People you meet whilst out on a ride

[TrevA]

A friend of mine was out on a ride in the Yorkshire Dales. He stopped at the cafe in Grassington. Inside, there’s another cyclist, in full UAE kit, jersey, shorts, helmet, shoes, gloves, etc. My friend thinks “this guy is keen or he’s the ultimate fan-boy”. My friend goes outside and there’s a full replica UAE Team Colnago. He thinks, this guy is really keen. Then he notices the name on the top tube - Pavel Sivakov. Which explains the full UAE kit and bike. It was actually Pavel Sivakov himself. Apparently, he often rides in the Yorkshire Dales with his team mate and friend, Adam Yates.

[Pompey Monkey]

Charly Mottet, at the top of Mt Ventoux on the rest day before the TT to the top in the 1987 TDF. I assume that he was doing a reccy for the following day and had ridden up from Carpentras. His legs had muscles on his muscles...

[Cowsham]

The Ellesmere village idiot ( with his dog off a lead ) who told me and my son we weren't allowed to cycle on the towpath so we immediately dismounted and walked on into town. Then as we were coming back out I noticed -- no there were no "NO CYCLING" signs on any of the bits he said but remained walking just in case but I also could see the big bully standing chatting to someone in a boat so naturally I wanted to have a chat about it.

He noticed we were walking and commented as we approached. I said " I thought this was a CRT towpath?" To which he replied a complex answer as to blind me with facts -- something about councils not allowing certain places etc etc I told him I think you are wrong about that. Each sentence from him was met with "No I still think you are wrong. "

We remounted and cycled off. I think he called us morons when he thought we were out of earshot.

Later I stopped another cyclist who was on the towpath heading towards him, told him about the troll under the bridge and to ask if there was a cycling ban. He said " no he is wrong -- I live here and this is part of the uk cycle network". ( just as I [and my Beeline] had thought) If there was any restriction on it there would be signs. ( that's what the CRT website and government website both say)

The only sign I could find was one with red circle and a black dog in on a white background. ie keep your dog on a lead !

[drossall]

Many years ago, the year after we were married, my wife and I toured up from Hertfordshire via the Vale of Belvoir and Matlock back to family in Cheshire. We were looking for the end of the High Peak trail near Matlock Bath, so I stopped a cyclist who was going the other way, and asked for directions. Only when he stopped did I realise that he was the late Tony Doyle, then at the height of his fame.

[axel_knutt]

Something I've noticed about cycle touring is that a fully laden touring bike is a bit of a conversation starter. Often people are interested when they spot the bike, and want to know where you've come from, and where you're going.

[Cowsham]

Something I've noticed about cycle touring is that a fully laden touring bike is a bit of a conversation starter. Often people are interested when they spot the bike, and want to know where you've come from, and where you're going.

Yes I've noticed that too. Usually I'm happy to chat a while.

[Morzedec]

Some years ago, whilst cycling up through Vendee towards our French home, we stopped in Saint Essarts to buy drinks - only to be surrounded by the complete Europecar T de F team, Tommy Voeckler included - in a year when Tommy had worn 'Yellow' for many days during that years Tour.

The Europecar headquarters were just outside Saint Essarts, and - having also drunk their fill - the team were setting off back towards their base when I heard one of them ask Tommy "Who was that big guy you were talking to?"

Tommy replied "Don't you know anything or anyone? That was Mr Morzedec and his wife, probably off home again having got a few thousand kilometres under their wheels!"

Happy Days.

[Cowsham]

Happy Days.

Too much vino ?

[SRD]

I did a publicity stand for CTC and the local cycling project a few years back. Happily stood behind the table chatting to folk when a bloke appeared beside me.....sort of looked familiar but couldn't quite place him... eventually the Scottish accent gave him away....Sir Chris Hoy.... thoroughly nice chap .

[Morzedec]

Cowsham - 40+ degree heat and a 'reverse Mistral' blowing up the Rhone was enough to make anyone need a rest!

[Cowsham]

Cowsham - 40+ degree heat and a 'reverse Mistral' blowing up the Rhone was enough to make anyone need a rest!

Too hot for the likes of me

[TrevA]

Something I've noticed about cycle touring is that a fully laden touring bike is a bit of a conversation starter. Often people are interested when they spot the bike, and want to know where you've come from, and where you're going.

We noticed this when we did our JOGLE. You become something of a minor celebrity, with people wanting to stop and chat about what you are doing. I was in a lift with a bloke in Crewe Travelodge and mentioned we were cycling from John O Groats to Lands End. He said “That’s made my day!”.

[plancashire]

Riding the Ruhrtal Radweg, my wife and I were standing with our bikes looking at a sculpture on the market place at Wickede when an old man approached us and started a conversation. It eventually emerged that he had witnessed the wall of water rushing down the Ruhr from the Dambusters' raid on the Möhne Dam. He was ten at the time and heard a noise in the night, went downstairs, stood on the doorstep and saw the houses at the bottom of the town disappear under water. There's a memorial to the people who died on the edge of the town near the river.

[axel_knutt]

Sat chatting with a couple by the waterside at Wells Next the Sea, it turned out that the guy was a commando that had been on either the canoe raid on Bordeaux, or the ramming the gates at St Nazaire, I forget which it was now. It was his wife who told me all about it, he just sat there in silence.

[Slowroad]

axel_knutt wrote: 10 Jun 2026, 12:28pm
Something I've noticed about cycle touring is that a fully laden touring bike is a bit of a conversation starter. Often people are interested when they spot the bike, and want to know where you've come from, and where you're going.

Unless you are at a 'cycle cafe' in my experience! One reason why I generally go for caffs in villages and towns, have had some great conversations in these