A Midlife Cyclist: My two-wheel journey to heal a broken mind and find joy

Rachel never planned on becoming a cyclist. Running was the thing that saved her — it helped her heal, lifted her out of depression, and even took her to marathon podiums. But when injury ripped that lifeline away, everything she thought she’d beaten came roaring back. With body dysmorphia tightening its grip and her mental health wobbling, she knew she needed a new way to fight back.

So she headed down to the cellar, dragged out her old bike, and started pedalling like her life depended on it. And in many ways, it did.

A Midlife Cyclist follows Rachel’s journey on two wheels across the Yorkshire Dales, Vietnam, Costa Rica and beyond, as she chases peace, strength, and a sense of self she thought she’d lost. Honest, raw, funny, and fiercely human, it’s a story about resilience, reinvention, and the unexpected places cycling can take you. Includes an exclusive Q&A with Jools Walker (aka Lady Velo).