“The legal limit for a power-assisted bike is 16mph so that’s all I’ll say – top speed going downhill on a clear road with a good surface might edge that!”
Dr David Millar (Clinical Neuropsychology) has spent most of his life beating the odds, going the extra mile and letting little deter him, so his answer to the question of how fast his new mode of transport can travel comes as no surprise.
On leaving school David studied Sport in the Community at Jordanhill College while playing rugby for West of Scotland and Glasgow at both U21 and Senior level, and for Scotland at schoolboy, U19 and U21. After graduating he was offered the opportunity to play for Colenso Pirates in Napier, New Zealand for a season. While playing for them in 1989, age 22, he suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury.
In the intervening years he has raised a huge amount of money for and awareness of spinal injuries, reflecting the aim of the Trust to help rugby to help its own. Sixteen years ago, he embarked on a 250-mile hand cycle journey around New Zealand’s South Island in aid of spinal cord research. Six years ago, he set out on his Mighty 333 Challenge – a 300-mile UK hand cycle (Newcastle to Edinburgh to Stirling to Glasgow to Loch Lomond) followed by a 30-mile kayak on Loch Lomond then a 3-mile treadmill walk to raise funds for research.
He’s busy planning his next challenge – a hand cycle through the Outer Hebrides – which will see the aforementioned bike, purchased with assistance from Hearts + Balls, take centre stage. Meantime, it’s being put through its paces during David’s family holiday in France.
“I’ve hand cycled for 20-odd years now, initially unpower-assisted, at jogging speeds, which at that time was a fairly solitary activity for me as I couldn’t go out cycling with other people,” he explains.
“When I changed to power assisted bikes, about ten years ago, that enabled me to go out and cycle with other people in the countryside which has been a welcome change.”
The new vehicle is an upgraded version of one David had had for six years which was slowly falling apart. There’s only one place in the country he’s found which makes the hand cycle and has been dealing with them [in Liverpool] for a number of years, “so we’re used to the challenges of working with one another,” he adds.
“My previous bike had a frame that wasn’t quite right for the electronic gears and disc and secondary brakes, so I was able to provide a list of ‘if the frame is like this I’ll be able to fit the bike components easier.’ I also wanted to make the frame a little bit stronger.
“I live outside Newcastle so did my initial road testing around the routes I enjoy in Northumberland. It’s the sort of countryside where drivers are used to seeing bikes but, as mine is a bit unusual, I think they tend to give me a bit extra space!”
It’s currently the drivers on the other side of the road who are giving David that space as he tests his wheels in the countryside around Fabrezan, near Narbonne.
“We’ve been there the last three or four years as they have accessible accommodation, plenty cycling opportunities around – plus a cafe and bar in the village!” he laughs.
“The good thing for me, going from the non-powered hand bike that I used to use to a power assisted one, is that I get to access places I wouldn’t otherwise be able to go,” he adds, “because, unpowered, the terrain has to be very flat and not too windy.
“The powered bike has allowed me to travel to France and tackle some of the climbs that have featured in the Tour de France – as long as it’s not too steep, the bike will get up them.”
By 11 May 2026 – the planned start date of his Hebridean challenge – all wheels should very much be in motion for an epic journey from Vatersay (Barra) up through South Uist, North Uist, Harris and Lewis, during which he plans to fundraise for Hearts + Balls.
“It’s a beautiful part of the world,” he enthuses. “There are bridges joining a few of the islands and two fairly short ferry trips. I’m aiming to do 40 miles a day so should complete the route in about five days.
“However, it’s not the easiest place to plan a trip – accessible accommodation is quite hard to find as it’s quite remote. A couple of friends have already said they’re joining so…if anyone else wants to come along that would be great!”
