Dr. Mike on a Bike: The reason he’s pedaling around the world – Inverse
Posted: October 7, 2019 at 9:43 am
Dr. Mike Nally is a doctor from Manchester, England who set off in February on an around-the-world bike ride and hes still on the journey.
In the process, hesraising fundsfor Mind UK and the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, raising awareness about the mental health struggles experienced by medical professionals. Sometimes he bikes along with other doctors and sometimes he bikes alone.
A version of this article first appeared as the Sunday Scaries newsletter. Sign up for free to receive it on Sundays.
I spoke with Nally as he rode along a rural stretch of road by Lake Superior that was, we spoke once he was able to wait out a sudden downpour. You can follow his journey here.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Hi Mike! Where are you en route to?
Were going to Wawa, Ontario, and we have about two weeks until we reach New York. Weve gone about 112 miles today. We got caught in a downpour, but were all dry now. We caught a tailwind and were flying along.
(Note: Nally made it to New York.)
Why are you doing this crazy ride?
There are many reasons. Personally, this is me achieving a dream. Ive been on what I call a conveyor belt since high school just going with studies, moving along, and never looking back. Ive been working as a doctor for two years and have come to a natural hiatus in my career because Im at a point where I need to choose my specialty. I came to the realization that if I didnt do this now, I would never.
This is a chance for me to realize a dream, but also to test my limits to put myself out there and see what my body can do. Working in medicine, theres a lot of pressure put upon you, and I found it difficult to cope with the emotional stress of the job.
There was this moment where a middle-aged gentleman came to where I was working at a family practice. He was very stressed at home, stressed in his family life, and had a breakdown that morning. At the time, I was 26 and found myself giving advice to this man with far more life experience that I have. I just thought that was wrong I needed to get out there and experience more of life and develop more as a person before I could properly advise my patients.
The relationship between doctors and mental health has also been something on my mind since Ive left university, so I also saw this as an opportunity to raise awareness about those issues and raise a bit of money, too.
Have you personally experienced any mental health struggles while working as a doctor?
I am lucky enough to have a really supportive group of family and friends around me, so during the times where Ive been low, Ive had them as a safety net. But many people dont have that, and this is my way of supporting my colleagues.
Being a doctor is something I have always wanted to become, but Ive become a bit disillusioned by the system and the support that is and isnt offered. Ive seen so many of my colleagues struggle, and had heard from friends who are doctors of stories of young doctors straight out of university taking their own lives.
The suicide rate amongst doctors is double that of the general population. My hope is that this ride not only raises awareness about that, but hopefully it helps doctors open up about their feelings and feel like they are in a position where they can share. Theres a lot of focus in medicine about professional development but not necessarily about personal development. I dont think we are properly prepared for the emotional stresses of the job.
Theres a huge stigma amongst the medical community against showing any kind of weakness. Obviously, feeling a certain way is not a weakness because competition is so intense I think people are afraid to reveal any chink in the amor. But happily, during this ride Ive received so many messages from doctors saying that they feel supported.
Have there been any moments over the past several months that have been particularly psychologically testing?
Oh yes. The hardest part of the cycle has been when I was in India. There was one day in particular: I was doing the ride in the middle of the summer, so it was 113 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 percent humidity. It was as hot as it can get. I was arriving at guest houses close to collapsing, just exhausted.
India is a fantastic country, but you cant ever switch off. Youve got cars and mopeds coming at you left, right, and center; people wanted to take selfies with me. In a lot of ways its fun, but when youre exhausted and there are constant distractions around you, it can be sensory overload. Ultimately, I ended up in a bike accident. I smashed into a taxi that was parked into the side of the road after being distracted by a lorry coming past me. My bike was completely destroyed. I hit my head on the car, but luckily I was okay.
To be honest with you, in that moment I was in tears. My bike was destroyed, there was cracks all through the frame. The whole family that was in the taxi was laughing at me; they just obviously didnt understand the significance of what just had happened. I felt like a school kid in a playground. I called my parents and I said, Mom, Dad, Im coming home. Its over.
