Rides, reflections, and everything I’m almost keeping up with.
Somewhere between ambition and reality lies the sweet spot — the middle gear of life. It’s where most of us ride: not racing, not coasting, just turning the pedals and trying to keep the rhythm.
The Drop Bar Diaries is a collection of rides and reflections from that place. Notes on cycling, work, music, and the fine art of balancing enthusiasm with recovery. It’s about chasing the version of yourself that once sprinted up climbs, learning to laugh at the one who no longer does, and appreciating the view from both ends of the hill.
You won’t find training plans or aero gains here — just the ongoing story of a bloke in his fifties who still thinks the best ideas arrive somewhere between miles 20 and 40, preferably before the café stop.
About the author
Hi, I’m Tim, a fifty-something bloke with a bike, a camera, and a slightly confused idea of what “taking it easy” means.
I’ve been cycling for the best part of two decades … long enough to know the joy of a tailwind, the pain of a headwind, and the folly of saying “it’s only a few hills.” I’m not fast, but I’m faithful: to the routine, the road, and the ritual of the café stop.
Off the bike, I work as a filmmaker, mostly in the world of music … capturing live performances, telling stories, and trying to bottle that moment when everything clicks. It turns out cycling isn’t so different: both rely on rhythm, patience, and a willingness to suffer for something beautiful.
The Drop Bar Diaries grew out of a need to make sense of all that … the overlap between motion and meaning, the pull of creativity, and the comedy of trying to stay fit while the years sneak up. It’s a place to write about rides, ideas, and the people who make both worthwhile.
If you’ve ever looked down at your gears, realised you’re in too big a one, and thought “well, this’ll hurt,” then you’re already in the right place.
