He is well known in the community for riding, running a bicycle shop on Russell Street, and to some people, as the owner of Bella the British bulldog that can often be spotted sitting outside his store.

But, late last year his cycling career almost came to an abrupt end.

Mountain biking is his passion, he lives and breathes the sport, and he had volunteered to help maintain one of the jumps at the Bathurst mountain bike track off College Road.

“I went up this particular day to groom it and make sure it was safe for everyone,” Mr Bell said.

“I took it once and I was going too slow and I landed a little clumsily on the down ramp, so I went a little faster. I just went way too fast and I over jumped it.

“There was no way of steering, no way of stopping.”

Mr Bell landed off to the side of the track and, unfortunately for him, there was no-one else around.

“I couldn’t move my arms, I couldn’t move my legs, I couldn’t move my head, but I wasn’t panicking,” he said. “I could breath and I began to yell for help.

“Eventually my arms moved … I was just determined to get going.

“Once I stood up, I moved my head and the pain in my shoulders and arm was excruciating.”

Following a host of tests in Bathurst Hospital, Mr Bell was told he had damaged his C6 vertebrae.

The next day he was transported by ambulance to Westmead Hospital in Sydney.

During a subsequent surgery his C4, 5, 6, and 7 vertebrae were fused to take pressure off his spinal column.

Prior to the accident, Mr Bell had never had more than five days away from the business he started 12 years ago.

But, he recently returned to work eight weeks after the crash.

Despite the near miss, Mr Bell said the accident was “just one of those things” and there was no-one or nothing to blame.

“I was very, very lucky, I was that close to it being wrong,” he said.

“If I’d damaged a vertebrae I wouldn’t be standing up.

“I’m very, very lucky to get away with a very, very little loss of movement.”

Mr Bell praised Bathurst Hospital staff for their treatment, and the community and his staff for their support.

“This highlights the positives of living in a rural place,” he said.

When asked if the accident was enough to deter him from riding again, the answer was a very straight no.

“I love it, it’s my own space to get away,” he said.