Riders 2019

Terra Trailblazers Riders 2019

So, here it is, the definitive list of those who were lucky enough to have my company on their bike rides. Who were the workers and who were the shirkers?

Top of the list is Andy, The Breadlad who managed to squeeze in 38 rides in between being an international jet-setting playboy and keeping the nation supplied with crumpets.

Coming in second my own little woman - La Mujerita, who accompanied me on 32 rides, 32 gentle, scenic meanders across the moors. It was nice to take in the views for a change instead of trying to keep up with some of the more testosterone fuelled beasts.

Simon - The Ginger One takes bronze place with 29 rides, which is a bit pitiful when you consider he officially has around 220 days off in a year. It seems his devotion to CF Industries, or rather their overtime pay, takes precedence over bike rides.

Lonely rides, Billy No-Mates adventures accounted for 26 rides where I was left alone to explore at leisure without any grumbling at being led down dead end tracks or up muddy slopes, hacking through vegetation or splodging through knee-deep bogs.

Taking fifth place is Scott - The Youth, who managed to join us 18 times, when he wasn’t being abused by groups of kids or insulating (soundproofing?) his van.

In at number six is Rod, one of those poor unfortunates who work days rather than shifts, his riding is mainly weekends but he still managed to get out with us 15 times.

Charlie, Keith and Ian - The Nissan Nomads managed 12,11 and 10 rides respectively, the majority of them when we were in Spain. However they made the journey down the A19 to sample the delights of the North York Moors a few times.

Austin - Oz, started the year well with 11 rides in the first three months, after which he disappeared as comprehensively as the labour party in a general election.

Down into single figure land is Howard who tortured us on 7 rides, using nefarious sorcery like training, diet and fitness to leave us trailing in his wake.

Some people only joined us for a ride or two, special mention must be made for Bingo Bob who rejoined us in December with an electric bike which gave rise to the routemeister saying, at the bottom of every hill, just the like the cane-wielding  headmaster used to say, “this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.”

And bringing up the rear with a big fat zero is Martin - The Fireman, who seems to have defected to the world of skinny tyres and bent backs. But at least he’s still riding a bike.


My own riding slacked off a bit this year, mainly owing to several weeks abroad, being a cultural ambassador and international man of mystery.

Mileage:       2,307 miles
Ascent:         221,112 feet. 67,396 metres. Which is almost 42 vertical miles.
No. of rides: 158

A bit down on recent years but quality rather than quantity. Almost exclusively fat tyre riding, the road bike hasn't been out of the shed for years and even the cross bike is getting neglected in favour of short, sharp blasts in the loose stuff.