ABOUT
2009.
Cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway in a brand new Dodge Challenger with my brother from another mother Dan.
We where heading to the city of angels, where his sister and my sister from another mister had recently moved to pursue her acting career.
It was somewhere between Monterey and Big Sur that I planted a seed in my head… one day I will cycle this beautiful coastal highway.
2014.
Early September I bumped in to a friend who knew of my dream to cycle the PCH.
She handed me a flyer for an event called The California Coast Classic. A 525 mile cycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles in support of The Arthritis Foundation.
In that few seconds I knew that this was how I make my dream come true.
Reaching out to the organisers, I simply wondered if overseas entries were allowed.
The response went something like…
“Hey Gavin, great to hear from you and thank you for reaching out. We are just about to start the 2014 edition of the ride. When we wrap up, I shall reach out with more information but to help answer your query - we don’t get many overseas entries but we would absolutely love to have you join us in 2015.”
And with that, I signed up for my “once in a lifetime wanderlust California adventure.”
2015.
After a year of training and fundraising, I found myself in San Francisco at the event registration.
I walked in to the hotel lobby and made my way through reception and in to an events area. Surrounded by 300 fellow riders, their families, event staff and volunteers from all over the States.
The energy that greeted me was beyond magical. Right there and then, I knew in my heart that this was not going to just be a once in a lifetime thing for me.
It was the most incredible week I think I have had on this planet. The impact it had on me, the awareness gained of Arthritis. The friends that I made. The sights I saw. The life experience that I had was quite literally - priceless.
And the event raised over one million dollars!
2016.
To this day, I still don’t know how but I found myself back on the starting line for the 2016 edition of the event.
And for the second year on the bounce, I was living my California dream but with an even bigger purpose. Now I knew what The Arthritis Foundation was all about, its mission, those that it supported and the community of truly wonderful people that enveloped it.
It was at the end of this edition of the ride, when enjoying a further week or two out on the West Coast, I was made aware that a big sponsor was dropping out of the event.
For a number of years, this particular company had been responsible for all the creative assets that was required for such an event and I spied an opportunity to help the Foundation.
Once again I reached out to the team and put myself forward to support the ride with all creative assets should they need assistance…
And so began my journey with the California Arthitis Foundation Team.
2017.
It was late in to May and my city of Manchester experienced an horrific event.
I was putting the finishing touches to my rider jersey designs for the 2017 California Coast Classic and seeking final approval on lots of creative assets.
As a creative I had never really had a logo for myself but the symbol of Manchester is the Bee.
In the aftermath of this heartbreak, the city came together and showed enormous outpouring of support, solidarity and love.
The Bee symbol became the focal point of this togetherness and unity.
All the creative work that I had done in the lead up to the 2017 event was simply “from Manchester with love”.
Working closely with the team in Los Angeles, I asked if I could put a Manchester Bee on to the wrist area of the arm warmers that I had created, in support of my city.
The response I received to this day still brings a tear to my eyes. They wished for it to be featured on the rider jersey.
2026.
Fast forward nine years later and I am putting the finishing touches to my tenth event jersey and the 26th edition of this iconic ride.
I don’t even possess the vocabulary range to truly express just how important and wonderful this phenonemal event has been in my life. It combines two of my greatest passions in cycling and graphic design.
To have been asked back every year since 2017 to support it, has just seen this English dude be able to continue his “once in a lifetime wanderlust California adventure.”
My Roll of Honour…
2015 Rider
2016 Rider
2017* Volunteer (Rest Stop Manager)
2018* Rider
2019* Rider
2020* Rider (Covid - UK)
2021* Rider (Covid - UK)
2022* Rider
2023* Rider
2024* Rider
2025* Rider
2026* Planning to be on the start line
