Life goes on

Life goes on.

This picture was taken on May 2nd 2011. I was leaving to cycle over 4000 miles around the UK coast to raise awareness of mental health issues and to try to combat the stigma that still seems attached to all mental health problems. Since then things have changed beyond recognition. People are talking  to one another, exchanging their experiences in a way that I never dreamed of back in 2009 when I began my Riding2Recovery process.

To me now, it all seems such a long time ago. My life has improved beyond all imagination. I am working part-time and have recently become engaged to a wonderful woman. The work I am doing is the best work I have ever undertaken: I teach young children to cycle.

Most of my time is spent teaching these youngsters how to ride correctly on the roads around Devon, whether they are tiny lanes or the streets in towns and cities. It seemed to me to be the best possible way that I could help the widest audience of people to manage their own mental health, by giving them access to something that seems to help people relax and let go of  the stresses and strains of life. In short, to be mindful.

As a Bikeasbility instructor, you wont earn a great deal of money. You are self-employed for a start and that can bring its own worries with it if you are not careful. That said, you are then privileged  to be able to work with tiny people and see their faces when they first ride a bicycle. Or adults who missed out and now lack confidence in their own ability to ride. You get to work with young people, many of which don't even walk to school. When you ask what they think Bikeability is about they almost always talk about safety first, or the possibility of dying. How sad is that? Did you ever think about dying when you were young? No, me neither (until I got ill and that doesn't count).

Many of these young minds have already been poisoned into believing that riding a bicycle on the road will lead to imminent death, when the fact is that cycling is much more likely to prolong your life than to shorten it. We have to combat that negativity every step o the way, from making sure young people can cross roads safely to much more advanced riding on multi-lane roads, round-abouts and suchlike, in most cases by the end of year seven (11-12 years old). We also need to tackle parental attitudes that don't help, like driving short distances to drop children at schools, clogging p the roads around the area, instead of riding or walking to school and campaigning for better cycle/walking infrastructure along with public transport.

There are just two hours spent off road to teach and revisit Bikeability level 1. After that, it's out on the roads (quiet ones) to learn all about how to use them to your best advantage (and when not to). For many children this is real awakening, something they haven't really considered as possible. To ride a bike on the road is a huge undertaking and not one they have considered.

Unsurprisingly, once they have undertaken a few 'on-road' exercises they start to enjoy it. They ask questions like 'are we going for a ride,' and get all excited as they realise we will be riding to a location away from school to use the local infrastructure or road junctions. By the end of a level 2 course, most are ready to start exploring the roads, some with guidance from parents and carers and others independently.

By year seven, they can undertake a level 3 course, much more advanced riding on busier roads. Some are ready for that, other need to mature further first. And that's where we hit a problem. Secondary schools, with a few notable exceptions like West Exe in Exeter, don't play ball. They feel that time taken away from the classroom is detrimental to the childrens learning. But what about life skills, sustainable living, tackling obesity and getting children to see that time away from screens can be cool too?

These courses are free for the schools that sign up and in my humble opinion, all children should undertake all of the courses from Balancability to Bikeability level 3. Why? Because it potentially unlocks so much freedom, helps to create a healthier population, will increase demand for cycle infrastructure as more people feel they can cycle to school/work and make our streets a more pleasant and varied place once more by removing some of the power from those who drive everywhere.

I'm not suggesting for a minute that everybody should cycle around. Not everybody wants to. But everybody should have a chance to learn, shouldn't they? When I was young it was a right of passage to learn to ride a bike. I still remember the feelings of adventure as I set off as a seven year old with my sister and a bag of jam sandwiches to explore the area we were about to move to. Regardless of what screens and computers have given us, which is a huge amount, being outside, using your physical ability and resting your mind will perhaps have a greater and greater place in our lives as we rely on intellect more and more in our workplaces.

Cycling for health has perhaps never been more important as we face a world that simply can not cope with our demands to buy, consume and throw away goods at will. We have to change and we have to do that now. Cycling, and teaching it, is the small contribution that Bikeability instructors are making. No matter what you believe about cycling, better infrastructure will take more people away from cars, unclogging the roads a little, helping clear city pollution. It will help young people to be healthier and have longevity in their lives and along with that it will help reduce the burden on the NHS at a time when it is creaking under the strains put upon it by our lifestyles.

