Category: Journal

A year in 20 photographs 20/20 – the end of the road on the Hebridean Way

The Butt of Lewis is quite literally the end of the road on the Hebridean Way.

Over the last 20 days, I have posted photographs from many of my adventures this year. It has been great fun looking through these photos and choosing what to write to accompany the images. A recurring theme has been friendship. Riding a bike is an activity suitable for all ages. Throughout my life, I have had many solo adventures, but many of the most memorable times have been shared with others.

In all aspects of my cycling career, from coaching to guiding, I have made many friends. Every cycling holiday that I guide on I come away with new memories. It may be a brief conversation with one guest at dinner, or something funny, or dramatic that has happened during the week. Sometimes, it is things like sharing a sunset over a beach or sitting with others on a shore watching otters play on the rocks. Often it is long-lasting friendships. Looking through all these photographs from cycling adventures in 2024 has been a pleasure and even more so being able to share them with you.

To each and every one of you, whether you ride a bike, support me in my cycling ventures, or just enjoy following what I do through the pictures I take, I wish you all the best for 2025.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

Find out more about our cycling holidays to the Outer Hebrides.

Visit the Outer Hebrides.

A year in 20 photographs 18/20 – friends

Around the time I was establishing Skinny Tyres in 2009, a cycling friend and I also set up the Tay Titans Junior Cycling Club in Perth.

Learning skills and making friends

We wanted to start a club where young folk could learn skills, have fun cycling, and make new friends. I was a shy and introverted youth but when I discovered that I was good at cycling, it boosted my confidence in other areas of life. Likewise, it brought me out of my shell and I made new friends. As an adult, I wanted other young people to experience something similar and, importantly, have fun on a bike.

Although I stepped back from the club several years ago, it is still thriving thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteers and parents. The club won the Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland club of the year in 2023 and many of its members race in various disciplines at all levels. It has even had an Olympian and World Champion rise up through its ranks as Tay Titans was the first cycling club that mountain biker Charlie Aldridge joined.

I am extremely proud of the achievements of the Tay Titans and to have been able to play a small part in its history. I am also grateful for all the friends I have made through the club and for all the times I have worked with them in other cycling arenas.

Today’s photo is of the Tay Titans coaches and friends who joined me on the BBC One Show Challenge Squad in November this year. I was tasked with creating a team to support Grace in her challenge. Choosing those team members from the experienced and competent coaches at the Tay Titans was easy and they rose to the challenge. 

Join Skinny Tyres on a cycling holiday in Scotland.

A year in 20 photographs 17/20  – the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye

When I started Skinny Tyres in 2009 I didn’t have a plan. I was naive to the intricacies of business and no one I knew ran their own business. I just dived in at the deep end. What I did have, was a passion for cycling, and, more than that, a love of, and a real pride for Scotland. 

The idea of running cycling holidays in Scotland had popped into my head after returning from a cycling trip to the French and Italian Alps. I joined my local club for a 100-mile ride around Highland Perthshire that weekend. It was a stunning day and I realised that the mountains and landscapes I craved to cycle in were also just on my doorstep. I had been riding through them for years, but the familiarity had blinded me to their charms.

It took a few more years until I plucked up enough courage to leave full-time paid employment and just go for it, but I was determined that I would start a business where people from around the world would come to Scotland to ride their bikes and see what a beautiful country we live in.

A passion and pride for Scotland is the driving force for Skinny Tyres

Fast-forward 15 years and this photograph of cyclists ascending the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye encapsulates my passion and pride for Scotland and why I started Skinny Tyres all those years ago. 

We have had our ups and downs, both physically and mentally. No one told me that running my own business would be such an all-consuming affair, that I wouldn’t be able to clock out at 5:30 pm and go and relax with some family time. I have also made many life-long friends, ridden in amazing places – and cycled through the Channel Tunnel! – and learnt a lot about myself and my family. 

My love of Scotland and my desire to share that love with others has sustained me through all these years. There are still so many amazing areas in Scotland we need to cycle through and I cannot wait to share these places with you. 

Ride the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye on our Hebridean Island Hopper cycling holiday in Scotland.

A year in 20 photographs 16/20 – supporting local businesses

One of the many things that we are proud of at Skinny Tyres is our customised vans. We use these to support our riders during their cycling holiday in Scotland so we equip them with everything that they, or our guides, may need whilst on tour.

This includes sustenance for hungry cyclists and our spread is substantial. However, we are conscious that we visit areas with limited resources. Therefore, to support this fragile economy, we encourage our riders to stop at local cafés for coffee, cake and lunch. One such area is the Outer Hebrides where numerous cafes are scattered along the route of The Hebridean Way.

Skinny Tyres is a small family-owned and run business, so we recognise the benefits of mutual support from other small businesses. We are part of the Outer Hebrides Tourism (OHT) group that actively promotes The Hebridean Way as a recognised route through the islands. OHT and its members realise that visitors contribute to the local economy by supporting local businesses. These businesses include self-employed taxi drivers, cafés, accommodation providers and local artisans. They are all part of working communities which are largely dependent on the influx of tourists to boost their income. So when we visit, we make a point of supporting them. Consequently, over the years we have made many friends on the islands.

