Well what can you say when one of the world’s best off-road tyre and cycle accessory and equipment companies from Marin County, California comes up trumps. !!

Im proud to announce that I will be riding as an ambassador for WTB – WILDERNESS TRAIL BIKES

Funnily enough, this partnership started with the most innocuous and rare issue with a purchased tyre.

I contacted WTB customer service who sorted the matter instantly, but unfortunately, a couple of human errors , a bit of bad luck and a breakdown in communication saw the issue still unresolved.

WTB, who are proud of their excellent Customer Service were mortified, and to cut a long story short and after an escalation to higher authorities, I was eventually phoned personally by their European Sales Director who was determined to rectify this tiny issue that had just unfortunatly got out of hand.

After half an hour on the telephone, putting the World to Rights and sharing views on Cycling, Advocacy and Sponsorship expectations as well as talking about my Dad’s WW2 exploits and my Stalag IVB Ride and my plans for 2024 going back to takle the Atlas Mountain Race,  we both realised that we had a lot in common and also shared some goals and ambitions.

Lorenzo understood fully my views of Avdocacy by Association and understood and appreciated that not every ambassador can be a Winner or an Elite Athlete, and much was spoken about the understanding of Riders ‘giving back’ and appreciating Sponsors and how companies need a good return for their investment.

From that point, this small issue became a fantastic support package that will see WTB supplying me with Tyres (they call them Tires) for all my Bikes, Road, Gravel Bike and MTB as well as Saddles, TCS Tubeless accesories, tools, and Fluid, Leisurewear and Wheels for next year.

The range of TyresWTB offer is just too good with amazing options of types, treads, compounds and puncture resistance and just check them out HERE.

They have a fantastic outlook and ethos supporting Cycling Transport Alternatives and I am pround and pleased to represent them and glad theyve got my back.

Lorenzo the Sales Director said:

“Oh my, another email from that Rich guy, did we send the wrong tires again??” 

 

Turns out that thanks to our sloppiness, we met an incredibly passionate and inspirational guy who, in times of software-modified hits and AI generated videos, decides to start cycling and embarks on a solo endeavour honouring his father’s legacy. 

 

“But I am not a podium racer!”, he warned us. That’s ok, guess we’ll take the maverick and the resistance fighter, then. 

 

Even if we tried hard to change his mind, he stubbornly likes riding our stuff too. 

 

At WTB we couldn’t be more proud to support Richard with tires, saddles and tubeless products for his next challenges!!

Im sure you can read from that the passion and fun that WTB are about, and all I need to do now is do them pround and come up with a way of personally Thanking them !