Mike Sage
Assistant Director, Head Road Captain
Hello and welcome to the Mighty GWC.
I’m Mike Sage, the Chapter’s Head Road Captain and Assistant Director. I’ve been a Chapter member for 10 years and a Road Captain for 6 years, planning, leading and participating on a number of rideouts each year. I was previously the Chapter Safety Officer, a role I performed for nearly 4 years. As the HRC I will be following in the steps of Andy “Genghis” Kendall, our esteemed Director and Al Stokes before him. I fully acknowledge the fine job they did and hope to do them justice, I won’t be reinventing the wheel. (LoL) As HRC I will be coordinating the ride teams and their carefully planned monthly rideouts. I will also support Gary Lightwood, the Chapter’s new Safety Officer who is keen to advance the safe riding of all Chapter members.
I think I was born with the motorcycle gene, my grandfather was a signals despatch rider in the Gloucesters during WW1. My father was riding by the age of 15 in 1940. I was passenger in the sidecar by the time I was 2 and started riding my own Yamaha FS1E moped in 1973. I’ve been riding motorcycles ever since, graduating through various bikes both as personal transport and at work. For part of my 33 years as a Police Officer I served on the Road Traffic Department at Avon St in Bristol and at the Almondsbury motorway unit. I was qualified to advanced level on both cars and motorcycles, riding professionally for 8 years. Andy “Genghis” Kendall, a friend and colleague for many years, convinced me on retirement in 2009 to (1) follow his lead and buy a ”real motorbike”, a Harley and (2) join the GWC, two decisions I’ve never regretted.
I can also be your point of reference for the ride teams, provide advice on riding techniques and associated matters and a sounding board for complaints about Genghis! I would urge you to take time to read through the Group Riding Guidelines periodically to refresh your memory as to what the Chapter expects from its members when taking part in Chapter rides.
Enjoy your riding, ride safe and ride to arrive.