A group of friends came together to embark on a self-supported cycling trip stretching the length of the nation in memory of their friend, Tim McKenna who lost his battle with mental health. They pedalled along sections of the Network while raising money for Sustrans. The routes along LEJOG brought the friends closer to memories they shared on their bikes with Tim.
This article contains topics which may be sensitive for some readers. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to a mental health professional or helpline.
"The National Cycle Network was a brilliant guide for almost our entire journey." Credit: Anna Hughes
A challenge both emotionally and physically
A 1,000-mile group ride from Land’s End to John o’Groats was set up by Anna Hughes to pay tribute to the life of her dear friend, Tim who adored cycling.
The friends covered around 50 miles a day over 20 days of pedalling along sections of the National Cycle Network.
For Anna, who has previously cycled 4,000 miles solo around the coast of the UK, she said the adventure brought her even closer to her memories of cycling with Tim. She said:
"The ride was an emotional as well as a physical challenge - with certain stretches bringing very vivid memories of our friend Tim.
"He loved touring in the UK, and especially loved Scotland, so it was very poignant to ride there in his memory.
"We went around the Cairngorms together in 2020, we spent a week cycling around Inverness. This trip followed the route we did together back then.
"The National Cycle Network was a brilliant guide for almost our entire journey, starting with Route 3 which miraculously found the flatter routes through Cornwall, all the way up through Route 4, 5, 6 and 7.
"The trip finished with Route 1 at the very northern tip of the UK mainland.
"Not all of the canal towpaths and disused railway lines were friendly to our heavily-loaded bikes, but we found a wonderful mixture of quiet routes both on and off the roads, and it was always nice to see the Network mileage posts marking our journey as it passed."
Friends, Anna and Tim met through a shared love of cycling. Credit: Anna Hughes
Keeping to the spirit of Tim's cycling adventures
Anna wanted to stay true to the essence of Tim's relaxed approach to cycling adventures in the way he loved to ride - "relaxed, self-supported, with plenty of great food and good beer." Anna explained:
"Tim was very much take all your kit with you, it doesn’t matter where you stop, see how you feel – and I wanted to keep to the spirit of that.
“Tim inspired people the length and breadth of the UK with his cycling journeys."
Tim, who came to be known by many people on social media who loved following his adventures, hadn't flown for a few years and wanted to help others see it was possible to have wonderful experiences without flying – as he did.
Tim first reached out to Anna around eight years ago when he cycled around the coast of Britain after reading her book about doing the same journey.
The pair then went on to use the Network's routes as part of their cycle touring adventures together.
The group covered around 50 miles a day over 20 days from Land's End to John o'Groats in memory of their friend, Tim. Credit: Anna Hughes
Raising money for causes close to Tim's heart
Tim, who Anna described as a wonderful man, had bipolar disorder and would regularly go out on his bike to help manage his mental health.
Tim was open about his mental health struggles - as part of an online blog about his mental health and cycling, he wrote: “I bought myself a cheap road bike and started to cover longer distances. Before long, the cycling became something I really looked forward to.
“It felt like an escape from my problems and my mind. When I was out on the bike I didn’t dwell on the past or worry about the future – everything was in the now.”
Credit: Anna Hughes
If you’ve been affected by any of the themes in this story, you can reach out to Samaritans’ 24/7 helpline on 116 123.
