Tim came to be known by many people on social media who loved following his adventures. They often said they felt that they knew him, even though they had never met – a testament to his open-heartedness and generosity of spirit.
Cycling was his therapy. His travelogues were extremely inspiring and entertaining, probably because he was so willing to share, and never held back with the detail.
It helped he had a good eye for a photo (though in his self-deprecating way he would always say, I just point and shoot).
Sometimes he cycled with others but mostly he was happy to ride alone. He was content in his own company, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy being with others, and was capable of striking up a conversation with whoever was be around. A big heart, a big smile and a ready laugh.
His adventures drew lots of adulation on social media, which he was always baffled by. For him, he just did what he wanted to do. He had the means and the time to take off every now and then, and that’s what he did, whether it was camping in the snowy Cairngorms at Christmas, riding a lap of the Baltic coast, or spending a month cycling around Morocco. Always a laissez-faire approach, seeing what took his fancy, having a rough idea of what he wanted to do but at liberty to change it any time if the mood took him.
He was always open and honest about his struggles with mental health, and on the occasion that he did raise money through his travels, it was for Mind.
Tim wrote this candid article for SportingHeads about his journey with Bipolar disorder and how cycling always helped. “When I was out on the bike I didn’t dwell on the past or worry about the future – everything was in the now.” It’s a powerful story, and especially poignant now.
Tim McKenna, September 1971 – January 2025
Ride for Tim 