Behind every great event is a place. And behind every place are its people.

Faces of Galloway is a new series from The Gralloch, celebrating the individuals who shape this remarkable corner of Scotland. From passionate volunteers and local business owners to riders, organisers and community champions, these are the stories that give Galloway its character.

This is where gravel meets community. Where world-class racing is rooted in something far more personal.

We begin in Gatehouse of Fleet with Jo and Mike, two people who came for a visit and found something far more lasting.

‍

Jo & Mike, Wheels of Fleet

We started the year with the intention of travelling to Australia. Then lockdown came, the world shifted, and instead we found ourselves living in Gatehouse of Fleet after a few nights in our campervan on the banks of Loch Ken.

We had spent years touring and exploring, always searching for a favourite place. Somehow, we had never quite found it. But when it came time to leave Galloway, we realised something had changed. We did not want to go. That had never happened before, so we booked a return visit straight away.

On that next trip, we explored more, including a bike ride into Gatehouse. We fell in love with the place. Being cautious, we decided to rent for 12 months. Our landlord Craig told us plainly, “You will not find a better place.” Of course, we ignored him and looked around anyway.

Mike: “I retired as a primary school teacher, and I thought the best I could hope for to make the move to Scotland work would be the odd stint as a supply teacher. But at the heart of cycling here in Gatehouse is Wheels of Fleet, a local charity.

That soon snowballed into work with Cycling UK, Cycling Scotland and Bikeability as an instructor. It is about getting children onto bikes, giving them the confidence to ride on the roads. It is fantastic work. I have now been involved in over 40 schools, and this year I am heading up to the Outer Hebrides to deliver Bikeability.”

We thought helping at Wheels of Fleet would be the big bonus of living here. Then Raiders Gravel came along. A couple of years later, The Gralloch arrived.

We found ourselves working with local children, organising a race up the main street as part of the event. The whole town came alive. There was a real energy about the place.

By chance, we had moved to a town that now hosts one of the biggest UCI gravel races in the world.

At the first Gralloch, we both volunteered in a broom wagon, driving the course and collecting riders who could not continue. It is a tough event on both people and bikes, but what stood out was the atmosphere.

Every rider we picked up was buzzing.

“That was amazing. I am coming back next year.”

You do not expect that from riders who have just had to stop. Many of them said they wanted to come back for the whole week, which is what Galloway does to people.

At Wheels of Fleet, we run something called the bike bus, where children cycle to school together on a Friday. Being Gatehouse, we have had some incredible riders leading it out.

Jenny Graham joined us. Then, during the first Gralloch, Cameron Mason led the kids’ peloton to school. Later that year, we saw him on the podium at a cyclo-cross race in Belgium and ended up chatting about Gatehouse. How amazing is that?

One of our bike bus riders, Madi Higgins, really took to cycling. She started with us at Wheels of Fleet and went on to be mentored by pro gravel rider Maddy Nutt. Maddy even wrote her a letter of encouragement.

For young riders in a small town, having access to role models like that is incredibly special.

This little town is thriving. Independent businesses are growing, the community is strong, and there is a real sense of momentum.

We cannot quite believe how perfectly things fell into place when we moved here. We feel incredibly lucky to call Gatehouse home, all because four years ago we turned left at Carlisle.

‍

We found our place

Jo and Mike’s story is a reminder that The Gralloch is shaped by far more than the race route.

It is built on people who welcome, support and inspire, from the school run bike bus to the world stage of UCI gravel racing.

This is Galloway. These are its faces.

More stories coming soon.

‍