But my dad said to me: Look, theres no problem with you coming home, but how are you going to get home? And I looked around and realized Im in northeast India, not close at all to any airport. So I put the phone down, the family in the taxi helped me re-bend my bike into a workable shape, and I was able to barely cycle to the next stop.
I thought that was the end of my dream, but then I received all these messages from people saying they wanted to help me get back out there on the road. I went to sleep and when I woke up, I found that friends, family, and strangers who had been following the journey on Instagram had rallied together to get me a new bike and raise $8,000.
I was so close to calling it. But it went from the worst part of the trip to a reaffirming life event where youre reminded that, wow, humankind can be the best.
Have you experienced other beautiful moments on the road?
Many, but one in particular was a stretch across the Australian Outback. For miles and miles, all you can see is bush and this flat straight road. It was the first time I have ever been completely alone to that extent. You dont have any phone signal; youre just alone with yourself and your thoughts. I dont want to say it was exactly a spiritual moment, but it was something quite like it.
It was just unbelievable landscape: A never-ending road with kangaroos bouncing alongside you and eagles flying above.
Have you noticed any changes in your mental state since you took in London?
Not to be cliche, but I had a lot of growing up to do. I left the United Kingdom with a more negative outlook on things, although Im not sure why that was. But as Ive travelled, Ive seen all these acts of kindness, and its filled me with emotions that can be overwhelming at times. You see someone waving at you, and you just want to give them a hug.
Im more positive now, pushed my limits and realized that my mind and body can go much further than I ever thought they could. The other really important thing has been learning how to be more aware of myself, physically and mentally, and this has come from spending eight to nine hours on the road cycling. Im much better at realizing when Im feeling stress or anxiety, and the ability to realize that those things are happening is a new, invaluable ability.
Whats next for you and what are you looking forward to when you get back?
So from New York, well fly to Portugal, and from there well cycle back up to London. The goal is to get there on October 26. Well have a bit of a celebration there and then Ill complete the last leg to Manchester.
Im looking forward to having a roast dinner, a good cup of tea, and a slice of cake. Thats my moms speciality, so Im sure there will be a cake waiting for me when I get home.
A version of this article first appeared as the Sunday Scaries newsletter. Sign up for free to receive it on Sundays.
The rest is here:
Dr. Mike on a Bike: The reason he's pedaling around the world - Inverse
- Meet Kanji Low, the Self-Development Mentor Transforming Entrepreneurs into Leaders of Industry. - Influencive - April 6th, 2021
- Tap into 16000 Free Courses on LinkedIn Learning - Duke Today - April 6th, 2021
- Global Personal Car Leasing Market 2021 Consumption Analysis and Business Development Strategy by Key Players & Region The Bisouv Network - The... - April 6th, 2021
- Fable Launches the Future of Book Clubs, with New Hosts The Mom Project, Pulitzer Prize finalist Elif Batuman, Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson, and More -... - April 6th, 2021
- Personal Care Packaging Market Comprehensive Analysis of the Development Factors in the Industry 2025| WestRock Company, Albea Group, Mondi plc, Crown... - April 6th, 2021
- Top 5 Female Life Coaches In The USA That Can Transform Your Life In 2021 - GlobeNewswire - April 6th, 2021
- Personal Amplification Devices Market 2021 Size, Share Industry Trends, Growth, Development Status, Future Plans Analysis by 2027| Key Companies... - April 6th, 2021
- Breaking Ice on Sacred Heart University's New Hockey Arena - Campus Rec Magazine - April 6th, 2021
