WHEN some men hit their mid-life crisis they often buy a Harley Davidson and a set of leathers but others feel more confident hitting the road with three, rather than two, wheels.

And if it’s a three-wheeled trike you want then you could follow in the footsteps of the famous and buy a trike from a Boothstown-based company.

For the Big Yin himself - Scottish comedian Billy Connolly - was one of the first in the country to buy a trike from local firm Boom Trikes (UK).

Boom Trikes (UK) Ltd is run by Antony (correct) Cummings and his brother-in-law, Walkden-based Ian Roberts, who are the sole UK agents for the German made three-wheelers. Mechanic Simon Hornby also helps with the workload.

They set up the firm 11 years ago near the Queen's traffic lights alongside the East Lancs Road and in 2001 Billy Connolly bought the third bike they sold to use in a TV series after spotting the machine in a brochure.

According to Mr Cummings the Scottish comedian keeps the trike, which he used to film his touring Britain and Ireland TV series, at his Scottish home.

Mr Cummings said: “I know he still has the bike because he told my cousin Angela, who is married to Bolton playwright Jim Cartwright.

“They live on the Maltese island of Gozo right next door to Billy Connolly and they ended up talking about his trike.

“Now he’s bought another Boom trike, from the American importers, because he lives mainly over there now, for his forthcoming Route 66 programme being filmed in April for transmission in the summer.”

The men deal mainly in Boom Trikes, and one of their customers was the founder of Bank Top brewery, John Feeney.

But they also produce one-off customised trikes for special orders and they hire out trikes for those who want to try before buying. Mr Cummings said: “Boom Trikes (UK) Ltd have been established since the year 2000 and were originally located in Bolton.

“We are the exclusive importers, sales and service for Boom Trikes who have been established 25 years.

“Boom Trikes (UK) Ltd also hire trikes and are looking to franchise this venture in the near future.

“We also make specials on commission; for example we are making a supercharged Jaguar 4.2 litre trike for a chap in Cheshire.

“The Route 66 TV coverage will be very good publicity for Boom Trikes UK and should hopefully turn into a lot of sales for us.”

Like many firms the recession has hit sales but they have weathered the storm and now businesses is improving, the men get a lot of work repairing and servicing trikes they have sold over the years.

• Billy Connolly will be travelling the world’s most famous highway, Route 66, in a new four part documentary series produced by Maverick Television for ITV1.

The Big Yin turns Easy Rider and follows a lifelong dream as he makes the iconic 2,488 mile journey from Chicago to Santa Monica.

He will be riding a Boom Low Rider Muscle trike with a new Ford 100HP engine replacing the classic VW beetle engine of the 2001 model.

For those wanting to emulate the Big Yin they can buy the trike at a special offer price of £20,160 on-the-road from Boom Trikes (UK) Ltd.