“My motorcycle friends are a little pissed off these days because I spend so much time riding my bike,” Neil Bailey said.
He spent his whole life on two wheels. Mostly of the gas-powered variety, but over the past 13 years of his 63 years there have been more and more bikes.
Brit Bayly, who lives in the United States, is a true man of action who travels around on his motorcycle and bicycle, climbs mountains, explores continents and even starts his own charity.
He hasn’t exactly “never looked back” since he discovered cycling, as he’s still a motorcyclist, but as he said of pedal power: “I really, really, really think it’s Way forward. It’s a great community and you meet really cool people.”
While he’s done plenty of big bike rides in the United States and his native Devon, England, it’s his rides in Ukraine and most recently Peru that really stand out.
On a recent trip, he rode a mountain pass for nine hours that dwarfed anything in the Tour de France – and it turned out to be a bit more strenuous than he expected.
“I had no idea I would spend so much time climbing from 2,400 meters to 4,600 meters,” Bayly said. “There was a constant flow of mud and ash. Nine hours later it started as freezing rain and then turned to snow. I couldn’t take it anymore.”
The latest competition content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, delivered straight to your inbox!
He said that’s when he had to turn around. But he fully intends to return to the South American country and try again.
Bailey has a very special relationship with Peru, having explored it extensively on all forms of two-wheelers for over 45 years. It was during this early period of discovery that he met Father Giovanni Battaglini and learned about his work supporting homeless children across the country.
(Image credit: Neil Bailey)
A few years later, after Battaglini’s death, Pele founded Fountain International Promotion Together with Battaglini’s sister Maria, he continued his priestly work.
While Bailey is already an accomplished explorer, working with his charity will see him embark on a new adventure, which has seen him work on projects not only in Peru, but also in Kenya and South Africa, and most recently in Ukraine program, he said that cycling helped him truly feel the soul of the country and the impact of the ongoing war with Russia.
“I was driving through Ukraine,” he said, “but suddenly, riding a bike, every sound, every sight, every imperfection in the road… suddenly everything slows down and you start to observe life “
Bailey went on a big road bike ride with one of Ukraine’s recent national triathlon champions, exploring Kiev and its surrounding areas.
“We went through Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin, places that suffered a lot of damage in 2022. So a lot of it has been repaired now,” Bailey said.
“You would think this [any] The cycling team is out training, indeed. They’re still moving on with their lives and I think that’s hard for people to understand. “
But, he added, there was never room for complacency: “Threats can happen anywhere, at any time. Putin has captured markets in very small towns across Ukraine, so you never have the feeling of ‘I’m okay’.” . “
Bailey said the country’s highs were as low as its lows and the ravages of war were never far away.
“If you imagine life as a musical score, when you go to Ukraine you’re going to have higher highs and lower lows,” he said. “It’s so extreme. For example, when we went into the business district and we looked at these bombed-out buildings, and then we walked around the corner and we saw the children’s hospital and there were all these hair pieces representing the lives of the children who had been killed. Stuffed toys… you’re in the deep end.
“But before that,” he continued, “with the trees and the people coming, you’d smell someone’s perfume, or the smell of gasoline coming out of the back of a Russian car… I’ve never been more immersed in it than I am now In life in Ukraine.”
His work there included helping deliver Land Rovers and medical supplies to the country, building a children’s center and raising donations.
Between journalism, motorcycles and charity work, Bailey has a lot of work to do. But that doesn’t stop him from taking time to enjoy his time in the saddle.
In fact, he seems determined to make up for lost time after a late start in the sport.
“I never neglect my training,” he said. “I have to be ready for my next crazy idea.”
As you’ve probably gathered by now, Bailey is a man with a lot of ideas – admittedly, some of them pretty crazy.
Take the Tour of the Dragon, for example: “It’s in Bhutan, 168 miles with 15,000 feet of climbing. They say it’s the toughest one-day mountain bike race in the world.
“Because why not?” he joked. “An old guy with no experience… let’s go compete with that guy!”
But no matter what type of riding Bailey does, it’s clear he loves it. As he puts it: “I’m 63 years old and I broke almost every bone in my body in a motorcycle accident. I’m littered with bolts, pins and screws. But I’ve extended my life because of riding a bike. . It gives me a better chance because I’m healthier.”
In a world where “controllable factors” seem to be dwindling, that’s something to cherish, he notes: “I think one of the things I really like is that so much of our lives is out of our control— Waiting for a mission, waiting for a plane, waiting for someone to respond to an email, waiting in traffic, but when you take on the challenge on the bike, it’s all up to you.”
