Founder Story

I’m Chris…

… and I believe that cycling is the best way to see the world. 

Within a few months of getting my first road bike we were in Mallorca riding up mountains.

We had no clue what we were doing, but it has always been about adventure.

A man wearing a black cycling outfit, white helmet, and sunglasses standing next to his bicycle outdoors, smiling with hands on hips, in front of a shrubbery and a house with a sloped roof.

  • I’ve dipped in and out of racing but discovered a particular love for ultra-distance events like Paris Brest Paris (1200km) among many others. 

    My biggest achievement has to be the Three Peaks by Bike challenge I did in under 48 hours. It was the first time I had raised money for charity and it was an incredible experience all round.

    Home is in Derbyshire, UK and I’m lucky to have the Peak District National Park on our doorstep so plenty of climbing to go at.

  • In 2021 I was hit by a car, and sustained multiple broken bones including my back, and a brain injury.

    A collarbone break three months after and further complications in recovery had me off the bike for a year.

    It was a long road to recovery, but it didn’t stop me cycling…

  • It gave me the wake up call to pursue something I was passionate about, so in 2024 I joined Travel Counsellors because I have a genuine love for travel.

    I developed a good foundation in all things travel, and began booking better cycling holidays for my clients.

  • I started Altus Collective, which is powered by Travel Counsellors, to take things to the next level.

    We are a collective of cyclists, travel experts and performance driven individuals who come together to create lasting memories and unforgettable experiences.

  • Through cycling I developed a love not just of travel but photography as well.

    Telling stories, captuing the feeling of the ride became more and more of interest to me.

    I shoot Fujifilm, I love the the colours you can get straight out of the camera and I’ve been honing my post-production skills over the last few years.

    All of the photos across the site are my own, usually taken whilst riding.

Cyclist riding on a dirt mountain trail with rocky terrain, forested mountain slopes, power lines, and a cable car in the background, under a foggy sky.
A cyclist riding a bike along a sidewalk in front of a stone wall and flowering bushes, wearing a black helmet and black clothing.
A person riding a bicycle on a road surrounded by trees with green leaves. The bicycle rider is wearing a helmet and sportswear.
A cyclist riding on a winding mountain road surrounded by trees and rocky terrain, with a forested mountain in the background.
A cyclist wearing a helmet, sunglasses, and athletic clothing riding a bike on a cobblestone path, with trees and foliage in the background.
A man riding a bicycle along a dirt path next to a plowed field, with trees in the background on a sunny day.
A cyclist wearing a black helmet and yellow and black clothing rides a bicycle on a scenic mountain trail. The background features mountain ranges, green trees, a body of water, and a partly cloudy sky.
A cyclist wearing a helmet and black attire riding a mountain bike on a rural road with blue directional signs pointing to Oudenarde and Brakel, Belgium, against a backdrop of farmland and cloudy sky.
Cyclist wearing a black helmet and yellow sunglasses riding a mountain bike on a paved path in a rural area with trees and houses in the background.
A person wearing a bicycle helmet and black-and-white chevron patterned shirt is riding a bicycle on a city street. The street is lined with multistory buildings with various window styles, and parked cars are visible along the curb. The sky is clear
A person riding a mountain bike on a paved road with mountains and green hills in the background during daytime.
A cyclist wearing black athletic gear riding a black road bike on a cobblestone street with historic buildings and a church in the background. Banners and signs for a cycling event are visible.