North Country Man

by Pete Harrington November 2024

"It looked to me like it had been carved out of a block of marble!" laughs Gary, an up, not over-the-hill Sarto client and cyclist of 67 years of age. He's telling me about the first time he clapped eyes on the Lampo Plus that's currently idling in the back of his car, impatiently awaiting the off. First, though, there's the business of the coffee and croissants in front of us at La Trattoria in the charming market town of Helmsley in North Yorkshire and a chat about, well, lots of things, as it turns out.

"I think I was drawn to the fluting of the aerodynamic bits," Gary continues, unconsciously describing the arc of the Lampo's rear triangle with his cappuccino. I fear an imminent sloshing. "And the colours, of course. At the time, I didn't know anything about Sarto. I just knew I really liked that bike." To my relief, the cappuccino is brought back to earth, but Gary is still back at the window of Sarto dealer Northern Ride, reliving the start of a love affair that, three years later, saw him piloting his own custom Lampo Plus. "After that first look, I kept an eye on the brand for a bit and then realised it was really now or never, so I went for it", he concludes in his warm Geordie brogue.

What I find out later is that 'now or never' followed a near-death experience that reframed many aspects of his life. It's also why Gary has a tattoo on his leg that reads, 'Life is what you make it'. Although Gary's tattoo is in Italian, which gives it a certain grace its English equivalent could never hope to muster.

There's a sense of acceptance in Gary's voice when he talks about what happened. He doesn't dwell on the incident and doesn't want to go into details - he's too full of forward motion for that. But it obviously informs his life, perhaps in ways he is still coming to terms with. If only we could all see so clearly.

As you might gather from his age and energy, Gary is happily retired. "I left the police force several years ago, and after a few more years as a company director of my own training business, finished doing any sort of work last year," he says. "When you've worked since you were sixteen, that's enough years! And that's when I got my Sarto. It felt like the right time."

This neatly brings us to the topic of Gary's age, which I rudely ask him about. "I know this might seem trite, but I think I'm fitter now than when I was in my forties," he says. "I'm doing so much riding these days. And ok, sometimes it takes me longer to recover from a long ride, and of course, I'm not as fast as I used to be, but you know, I get a lot of enjoyment out of riding. And I'm at the age where I don't have anything to prove to anyone." But there's a glint in his eye as he says that, and for a moment, I see the inspired police officer doggedly trailing a master villain. Or, as it turns out, the next rider on the road. "Even at my age, you can't resist trying to catch the cyclist ahead!"

From the figure in the distance to looking down the climb, I ask Gary about his experience at Northern Ride. "Oh, they were just exceptional," he says. "Exceptional. I got a bike fit, and to be honest, it made the other bike fits I'd had in the past seem pretty poor by comparison. They were so detailed, which is borne out by how amazingly comfortable the Lampo is to ride, even after a full day on the bike." No mid-ride neck or arm stretch needed? No butt shuffle at the traffic lights? "Not even that. You just automatically go into the correct riding position, arms slightly bent and all that. I've never felt so comfortable on a bike and so confident at the same time. And I don't need to mention how fast the thing is!"

Eight months after ordering, a length of time Gary admits he may have inadvertently extended by going back and forth on the paint finish a few times before settling on a gorgeous gold and black, he had his bike. "What a day that was," he exhales. Suddenly, Gary whips down the zip of his jersey and shows me what should be a collarbone. That doesn't look stock. "No, it is not," he exclaims. "That came courtesy of a van that left me in the middle of the road. And the worst thing was that it left me a bit lop-sided on the bike after it healed. But the funny thing is that Northern Ride must have factored that in with my bike fit because I didn't notice it on the Lampo. Amazing."

Gary's usual routes traverse the undulating and mostly undiscovered roads of County Durham. But today, he drove south to Helmsley, another hidden cycling jewel usually the preserve of the tourist crowd. It's a glorious little town full of fine shops, broad stone walls, chattering brooks and neat little bridges. As a base for exploring the dramatic North Yorkshire Moors to the north, it can't be beaten. And if you feel the need for sea air, the coast is only a short ride away - perfect for a fish and chip pick-me-up before heading home.