Cyclist to ride in Tour Down Under Bupa Challenge after traumatic accident and learning to walk again

AN Adelaide woman will ride 150km in the Tour Down Under community race after learning to walk, talk and ride again following a horror bike crash.

Margaret Boylan, of Burnside, will ride in the Tour Down Under's Bupa Challenge after a traumatic accident thr...

MARGARET Boylan is gearing up to ride 150km in the Tour Down Under community race after learning to walk, talk and ride following a horrific cycling accident.

Ms Boylan, 55, of Burnside, was riding down from Mt Lofty on Ridge Rd three years ago when her tyres slipped on a white line.

She broke seven ribs and hit her head, fractured her skull in three places and suffered a brain haemorrhage that led to bleeding from her ears and nose.

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She spent six weeks in hospital and had 10 months off work to recover.

"I had to learn to walk and talk properly because of the damage," Ms Boylan said.

"It was traumatic … six people, including my husband (Craig Waddle), were riding with me when it happened and they were all shocked.

"I lost confidence for a while but I'm happily back into riding again.''

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Ms Boylan will take part in the Bupa Challenge Tour - a community ride along the main Tour's Stage 4 route from Unley to Victor Harbor on Friday, January 24.

"People thought I was crazy to start riding again but getting back on the bike was the natural thing to do," Ms Boylan said.

"I'm a country girl and I love being outside. I always knew I'd get back on the bike.

"(The accident) hasn't really affected me - I grew up with horses and fell off them a lot.

"My parents had encouraged me to get back on and keep riding. That's the mentality that's helped me return to cycling.

"If you stop doing something because it's dangerous and scary then you wouldn't be doing much at all."

For more information or to register for the tour, visit tourdownunder.com.au.

Registrations cost $90-$145 and close at 5pm this Wednesday, January 15.

TELL US below about inspirational people you know who have recovered from injury to take on fabulous new challenges.