Twenty-five years in the saddle

It just struck me that I've been riding bicycles for a quarter of a century. There's not been a year when I haven't been riding. I've seen 'em used as toys and tools, training aids and competitive gear, entrepreneurial opportunities, lifelines, escape hatches, social levellers, empowering and anchoring people. Bloody marvellous things.

So I'd like to say a few thank yous. Thanks Mike for being co-conspirator in my first wave of bike addiction; thanks Sam for reawakening it all a second time around; thanks Channel 4 for showing the Tour; thanks Mum for riding shotgun on those early trips to school where I found my road legs; thanks to the legions of engineers behind the machines. And most of all, thanks Dad, for teaching me (eventually!) to ride that shiny red Raleigh Tomahawk all those years ago.