The couple were visiting Lee’s daughter Katie and due to hand the bikes back 10 minutes after the crash happened.
Lee said: “We were on the way home to have some food and we were only doing 20mph but going round a corner and there was a lot of roadworks and a lot gravel on the road.
“I barely touched my brake, and the bike went into the barrier. I knew instantly I couldn’t feel my legs.
“I realised straight away I was paralysed, and I couldn’t breathe.”
Katie and her boyfriend were ahead and at first thought Clare, who was “covered in blood”, might have suffered worse injuries.