- Anurag Gupta on Day 2 Operations, DevOps, and Automated Remediation - InfoQ.com - April 6th, 2021
- Not so 'Great Expectations': Pirates balancing development process and final result as Opening Day nears - TribLIVE - April 6th, 2021
- Schools need help to spot the 'lost Einsteins' - The Times - April 6th, 2021
- Tips to help you spend less, save more and feel better - The Money Pages - January 14th, 2021
- For Ved Mehta, the personal was a way to illuminate the universal - The Indian Express - January 14th, 2021
- Arcos Dorados' Gran Da Donated More Than USD 5 Million in 2020 to Support Several Social Organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean -... - January 14th, 2021
- WhatsApp faces legal challenge over privacy in its biggest market - TechCrunch - January 14th, 2021
- Growing debt burden set to severely impact... - The Caterer.com - January 14th, 2021
- Meridian International Holding and Thalias Hospitality Group form partnership - The Phnom Penh Post - January 14th, 2021
- X1, the smartest credit card ever made, raises $12 million - PRNewswire - January 14th, 2021
- Free RESET Live Virtual Event to Teach Viewers How to Gain Control of Their Money In 2021 - Business Wire - January 14th, 2021
- eXp Realty Expands in Canada, Opens in New Brunswick and Manitoba - GlobeNewswire - January 14th, 2021
- Looking forward to giving continued support to Caithness community groups - JohnOGroat Journal - January 14th, 2021
- Upcoming fundraisers planned to support The Place of Forsyth include shopping and magic - Forsyth County News Online - December 7th, 2020
- Personal View: Helping Ohioans find sustainable new careers - Crain's Cleveland Business - December 7th, 2020
- 7 Self-Improvement Books That Actually Work - Lifehacker Australia - December 7th, 2020
- How Kelvin Teos The Neuroscience of Daily Success can help you make change in your life for the better - Best in Australia - December 7th, 2020
- Mastering your new year's resolutions The Famuan - Famuan - December 7th, 2020
- The Queen's Gambit: Why The Orphanage Lied About Beth's Age - Screen Rant - December 7th, 2020
- Trump announces that Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19 - Business Insider - Business Insider - December 7th, 2020
- Falah Sheds Light on the Role of Mindset in Business - THISDAY Newspapers - December 7th, 2020
- Members Travel: Providing the Best Travel Experience Without Breaking the Bank - Press Release - Digital Journal - December 7th, 2020
- Learning to be brave a key lesson - Otago Daily Times - December 7th, 2020
- 7 strategies that helped me publish over 400 articles in 2 years - Business Insider - Business Insider - December 7th, 2020
- Curtis Jones: The Liverpool lad with swagger who is a cross between Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana and could - talkSPORT.com - December 7th, 2020
- For the first time, the Flexible Workforce Development Fund is available to all Scottish employers, including small and medium-sized enterprises. - FE... - December 7th, 2020
- The Top Ten Instagram Monetisation Coaches to Follow in 2021 - GlobeNewswire - December 7th, 2020
- The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2019/20 - GOV.UK - December 7th, 2020
- The Big Bang Theory: The Main Characters, Ranked WorstBest Character Arc - Screen Rant - December 7th, 2020
- European Antibacterial Personal Care Wipes Industry Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis - GlobeNewswire - December 7th, 2020
- Rising Stars of the Sport Industry Revealed - Sport Industry Group - December 7th, 2020
- Adviser salaries: When will we reach the top? - Money Marketing - December 7th, 2020
- 3 Elements to Transcend in Life and Leave a Mark - Entrepreneur - November 7th, 2020
- Upward Bound at SFU gets creative with recruitment, activities - TribDem.com - November 7th, 2020
- How the Auburn family develops heroes through chemical engineering - Study International News - November 7th, 2020
- Author Cathy Caswell Guides Readers on How to Thrive Using Logosynthesis - PRNewswire - November 7th, 2020
