Alan LeMay
The filmmaker who captured the lives of everyday cyclists now reveals the story that shaped him most – his own.
The My Cycology Podcast is a conversation with ordinary people doing extraordinary things on bikes. Nickolas Bird’s story is adapted by My Cycology’s host Alan LeMay.
When you sit down with Nickolas Bird, you’re struck by two things immediately: his gentle honesty and the way cycling has shaped his life in ways far deeper than fitness or competition.
Long before he became an award‑winning documentary filmmaker, Nick was a kid racing bikes from the age of twelve, a young rider who loved the thrill of speed and the simple joy of being on two wheels.
But like many gay men of his generation, Nick’s relationship with sport was complicated. At one point homophobia pushed him away from the cycling community he loved. The bike, once a place of belonging, became a place of fear and exclusion.
It would take time, and a lot of courage, before he took his bike off the wall in his garage to rediscover what he loved about riding bikes.
Today, Nick is not only a cyclist again, but the filmmaker behind MAMIL (Middle Aged Men in Lycra), the documentary that captured the global cycling subculture with humour, humanity, and rare emotional truth.
His films blend humour, humanity, social insight… and champion authenticity and the power of the real story to shift how viewers see the world.
And perhaps the most powerful story he’s ever told is his own.
Cycling as a lifeline
On My Cycology Podcast, we explored with Nick the three pillars that so many riders rely on: physical health, mental health, and social connection. When I asked Nick which mattered most to him, he didn’t hesitate.
“I actually think mental health,” he said, “And I live in a country town and there’s no one really to ride with… My only social connection, and it’s probably why I do bike racing, is at bike races.”
For a man who once felt pushed out of the sport because of who he was, the bike has become a place of healing, a way to rebuild confidence, reconnect with his body, and rediscover joy.
Cycling gives him structure. It gives him purpose. And in the quiet roads around his regional town, it gives him space to breathe.
Reclaiming a space
Nick’s story is one many middle‑aged men will recognise, even if the details differ. Sport can be a place of belonging, or a place of exclusion. For gay men, especially those who grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, homophobia in sport was not an exception, it was the norm.
Nick felt that deeply. It shaped his relationship with cycling for years.
But returning to the bike as an adult has been transformative. The modern cycling community, especially the MAMIL generation, is more diverse, more open, and more accepting than the one he left behind. And in that shift, Nick has found something profoundly healing.
He’s found his people.
Connection in the most unexpected places
Despite living remotely, Nick still finds moments of connection through cycling, especially at events like CycleWell and Sportif races.
He told me about meeting a fellow rider who operates a massive coal‑digging machine for a living.
“He showed me a picture of it, and I just thought… such a diverse bunch of people. And that’s what I love about cycling – we could be so different, but yet we’ve got so much alike.”
Understanding his subjects
Nick’s films, “Phil Liggett: The Voice of Cycling”, “Remembering the Man”, and “Ballroom Rules” all share a common thread: authenticity.
He has built a career on telling real stories with emotional depth and social insight.
But MAMIL remains the film that most deeply connects him to our community. It’s not just a documentary about cyclists; it’s a documentary made by one of us, someone who knows what it means to lose and then rediscover the joy of riding.
If you haven’t seen it yet, Nick says it’s still available on Stan. “Just search MAMIL on Stan and you’ll find it.”
A final word
At the end of our conversation, I thanked Nick for sharing so personally. His response was simple and genuine: “It’s an absolute pleasure.”
And that’s who he is, a storyteller who understands the courage it takes to be honest, and a cyclist who knows the bike can carry us through more than just kilometres.
Nick’s full story is featured on the My Cycology Podcast, where we continue to explore the lives, struggles, and triumphs of everyday riders.
For every MAMIL looking to improve their wellbeing, find connection, or simply feel understood, Nick’s journey is a reminder that you’re not riding alone.
