About Gary Smith – A Lifetime on Two Wheels

My name is Gary Smith and I have been riding motorcycles since I was sixteen years old. More than four decades later, motorcycles remain a central part of my life, having carried me across the United Kingdom, throughout Europe and into a number of non-EU and Eastern European countries. Over the years I have owned a remarkable variety of machines, from humble commuter bikes and trail bikes through to long-distance adventure motorcycles. Collectively they have taken me well beyond 400,000 miles, a figure that continues to rise with every journey. Tyclyd was created to document those experiences. It is not a commercial review site, nor is it driven by sponsorship deals or influencer culture. Instead, it is a personal record of motorcycle ownership, travel, photography and adventure accumulated over a lifetime on two wheels.

Jupiter’s Traveller

In October 2011 I became one of Ted Simon’s Jupiter’s Travellers. Ted Simon’s four-year journey around the world on a Triumph Tiger, documented in the book Jupiter’s Travels, inspired generations of riders and helped define the modern adventure motorcycling movement. Becoming a Jupiter’s Traveller remains one of the greatest honours of my motorcycling life. The site contains a number of articles relating to Ted Simon, Jupiter’s Travellers and the wider adventure riding community.

Writing, Photography and Media

My motorcycling experiences have led to opportunities beyond simply riding. My articles and photographs have appeared in publications including Overlander and BN Magazine. I have supplied photography for commercial publicity material used by BMW suppliers and associated businesses. I have also appeared as a presenter on Adventure Bike TV and have been interviewed for Under The Visor.

Speaking and Events

Motorcycling has provided opportunities to share experiences with other riders through public speaking and presentations. I have presented at the Adventure Bike Festival and appeared at motorcycle shows in London, discussing travel, adventure riding, motorcycle preparation and life on the road.

What You’ll Find on Tyclyd

This website brings together four decades of motorcycling experience, including:

  • Motorcycle ownership and history
  • Adventure travel and touring
  • Route planning and GPS navigation
  • Motorcycle preparation and maintenance
  • Photography from the UK and Europe
  • Jupiter’s Traveller and Ted Simon content
  • Reflections on life, travel and riding

Whether you’re researching a motorcycle from the past, planning your next adventure or simply enjoying stories from the road, I hope you’ll find something of interest here. After more than forty years of riding, I am still learning, still travelling and still looking forward to the next journey.