My Surly disc trucker – called simply the Trucker in these pages – gives its name to this site. The Trucker is traditionally designed and finely machined: it trucks along all day under its own momentum, delivers a comfortable ride, and loves weight – the more the better!

This collection of tales from the saddle began during my first long distance cycle tour in 2013 as I discovered the pleasures of day to day living on the road – freedom and simplicity.

Cycle touring reduces daily life to just a few basic necessities: what does the weather look like outside the tent opening in the morning, will I find a market or a bakery before lunch, does my lunch spot have a great view, can I get my towel dry, and most importantly, is there a warm shower and a glass of wine at the end of the day?

These pieces give voice to various thoughts, memories and reflections that have arisen while pedalling. The New Zealand poet, Brian Turner, in his wonderful poem, Cycling in the Maniatoto, describes riding as living in the moment:

I wouldn’t care to hear 
why it’s said we’re here 
in case it ruins 
what it feels like now. 

The meaning of life 
being played out 
on the undulations between 
Ranfurly and Kyeburn 

on a bristly summer’s day 
is not part of the 
metaphysical agenda 
as far as I know.

The small chores of the day taken care of, these stories describe some of the experiences I have enjoyed while truckin’ on…