Simon Mottram

This special team will be joining me on the @m2l_ride this June. I’m a proud member of Club Cicli Artigianli, an informal group of cyclists based in the London area who restore, maintain and most importantly, ride vintage, artisan-built road racing bicycles. The AAA Snowball team members will be riding vintage Bianchi bicycles and supported on the ride by a 1979 Tour de France Bianchi team support vehicle and crew. You can sponsor them on the @ambitiousaboutautism website or through the link in my bio. #friendsfromtheroad

Delivered. The first M2L Collector’s Edition, built for Simon Mottram, is now complete and in his hands. Developed in close collaboration and based on the Durmitor platform, it was created for the Manchester to London ride and refined for the long road south. Finished in London, the specification includes:
• Custom M2L geometry
• Exclusive 3D-printed titanium seatpost
• Hand-painted ENVE In-Route fork, bar and stem
• Bespoke white M2L luggage system Just five M2L Collector’s Edition frames will be made. To enquire, contact [email protected] or follow the link in bio. A portion of every build supports @ambitiousaboutautism #quirkcycles #m2l #madeinlondon #durmitor #collectorseries

An interview idea sparkled during another interview and refined by a enriching conversation. In the new episode of the @broomwagonpodcast I interviewed Rob Quirk from @quirkcycles and @simonmottramrapha about developing a project with cycling culture in mind and I also went deep talking about that wonderful event that is the @m2l_ride in support of @ambitiousaboutautism . Thanks a lot Rob and Simon for your time, inspiring words, and milestone in my podcasting career. And thanks a lot @twotoneams for making things happen. The link to the full episode is in the bio, and one you listened to it, you will know what to do.

Today I completed the @engadinskimarathon with my daughter Connie. It was a very special but tough day out there and we couldn’t have done it without the support of @atomicnordic Back to cycling this week.

I’ve spent the past year working with @quirkcycles to develop what I believe is the perfect endurance bike, ideal for the Manchester to London ride. The design is based on my experience of riding M2L ten times and my passion for a modern classic look - never sacrificing style for speed. We’ve created a small collector’s edition based on my own bike - just five individually commissioned framesets, handmade in London from Columbus Hyperion titanium and refined specifically for the long, fast miles of M2L. We started with Quirk’s Durmitor platform and developed custom geometry to balance speed, stability and comfort over 350 kilometres. We also designed a 3D-printed titanium seatpost exclusively for this edition, providing the compliance needed to reduce fatigue across a full day in the saddle. Each frameset includes:
• Hand-painted ENVE In-Route fork, bar and stem by @rideenve 
• Bespoke white M2L top tube and frame bags by @tailfincycling 
• Signature Manchester to London and @rapha detailing Comfort was my priority, but never at the expense of ride quality or weight. This is the bike I want to ride M2L - fast, reliable, and built to last a lifetime. We’re producing only five framesets, each individually commissioned and numbered. £875 from each will support @ambitiousaboutautism . Orders are now open via the link in my bio. #m2l_ride #ridingistheanswer

When you visit your old office for a meeting on your birthday and get this welcome… Thanks to everyone @rapha and especially @franmillar Class. #friendsfromtheroad

Some challenges last for a single day. Others last a lifetime. The Ambitious about Autism Manchester to London ride – which takes place this year on June 28 – brings the two together. On paper, it's brutally simple: 350 kilometres, 220 miles, ridden in a single day from the centre of Manchester to London. In real life, it’s much more profound: this is a unique test of physical and mental endurance, resilience and shared purpose, undertaken in support of autistic young people and their families who face challenges not just on one day, but every day for the rest of their lives. Rapha founder Simon Mottram has a deep personal connection with the Manchester to London ride. He conceived it in 2014 with the goal of raising money for Ambitious about Autism, a charity he knows intimately. His son, Oscar, has profound autism and has been helped by the charity’s specialist education and support services for over 20 years. “I wanted to raise money for them,” he says. “Cycling is a great vehicle for that and it’s something I’m involved in, so I thought, could I use my contacts to set up something, with the help of Rapha?” Read the full story via the link in our bio or on the Rouleur app 🔗📱 Sign up to ride this year's event at .uk/ ✍ - Simon Smythe 📸 - @joshzfmedia and @khoryzfmedia

Join me on the Manchester to London ride on June 28th and as well as raising money for autism you’ll receive one of these beautiful @rapha jerseys. Sign up link is in my bio. @m2l_ride #ridingistheanswer

The special 60th birthday @quirkcycles endurance bike is taking shape, including these custom bags from @tailfincycling Which one should I use for M2L this June? Or maybe both? #ridingistheanswer

Sneak peak of a very special new bike for my 60th birthday next year. The brief was ‘A classic endurance road bike, perfect for Manchester to London’. More pics to come when the bike is finished in January. #ridingistheanswer. #M2Lride @quirkcycles

Another year of riding around Regents Park with great friends. And another great Christmas breakfast. #friendsfromtheroad

Back off-road again for winter on this brilliant machine. #ridingistheanswer