Moultoneer - Gary Dawes
The latest in our regular series of profiles of riders of Pashley and Moulton bicycles.
Gary with his Moulton CONE.
Tell us a little about yourself
I'm originally from Darlington, but I've lived on South Tyneside for a good 2 decades now with my lovely family who are very special to me.
Although it's very built up here, there are some excellent cycling routes along the Tyne, the Wear and surrounding area. It can be very easy to forget that you're in the middle of a urban area. I was never sporty or outdoorsy as a kid, and cycling changed all that, much to the surprise of family. 4 decades later I love cycling probably more than I ever have.
What do you do for a living?
I've worked for an NHS trust in the North East, providing specialist IT technical support across a number of hospitals and other facilities for 32 years now. I've seen many changes in that time, both organisational and technical. There's always been new challenges to overcome and technologies to learn which has always kept the work fresh, and the NHS is a fantastic institution we should all be proud of, especially in recent times.
What are you passionate about?
I've always been passionate about cycling and technology. Fiddling about with a ZX81 after leaving school ended up becoming a career for which I'm very grateful.
Cycling has been another cornerstone of my life since just after leaving school, and as well as riding, I love maintaining and building bikes. My bikes rarely keep their factory spec for long.
I've become increasingly passionate about trying to enable and encourage everyday cycling with an environment where people feel it's safe enough to cycle for at least the last decade or so. When I started cycling, the clubs and people I rode with were kind, patient and encouraging with a young upstart. Since then I've always felt I should try and pass on as much of that kindness as I can. That included volunteering with the Darlington cycling festival for many years. I now volunteer with Sustrans, which is a wonderful experience and I've met some cracking friends through it. Pre-pandemic I led beginner rides locally to me for several years exploring the local area, as well as running bi-weekly Dr Bike sessions.
I'm also more than a little obsessed with Moultons as people who know me will testify.
What is your earliest memory of riding a bike?
I remember getting a second hand bike for Christmas one year and knocking about the local streets. Cycling never really clicked though until after I'd left school and started getting the bus to college. I soon realised that riding a bike was quicker, more convenient, and free! I then saw an advert for a cycling festival in Darlington. I went on a few rides and was hooked.
My first memory of riding a Moulton was at the CTC York rally sometime in the late 80s. I remember test riding one across the field and thinking wow! This is so much better than a conventional bike and that one day I would own one.
What was your first bike?
My first bike that I remember was a terrible East German Tensor I picked up second-hand, but that got me into cycling.
I then progressed via a Dawes Shadow to a British Eagle Touristique in 1988, which I still own and very occasionally ride.
My first Moulton was a 1965 F frame which had been fitted with drop bars, which I bought used in 1997. It was an absolute blast, being as quick as a normal road bike, but handled like a go cart. That was the gateway drug into Moultoneering for me. Sadly the frame succumbed to rust and fatigue after 5 fun years together. Not long afterwards, I bought an APB DualDrive 24.
How long have you been a cyclist?
Although I had a bike as a kid, cycling never really clicked until I'd left school in the early 80s and started getting the bus to college. I soon realised that riding a bike was quicker, more convenient, and free!
I then saw an advert for a cycling festival in Darlington in about 1984. That led to meeting lots of wonderful people in clubs and going on lots of tours across Britain and Europe. Nowadays my riding is more local and rarely more than 2 or 4 hours trundling around local routes. It doesn't make cycling less special to me though.
What bike are you riding?
These days the main bike I ride day to day is a bright red Moulton Cone which I got in mid-2021. The stars aligned after the rear triangle on my APB failed. The Cone was in stock, and the rarely open cycle2work scheme had a few days left. I absolutely love it.
If I'm not riding the Cone, then it's the orange TSR2, which after receiving a 5 speed hub for a few years, now has a Shimano 3 speed Nexus which makes it a lot more usable in the North East.
My rides usually involve a real mix of surfaces from smooth tarmac, hard packed rail trails, to park paths with natural speed bumps caused by roots. Moultons just take everything in their stride like nothing else does and the ride quality is amazing.
How many bikes do you own?
I have 3 Moulton space frames, an APB (with a broken rear triangle sadly), the TSR, and the Cone. I also have a couple of big wheelers tucked away including the Touristique.
What is your dream bike?
Singular? I'd love another F frame as the one I had was brilliant fun. I'd also absolutely love a classic Moulton AM. A new Series would also be nice. One day.
What appeals to you about cycling?
Once I started I've always loved cycling. That such a relatively simple and basic unpowered machine can really expand someone's capabilities and horizons is just incredible to me. You can walk maybe 3 or 4 miles in an hour, but cycle 4 to 5 times that. It's many other things as well. You become immersed in the journey, unlike a motor vehicle, so the sounds, sights and smells are all real.
A bicycle is a scenery upgrade vehicle, and there is no greater feeling than being on a bike when there's no one else around and all you can hear is the hum of the tyres and of nature around you. It's a magic carpet.
One important thing I finally learnt during the pandemic is how much even a short ride really improves my mindfulness and mood. When I cycled to work I knew I was more relaxed after I'd cycled home. It's so important to me now for that. If cycling was a pill, doctors would be prescribing it. It really is a miracle cure for many things wrong with modern society
What do you dislike about cycling?
No one likes bad drivers and bad weather do they?
I also really don't like people who try to put barriers in the way of people cycling. It's such a benign activity that has so many benefits and makes the users healthier and happier.
I dislike that we have to fight and demonstrate like hell for every last metre of safe space to do something as benign and positive as cycling. And that it's massively begrudged and resented by so many. It should be a basic right to be able to choose non-polluting transport that makes the user healthier, and to be able to get from A to B without being endangered, bullied or even just muddy.
How often do you ride your bike, and for what purpose?
I usually ride several times a week if I get the chance. Post pandemic, I now work from home, so I try to do a fake commute before work as riding to the office is the only thing I miss. I find that an hour or so on the bike wakes the mind and body up better than anything else.
If I get an excuse to ride the bike, then I'll take it. Nipping to the local shops, or delivering cards for family birthdays etc. A bike turns any trip into a mini adventure for me.
What’s your favourite cycle route or destination?
There's been so many great rides over the years that it's hard to choose to be honest. Although I served my cycling apprenticeship on the roads of the Yorkshire Dales and that would be my go-to destination. Especially after seeing the Tour de France pedal over those same roads which was something I could never have dreamt of.
These days an early morning run whilst it's still very quiet along the NCN paths either side of the Tyne is a joy though, as is a ride along the coast between the Tyne and the Wear.