THE town mayor was looking forward to leisurely bike rides in Tatton Park with his wife. (From Warrington Guardian)

THE town mayor was looking forward to leisurely bike rides in Tatton Park with his wife.

Fed up with cruising Knutsford's streets in his Mercedes, he decided to splash out - on two spanking new machines.

It was only when he saddled up, that he realised - with two false knees - it was going to be a tricky operation.

"It wasn't until I tried to ride it that I realised one of my legs doesn't bend as much as the other," he said.

"It didn't have quite enough bend to do a full revolution of the pedal.

"Perhaps if I concentrate on some more physiotherapy I could probably get those extra couple of inches." The bike had been made to measure at a shop in Holmes Chapel.

But no one had thought to check if he could reach the pedals.

Bert, who suffered from osteoarthritis, underwent knee surgery 11 years ago.

His second knee was replaced five years ago.

"The only thing I can't do is kneel down in church because they tell you not to," said Bert, who lives in Boothfields with wife Celia.

"And I can't run, but I never did before anyway."

But there could be some light at the end of the tunnel.

"Apparently I can shorten the crank on the pedal so that my knee doesn't bend as much," he said.

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