WORK continues on the completion of 'the missing link' in the Granite Way near Okehampton — and it cannot come fast enough for cycle enthusiast Tom Pales.

Devon County Council is creating a cycle/walkway on a more direct off-road section from Southerly to Station Road, Bridestowe, which follows the former Southern region railway line where possible and will replace the interim route, which is on-road.

Passionate about promoting the virtues of the Granite Way to enhance the quality of people's lives Tom is founder of Freetrike, a service offering one-to-one cycle coaching for individuals with disabilities in Devon, giving those people freedom to challenge their condition through cycling. 

The Granite Way is entirely off-road for six miles between Okehampton and Lake Viaduct, with additional off-road sections towards Lydford.

The mainly traffic-free cycle/walkway between Okehampton and Lydford is part of the National Cycle Network, route number 27, on the Devon 'Coast to Coast' between Ilfracombe and Plymouth. Much of the way is within Dartmoor National Park.

It is ideal for families and those new to regular cycling and Tom wants to see more people with disabilities take up the challenge.

Tom, aged 37, who also worked for the county council as a cycling development officer and a national standard cycle instructor, started Freetrike

following his own father's stroke in 2001. To start it he gave up a job in property management in London to move down to Devon with his wife Jess, a doctor.

His father, William, then lived in Lydford and loved using the Granite Way on his Freetrike, although he now lives in a residential home in Mary Tavy.

Tom said: 'Freetrike uses specialist cycle equipment on local traffic-free paths to give people freedom to enjoy the outdoors, all year round.' 

'Three of my current clients have also suffered strokes and are wheelchair bound. Ben, a farmer from Silverton near Exeter, had a stroke three years ago and rarely leaves his kitchen. Ben rode 235 miles from September last year to September this year.

 'When Devon County Council open the missing section of the Granite Way many current and future clients will benefit greatly from this work.'

The scheme is being funded by Devon County Council's Strategic Cycle Network budget, with £20,000 of the total coming from Dartmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways, said: 'Work is progressing well on the long awaited missing link in the flagship Granite Way. We hope to finish the scheme this winter, which will complete the nine-mile Granite Way from Okehampton to Lydford and is likely to lead to more use of the whole trail.'

For more information on Freetrike see http://www.freetrike.co.uk">www.freetrike.co.uk or call Tom Pales on 07957 647675.