We respect that tourism needs to be sustainable and beneficial to places in environmentally sensitive areas. Furthermore, we are mindful that tourism can have negative impacts on communities and landscapes. Thus, we constantly look at ways to improve our interactions with regards to supporting local businesses by working in partnership with them to address environmental and socio-economical concerns. 

Find out more about our range of cycling holidays in Scotland.

A year in 20 photographs 15/20  – at home with my dog

I love my job. I get to travel around Europe, meet amazing people, and make new friends along the way. 

However, without sounding like the Grinch, there is a downside. I spend a lot of time away from home. It averages about 120 nights in hotels each year, which accumulated over the last fifteen years of guiding adds up to approximately five years working away from home. I often comment now that a holiday for me is spending time at home. It is a time when I get to recharge my batteries and prepare for a forthcoming season of guiding.

I have always loved winter and Christmas, but now even more so. It means I get time to spend with my family and, importantly, be at home with my dog.

People often laugh when I tell them I miss my dog when I am away working. It seems inferred that I don’t miss my family. Fortunately, I can keep in touch with my family daily, so the absence is felt less keenly. When my dog lies in her bed watching me pack a suitcase she looks morose. I can only imagine that she is thinking “That human that takes me for all the walks is away again – for how long? I don’t know.”

So, for me, winter is a time of catching up with all those missed walks with my dog in the woods and mountains local to us. I couldn’t pick just one photo to choose for today, so I have shared several from hikes and walks with my dog over the last few weeks.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Have a great and peaceful day.

Scot

Find out more about Skinny Tyres cycling holidays in Scotland.

Find out more about the Hebridean Way and the Outer Hebrides.

A year in 20 photographs 14/20  – riding with Olympian Rebecca Romero

Part of my job as a chaperone on the many events I work on is to keep the area around the celebrity rider safe. As we ride we have a full support convoy around us, including motorcycle out-riders, the medic car behind, and a tracking car in front of us with a TV camera facing our direction. 

That protective bubble around us is there for safety, and to allow filming. We often get a lot of other cyclists wanting to join us on the road and meet the celebrity. Unfortunately, we need to maintain that bubble as clean as possible, so I often have to ask the cyclists to say a quick “hello”, and then carry on through.

When riding with Paddy McGuinness this year we were heading out of Wrexham when this cyclist rode alongside us. She said she wanted to say hello, then she would keep going. I instantly recognised her as Gold medal-winning track cyclist, Rebecca Romero. I wasn’t going to let her escape with just a “hello”. So I introduced her to Paddy and we had a chat. Her appearance was unplanned, but a wonderful surprise. She was out commuting on her bike and happened to see us ahead, so she decided to catch us.

A golden age of British cycling

Rebecca Romero was the first British woman ever to compete in two different sports at the Olympic Games. In her first sport, rowing, she won a silver medal at Athens in 2004. Then, in 2008 she won gold in the individual pursuit track race at the Beijing Olympics. In winning the gold, she also became the second woman of any country to win a medal in two sports at the Summer Games.

She started cycling, just at the start of the golden age of British cycling that was about to explode. At the Beijing Olympics, Team GB dominated the cycling events winning eight gold, four silver and two bronze medals. This includes the stunning gold win that Nicole Cooke took in the pouring rain at the women’s road race. I remember watching it and marveling at all these riders, knowing that the likes of Rebecca Romero, Nicole Cooke, Victoria Pendleton, Joanna Rowsell, et al, would become household names and inspirations for thousands of cyclists across the UK.

I knew I would be riding with Sir Chris Hoy later that week, so the surprise of riding with another Olympian was the icing on the cake.

Read about the time Scot rode with Sir Chris Hoy, Amanda Holden, Mollie King, Zoe Ball and Greg James, Paddy McGuinness.

Find out more about cycling holidays in Scotland with Skinny Tyres.

A year in 20 photographs 13/20 – Wales to Scotland with Paddy McGuinness on a Raleigh Chopper

I first learned about Paddy McGuinness wanting to ride a Raleigh Chopper to raise money for BBC Children in Need in July 2024. At that time, I had to travel to Nottingham to pick up a Chopper then ride it to test the feasibility of cycling any distance on it. One strained back and a lengthy report later, I surmised it was possible. However, any attempt would be filled with caveats. 

Paddy McGuinness on a Raleigh Chopper for 300 miles

Roll on November and I found myself outside Wrexham FC stadium waiting for Paddy to begin his epic challenge: riding a Chopper from Wales to Glasgow in five days. 

