Simon Gandolfi
Simon Gandolfi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1933 (age 90–91) |
| Nationality | English |
| Known for | Long-distance motorcycle riding |
| Website | simongandolfi |
Simon Gandolfi (b. London, 1933[1]) is an English long-distance motorcycle rider. He has ridden over 110,000 kilometres (68,000 mi)[2] on solo, unsupported rides in America and India including:
- 2007-2008, Mexico to Tierra del Fuego via Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina: 34,000 km on a 125 cc Honda
- April–December 2009, Tierra del Fuego to New York: 46,000 km on the same Honda
- November-June 2010-2011, India: 18,000 km on 125 cc Honda Stunner
- April-October 2013, India: 16,000 km TVS Motor Company TVS Phoenix 125
A 2010 tour of India, with two companions on another bike, was undertaken in defiance of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, of which he said "The attack infuriated me and I saw all the tourists cancelling and so I rode around India, and if a grand old man like me can ride around India at my age, it can’t be that dangerous."[3] The 2008 solo ride was undertaken when Gandolfi was 73,[4] 2010 when he was 77, and the 2013 solo ride around his 80th birthday.[3][5] The 2013 ride around India was published as a series of contributions to The Guardian's "Backpacking" travelogue section between June and October of that year.[6] The column on his ride, which was planned to span India to England, ended when he suffered broken ribs and other injuries after being kicked off his bike by a heifer in the road.[7][8]
Gandolfi's father, Ralph Vincent Gandolfi-Hornyold, Duca Gandolfi, Marchese di Melati, died in 1938.[1] He is the stepson of Lt. Colonel Euan Rabagliati DFC, MC, Legion of Honour, British pilot in World War 1 and World War II MI6 officer.[9][10]
Bibliography
- Old Man on a Bike. HarperCollins. 2008. ISBN 978-1906321666.
- Old Men Can't Wait. Shuvvy Press. 2011. ISBN 978-0956430526.
- Arcadia Press reprint 2013 ISBN 978-1-910050-61-3
References
- ^ a b Simon Gandolfi, "Biography", Official website, retrieved 2015-06-30
- ^ "Biker banter with Simon Gandolfi", Times Now, Times of India, 2013
- ^ a b "The Easy Rider", The Hindu, August 5, 2013
- ^ Sandi Toksvig (November 29, 2008), "OLD MAN ON A BIKE – THE SNOW TOURIST", Excess Baggage, BBC Radio 4
- ^ David Allsop (September 5, 2012), "Always look Honda bright side of life", Saga, Saga Group
- ^ "Author profile: Simon Gandolfi", The Guardian, retrieved 2015-06-29
- ^ Simon Gandolfi (June 7, 2013), "Octogenarian on a motorbike: first stop, India", The Guardian
- ^ Simon Gandolfi (October 11, 2013), "Backpackers' diaries: the ride towards Delhi and a cow-bike calamity", The Guardian
- ^ "Lt.-Col. Cuthbert Euan Charles Rabagliati", thepeerage.com, retrieved 2015-06-30
- ^ Victor Laurentius (May 2, 2011), Secret Agents in Tuxedos – via Simon Gandolfi Official blog
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- Clover Stroud (November 30, 2008), "Ultraluxe Hotels and Old Man on a Bike: travel books", The Telegraph
- Simon Gandolfi (January 9, 2009), "Old man and the CC", The Guardian
- Simon Gandolfi (September 17, 2010), "Round India by motorbike", The Guardian
- Frédéric Jeorge (December 12, 2012), "Book review: 'Old Men Can't Wait' – by Simon Gandolfi", Overland
- "Book review: Old Man on a Bike", Overland, October 26, 2011, retrieved 2015-06-29