A very special bicycle was seen in public for the first time in almost a decade yesterday at an event held in memory of a Lochaber champion.
Jason MacIntyre from Fort William – who was a triple British and Scottish time trial cyclist – was killed when a van collided with his bike at Carrs Corner outside the town in January 2008.
Every year since, the local cycling community has organised a memorial as a tribute to the popular local hero.
But for the first time, the Cycling Time Trial, CTT, came north of the border to Ballachulish to hold part of six events held throughout the UK in Jason’s memory.
And his widow, Caroline, brought his trial bike along to the village hall as part of a display of memorabilia belonging to her late husband.
Mrs MacIntyre said: “Jason’s time trial bike is exactly how he left it with all the stickers still in place. It has its own room in the house and hasn’t been seen outside since he died.
“It will be 10 years in January since he was killed and, because the time trial is being held in Lochaber in his memory, I felt things had gone full circle and it should be seen as part of this memorial event.”
Mrs MacIntyre and the couple’s twin daughters, Chloe and Morgan, who will be 18 in January, also brought along some of his jerseys as well as a book of photographs to Ballachulish village hall.
Stephen Blom from Paisley, a former time trial cyclist himself and a friend of Mr MacIntyre, organised the event.
He said: “Jason was right up there with the best and I wanted to put something back into the sport in his memory.
“Around 60 cyclists from all over Britain took part and it was great that they came to pay their respects.
“The special guest was Graham Obree, a former world champion and Mark Aitkinson, another top cyclist from Lochaber, also came along which made it really special.”
The eventual winner was John Archibald, whose sister, Katie, is a racing track cyclist and a member of the GB team.
Sheila Hardy, chairperson of the CTT, said: “This was a fantastic event in memory of Jason and it is round four of the six trials event taking place in the whole of the UK.
“Everyone in Ballachulish was so welcoming and we look forward to coming back here next year.”