Communications & IT - Andrew Carver

I joined PEMC in 2021, currently semi-retired and still occasionally engaged on business consulting projects . I usually manage to get out most Wednesdays and sometimes Thursdays for the SE and SW region turn-ups usually organised by Phil Harman, Andy Anderson or others in the Southern groups which manages to keep me somewhere in the top 10 of the Peter Ashdown Trophy league. I usually make a few shorter 4-5 day European trips each year with others who for whatever reason, are unable to get time out for the longer tours.

Like many in PEMC, I starting riding at 17 when we were allowed up to 250cc without a full license and had a variety of cash-limited bikes including Jawa CZ and Honda CB 175s. My early favourite was a Moto Guzzi 250 TS (which cost me just an old hi-fi system as a student swap. Not a bad deal!).

Then a break from biking with family, career and travelling taking priority until I was finally able to get a bike again in the late 90s, favouring BMWs and Triumphs. Probably the most enjoyable for was the flat-4 BMW K1200RS which pulled like a train. And also a Triumph 1050 ST Sprint with the wonderful triple. However, whilst the under-seat exhausts looked cool, they were real leg-roasters in summer!

I currently ride a BMW 1250 RT Sport, seldom burdened with panniers which ticks my boxes of comfort, performance, no chain to faff about with, and surprisingly good handling given its weight.

The PEMC riding events are excellent, but it’s also the social aspect of the PEMC that I really enjoy, meeting up each week with like-minded souls to put the world to rights! And with an early career in marketing & technology, I’ve volunteered to take on club communications including Lineswapper, digital media and developing/managing a new PEMC website.