Tandem Trekkers is a West Yorkshire based tandem cycling club for blind and visually impaired riders
Residential Rogues Gallery
This post started life as a “Thank you” to everyone who had made our Residential Weekend such a superb success. But then the truth dawned. Absolutely everyone who attended had a played their part.
The expressions of gratitude, written below, have been collated from multiple sources; personal observations, overheard comments, WhatsApp chats and one-to-one conversations. Indeed, most of what is written is not from the author. Perhaps AI has even had a part to play in compiling some of the comments. So, apologies if some of the wording is a bit “starchy”.
The simple fact is that many of the positive thoughts attributed to an individual, apply equally to many others. But if there’s one characteristic that shines through, it’s got to be the sheer camaraderie that flows though Trekkers in bucket loads.
Long may this positive spirit endure.
Tariq – Thanks for being a superb conversationalist, able to hold conversations at many different levels. And thanks too for your ability to provide professional advice. It’s always a pleasure talking to you. And it’s on unquestionable authority that you’re also a good masseur.
Lou – Thanks for answering our last minute desperate plea for a pilot so quickly and for driving all the way over from Grimsby. The TT jersey you’re sporting looks great. Wishing you all the very best in your future career.
Jules – Grateful thanks for being such a talented and experienced stoker and for the way that you so gently guide and instil confidence in our newbie pilots. You really should be a Tandem Riding instructor.
Ahmed – Thanks for your magnetic smile. Your presence lights up each and every room you’re in. Please don’t ever stop laughing. We bet you even smile in your sleep.
Stevie – Thanks for bringing you own tandem, for ride leading and for your many practical skills (especially sorting out missing cleat bolts). Not to mention all the positive contributions that you make. More to the point, if it wasn’t for you, we’d probably be homeless by now.
Brian – Thanks for being so willing to go out of your way to ferry people with transport problems. And for the watchful eye and oversight that is so often required. It really is appreciated and it means a lot. It makes a difference that can’t be measured. Glad you found your keys. Thanks again.
Joanne – Thanks for absolutely everything. Quite simply, without you, this weekend would not have happened. “Knitting fog” is no easy task. We always knew you possessed the patience of a saint. You’ve just proved it. You’re a star.
Steve – Thanks for being our Chair extraordinaire – and for everything, especially the difficult and often unseen things that you do behind the scenes. It can’t be easy, but it is appreciated. And thanks as well for keeping Jo supplied with the copious quantities of G&T.
Kate – Thanks for being such a competent pilot and for the door-to-door lift service you provided. Talk about going above and beyond. And thanks too for the many positive and constructive comments you’ve previously posted and sent.
Martin – Thanks for having such an incredibly friendly personality. You are always so grateful to everyone for everything. As our longest serving (or should that be suffering?) member, you truly are a Trekkers’ stalwart. We wouldn’t be the same without you; our crash-test-dummy-in-chief.
Tom – Thanks for pre-riding all the routes and putting Keith through his paces. Not an easy task to give him “purple-mist-syndrome.” And thanks too for back tracking on our main ride to mark the turns. Wishing you a very happy wedding.
Jean – Thanks for being a brilliant “newbie pilot” and your understanding and willingness to change routes mid-ride. Thanks also for getting stuck in with so many practical tasks – especially trailer loading. You’re a very quick learner. Thanks.
Mike – Thanks for your excellent mechanical skills, for your taxying duties and for coming all the way from Hull. You’re clearly a very experienced pilot and bike fettler. Your super-equipped van was superb and we loved your Brompton. You fitted in so well and we hope to see you on many more future rides.
Muz – Thanks for making whoever is piloting you extremely lazy. One day you might learn what “Ease off” means. But we’re not holding out much hope. Besides always providing you with SPD’s, we’re now removing the handle bars on the tandems you ride as you obviously don’t need them.
Matthew – Thanks for your wit, dry sense of humour and commercial insights and skills. You’re an invaluable asset to the Board. And thanks too for maintaining our social media presence and for ensuring we get maximum exposure. Long may your involvement continue. (The censor-bot deleted your introductory relationship remarks about past girl-friends).
