SPOKE TOO SOON

f all my hobbies and passions, cycling has been the one constant that’s pulled me through the dark days and bad times. Of course, it’s also caused a few of them. Having only recently got back on the road with a new bike back in January, I had hoped for a brief period of reprieve, but the gods of the road clearly had other plans.

A MAN’S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

rom the birth of civilisation, man has looked for a place to rest his tired bottom. A place to relax and yet protect his domain—a place to call his. No matter the social status of the man, he can be master here, even if that authority only extends as far as the seat itself.

THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WINGS

elma Furniss might not be a name you know, but in the North of Sheffield, she was a legend. Community stalwart and dance teacher to hundreds of people, she touched so many lives in a positive way.

PROJECT HIGH-CONTRAST ARMOUR: READY FOR THE ROAD

arlier this year, I embarked on a quest to renew my old cycling vest. The brief was simple: merge the aesthetic of the motorcyclist with the practical demands of the road bike. I’m not going to be the judge of whether I’ve been successful—time will tell—but the project has finally reached the point where it's ready to unveil.

PEDAL POWER IN THE PEACE GARDENS

treet-level speed, cobbles, and crowd noise — the Sheffield Grand Prix is easily one of the big dates on my South Yorkshire calendar. No, this isn't a car race; it’s all about the bikes. Whilst the mighty Tour de France thunders its way towards Paris, a very different kind of cycling race rolls into town.

WHEELY HOT TICKET

or weeks now, we’ve been basking in record-breaking temperatures—well, probably. While everyone else is out enjoying the endless summer, I’ve been busy trying to find ways of just coping. It’s great when I'm off the clock, but wearing a thick, heavy uniform in a building with a distinct lack of decent cooling turns a shift into a sticky, sweaty test of endurance.

THIRTY YEARS OF HARLEY

years ago, my life changed forever. I became a father for the first time. I wasn't prepared for the sheer scale of how it would change me, but looking back, I feel incredibly fulfilled and a better man for the experience.

GIVING THE RODS: A HISTORY OF TRUE DEFIANCE

ery long ago, the preferred offensive hand gesture in Britain was the classic V-sign, otherwise known as 'the rods'. It carried so much more oomph than the American-influenced single digit that dominates today.

LIVING THE DREAM (APPARENTLY)

esterday was our 27th wedding anniversary. So, did we spend the day guzzling champagne and scoffing down some posh nosh? Of course not.

HOT, LONG AND STICKY

atch up time. I’ve left things a bit long since my last two posts, mostly because they were quite substantial pieces. Now that I'm back at the keyboard, I suppose there’s not much choice but to talk about the weather.