Neil Cottam

Mechanical Engineer, Mountainbiker, Outdoorist, and Traveller with a penchant for the offbeat or unusual. Blogger, Tree Hugger, Bookworm, Earthling. Impulsive, passionate, and possibly a little bit reckless… Favours the underdog.

I enjoy racing but I’m not a racer (Particularly stage races and ultra-endurance). I like the dynamic that racing brings to an adventure and I enjoy the impetus it gives me to push myself harder than I might.

I’m also a Trail Runner, Snowboarder, Mountainboarder, bad Climber (semi-retired due to injury), Slackliner, and Carp Angler.

I hold a PADI Open Water certification and I am a long serving member of the prestigious British Carp Study Group.

The earliest and most important influences that shaped my future-self included Biggles, Evel Kneivel, Asterix the Gaul, and The Wombles. Current custodian of a small woodland and I’m particularly fond of Yorkshire tea, good coffee, and beer. Favourite Alpkit stuff: Faro Shorts, anything Kepler, Velocity and Momentum socks. Atom. The Sonder Signal Ti.

The Number Crunch.

• Countries visited: 35
• Yak Attack, Rumble in the Jungle, and Strathpuffer (solo) finisher – multiple times. (MTB)
• Circumnavigated Sri Lanka on a local singlespeed bicycle.
• Circumnavigated Eastern Nepal (Kanchenjunga) and Western Nepal (Rara Lake) – Bikepacking.
• Ultra Tour of the Peak District 60 mile Ultra Marathon.
• Everest Marathon - 5^th placed international.
• Crazy Golf World Championships – 67^th.
• English Amateur Freestyle Wrestling Champion – Twice.