Gallanach Masters Cycling

You might think to yourself how does Mountain Biking coincide with mental health? Well in fact research shows MTB can leave a great positive impact on people's mental health.   In this week's episode, we have a guest with a very important role. Meet Paul MacFarlane, a Trail Therapy Mountain Bike Leader who is running this program in association with Scottish Cycling.  This program is unlike anything you have seen before as a treatment for mental health wellbeing. It has received recognition from California, Spain, South America and more for the unique way it offers treatments to those dealing with mental health issues.   It is a program based on the idea of combining nature and physical exercise. The project aims to take the patient away from a traditional ‘clinical' environment and provide them with self-management skills to improve their physical and mental well-being.  It is reported that 1 in 4 people will experience mental health issues in England. Everyone has their own journey with mental health and not all treatments work the same for each person. This is why it is crucial to have a project such as this that aims to get patients outdoors and heal through nature and exercise.   Listen in as Paul discusses how this project came to fruition, what it involves and how this program has positively impacted many people.  You can find full details about the new “Trail Therapy” on the DMBinS Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/watch/dmbins/ (https://www.facebook.com/watch/dmbins/)  Website: http://www.dmbins.com/ (www.DMBinS.com) 

Meet the dynamic duo John and Roi from New Zealand and good friends of Foggie.  They have an extraordinary tale of taking up cycling at the age of 67. Having never had much prior experience both were extremely nervous and never pictured themselves entering races and becoming Master Cyclists.  It didn't take long till Roi became a world record holder at the age of 70. Roi holds a world record for the age group 70-74 for cycling 36.581 in an hour. A fantastic achievement.  Listen to their story and get inspired to take up cycling. John and Roi will teach you that it is never too late to find your passion. When it comes to cycling age is just a number. They also speak about navigating the world of social cycling and building a community that shares the same passion and becoming accredited coaches. Don't miss out on their brilliant story of success. 

Have you got an old bike hiding away in a shed or a garage? Are you unsure what to do with it but don't have the heart to throw it away? Well, we've got a treat for you! In this episode, we learn how to repair an old bike and give it some much needed TLC without the costly expense of going to a bike shop.  Repairing an old bike does not have to be as intimidating as it sounds. There are many simples changes you can make that will get your old bike feeling brand new.   This week's episode also has a bit of a twist. Norman and Foggy are big fans of Danny MacAskill, professional street trails & Mountain bike rider from Scotland. Norman quizzes Foggy on all things Danny MacAskill.   Tune in to find out if Foggy is a true superfan and for the latest tips and tricks on bike maintenance to save yourself some bucks. 

As winter approaches the southern hemisphere, Foggy discusses how best to layer for the season ahead. While it does get colder New Zealand has beautiful crisp winter mornings.  This week it's all about injuries on the bike. Norman and Foggy share personal stories of injuries, some hilarious and some downright serious.   Sustaining injuries are a part of sports culture says Foggie and though it does make it somewhat dangerous it also makes it a very thrilling sport.   Listen in to this podcast episode to learn about the typical injuries a rider may face and how to recover from them. Particularly when you're older, how does it affect your body and your ability to recover.   Find out all and gain some insightful advice on recovering from injuries quickly on this week's episode.  

Trigger Warning: Mention of Suicide Cycling can be magical at times and just what you need to get your life in order.  One of the most rewarding aspects of running the Gallanach Masters Cycling podcast is hearing ordinary people's transformative stories of how they turned their lives around and got back on the saddle.   Meet Steve Johnson, at 62, who is aspiring to represent Britain at the Olympics. At a young age, Steve gave up his dream of becoming a professional cyclist to beer, women and fried food.    Fast forward to 2018, when Steve was classed as ‘obese' by the doctor, it sent a chill down his spine. He realised he had to make a change to survive. ‘Cycling changed my life' says Steve. Listen in to this week's podcast to hear his magnificent story of completely turning his life around.  

When you've set yourself an incredible task of cycling 874 miles, how do you keep the momentum going and not feel defeated by exhaustion?   This week we have a very exciting guest who has done just that. We are extremely excited to present cyclist Richard Thoday, who broke a 133-year-old World Record from Land's End to John O'Groats on a penny-farthing. The journey took him 4 days and 12 hours. In completing this challenge, Richard also raised £10,000 for Children In Need.   Join us as we deep dive into his fascinating adventure. You do not want to miss this episode!     

