TRAVEL agent Jeff Rhodes has been caught in the web of a Spyder - and is loving every minute of it.
During the past 23 years, Sheffield-born Jeff Rhodes has been all over the world as the owner of Small World Travel in Castlegate, Tickhill, Doncaster.
And in that time he has travelled by just about every type of transport imaginable.
But he confesses the most fun he has ever had is riding his new three-wheeled Can-Am Spyder roadster.
Like many teenagers during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Jeff, now 58, longed to have a Lambretta or a Vespa like his mates.
But as his dad was fearful he might do himself some damage on two wheels he taught him to drive a car instead and his ambition of taking to the open road was forgotten.
That was until last September when Jeff saw an article by TV chef James Martin on the Spyder roadster and straightaway he knew he just had to have one.
The road-going machine has two wheels at the front and one in the rear and is built by Bombardier Recreational Products in Quebec, Canada.
It has anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control systems. Its 990cc V twin engine powers the roadster - which looks like a cross between a motorcycle and a convertible sports car - at speeds up to 110mph.
Jeff, who lives in Blaxton, near Doncaster, said: "There are only three Can-Am Spyder roadster dealers in the country and the nearest one is in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Last September I arranged to go and have a look at a Spyder and after a safety induction course I had a test-drive.
"The machine, that can be driven on a car licence, was even more impressive than I had anticipated and I ordered one there and then. I took delivery in October and have ridden it regularly ever since."
Jeff so loves his silver and black coloured Spyder he is demonstrating the machine himself because there is no dealer in the North of England.
So far he has demonstrated it to members at Doncaster Golf Club, some of whom are Harley Davidson riders.
He has also been along to the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster to demonstrate the machine. He is so passionate about his Spyder that he has planned further demonstrations in the New Year.
Jeff added: "The Spyder really does look great particularly as I have had the Small World Travel and US Air Tours logos painted on it. It is everything that I expected it to be a more and I love it.
"There is no other road going machine like it and all the time that I am riding it I do not seem to be able to take the smile from my face.
"I have even designed my own www.spyderryder.co.uk website. I hope that Spyder owners will form a group and that we can meet regularly for social events and planned rides of both short and medium duration."
And as owner of his own travel agency if Jeff and any fellow riders decides they want to undertake an extensive road trip on their Can-Am Spyder machines he is in a perfect position to organise it for them.
What do you think? Add your comment below.READ MOREMain news indexYour lettersFeaturesSouth Yorkshire's environmental newsKids ZoneMore business newsMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsLatest sport.The full article contains 589 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
