A ride of nostalgia… An Introduction – 23rd August ’10

With Simon and Peter, both away on some much needed R&R I’m going to take the opportunity to introduce myself. Some of you may already know about me being taken on board. Taking the standard course, I’ll keep this short and sweet; my name is Matthew Beedham; I grew up not far north from London, what is nearly, some 21years ago.
Usually when looking back nostalgically on a person’s childhood there is always a bicycle involved, cropping up in the back of photographs or being the subject of a great day out. This was, at least. the case for me, my father used to cycle commute in and out of London, my grandfather had owned a fixed gear, which from reliable sources I’ve heard he was not too pleased about, regardless of how fashionable he would be these days; though I doubt that was ever a key priority. Though for me once a week, at a local supermarket car park was where I could ride free of worries and full of speed, as long as I stayed within eye sight, it was just about enough.

But such as time bears down upon us all, we are forced to grow up and move on, or try new things. I grew up and moved north. That said, it wasn’t long before we were settled in and was taken down to minster cycles the best local bike shop there was. It was here I got my first serious bike, a blue Giant boulder Alu Lite, considered a light bike at the time being a snippet over 13kgs, but weight is all a matter of perception. As a child full of life, energy and vigour I was unaware just how colossal the bike was. I make a point of this bike for the simple reason that it was the catalyst. It was on this that the miles, minutes and hours started racking up. I felt I could go anywhere, for an infinite amount of time.

Though that, soon thwarted by secondary education, club rugby and other things [that teenage boys are involved with] going out and riding my bike became less of a priority, and it soon turned into somewhat of a forbidden affair I had at weekends. Few of my friends knew about this, though they were made aware when I left them gasping on a school trip to the Lake District where we spent a day mountain biking, on heavy aluminium Giant boulders. This was the homecoming, luckily it came soon enough for me to have my life ahead of me, the chance to ride hundreds of bikes and rack up thousands of miles. For many it seems cycling makes a return later in life, as an attempt to find that youthful freedom we all spent out on the open road.

With more people cycling than ever; wearing lycra socially and having smooth legs, as a man, became accepted. Despite resistance that is still experienced by many; I got myself a road bike. I destined to do what I had always dreamed of and taking myself there on two 700c wheels. Constantly being in search of something new and kit that speaks to me personally, and I can afford on a strict student budget I was naturally drawn to Shutt VR. Through a number of conversations with Simon, Alex and Peter, I was offered the opportunity to help out with the Marketing, to compliment my university study, and gain some experience. Of course doing what I love. Which is where this story continues for itself…

Though I ask what got you back on to your bike? Or for that matter, what stopped you from ever getting off?

MB
Team Shutt VR