, so off I set at about 8.00am on the old railway line from Silkstone. Heading down the Dove Valley alongside the river Dove, the countryside was beautiful. Going towards Brampton, then into the Dearne Valley following the river Dearne. Again, the countryside was stunning, and the trail, following the river valleys, was a great ride. 

Joining the River Don at the Viaduct, it was easy riding up to Conisbrough, and on to Spotbrough, crossing the A1 and on to Bentley. Great weather and really nice countryside, it was a very pleasurable ride. Met up with Andy at Bentley train station near the level crossing around 10.30am and had a catch-up and a chocolate bar for energy. 

Leaving Bentley, it was on towards Braithwaite, with a mix of off-road trails and some country roads which were quite traffic-wise and again a really nice ride with conditions which were really good. Some lovely villages as well, eventually arriving at Braithwaite village around 1.00pm.

Day 5 Braithwaite to Barmby on the Marsh

Day 5 was another good day weather-wise. We had stayed in a place called Snaith the previous night, and my one good leg was feeling stiff now with some knee pain, but 5 minutes back riding the bike, the pain had dissipated, and I was feeling good. 

We arrived in Braithwaite around 8.30am ready to start, but the bike controller decided to fail, and I got a blank screen which would not turn off, reset or control the bike. There was a bit of panic going on now, and we were debating whether to return home and collect the spare bike, but after googling around between us both, Andy found a solution online, and we were able to reboot the controller, and it burst back into life. 

With my satnav back up and running, along with bike control, I set off along the New Junction Canal towards Sykehouse. This again was a very enjoyable ride with lovely scenery. At Sykehouse, the trail went along country lanes and roads through some lovely places. 

We had arranged a pit stop at Snaith train station. However, I was so engrossed in the ride that I overshot this point, and after a quick call to reset things, I met up with Andy again at a place called Carlton. Again, a lovely little village scene here, and after a quick catch-up and usual refreshment, it was on to Selby, where we planned another checkpoint at the train station there. 

This part of the ride was again a mix of country roads and off road trail, and when arriving in Selby and stopping to check the maps for the train station, I got chatting to a couple from Holland, who, starting a month earlier, were hiking from their home, across Ireland, over the Trans Pennine Trail and eventually walking all the way to Istanbul, hopefully finishing in January 2027. Their journey was called “everydayisapicnic”. After a chat about both our journeys, we wished each other well and on we all went, wishing all the best for Mark and Jolanda on their journey. 

After a quick refreshment break, having met back up with Andy, it was on through Selby and continuing to Barmby on the Marsh, now following parts of the river Ouse, and finishing at the Derwent Tidal Barrier.

Pictures are, looking back along the New Junction Canal, The old George Pub at Sykehouse, Selby Canal Basin, a countryside view from the trail after Selby, Andy at Barmby on the Marsh, Me at the tidal barrier.

Day 6 Barmby on the Marsh to Hessle

15th April proved to be another nice sunny day. We arrived at around 9.00am, and I was quickly off on the trail towards Howden. Another lovely ride, with a mix of country lanes and off-road trails. Great scenery again and lots of picturesque villages. 

Our first pit stop was at the village of Blacktoft. A very small, beautiful village, with an old schoolhouse, which now functions as a stopping place for passing tourists. A sign outside said “tea, coffee and biscuits”, and upon entering, what was the old classroom was now filled with tables, chairs and bookshelves, with toilets at one end and a kitchen at the other. There was no one else there, and just an honesty box for putting in money to pay for any drinks or biscuits you had. It was amazing to see a place like this, something I haven’t seen in England since I was a child. A real step back in history for me, and a really great thing to see. 

After a catch-up and some refreshments (and a donation in the honesty box), I was off again to our next pit stop at the village of Welton. Again, lovely scenery, following country lanes. I even came across one of the “unknown soldier” sculptures that were originally put up at the Normandy beaches to commemorate the soldiers who died during the D-Day landings. I had to take a photo opportunity here. 

After cycling through Broomfleet and Ellerker, I arrived at the Green Dragon pub in Welton. A beautiful village, with an old church in the centre surrounded by a small moat. There was also a sign in the very old pub stating that this was where The Highwayman Dick Turpin was finally arrested in 1738. After a quick brew and refreshments, I was back on the trail again, heading towards North Ferriby and the Humber Bridge country park, following the River Humber to Hessle. 

Once more, lovely countryside and scenery all the way to the Humber Bridge and the Black Mill under the bridge. I arrived at the finishing point of day 6 around 1.30pm.

Day 7 Hessle to Hornsea

Arrived at Hessle at around 8.30am, ready for the last day’s riding. The weather was good again, and I was off to a quick start. Pit stop at Conniston Lane near the village of Swine was the only pit stop today, and it was mostly on an off-road trail for this final part after Hull, but the ride to and through Hull would be on roads. 

Once in Hull, traffic was a little heavy, and I knew I was going to deviate from the trail slightly here. About 100m off the trail in the centre of Hull is a shopping precinct called Prince’s Quay. It’s a shopping centre built over a dock in the middle of Hull. In 1987/8 I worked as an electrical contractor as part of the construction team that built it. It was in 1988 that I was diagnosed with an Ewing’s sarcoma in my left shin, which started all my left leg issues. After being off work for a year, undergoing chemotherapy and having a metal implant to replace my diseased shin bone (very experimental surgery at the time), I returned to work on Prince’s Quay once more. In 1990, the metal work in my leg failed, and I had to have another year off work whilst it was all done again. I never went back to Prince’s Quay after this, so I never got to see the finished building. I have never been to Hull since, so I wanted to take this opportunity to come and see the finished product. It did not disappoint, it is a very grand construction, and just being there stirred up a lot of memories for me, quite emotional, really, so I spent a little time admiring it and reflecting on times long ago. 

After this, I returned to the trail and, leaving Hull, the trail goes on the old Hull to Hornsea railway line, now called the Hornsea Rail Trail. Again, very scenic and it heads all the way into Hornsea, so no road riding. It does cross several roads, and it was at Conniston Lane crossing where my next pit stop saw me meeting up with Andy for the last time before the finishing post. After taking a few pics and some refreshments, it was off again for the last 10 miles approximately.  Again, a very lovely ride with great scenery all the way to Hornsea, where, back on the roads, I headed towards the finishing Line, landing there around 12 noon. 

A special mention here to someone who, without his help, this challenge would never have been possible: Andy Williams, a lifelong friend whom I have known since we were both around 6 months old (his mother and mine were friends), provided me with all the support during the ride, transport to and from each stage, and pit stop support along the way. He has supported me through a tumour, countless operations, and an amputation, and is still supporting me now today. A great and very dear friend (Pictured above).

Also, thanks to my children, Tara, Christopher and Daniel, who have supported and helped me throughout the organisation of this trip. A big thank you to the Limbless Association for their help with the details and advice, and a massive thank you to everybody who has supported the charity and given so generously to this cause. TPT 1IN7 Completed!