Whilst I seem to have on the whole missed the accent and the natural mistrust of using all 3 letters of the word “the” when just one will do I’m a proud Yorkshireman born n’ bred (apparently my Yorkshire routes do seep through when using conjunctives like “and”) and consider myself incredibly lucky to have spent much of my life in such a beautiful county with, overall, such a warm and friendly population. So, whilst unfortunately unable to go out and find myself a vantage point along the route this weekend I was thrilled to turn on the TV and see Yorkshire in all its glory being admired by a global audience, and didn’t it look stunning.
Never have so many millions of people tuned in to watch people ride bikes and listen to hours and hours of glorious commentary about dry stone walling, a topic which I’m sure all viewers will now appreciate forms the basis of virtually all conversations down t’ pub in t’ shire, (after all many of them are over a hundred years old you know!) and I for one started to think that Yorkshire looks a bloomin’ lovely place to visit!
In fact as the bike spokes whizzed down the winding roads and men in silly shorts were spurred on by people draped in French flags (I should state for the record that this is the only occasion when Yorkshiremen are happy to embrace the French) I started to realise just how little of this amazing part of the world I had actually really visited. I mean certain areas I know very well and our travels for weddings do take us to many towns and villages all over the county, indeed I’ve probably driven through most of the cyclists route at some point or another, but at so few of them have I actually stopped to really appreciate it. So I decided it was about time I put this right in the only way that seemed sensible at the time: I bought myself a bike.
Well technically I bought myself an exercise bike but having hit the record button on the TV I figured this was just as good as the real thing, better even as I wouldn’t have to wear lycra and could stop for a burger with comparative ease and regularity! After revealing the true extent of my genius to Dom though and watching her raise her eyebrows in pure respect and admiration I decided, in another inspirational moment, that perhaps I should also consider the outdoor variety of cycling. So, once again, I bought myself a bike.
Not just any bike though, a folding bike! A bike that could fit comfortably into the boot of my car, giving me the freedom to roam further across god’s county, to visit areas inaccessible through cycling alone, to park up in the car park of any one of Yorkshire’s fine Ale establishments bike helmet in hand and drink until both cycling and driving become completely impossible, getting fitter all the time by the mere presence of my humble folding bicycle.
Handily it will also fold up small enough to fit into the loft where it will doubtless live once my good intentions wear off along with the guitar, running shoes and, let’s face it, the exercise bike. But for now, dear friends, allow me to depart per chance to dream of flying down the open roads admiring Yorkshire’s amazing dry stone walling.
Le Matt’s Le Tour de Yorkshire begins…
My last biking trip around Yorkshire went oh so well…
