Ray Webb
Tour Guide
There is no better view than the one through the visor of a motorcycle helmet.
I was twelve years old, clattering around Parkhurst Forest on the Isle of Wight, riding a Bantam 125 held together with coat hangers, nails, and some of the shoddiest welding known to engineering. It was love at first sight, and a lifetime of motorcycling began. Not the best introduction in hindsight—but I was on first-name terms with most of St Mary’s A&E department.
Fast forward many years, and I enjoyed a long second childhood bimbling around the world as a Bomb Disposal Clearance Diver in the Royal Navy. Then I became “almost” a grown-up, with a proper job—being home more, helping my wife bring up our daughter and son. I insisted that I would be a proper dad, so if they turned out as they did, it was because I was there, not because I wasn’t. They turned out fine.
Like so many, it was word of mouth that first brought Magellan to my attention. On my first tour, Billy Byfield led a group around the Harz Mountains. It was brilliant. Being with like-minded people with a common interest was so easy—by the end of the first evening meal, it felt like we’d known each other for years. Eight years later, and we still keep in touch.
The routes were fantastic. Having toured solo before, it’s easy to miss the best roads and sights, so having a well-planned route made everything so simple. It’s great having all the planning and booking done for you by experienced, knowledgeable fellow riders. Magellan know what guests want—and they deliver it.
Being a tour guide for Magellan is a privilege. I understand that for some guests, the tour is an important bucket-list moment; for others, it’s the start of a new era. For many returning guests, it’s about meeting new friends and recreating great times. For me, it’s about adding value to the tour for each guest—helping to create fantastic memories and ensuring everyone goes home with a trip they can look back on and smile about.
We will see things non-bikers wouldn’t believe: tight, winding hairpins on the slopes of Stelvio; rainbows sparkling in the valley next to the Grossglockner Pass. All those moments will remain—shared memories with the people who rode with us.
Time to ride.
Check out Ray's three favourite trips