- Mintz: A time to refresh, renew and regenerate - Vail Daily News - November 7th, 2020
- Ashley Addiction Treatment Appoints Joint CEOs | The Bargaineer - Cecil Daily - November 7th, 2020
- Creating proactive communities: What is a proactive community? (Part II) - Indianapolis Recorder - November 7th, 2020
- 6 must-read books for startup leaders navigating the pandemic - Fast Company - November 7th, 2020
- Apply to Attend the 33rd Annual Southwest Black Student Leadership Conference - University of Arkansas Newswire - November 7th, 2020
- VIEWPOINT: Dismantle Internalized Capitalism - Georgetown University The Hoya - November 7th, 2020
- Meet the MBA Class of 2022: Bo Chan, MIT (Sloan) - Poets&Quants - November 7th, 2020
- French 'olim' help fill needed health-care gaps in northern Israel - JNS.org - November 7th, 2020
- CPD: The links between organisational and individual resilience within the workplace - Personnel Today - November 7th, 2020
- A systemic analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in Cyprus: Part I - An Overview - Cyprus -... - November 7th, 2020
- The Top 10 Performance Coaches To Be Following - GlobeNewswire - November 7th, 2020
- Q & A: Carrie-Ann Matheson on Salzburg Festival, Europe & Her New Position at the Merola Opera Program - OperaWire - November 7th, 2020
- How Philadelphia Business Owners Pivoted During The Pandemic - Patch.com - November 7th, 2020
- Louise O'Neill: 'Should I challenge myself, push myself further when I dont know where that road will take me?' - Irish Examiner - November 7th, 2020
- Personnel Today Awards 2020: Learning and Development Award shortlist - Personnel Today - November 7th, 2020
- A Mixture Of Experience, Baxckground In Rhinos 10s Team - goffrugbyreport.com - October 22nd, 2020
- COVID cant stop Chile Challenge, its just different this year - The Journal - October 22nd, 2020
- The One Tool That Can Change Behavior, Empower Employees, And Build Authentic Relationships - Forbes - October 22nd, 2020
- Dreams About Having a Baby or Being Pregnant: Interpretations - Healthline - October 22nd, 2020
- Collective Impact: U of T Engineering's world-class research inspires alumna Lauren Wu to stay involved - U of T Engineering News - October 22nd, 2020
- Global Soft Skills Management Market Growth, Demand And Threats Analysis 2020 By Regional Overview Of Leading Players, Types, Application and Forecast... - October 22nd, 2020
- LFC Foundation and Action for Children launch new mental health programme - Liverpool FC - October 22nd, 2020
- Exercise and Fitness: How They're Beneficial From a Dating Standpoint - Newswire - October 22nd, 2020
- Oi Place advertised as a store to offer connected products and services re:Jerusalem - re:Jerusalem - October 22nd, 2020
- x2VOL by intelliVOL Reports an Increase in Indirect Service, Social-Emotional Learning, and More Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic - Business Wire - October 22nd, 2020
- Where is our evolving HR function headed next? - ITProPortal - October 22nd, 2020
- 2020 Election: Deb Hays (R), candidate for New Hanover Board of Commissioners [Free read] - Port City Daily - October 22nd, 2020
- A Cloud Guru Expands C-Suite to Drive Next Phase of Growth - GlobeNewswire - October 22nd, 2020
- Impostor Syndrome Prevalence In Professional Women And How To Overcome It - Forbes - October 22nd, 2020
- 15 of the Best Places to Find Free E-Books - Clark.com - Clark Howard - October 22nd, 2020
- Trending Now: Halal Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Market Segmentation, Analysis by Recent Trends, Development & Growth by Regions| Martha... - October 22nd, 2020
- Red Bull need a driver who will push Verstappen in 2021 - Marko - RaceFans - October 22nd, 2020
- Why Intentional Learning Is The Number One Leadership Skill You Need, Right Now - Forbes - October 8th, 2020
- Gear Up Iowa Guides Students to Success - The Simpsonian - October 8th, 2020
- Study Ranks Central Park Among Top Relaxing Destinations in World - I Love the Upper West Side - October 8th, 2020
- Skillsets are on hand for the next generation - HeraldScotland - October 8th, 2020