Cycle for health? Cycle for fun and the health comes free.

See you next time.

It's been many years and two websites since I last posted on this blog.  I've now cycled extensively around Britain and have taken my wheels to France. I've written three books and am ten years older. Most importantly, I'm no longer in a mental health crisis. A decade disappeared in that all consuming darkness. I fought and tried, battled and cried, struggled and almost got consumed before finally finding some release, peace and mindfulness. I feel as though I'm returning to my roots by writing here. Cycling for health is no longer an ambition to circumnavigate the coast of Britain. That is done. It's now a lifestyle. It isn't any longer a series of journeys to raise money for charity. It is me, and I am it. I am whole. Or at least as whole as I ever will be.

I am now working again, part-time, as a Bikeability Cycle Instructor. I'ts the best work I've ever done. I get to teach kids to cycle on the roads (adults too) and get paid for it. It beyond my wildest dreams that I have got this far from where I was in 2009 when I began this blog. I am simply unrecognisable from that person, although there can be no doubt that both of them are me.

Who was the one who pulled me through? It was every facet of me that did that.  The adventurous one created the challenges that helped me feel life was worthwhile again. I tried to take care of him and the little person, the frightened one who had no confidence, so they could both grow into something new. Like twins they argued and challenged one another. The adult not always understanding the fear of the little one and the little one wondering why nobody was listening to his point of view, unable to feel his pain.

Eventually they did both listen, to one-another and to the world outside that they were both so afraid of. A calm overcame them slowly, one piand a light switched on that guided them to where they are now, living side by side in one man, separate but conjoined parts of the same being.  And the sum of those parts is me: Graeme, a man I have grown to like and enjoy being, not one wracked in pain and inadequacy but a content and fulfilled man.

It feels as though the shackles have been thrown off. I am free as a bird. There is no cage now and I can truly fly. My mind and my life are much calmer. I cycle gently, without a thought of performance, distance or speed of travel. I simply pass over the ground, sometimes slowly and sometimes with a little more urgency. I have cycled to work at dawn and returned in the darkness. I have introduced new people to cycling and the joys of using a bike for transport and leisure.

That has to be the biggest joy in life: giving somebody a new life-skill, one that they will have for the rest of their lives. It helps me square my own consumption of planetary goods and wares, safe in the knowledge that another person may walk lighter than I have in their lives with their newly acquired cycling skill and ,I hope, a sense of adventure with the desire to explore. You can see the light come on when somebody rides a bike for the first time. That sense of freedom and speed felt for the first time in a young life. The smile that accompanies it says it all, at least for me. It seems to say: Wow, I never knew you could have this much fun on a bike.

Young and old are no different. Older people smile just as widely when they learn to cycle or gain confidence to use their bike daily. And I smile too, happy in the knowledge that I helped them to gain the skill or confidence to stride out alone and explore a new (to them) world.

So my journey continues apace. I have a wonderful partner and friend with whom I share everything. We walk, cycle, eat, laugh and generally goof around. We sometimes work together and even that is a pleasure as we make such a good team. There is never enough time for us to spend together  as we would like and separation feels unnatural.

Round Britain is moving to a new site

Hi there
Just a quick post to let you know that this blog is moving to my new site at the following address . this is purely and simply to allow me to set up a future website for my adventures:
http://graemewillgress.com

