Meet the man cycling 100km a day for mental health

It’s been five years since Joel McAllister, 28, left university for his home in Norwich after struggling with his mental wellbeing.

Now, he’s more than two-thirds of the way through a huge charity bike ride – and he’s feeling better than ever.

In January this year, Joel, a mechanical engineer, decided to embark on an intense, year-long fitness challenge in order to raise money for mental health charity CALM.

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

By the end of the 365 days, Wymondham-based Joel is aiming to have cycled 36,500 kilometres on his Isen Workshop bike – or 100 kilometres a day.

‘I really struggled with my mental health at university and ended up leaving and moving back home,’ he tells Metro.co.uk. ‘Since then, I’ve just always had my bike.

‘I used to use my bike for commuting or to cross-train for rowing, which was my main sport at the time. 

‘But I really wanted to do something bigger.’

After ‘giving up’ on university, Joel felt as though he wasn’t achieving anything, despite finding a job that he enjoys. 

So, he set himself the challenge, which sees him riding his bike – or an indoor turbo bike – for around three to four hours a day, on average. 

’The challenge represents how people who are struggling with mental health problems are doing so all day every day,’ he says. ‘It shows that people are suffering all day.’

He also wants to encourage people who are feeling down to find something they enjoy doing and just going for it. 

‘One thing I want to push with the challenge is that if people are feeling rubbish, or not sure what to do, they can just go and do some exercise,’ he says.

‘Granted I’m doing a lot, and it’s something I’m used to, but it could even be a short walk.

‘It’s all relative to what people can do and what they’ve got time for – it doesn’t even have to be exercise-related.’

He adds that while training five days per week is something he’s used to, he has still found getting on his bike every morning a challenge.

However, more than 260 days into it, he’s much less reliant on motivation than he is routine.

‘I’ve been doing since January 23 so it’s become weirdly kind of routine,’ he tells us.

‘I wake up at 5:45 am, jump on the bike to work and then work from eight until five and, once I finish work, I ride home.

‘Then I’ll either finish my distance outside or inside in the Turbo bike. 

‘I don’t finish my day until around 8:45 pm and then I have to do it again the next day.’

But it doesn’t really phase him. In fact, one of Joel’s happy places is on his bike.

‘Everyone who knows me knows I’m happiest when I’m on my bike,’ he says. ‘It gives me a lot of clarity.’

Joel’s fundraiser is currently at just under 70%, with £3,497 of the £5,000 target raised.

Joel adds: ‘It feels like the best thing I’ve ever done because I’m giving back.

‘I’m raising money…and quite a few people who I know have reached out to me to talk about what they’re going through and how they’re feeling.

‘It’s been five years since I moved home from university, and I was in the darkest place and I never spoke to anyone about it.

‘Now I’m at a point where I can try to open up and give back.

‘Cycling 100 kilometres a day for 365 days is a big achievement, but encouraging people to talk about their own feelings and mental health struggles is a bigger achievement.’ 

You can follow the rest of Joel’s journey on his Instagram account.

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