THE BALLOON MAN

Circus performers take to the ‘Octobike’

 

Members of the Wookey Hole Circus school and the eight seater Octobike at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

By David Sharman
from---blackpoolgazette.co.uk
18 October 2012
HAVING to get the bus or tram to work in the morning can sometimes be a stretch.
But that’s nothing compared to the preferred method of transport for these innovative circus performers.

The eight-seater ‘octobike’, which measures in at a staggering 30ft long, is being used by members of Gerry Cottle’s circus as part of their act.

The performers from the show, which is currently in residence at the Pleasure Beach’s Globe Theatre, also hope to use it as a novel way to commute between the attraction and the town centre – where they will be on the streets promoting the circus.

Mike Comber, whose performances in the show include a trampoline act, volunteered to steer the bike and he admits it’s a high pressure job.

 

Mike, 20, from Somerset, added: “I thought I’d give it a go but it’s really hard on your arms. It’s great fun though.”

Circus compere Jeff Jay said: “Their first attempt on it all went very awry but they can actually ride it now.

“They pretty much had it in an afternoon but it’s a monster of a thing to try to control.”

Bemused visitors to the Pleasure Beach gave their reaction to the unusual vehicle yesterday.

Laura Thomson, 33, from Glasgow, said: “I don’t know what to say, it’s quite amazing.
“It’s really cool and it’s obviously quite an attraction.”

Barry Wilson, 36, also from Glasgow, said: “It’s a little bit ridiculous and turning might be a problem.”

His 10-year-old daughter Aimee added: “It’s cool and interesting but it’ll be hard to turn and go sometimes.”

Eileen Gilfillan, 45, from Falkirk, in Scotland, said: “I’ve never seen a bike like that before and it must be difficult to ride.

“I had a look at it earlier and thought ‘that’s a big bike.’”