A STROKE survivor who learned to ride a bike again after almost losing his life will take part in a cycle challenge.

John Nicholson, from Southill, Weymouth, suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage in 2009 and had a further craniotomy in 2010.

He will take part in Stage Five of the Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam 2012 from France to the Olympic village in London on May 14, alongside sporting heroes Lawrence Dallaglio and Freddie Flintoff.

Mr Nicholson, aged 41, said: “The haemorrhage happened one day when I was out washing my van at Halfords, Weymouth, where I work.

“The next thing I knew, I was waking up four days later in Southampton General Hospital.

“Exactly a week after the haemorrhage, I had a stroke, which put me back in to intensive care.

“It left me without movement in the right-hand side of my body and I still have problems with it today.

“Then in June 2010, I had to have a craniotomy to close off a further three aneurisms that the doctors found.”

Mr Nicholson won a place in the Halfords-sponsored challenge after entering through Halfords and telling the judges this would close an eventful chapter in his life.

He said: “At first I applied to be a mechanic on the tour, but my manager at the time said ‘we both know what you really want to do, you want to ride in it’.

“So I decided to enter. I am really grateful to Halfords for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I have always cycled. I find it less intense than walking because once my foot is strapped in to the pedal, I don’t have to concentrate on it.

The Grand Slam Cycle will be complete in five stages, from the birthplace of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, to 2012’s London venue.

The journey will cover Greece, Italy, Switzerland and France and more than 300 riders will take part.

Mr Nicholson, who has a 10-year-old son, will join the bikers at Nancy, Lorraine and cycle around 360 miles. He said: “Fingers crossed I’m going to make it, I’m quite positive about it.

“I think a positive attitude is part of the recovery. If I didn’t have a fighting spirit I don’t know if I would be where I am today.”

Mr Nicholson hopes to plan a charity cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End next year for the Wessex Neurological centre, which helped him through his recovery.

He said: “You just have to keep going, you can’t give up. Bad things happen to people, you can’t change that, you have just got to get up and keep going until things work again.”

To sponsor Mr Nicholson, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/johnnicholson

Halfords is the Official Cycling Partner of the Dallaglio Flintoff 2012 Cycle Slam, supported by Virgin Media. To find out more about the cycle slam and to donate, visit the cycle slam tab on the Halfords Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HalfordsUK or the fundraising page http://bit.ly/I15zEk