Merry Christmas to everybody

Merry christmas to all those reading this blog. It's certainly winter now, and the last month has seen, firstly, ice everywhere and this was followed by about 8 inches of snow which is still everywhere across West Devon where I live.
It's made cycling really interesting for those of us stupid enough to want to try and keep getting out in it. I borrowed some MTB tyres from a friend in order to keep riding, and it's been quite successful. You cant really do anything on ice, other than fall over!! and it's impossible to get anything delivered at the moment, so studded tyres are out completely. Barring a few incidents wher the bike and I have ended up pointing the wrong way ,or just up ended, it's been great fun in a smal boy sort of a way!!!!
The scenery is stunning and the lack of any cars make it real fun. I saw a tractor the other day, nothing new in that, but behind it was a bag of feed on a long string, with a small boy sat on top!! he had a grin the size of Cheshire and was obviously really enjoying it.
i also saw three Fallow Deer, grazing right next to the road. I think they were as suprised as I was as the stared for a long time before bouncing off into the scenery.
Clothing wise, I've taken to ski salopettes, the warm kind, a woolly hat and windproof gloves. it all works rather well with a fleece and jacket over the lot, unthough it doesnt look very cool! I cant get very far unless the road is solid snow. The bike fishtails around all over the place, making for a very strenuous aerobic workout. What fun though, falling off in snow is quite acceptable really and doesnt hurt. There's no point to it whatsoever, as walking is easier, but I had a big cheesy grin by the time I finished.
So, dont commit your bke to the shed for winter, get out and have a laugh. I hope the New Year brings you whatever you desire. It will certainly be an exciting one for me, and I cant wait.
Happy New Year to all of you.
Graeme www.justgiving.com/Graeme-Willgress

Graeme is literally 'On One'

Since I last posted, I've made the decision to change the frame/forks on the bike. The main reason for this was that I've always found the Cadenza a little too 'twitchy' for my relaxed style of riding, especially down fast hills.

I decided that if I was going to do this, I may as well go with my longer term plan to build up an Expedition bike that I could ride anywhere, on any road surface (tarmac or otherwise). This meant a Cro Mo steel frame and forks. You see, I've always been a mountain biker at heart, with tours through Picos de Europa and all over Western Scotlands tracks and trails. Although these were, literally, decades ago, it's what I really want to do in the future.

So, with this in mind, I started researching stuff on the www. I considered one of Thorns beautiful bespoke machines, but didnt agree entirely with the philosophy of 'we know best' (sorry Thorn, you may well be right). There seemed little choice over major things like whether to run discs or rim brakes. Also, their bikes are built to carry massive loads and I use a trailer. In a nutshell, I don't need that kind of bike. I can run lighter wheels as there is no real stress on them and enjoy a bike that always feels the same and not like a tank. In the event of my going offroad seriously, I will use an Extrawheel Trailer instead of my two-wheeled Carry Freedom City trailer.

I wanted to use cable operated (mechanical) discs as I like the power ( in the wet and dry), easy maintainence and see no reliabilty problems with them. For flying etc, the discs are easily removed, and taking a spare rotor and pads adds little to the load.

Research ,and the wonderful 'Adventure Cycling handbook' lead me to a Uk based MTB company called 'On One'. They were really keen to help, and offered a substantial discount on an 'Inbred' frameset. They also advised on the best frameset for the job in hand. This frameset has been used by many adventurers on a budget. Well built and thought out, and a very good price. Although the frames are now 'disc only', they still offer rack attachments and it is possible to fit mudguards with a little thought (and bodging!!)

Using the Inbred frame meant losing the 'Cane Creek' Thudbuster seatpost I was given. This was a toughy, as the Thudbuster works really well, is well engineered and costs lots!! After much thought, I decided to keep the Uk theme (Frameset, Trailer, chewy bars, Sleeping mat, bag and silk liner etc) and replace my B17 Brooks saddle with a Brooks Flyer (boingy saddle). The B17 can go on my small wheeler. It's the same saddle but sprung, to take the buzz out of our potholed roads. The B17 is incredibly comfortable for me, and the flyer has the same leather upper. It hasnt arrived yet, but I will post on how good this is (or not) once I've done a few miles on it.

I also chose the 'Slotted drop-out' frame as this allows for chain adjustment when running hub gears. The whole thing arrived quickly and a very excited Graeme dragged the lot out in the lounge ( I live alone) and project 'Eddie' was underway. It doesn't take that long to swap the gear from one bike to another, but I took my time, setting up the discs and running the cable for the hub gears where I felt it should go ( along the top tube). Prior to the frame arriving, I took the time to strip the hubs and regrease everything for the winter. No major problems arose. I had to replace the existing BB with a slighly wider one, but that was it. Everything aligned really well and fitted where it should!!

