The Persuader Iain Nicholls, !", Windham, Norfolk

The Recruit Dave Bickel, #$, AttleBorough, Norfolk The Strate y Start a club…

Dave Bickel

I’d left the army after 23 years and was suffering with PTSD,” says Dave. “I was dealing with depression and being overweight (20st-plus).”

Dave’s son played for a cricket team run by Iain, who takes up the story. “I suggested Dave join me on a ride. He wasn’t having any of it, thinking we were all Lycra-clad weirdos. He thought he’d be too self-conscious to ride in public.”

The crux for Dave was when Iain set up a club with him in mind. “I’ve belonged to loads of clubs and they can be a bit cliquey,” says Iain. “I wanted to do something that was entry level that Dave could come to.”

“My first proper long ride nearly killed me,” says Dave. “It was 38 miles but Iain convinced me that getting on that bike would be the best thing I ever did. Once I started riding I never looked back. I’m still a big guy but I’m accepted in a group and we ensure that no one gets left behind. I’m now hooked on a pastime that helps me cope with my condition.”