Skegness Cottage hospital was where it all began, on the 5th September 1962 , Anneliese Paddison popped into this world a smiling boy who hasn’t stopped enjoying life and that is all because he was loved, nurtured and treated like any other boy, born into a family who were extremely active and with Robert Paddison as his father, always seeking new adventures.
Many a parent, faced with a baby with such deformity may have given up hope, NOT the Paddisons, my name is Andrew Robert Paddison, a thalidomider, born with 2 short arms, no right leg, majority of bones deformed to some degree, however all that I have achieved is due to my remarkable parents who saw no obstacle a barrier, just a challenge to overcome.
Fast forward to 2019, after a very fulfilling career in local government, with sport at the forefront of any relaxation, swimming, squash and when the body slowed, golf !! I decided to see whether I could handcycle the length of the United Kingdom, known as Lands End to John o Groats, 992 miles in 13 days and as such Team Paddison was born.
Cycling had always been a family interest, my father was a keen cyclist, culminating in the 1950s touring Norway on a tandem with his best mate.
Father adapted trikes for me to ride, culminating in an adult trike, with a fixed wheel, single gear and a stantion for my artificial leg to rest. I used this every day to cycle to school and around the Lincolnshire fens. FREEDOM was born, accompanied by the obligatory graze, embedded rose thorns as one learnt how to corner on 2 wheels !!!
When the call of cycling was heard after taking early retirement, the trike was considered an option but the hip replacement had other ideas, so the handcycle came to fruition.
The majority of handcyclists, especially those you see at the Para Olympics, have a normal upper body, due to having no elbows and short arms I was never going to compare, hence adaption was needed. Accordingly I retro fitted a torque assist electric front hub to my handbike. Please please don’t mistake this for an ebike, which are very popular. Ebikes are mainly pedlecs, where you just put pressure on the pedals and the power starts, which means you can climb the steepest of climbs.
A torque assist, is totally different, (in fact the market leader Bionx, which I use, have been liquidated,) because you have to work hard, the motor just replicates the power you exert, which means you can easily get stuck on gradients, and it appears my limit is 18/20% but longer with less gradient, just needs brute strength and stamina otherwise you’ll stop. That’s the fun, I wanted a handbike where you have to work, it needed to challenge me, I didn’t want a system, where I just turn the crank and it will conquer all. Also residing in mid Wales, means there are no flat roads, hence the motor was essential.
Must remember with no elbows means no leverage, hence my power comes from shoulders and torso.
Rest assured, it’s an excellent workout.
My only disappointment, is that I am unable to mount and dismount without assistance, which for someone who has been called “too bloody independent “ is a slight frustration.
However, I found a positive by forming the Team, I am unable to hand cycle without others and I am eternally grateful to those who assist me in training and have become part of the Team.
The Team aims to challenge ourselves with further long distance rides planned, whilst raising money for charity is at the forefront of any challenge, we must always remember there are people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
I have been extremely honoured to cycle with some amazing people and let the challenges continue.
One regret, my father never lived long enough to see me start Team Paddison and mother passed away before she could appreciate the good, as she nursed my brother for his last year of life before departing herself soon after.
Team Paddison is dedicated to my parents.