GLOBETROTTING bicycle collector Paul Adams has more than a passion for his hobby – he has a “disease!”
Now aged 71 Paul still thinks nothing of travelling more than half way around the world to add to his collection of nearly 200 bikes – despite suffering a stroke which nearly killed him in May 2010.
He suffered the stroke at The Cycle Museum he set up at Walton Hall and Gardens 12 years ago.
“As strokes go it was a bad one,” says Paul. “I was left paralysed and my memory had gone!”
But Paul (pictured right with a Penny Farthing) believes his passion for bikes helped him on the road to recovery – and although he can no longer ride his beloved “Bone Shaker” or “Penny Farthing” he invested in a tricycle so he could get back in the saddle.
“I would recommend anyone who suffers a stroke to get a hobby.”
Paul says his obsession, which he calls a “disease” came out of the blue but probably stemmed from owning a vintage car when he was a teenager.
He remembers exchanging a pair of old headlamps for a 1920’s child’s treddle machine which was just hanging up in someone’s garage – the rest is history!
His globetrotting search for old and historic bikes has taken him to France, America, Canada and even New Zealand -and he is planning to travel to Cuba in March.
When he buys a bike abroad he dismantles it and places it carefully in hand luggage to bring home, abandoning what he has taken out with him in his case!
“As long as you leave a window in the packaging so customs can see it is an old bicycle it doesn’t cause a problem,” added Paul.
His collection covers the entire history of bicycles with the “Bone Shaker” made in 1869 being one of his favourites alongside a “Penny Farthing” dating from 1877.
Over the years he has rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s greatest cyclists including Chris Boardman, Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins.
He also had the honour of Her Majesty the Queen opening a small museum, which used to be based at Runcorn Police Station before he moved the collection to Walton Gardens.
His Museum is open most Saturdays and by arrangement on other days and is free to visit – but in reality Paul can be seen most days tinkering with his collection – because his obsession is a “disease.”
Paul back in the saddle on his tricycle.
