Simon Gandolfi
# Simon Gandolfi

Simon Gandolfi (b. London, February 11th 1933) is an English writer and long-distance motorcycle rider. He has ridden over 110,000 kilometres (68,000 mi) on solo, unsupported rides in America and India including:

* 2007–2008, Mexico to Tierra del Fuego via Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina: 34,000 km (21,000 mi) on a 125 cc Honda
* April–December 2009, Tierra del Fuego to New York: 46,000 km (29,000 mi) on the same Honda
* November–June 2010 – 2011, India: 18,000 km (11,000 mi) on 125 cc Honda Stunner
* April–October 2013, India: 16,000 km (9,900 mi) TVS Motor Company TVS Phoenix 125

A 2010 tour of India was undertaken in defiance of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, of which he said "The attack infuriated me and I saw all the tourists cancelling and so I rode around India, and if a grand old man like me can ride around India at my age, it can't be that dangerous." The 2008 solo ride was undertaken when Gandolfi was 73, 2010 when he was 77, and the 2013 solo ride around his 80th birthday. The 2013 ride around India was published as a series of contributions to The Guardian's "Backpacking" travelogue section between June and October of that year. The column on his ride, which was planned to span India to England, ended when he suffered broken ribs and other injuries after being kicked off his bike by a heifer in the road.

Gandolfi's father, Ralph Vincent Gandolfi-Hornyold, Duca Gandolfi, Marchese di Melati, died in 1938. He is the stepson of Lt. Colonel Euan Rabagliati DFC, MC, Legion of Honour, British pilot in World War I, and World War II MI6 officer.

