So, here we go. I’ve been sitting on this for a while and it’s time to send it out there.
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An Everest is really simple in theory - you climb one hill, in one ride, without sleep until you reach the height of Mount Everest (8848 metres.) That’s 6.6 ascents of Ben Nevis for anyone that’s given that a go. In 2024, I am going to attempt 12 of them. That’s a lot of climbing and it is going to be the challenge of my life so far.
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I toured the world for ten years in a band and whilst they were some of my best times, they also played part in some of my worst mental and physical health imaginable. 15 months ago I was very close to this being a very different story and I think about how low and unwell I was at that point very often and it has become a fuel for me to keep evolving and pushing myself forward.
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Scott Hutchison and Frightened Rabbit made a massive impact on my life and like many, Scott’s untimely passing hit me very hard. Tiny Changes was a charity set up in his memory and it works on helping young people in Scotland with their mental health.
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Since becoming a high school teacher I see daily the massive needs for more mental health support in our young people, they are our future, and they are being failed. Tiny Changes are a small charity with massive ambition and are already making incredible changes as they continue to flourish.
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There is some more info in my bio about this if you’d like to support, help or share.
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Over the next wee while I’m going to share some massive news, partners and interviews so if you fancy coming along for the ride, it would be massively appreciated.
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Cycling saved my life and if I can use it to help change things for one person struggling, then I will not stop until I do that.
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Make Tiny Changes.
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Mark x
My beautiful friend @seth_tinsley_ made a short film about Everest Three. He even wrote the music for it, what an insane talent. You can watch the full thing if you like, the link is in my bio. What an amazing journey this is turning out to be. Quality.
Rubbish few weeks but hopefully all is well that ends well.
Picked my new steed up yesterday and fuck me, what a whip.
2026 Cervélo S5
54/40 chainrings
11/34 cassette
Prologo Scratch M5 saddle
Zane 55mm deep wheels
Silca waxed chain
7.4kg with pedals and mount
Thanks to the fellas at @bilslandcycles for being so accommodating and understanding and for helping me piece together this rocket ship.
If it’s good enough for @woutvanaert to ride to victory at Roubaix, it’s good enough for me 😅
Direct Line insurance have been incredible to deal with from the moment I had the accident until getting this rolling, would recommend.
I feel so lucky to get to call a bike like this mine. Let’s go!
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Recovery.
It’s been a very weird few weeks. My brain is sore but my heart is full. Thank you for all of the lovely messages and offers of help. It’s meant the world.
It’s been a one step forward two steps back kind of thing, it’s just going to take some time. I’ve been struggling to remember some things and that is not cool but it is getting better.
I’m receiving some help from our beautiful @nhsggc with tackling how the crash made me feel. It all got a bit existential and that was a new emotion for me and an incredibly powerful one. Life is precious but it is also for full sending.
Managed a short ride on the doctor’s orders and it was pretty fucking scary but so glad to have pushed the pedals again. Pushing the pedal calms my mind.
Swipe to the last pic for a jumpscare.
Trying my best say how I’m feeling and in the words of the immortal Ali G, keep it real.
Hello everyone,
I’ve had a fair few messages pile up since Thursday afternoon so felt it best to let everyone know what’s going on.
I was involved in a pretty heavy road traffic collision on Thursday afternoon whilst out on my bike. I have a pretty bad concussion, whiplash and feel like I’ve taken a left, right good night from prime Mike Tyson straight to the face.
The trauma to my brain has left me feeling a bit confused and what I am finding most difficult is that I am aware that I am forgetting things and getting things muddled up and that’s both scary and frustrating.
Anyway, I am told by the doctors that this is normal and with rest, I will hopefully be right as rain soon.
I was told by the neurologist that had I not had a helmet on, this could have ended very differently. So, please, wear your fucking helmet. Mine just saved my life.
My beautiful bike is pretty fucked, but I am hopeful it can be fixed and that we will both be back in action in a few weeks.
I’m told I need to avoid screens and things that challenge my brain. So, thank fuck Aberdeen aren’t playing this weekend.
Thanks to Louis Sharp for being so calm, Eden for being so incredibly selfless and supportive and to the staff at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for their amazing care and treatment.
I really am so, so lucky. I’ll get back to you all when I can. Mx
Today marks the sixth anniversary of my first bike ride. 30 years old and on a downwards fucking spiral.
The biggest journey of self discovery I’ve been on. Humbling, exciting, sometimes overwhelming but always a lesson at the end of it.
I’ll spare the Coach Carter pep talk shit but I will say this.
Find your thing and go all in - learn and listen and practice and push.
The self respect you’ll find for yourself and others in doing that, is astounding.
I used to think it was super cool to be nonchalant and not give a fuck about things. Give a fuck about things, it makes life a lot more interesting.
Here are some pics of times I’ve spent on two wheels. The best.
Onwards.
🖤 New bike day 🚀
@wiliertriestina Rave SLR ID2
• 48mm @miche_components aerograff wheels
• @sramroad 13 speed Force XLPR AXS
• 10/46 cassette
• 46 tooth chainring
• 127mm Wilier F bar integrated cockpit
• @quarq power meter
• @schwalbetyresuk Thunderburts
• @silca_velo waxed chain
• @prologo.official dimension AGX saddle
@lecoluk with the best winter gilets going.
So incredibly lucky to get to ride an Italian stallion like this. It fuckin’ flies and it’s so fun to ride. 🇮🇹
Bikes are good.
@edenholly1 and I built a bike last weekend. Months of planning, swotting and having sweaty palms about cutting and fitting the steerer and it’s on the road.
The build:
Specialized S Works SL8
Shimano Ultegra Di2 52/36 chainrings
11/34 cassette
38cm Roval Rapide bars
Zane 50mm Carbon Wheels
Pirelli P Zero TLR tyres
Garmin Rally Pedals
MagCAD Wahoo Mount
Supakaz Bartape
Silca waxed chain
6.8kg of lean machine.
As per, my bike gurus @cedric2204 and @mat_lebelge were incredibly helpful and supportive in getting her over the line.
Such a cool process to learn and cool as fuck to see it ripping around the lanes.
After being inundated with congrats on the baby messages last night, I must repeat, it was infact, this beautiful baby of a bicycle 😂🚀😍
