Passing my full bike test in 1994 the love affair with riding has continued since. A dedicated and committed Advanced Motorcyclist I am a qualified National Observer and Masters Mentor for the IAM and spend as much time on two wheels as I can. The highlight of my extensive touring CV was a three week tour to Norway, riding to the Arctic Circle and back, fully planning and booking the entire tour, and sharing it with my wife as pillion. The passion for touring grows with each journey and you can be guaranteed a classic tour, with great roads, fabulous scenery, dodgy jokes and  occasional song thrown in for good measure.

Why do I love riding so much? Well, I am sure the reasons are the same as you. I love the adventure, the unique experience of travelling through landscapes on a bike and the people that we meet. I also embrace the mindfulness of riding – focussing on one thing to the exclusion of everything else and the sense of well being that it brings. As a teacher for 32 years I have a passion for learning and helping others learn – whether that be riding a bike, experiencing a new landscape or understanding the demands of touring. 

My favourite part of any tour is the anticipation of the ride at the start of the day, the camaraderie in the evening as we swap experiences, re-live the epic views and amazing roads we have ridden and, of course the expectation of doing it all again tomorrow.

Sharing this with others is one of life’s truly great pleasures, and one I can’t wait to share with you all on the next tour.