The mums, dads, sons and daughters of #R5k

We all ride for different reasons but there’s a common theme when it comes to our earliest memories of the world of two wheels. Seeing family and friends, in particular our parents, enjoy the thrills and spills of biking is a common cause for many to start their own adventure.

Our #ride5000miles members are no exception, we asked and their fond memories came flooding in, of time spent with family.

Take Steve Loveday, his earliest biking memory dates back to being a four-year-old, who rode pillion with dad, Peter. They spent much of Steve’s childhood whizzing around Northern England on a variety of Japanese machines.

“I always remember enjoying the scenery, the roads and awaiting Dad’s signals,” Steve fondly remembers. “A tap on my leg to let me know ‘Hang on kid, I’m opening her up’. Even as a pillion it was exhilarating.

“I will never forget one trip to the lakes, the rain was bouncing a couple of feet off the road as we weaved through the mountains. It was cold and wet, but the grey skies over the rolling landscape were just beautiful.

“Most of all I felt safe, if a little cold, sitting on the back holding onto my old man. I remember once I’d passed my test, we rode together and it was magical.”

Steve’s sure that biking is in the genes, his own son Tom has now been bitten by the biking- bug. Steve regularly takes the 13-year-old out for a spin on his Ducati GT1000 Sport Classic.

“It’s highly likely Tom will ride too. He’s already finding his style and really likes the Ducati Panigale and retro Café Racers. Unfortunately Dad is no longer with us, but my son has got the bug now.”

For Scobie Foley bikes have always played a big part of his life, with dad, Mick, being a regular rally goer in the 1960s. “Dad inspired me to get into bikes,” he reminisces.

“When I was six, he gave me a Honda C50 to thrash around the back garden. When I was growing up, there were always loads of bikes at our house and Dad still rides a Yamaha Tracer 900 today.”

As for Phil Boyes, he spent much of his youth, tearing around farmland with his brother on their Tectamoto scramblers. He said: “Dad was one of the last to see motorcycles as a working man’s transport, having said that, I regularly use my bike for my daily commute.”

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