Old Bum On A Bike: 2015

I haven't blogged in, shit...I don't now how long. I haven't used this simply because I was no longer a truckie come house hubby. But rather a truckie come house hubby come truckie yet again. Yes bills need to be paid, and whilst the romance of staying at home was still strong, the reality of daily life bit.

In the time since my last post so much has happened. I've gone back to work, moved house, bought motorbikes, sold motorbikes and have been bitten hard by the cycling bug.

Since then I have ridden many kilometres, left my job as a crane truck driver, became a carer for my aged and ill mother, and now in the process of studying for my diploma in Remedial Massage. But cycling remains a strong focal point of not just my life, but the life of my family.

Cycling has become such a central part of our lives that all five members of our little home cycle as often as we can. Myself and two oldest daughters, Lena 11 and Lilly 9, compete with the local club here in Bundaberg, focusing on track at present.

Am I any good? No, not really. I'm being honest here. I competed in track many years ago in my much younger days. I am also encouraged to find that it is becoming a popular thing, men (and women) my age, falling in love with cycling and taking it up to the next level in competing all over the globe.

I suppose it's a bit like being a kid all over again. You know, we tell our kids, "It's not so much about winning, but all about the fun". Well, that is very true. Although I haven't won a race, I am improving and I am having so much fun.

In the sixteen moths I have been cycling I have lost approximately 30 kgs and have travelled over 10,000 kms. Very rarely a day goes by without me riding. I have seen some amazing places that I would have otherwise not seen, simply because with the bike I prefer to ride a road less travelled.
Even around my local area, the back roads I have found and the sights I have seen are numerous.

My greatest distance to date is 202 kms, and yes it is on Strava...lol. You know what they say, if it's not on Strava, it didn't happen. How did I cycle all those years ago without all this high tech gadgetry to make it possible. Actually I am one to take Strava or leave it. To me it is nothing more than another form of social media. Its good to keep in contact with friends on, but, yeah it builds an ego for some, you know the weekend warrior, oh wait I am one...lol.

My choice of weaponry on the road is my pride and joy, a 2014 Trek Domane 5.2 with Ultegra 11 speed mechanical groupo. I went the Domane because of the roads around here. It also suits my riding style and fits well. I run 25 mm tyres, and at present seem very happy with my Vittoria Rubino Pro's. There's nothing special about it, still pretty stock, but it does the job. I can't see the point in buying a set of wheels for over a thousand dollars to save 100 gms when I can loose a kilo for free.

We can't forget the N + 1 theory so my older (not by much) bike is a Trek Alpha 1.1. This was my first road bike that got me hooked. Actually I only bought it because my oldest daughter wanted to start cycling. I bought the Alpha ONLY to ride with her so she could train and have protection on the road. Well, the rest is history. As I tell my wife, it's all my daughter's fault.
The Alpha is my everyday bike, commuter, trainer etc. It's only basic, an aluminium frame, carbon forks with a Claris 8 speed Groupo. Like I said, nothing special, but a good solid and honest bike.

My third weapon is my track bike, or as I call her Hilly. It's a Hillbrick Pista Ryan Bailey Ltd Ed. I picked it up cheap in a pawn shop of all places. I didn't know how I would go at track so I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but this was in very good condition so it was money well spent. It is nothing pimped, standard Hillbrick track clinchers and I am running Bontrager R3's on them. A Bontrager Affinity saddle and everything else is pretty stock standard. I am running a 48/14 combo at the moment but have purchased a 50T Miche chainring so I will start experiment with a 50/15 - 50/14 combo soon.

My eldest daughter has a Trek KRX 26" Roadie and a home made trackie that I built up from scratch for her. My other daughter hasn't got a road bike as yet, but has a 24" trackie that I, yet again, built up from scratch.

Its amazing what one can do with a couple of old frames that were given, some new basic parts, some cans of spray paint and some elbow grease. No, they're not Cervello's or Pinerello's but they get the kids around the track, and they are enjoying it, and I must say holding their own against the kids with the store bought labelled bikes.

So that's pretty well all of it in a nut shell, a transition in life that has been very much welcomed. Cycling has done so much for me, it has helped me loose weight, got me much fitter and healthier, it has bought our family together with a common interest and it has given me most all, a momentary time of freedom.

I battle anxiety and depression. I have done for over 20 years. I don't mind talking about it, I don't care really what people think. For quite a few of the past years I have successfully battled it and had learned to control it. But in August 2014 I was involved in an accident that saw a double fatality. A car was overtaking my truck over the crest of a hill and double unbroken lines only to meet a couple of guys coming the other way. The impact happened right beside my cab. I still see it...

Since then the depression has been taking bigger bites of the cherry and has been increasing difficult to combat. Cycling gives me relief, for that moment in time I am free, I don't think about anything but the bike and the road ahead. My mind gets a break as I think nothing more than technique, power output, heart rate, cadence and the like.

Through cycling I now have a wonderful network of friends that I would not have otherwise met. They are a great bunch of guys/gals whose friendship and support goes beyond the cycling. As an interstate truck driver life can get pretty lonely. Friends can dwindle away as you're never home. So cycling has been great for my social life...lol. Now admittedly that social life is usual involving a ride at ungodly hours of the morning, but is always accompanied with great coffee and great chatter.

I suppose if I was to state what the best thing about cycling was, I would have to say clarity...It has helped put my life into perspective, it has taught me not to be afraid of challenges and it has given me purpose. I know now that unless you take the chance to go out on a limb, nothing will change, it all remains the same. Yes, the limb may seem shaky, it might even crack, but further and further out you step.

Cycling has given me a reason to change my life for the better. I have always worked to survive. I have always done what I knew, it was easy, convenient. My life always worked out around my job, my hours, everything was squeezed in or missed out altogether. But now I have a stronger sense of purpose, somewhat more courage, I have taken the challenged to change and hence the study for my Diploma in Remedial Massage.

Change is good, scary but good. Its's like seeing that massive climb in front of you, or the start line at the beginning of a race. You have no idea how you'll go, but you'll go out giving it your all.

The kids always enjoy being out on their bikes. Especially on the beautiful scenic pathway of the Turtle Trail that runs Bargara through Mon Repos to Burnett Heads