IT’S one wheel good, two wheels bad for legendary trials biking champion Dougie Lampkin from Silsden who tomorrow attempts to wheelie non-stop around the 37.7 mile TT race course in the Isle of Man.

The 12-time trials world champion has put in months of preparation for this exceptional test of skill and stamina which will be broadcast live on the internet by sponsors Red Bull.

Speaking about the build-up to tackling one of motorbiking’s toughest courses on just his back wheel, Mr Lampkin said how he’d headed from his new home near Skipton to practise on the ups, and especially the downs, when it is impossible for him to brake.

“I’ve also been riding near to where I live at Coniston Hall, as my neighbour is the owner,” he said, ahead of the challenge.

“It’s impossible to stop on one wheel, but I can slow down a little bit.

“We have police riders every five miles and I’ve got my own team that I’ve always used in competition and everyone’s on radio.

“So we are just going to try and keep the path clear, but anything can happen as it’s an open road.

“There will be road closures but I will also have oncoming traffic.

Talking about the physical stress that awaits him, he said: “It’s quite hard on the feet, ankles, knees, shoulders and neck. It’s not really pinpointed in certain areas, it seems to be a little bit of everything, because I’m in quite a tense position the whole time.

“I’m steering with my legs, and using my right foot for the brake and right hand for the brake.

“Then when I turn I’m hanging the bike on my shoulders a little bit.

“So everything is getting a bit of a workout.”

The endurance epic has been dubbed Dougie’s Wheelie and he said it was a massive and difficult challenge:

“If it was easy, everyone would do it.

“It’s physical and also mentally difficult, because of the time scale and the fact that there’s so much going on around me, from people shouting to people overtaking and beeping horns.”

Describing the notoriously testing Isle of Man circuit, Mr Lampkin said: “The lap isn’t easy. The start is difficult – you go straight down Bray Hill, which is a big hill, and then there’s two roundabouts at the bottom, where you have to turn right and then you’re out on normal roads. There’s quite a few lumps and bumps, quite a few exposed areas. And within the last 400 metres you have two hairpins, which I will have to change down two gears to get through. A sting in the tail, for sure.”