My name is Tom Pales and I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE KEEP MOVING!

​

I live in Silverton Village, just north of Exeter, Devon, England with my wife, 2 young sons and Sophie & Luna the labradors.

 

The idea for a rehab cycling service came after my fathers` severe stroke, in 2002, leaving himself and my mother housebound and lonely. I wanted to give them the opportunity to get outdoors and be active again on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

 

The new Granite Way cycle path answered our prayers, built right in front of my parents` home in 2001. While slowly inching along the fresh tarmac surface with my father and his stick, the path soon gifted us our first recumbent trike flyby. Soon after we arrived to meet the team of engineers at ICE in Falmouth Cornwall. The beginning of a magical life changing relationship!

 

The 1st 2007 "Trice T" from the team at ICE worked for my father and It`s evolving design has gone on to work for hundreds of others. We are proud to have been the 1st company to use recumbents primarily for rehab.

​

From October 2010 to December 2023 myself and my colleague Hamish have taken housebound clients across Devon over 25,000 miles with our outreach service. This is where we have learnt how to prescribe the perfect equipment for every need. Never sat in the shop but always outdoors...fighting loneliness and testing new recipies.

 

In 2008 I gained a degree in Health and Social Work from Plymouth University.

In addition, before starting Freetrike I gained experience in the following:

​

• 2 years as a Community Support Worker for Headway Devon, providing care for clients across Devon with head injuries and Stroke.

• 2 years as a Regional Cycle Development Officer for Cycling UK.

• 5 years as a National Standard Instructor for Devon County Council providing Bikeability cycle training to schools and adults with disabilities. 

• 15 years as a carer for my father until he passed away.