This week we have an exciting feature on the podcast. Norman and Foggy go up against time to see who can change inner tubes the quickest.    Tune in to find out who wins.    We also continue the theme of sharing from last week's episode. Norman and Foggy share personal tips and knowledge so you can help yourself maintain your own bike. Though it may seem intimidating, it can be as simple as following the ABC method.   Follow along as Foggy discusses what this involves.    

Finding the right saddle (or seat if you're from NZ) can be overwhelming. When there's a multitude of options it can be difficult to know what to look for. In this week's episode Norman shares his personal struggle with an uncomfortable saddle and Foggy breaks down all the factors that go into finding the right one. Foggy also lends his wisdom on avoiding sores and chaffing. The key is good hygiene. Tune in to this episode to find out more on how to find the best saddle for you. 

Did you know, nesting season in Australia and New Zealand signals danger to cyclists as dive-bombing magpies viciously protect their nests? Foggie tells us how some cyclists take preventative measures. In last weeks episode, Norman, inspired by Mark Beaumont's round the world challenge, committed to doing a 240mile (384km) ride in a day. Listen in as he and Foggie discuss the plan and how best to manage the enormous distance on the day.

This week, Norman and Foggie travel around the world in conversation about big days out on the bike. They share the adventures of GMC rider Mark Bartley as he recreates his covid cancelled ride from Lands End to John O' Groats in Derbyshire, England with the added challenge of harsh January weather. Norman describes his hardest ride, around and up Mt Teide in Tenerife while Foggie brings to life the painful last stretch of a long ride in New Zealand. So what does it take to finish a big ride? Foggie reveals all!

In our latest episode, Norman and Foggie hear from Alex Reeves, founder of Charlotte's Tandems. Charlotte's Tandems helps transform the lives of disabled people by giving them the joy of cycling. They lend out tandems and other bikes to disabled people around the UK so they feel the wind on their faces and the thrill of being on a bike. From one second hand bike they've now grown to over 150 tandems and many other bikes. Listen to their fabulous story here on the podcast. Plus, we review the launch of the new GCN+ cycling channel and talk about Penny Farthing world records. Definitely not one to miss! You can check out Charlotte's Tandems and offer to help out or borrow a bike at http://charlottestandems.co.uk/ (CharlottesTandems.co.uk) 

Continuing our theme of the joy of tandem cycling, Norman and Foggie hear from avid tandem rider, Richard Peploe. Richard and his wife seek out the toughest climbs around the mountains of Europe and almost always get to the top without stopping. It takes Mother Nature and an outrageous gradient to defeat them. Listen to Richard's entertaining stories of life on a tandem and discover how sometimes a tandem pair is less than the sum of its parts.

Our latest podcast is very special indeed. We interview round the world tandem cycling record holders Catherine Dixon and Rachael Marsden (Cat and Raz) about their amazing achievement. In 2019/20 they cycled a tandem 18,000 miles around the world in 263 days to beat the previous mens and women's record by 17 days. In the podcast, we hear about their incredible highs and lows, what kept them going and the late drama as the pandemic unfolded, threatening their world record bid. Find a comfortable seat, pour yourself a drink, sit back and prepare to be mesmerised by their fantastic journey. Thanks to Orbit Bikes and Stolen Goat clothing for their support to Cat and Raz and you can still donate to their chosen charities, MNDA and Oxfam, at www.tandemwow.com

In episode 12, hosts Norman Blissett and Chris Foggin hear from Suzanne Forup, Head of Development for Cycling UK in Scotland and share our awe of Danny MacAskill's latest video. Suzanne is one of the top 100 women in cycling in the UK and an active campaigner to get more women on their bikes. She shares some of her life in cycling and how we can encourage more women to cycle. Last year, she rode the Herring Road, a 29 mile (47km) trail over the Lammermuir Hills in South East Scotland, from Dunbar to Lauder. In the 18th and 19th century, fishwives from Dunbar walked and ran the trail in a day with 50lbs (20kgs) of herring on their backs. For comparison, It took Suzanne 11 hours ride and was her hardest day on a bike. If you haven't watched Danny MacAskill's latest video, The Slabs, make sure you check it out on You Tube. He rides down the Dubh Slabs on the Cuillin Mountains in Skye, Scotland. Utterly breathtaking. We share our awe in the podcast.

