Wight gold

Sense of place is a strange thing. When you feel like you belong somewhere the emotional response can be powerful, and it’s a sensation that washes over me as I pedal out onto the pristine tarmac roads of the Isle of Wight.

I live in London these days, but for me the Isle of Wight will always be home. I was brought up here, and seeing the island’s cliffs and beaches again brings memories flooding back of days spent riding the lanes when I was younger. I may now live on the mainland, but in my heart I remain a Caulkhead (as we Islanders are known) and my flag is shades of blue interspersed with white.

For me today’s ride is not so much about exploring somewhere new as reacquainting myself with my home after a period away. Although not everything is the same as when I