IT WAS with sadness that I learned of the death of Frank O’Dwyer.

Frank was responsible along with Harry McKechnie for restarting Bronte Wheelers back in the 1970s after a period of inactivity.

In the run-up to the Tour de France starting in Yorkshire last year Frank did a lot of work to ensure cycling as a whole benefited as well as local charities including Manorlands.

Every time I met him he was full of ideas and enthusiasm for the sport, a true stalwart of the local cycling scene who I am sure will be missed.

On a happier note, in February Bronte Wheelers had their annual dinner and prize presentation.

The rider who covers the most miles in sportive events receives the Keith Simpson shield. This year this went to a new(er) member of the Brontes, Nigel Costello.

Behind most cycling successes are stories of commitment, motivation, endurance, determination, hours and hours of dedication to training, lonely hours on the Turbo Trainer, the banter and company of club runs, the pain of cycling on the toughest local climbs, the one-upmanship and bragging rights of intra-club rivalry, and the ability to dig deeper than your opponents at races.

Most of these will involve triumph over some kind of adversity.

In April 2013 Nigel was training for some charity rides when a cycling accident along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal resulted in a broken back; crushing three vertebrae in his thoracic spine. Somehow he managed to ride through the pain and get to Leeds City Centre to call for an ambulance.

A week in hospital, two months of bed rest and three months in a rather menacing-looking brace followed, only allowing Nigel to look for inspiration watching the big cycling events on the TV including the one-day classics and all of the 2013 Grand Tours. Then the real recovery story began.

More than 20 weeks of physiotherapy with Ian Blackburn, at Elite Physio, who specialises in sports and cycling, and countless days in the gym were required to get Nigel back on the bike.

His determination to pick up exactly where he left off saw him sign up for all of the Sportives he missed in 2013 and also presented him with the opportunity to raise money for Sue Ryder's Manorlands hospice.

During 2014 Nigel completed the Ronde Van Calderdale (short route), White Rose Classic (medium route, the Bronte Monster) and The Hoy 100, and he raised over £500 for Manorlands in the process.

Nigel said: "I am incredibly thrilled about receiving this award. With so many great riders in the club, I didn't think I had a chance.

"It means a lot as it tops off a two-year story of injury, recovery, and never giving up on what you love doing. I'd like to thank my family, friends and my physio for their help and support and for their kind donations to Manorlands, which helped to keep me motivated."

* Have you missed any of the On Yer Bike columns in previous editions of the Keighley News? You can still view them all at our keighleynews.co.uk website. Simply click on What’s On at the top of the homepage, the Out & About followed by On Yer Bike.