The frame is a 20", 'On-One' recomend an 18", which would be spot on for mountain biking. The frames have long top tubes and the 20 is perfect for my short fat hairy legs, with a long body type of shape! It also means I can set the bars level/ just above the saddle height, which I need for comfort. The picture shows this set up, although the stem will get replaced soon with a rebuilt Flexstem ( remember them?) and then, I will shorten the steerer tube. This way, I can play with it to my hearts content BEFORE chopping it down.

The handlebars you can see in the picture are Thorns own 'Comfort bars'. They are riser bars with a sweep backwards and were designed to put your wrists in the anatomically correct position whilst riding. I have used them for a month or so, and they are really comfy. As well as that, I don't feel the need for bar ends anymore giving more cockpit room for my broad hands.

I'd tried butterfly bars and quite liked them, but the piece your hand sits on to brake is very narrow, which is not too good on bumpy downhills, giving you less control!!!! They are great uphill and on smooth roads though. You may also notice the funny looking chain thingy that lurks around said chain. This is a simple push on/ pull off chain guard that goes around with the chain. Dahon cal this a Freedrive and when I first saw it I laughed and became very cynical!! I had to eat my words though because it actually works really well at keeping crap out of the chain, reducing maintainence and prolonging chain life. So, after a rocky start, it's now on the new bike along with the SPD's and Kinetix cranks you can see.

Finally, I fitted an old Madison rack from the depths of the shed. Even this was a pleasant suprise as fitting racks to disc braked bikes can be a pain. The disc on the 'Inbred' slotted frame is mounted in front of the seat stay between it and the chainstay, so a normal rack will fit, no bother. As I don't intend to carry big loads, this rack will do. It's somewhere to strap the closed cell sleep mat I have decided to take along ( with a very light 3/4 lenth self inflating mat for extra comfort).

And that, as they say, is that. The bike is still running the Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub, but I really want to change this. If I do, I will probably go the whole hog and put a Rohloff on it. The new Shimano 11 speed Alfine sounds good, and reasonably priced, but there's no way it will have the durability of the Rohloff and may prove to be a false economy. I hope I'm wrong, but I dont have great faith in Shimano making anything to really last, it isnt their market strategy as far as I can tell. That's all pie in the sky anyway, as I dont yet have the money to even contemplate this properly. The eight speed is incredibly smooth and range OK as I've shifted it all down by using a 23 tooth rear sprocket. I don't have high gears, but as I always say, it's touring ,so who cares? I can still do 20 mph, a figure I'll rarely exceed with full kit!!

If (when) I really go for it on a full expedition abroad, I may well replace the rack with a Thorn or Tubus offering for added security and peace of mind, just in case. I will also add a Chris King headset, as and when I can afford to. Another botlle holder will appear, although the trailer allows me to carry as much water/food as I'm ever likely to need (max load of 45KGS, 30 if I buy an Extrawheel for rough stuff).

I've riden the bike now, with the trailer, to do my weekkly shop. It's a twenty mile round trip and the bike was impeccable. I

very little flex in the frame and was supremely comfortable ( I still need to micro adjust all those things like bars and saddle to get them perfect) The bike was very stable, which is what I wanted and I could happily let go of the bars, even when the trailer was full of shopping, something I couldnt contemplate before. It does nothing drastic at all, it just goes along, which is exactly what I wanted.

5 months to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take a look at On-Ones web page at www.on-one.co.uk

Graeme Willgress is fundraising for Sustrans

Graeme Willgress is fundraising for Sustrans

Beautiful hand-made head badges for your bike.

Hello again, twice in one day!! Whatever next?

I'm having a sterling silver head badge made for my bike by a lady called Laura Crawford. She is on an extended bike tour with her partner and is a Writer and Jewellry maker. Take a look at her site at http://tangerinetreehouse.com/headbadges/index.html It's truly lovely stuff and covers that horrible cheap manufacturer badge with something you love. You can read about their adventures at ,The Path less Pedaled, blogspot.
You can design you own piece and Laura will make it for you. Brill'. All is explained on the blog.