‘It’s a real break from busy UK life’
Essex's Andy Taylor smashed 5000 miles without touching a single UK road
For many, the goal of achieving 5000 miles in a year can be a real challenge. But Andy Taylor from Chelmsford, Essex, has ridden almost 7000 this year without using a single English road. “I’m 57 now but did my first foreign trip when I was 19,” he told MCN. “I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed touring and like it more now than ever. There are some wonderful places to visit. “It’s all about the open road and getting away from everything. When I put my helmet on I forget about everything. You’re transported to this magical place on a bike.”
The managing director of an insurance company and also co-owner of a motorcycle training school enjoyed a 2000-mile tour of New Zealand’s South Island in February as well as 2000 miles exploring California, in June. “New Zealand has been a regular part of my riding for the last six years,” he told MCN. “There’s stunning scenery, great people and it’s a real break from busy UK life in the middle of the winter! Andy is also a Silverstone circuit instructor 12 times a year, between April and October, covering around 150 miles a day on track aboard a Yamaha R1 or R6, offering one-to-two tuition, as well as competing eight times a year in the UK in the Ducati DesmoDue race series, covering around 120 miles per meet.
“The scenery in California was amazing. I had visions of a long straight road disappearing into the distance and there are some like that, but definitely not all.” And he had this to say about touring two-up on Harley-Davidsons: “They were great and a big part of the trip. A lot of my friends said they wouldn’t have wanted a Harley but they were perfect. Doing it on a Japanese bike would have been sacrilege.”
Andy has also recently taken delivery of a Norton V4SS superbike and plans to ride it on the road once it has been clear wrapped to protect the stunning chrome paint!
‘It’s all about the open road and getting away from everything’