In our first podcast of 2021, we interview Simon Jones, CEO at Cyclopark (situated in Gravesend, England) and discover all about how this amazing cycling venue provides safe and fun cycling adventures for the whole community. In the second part, Foggie reminisces about his cycling business in the UK and shares his plans for future projects in New Zealand.

Listen to our last episode in 2020 where hosts Norman Blissett and Chris Foggin reflect on their personal cycling highs and lows of 2020 and share their favourite rides of the year. Merry Christmas to all our listeners and happy New Year to you and yours.

In this episode. we show how to make 2021 your best cycling year ever, discuss how cycling can transform your life and share lots of inspiring stories from our riders around the world. Featuring Norman Blissett from the UK and Chris Foggin from Otago, New Zealand.

Norman Blissett and Coach Foggie share their top 5 cycling Christmas presents. With unlimited money, space and time they dream big for Christmas morning. But will Santa oblige? SPOILER ALERT: Santa Cruz bikes and Danny MacAskill feature, a lot! They also share tips on how to love indoor cycling - an absolute must to maintain fitness when the weather makes it tough to cycle outside.

Listen to podcast #7 where we talk all things cycling for our global community of 50+yr old cyclists.  The theme for this week's episode is e-bikes. Find out more about the pros and cons and why they're the next big thing in cycling. We also share inspiring stories from our riders around the world, showcase great places to ride our bikes and present tips and insights to help you get fitter and more confident on the bike. Featuring Norman Blissett from the UK and Chris Foggin from Otago, New Zealand.

In Episode 6, Norman Blissett and Coach Foggie (Chris Foggin) share their six steps to get fitter and more confident on the bike. Foggie describes one of his favourite places to ride in New Zealand and we head to South Africa to choose our rider of the week.

In this special episode our host, Norman Blissett, talks to Stewart Nixon from Scotland, Pete Wilson from Canada and John Maton about their struggles with mental health and how cycling has helped them cope. Stewart shares his work experiences of using cycling as part of the recovery process for homeless people with mental health and associated challenges. We look at the science which shows that cycling can have big positive impact on mental wellbeing and discuss what we can all do to get more people into cycling.

We welcome back Coach Chris "Foggie" Foggin from Otago, New Zealand to share inspiring stories from our riders around the world, showcase great places to ride and give tips to become fitter and more confident cyclists. We chat about our adventures on the bike and how people just getting started riding can overcome their initial anxieties. Special guest Nelia Smit from Pretoria, South Africa highlights her favourite place to ride in her home country and we nominate our Rider of the Week who is managing to keep the training going in locked down Ireland. Enjoy!

Listen to our third podcast where we share inspiring stories from our riders around the world, showcase great places to ride and give tips to be fitter and more confident cyclists. In this episode, we travel to Fort Collins, Colorado in the USA to meet Russ Cole. Russ describes his life in cycling in this incredible part of the world, from the flat plains to the high Rocky Mountains. He shares his experience of riding in the high mountains including the road to the top of Mount Evans which tops out at 14,264ft (4348m) - not bad for a 62year old! We'll be heading over there to follow his example just as soon as we can. We nominate our rider of the week and give tips on how to stay upright on your bike when riding muddy trails.

Norman Blissett from the UK and Chris "Foggie" Foggin from New Zealand share inspiring stories from our 50+ year old riders around the world, showcase great places to ride and give tips and advice to get fitter and more confident on the bike. In this week's episode we focus on how to stay motivated to get out on your bike and share some tips to stay safe on the roads. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, share with your friends and leave us a review. Find out more at https://www.gallanach.com/GMC Thanks

Listen to our very first podcast episode where we share inspiring stories from our 50+ year old riders around the world, showcase great places to ride and give tips and advice to get fitter and more confident on the bike. Your host is Norman Blissett. This week he's joined by Nelia Smit from South Africa, Stewart Nixon from Scotland and Chris 'Foggie' Foggin from New Zealand.