The documentary makers captured our faltering start. Paddy pedalled out of the stadium, chatting live on Radio 2 with Zoe Ball. Immediately, I got communications in my earpiece that he wasn’t wearing a helmet. As he emerged through the gates, I rode alongside him and stopped the convoy. I didn’t realise this was being filmed and that, embarrassingly, I would feature in the documentary. 

Paddy McGuinness on his Raleigh Chopper succeeded in his challenge, raising an incredible total of £10 million. Thousands of his supporters packed the route. It all became quite emotional and overwhelming, but he was determined to engage with everyone along the way. We also had some amazing surprises: riding with Olympic gold medalists, Rebecca Romero and Sir Chris Hoy; riding with Giant from Gladiators, resplendent in his Lycra leotard that left nothing to the imagination; 80s and 90s chart toppers Black Lace and Chesney Hawkes performing; and Sir Tom Hunter donating a huge amount of money. 

There were so many standout moments. Riding up Shap through the mist, to cycling into Glasgow with streets lined with thousands of people cheering Paddy on. It is difficult to choose one image. However, the key to the challenge was Paddy and his Raleigh Chopper, Patch, so the picture I’ve chosen is the one of us meeting hundreds of other Chopper riders and riding in convoy along Blackpool esplanade. 

Read about the time Scot rode with Sir Chris Hoy, Rebecca Romero, Mollie King, Zoe Ball and Greg James, Amanda Holden.

Find out more about Skinny Tyres and our cycling tours in Scotland.

Paddy McGuinness Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge.

A year in 20 photographs 12/20 – Mollie King’s Pedal Power Challenge

BBC Comic Relief March 2024

As a proud member of Generation X (not Billy Idol’s first band of the same name), I can say with certainty that it’s been a long time since I have listened to Radio 1. Thus, when I was asked to be part of the team supporting Radio 1 DJ, Mollie King, on a charity cycle for BBC Comic Relief, I had to do some Google research to find out who I would be riding with.

I now know that Mollie was a member of The Saturdays, then a semi-finalist on Strictly Come Dancing and has now been a Radio 1 presenter since 2018. As the week progressed, I also discovered that she raced for Great Britain as one of the youngest team members in the British Ski Academy.

I also learned that she is an incredibly lovely person; kind, generous, and down-to-earth. You would be forgiven for thinking, after seeing the list of accomplishments in her career, that she would be flush with confidence.

I first met Molly as she pedalled out of BBC Broadcasting House in London. When she crossed the start line of her 500 km, five-day Pedal Power Challenge, I rode alongside her and introduced myself. As we talked, she told me she would be delighted to reach a total of £10,000. She was wildly underestimating her target as, by the end of the event, she had raised an incredible £1.3 million.

Cycling through challenges with a smile

Over the coming week, we chatted a lot. It was clear that Mollie’s lack of confidence in her abilities was a contributing factor to her humility and fantastic personality. She went out of her way each day to engage with the public and to thank her support team, the amazing Behind the Scenes team directed by Paul Collin. Throughout the week, even during the toughest moments, she always had a smile. 

It is always an honour to be on a support team, but these events are tough: 4 am alarms; thirteen-hour days in the saddle; wet and cold weather … Being part of a great team always makes this easier; riding with someone as kind and genuine as Mollie King makes it a pleasure.

Read about the time Scot rode with Sir Chris Hoy, Rebecca Romero, Amanda Holden, Zoe Ball and Greg James, Paddy McGuinness.

Find out more about Skinny Tyres and our cycling tours in Scotland.

A year in 20 photographs – cycling on Mont Ventoux

Mont Ventoux in Provence is one of the mountains where I most love to guide and support other cyclists. I have ridden it numerous times from base to summit on all three sides. Many ascents have been in the dark, arriving at the top with the sun just rising behind the Alps.

My first ever visit to Mont Ventoux was when I worked on a trip with a colleague and friend, Merv. Sadly that trip was the last ever trip I would do with Merv as he passed away early the following year. That first year on Ventoux was when I made my first sunrise ride to the summit. Every year I have worked there since, I have made a pilgrimage to the top and had a moment remembering Merv as the sun rises.

Mont Ventoux is also one of those mountains that just seems incessantly photogenic. And so it was again in 2024. One of the riders on that trip has been on numerous other trips with me and we have become good friends over the years. He also always seems to be in the right place at the right time for a photo opportunity. So much so that my colleague on that trip joked that the rider was like a photogenic muse to me. I had taken one photo of him in 2023 on the Col du Tourmalet (see below). That day, I had taken numerous pictures of other riders. None of them had turned out the way I wanted them to. But then I got this final shot.

Again in 2024 he was in the right place and I managed to get several great snaps of him on his ride up to the summit of Mont Ventoux from Malaucène. The light was perfect, the road was quiet and as he emerged through the mist and cloud, I took the shot. I didn’t think I’d managed to get anything special until I checked later and realised I’d got a great photo. I’ll be back on Mont Ventoux with more riders and looking forward to another sunrise ride and more great photo opportunities.

Ride with Skinny Tyres in Scotland.