Michelle – Thanks for being such a very competent and experienced stoker. Pilots like to be paired with you. And thanks for keeping Matthew in check. Who knows what he would be like without you. (For a fee we’ll let you know who said this!) We all know that it’s you that really makes sure that our media presence is top notch.
Michael – Thanks for being such a great stoker and for the way you and your lovely caring Grandma, Rosemary, tell us how much you appreciate Trekkers and how much it means to you and how it has helped change your outlook on life. And thanks too for agreeing to only vape once on any ride!
Julie – Thanks for piloting so well on one of your first outings with us. And thanks too for the quiet and unassuming way you lent a helping hand. Special thanks too for assisting with the trailer unloading back at HQ. It really was a great help. Oh – and please get cousin Michael (and Alison) involved with us.
Drew – Thanks for your oratory skills and poetic renditions. You’ve obviously missed your life’s vocation. Oh – and thanks for being our most dedicated pilot … and treasurer … and ……..everything else. You’re an immeasurable asset.
Tim – Thanks for demonstrating your musical prowess. Why not team up with Drew? You’d make Hollywood in no time. And it takes real skill to cycle around a dining room.
Kathryn – Thanks for helping to beat some of the “boys” when powering up one of the harder climbs. Oh – and you definitely look better from the front than the back. The photographer in question is currently under discipline.Aisha – Thanks for never being lost for words. Conversation always flows so easily when you’re around. You put people at ease. It’s great and you are always so appreciative of what our pilots and drivers do.
Keith – Thanks for pre-riding our routes, ride leading and for providing very detailed safety briefings. Oh, and for your resilience in sorting out enroute problems. One Trekker did make some rather disparaging remarks about you having multi-personality disorder. But he has his own problems – so don’t be troubled by it.
Louise – Thanks for arranging all the easy-to-complete medical forms and for keeping a watchful eye over us. It must have been a lot easier over the weekend as Judith wasn’t around. Your cycling and piloting skills are legendary. And thanks too for ride leading at the last moment. In fact, you did it so well, expect to be called upon in the future.
Katie – Thanks for your very impressive knowledge and memory skills and your willingness to assist others in need of a helping hand. You really are amazing. Well done.
Vicki – Thanks for being such an excellent stoker on what were your first on-road rides involving traffic. You were brilliant and rode like a time-served professional. Five Gold Stars.
Mark – Thanks for now requiring us to put in an order to buy extra brake pads. Muz’s reputation is officially under threat. And apparently, you married well above your station in life!
Andy – Thanks for being so thoughtful and caring; for constantly looking out for people who needed a helping hand. It didn’t go un-noticed. The parking ticket’s in the post!
Simon – Thanks for identifying who Wally is and an excellent set of pictures; for stepping in when we were a pilot down; and for your very thoughtful WhatsApp write up. You’ll definitely be on the Residential 25 list.
Beverley – Thanks for making sure Paul didn’t step out of line and for all your help over the weekend. Your on-bike shepherding duties didn’t go unnoticed. You’re officially a Guardian Angel!
3 thoughts on “Residential Rogues Gallery”
Fabulous weekend away with the TT family. I think we will all be talking about this one for many years to come for all the right reasons
Great, write up Paul thank you very much
Fabulous weekend away with the TT family. I think we will all be talking about this one for many years to come for all the right
Great, write up Paul thank you very much
A lovely and thoughtful tribute to everyone involved, and of course thank you to you Paul for your above and beyond contributions to TT, and providing a photographic record and prose of all our adventures, Kate
Fabulous weekend away with the TT family. I think we will all be talking about this one for many years to come for all the right reasons
Great, write up Paul thank you very much
Fabulous weekend away with the TT family. I think we will all be talking about this one for many years to come for all the right
Great, write up Paul thank you very much
A lovely and thoughtful tribute to everyone involved, and of course thank you to you Paul for your above and beyond contributions to TT, and providing a photographic record and prose of all our adventures, Kate