Now for those that do follow this blog, yes it's been a while. The reason is that I have been diagnosed with Rectal Cancer and Cancer in the Pelvis. This has put a struggle on my day to day life. But now all my Chemoradiation is finished and I have some energy, I am back on my bike. Only short rides, but on the bike none the less.
I am in lock down at present. I have isolated myself from the rest of the family for the next few weeks. My operation is soon and my wife has just finished work for the school holidays. As she has been in contact with others she is a high risk to me, for the next two weeks at least. So I am in my little fifteen foot camper trailer. Riding is essential at the moment, not just for weight loss which is required for surgery, but for my mental well being.
Following is an account of a ride the other day. Unfortunately there is no camping or multi days involved. But it was a great ride, and was my greatest distance that I have tackled in a long time.
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It was fantastic to get out and explore some back roads yet again. I know at these times we can't travel far, but we can certainly make the most of it to explore our surrounding area.
I wanted to find a different way around a favourite road route of mine, so I headed south to see what I could find. Still working on my fitness I wanted to go beyond my usual thirty kilometres.
I headed south out of town past the airport and through Kensington Estate. From there I pedalled down Woodward Rd, gravel of course, onto Claytons Rd. Instead of turning east onto Wises Rd I continued South East onto Gillies Creek Rd, somewhere new.
It was all gravel now with the exception of a few cane line crossings that had token bitumen either side. I wanted to work my way across to Gordons Rd, so opted to turn east onto Lakeview Dr. Being a Drive it should be all good. After all "Drives" are in nice acreage estates, and always go all the way through.
Well, what began a drive ended as private property several kilometres later. There was nothing else to do but turn around and head back to Wises Rd. It wasn't null and void though, I did find some interesting roads that may, or may not, lead into Bingera National Park...we'll see. That will be a coming day soon on the mountain bike.
Heading north the nor easterly was starting to pick up. It was starting to strain the legs but I know that head winds are just a natural part of riding in Bundaberg. It's hard to escape them around here. We don't have a lot of hills, but we have plenty of head winds.
I stopped along Wises Rd for a breakfast bar. I am currently on a very low calorie diet to loose weight for the surgery soon. 800 Kcals doesn't go far on a big guy like myself, especially when riding.
Snacked up it was time to continue. South again now on Gordons Rd I was in new territory. I had never been down here before. It was absolutely fantastic to be doing this on the bike again. Exploring and seeing much of my area has always been done on a bike. It is not uncommon for me to see a road and think to myself, "I wonder where that goes? Let's find out".
These days are a little different of course. My fitness levels, and energy levels are far from what they once were. I could ride all day once, now it takes me all day to ride.
I was like a dog with it's head out the window of the car, seeing new sights, smelling new smells. No, I didn't cock my leg at every tree I rode past. Empty roads on a new adventure, life is just good.
Two ladies walking towards me gave me a wide berth. I kept thinking, "I have deodorant on", but then remembered our current viral climate. It is easy to forget things when encapsulated in the joy of the ride.
Back onto gravel again I was soon down a few slight declines and then a creek crossing. I saw the "Water Over Road" sign but thought it was just forgotten. But around the bend, there it was. A crystal clear creek almost shin deep over the road.
I originally tried to ride it, but the rock bottom with the 40 mm tyres of the Sutra made it impossible. Ahhh, cool refreshing...wet feet!
Creek crossing done, I was back on the bike and heading for Mahogany Creek Rd, this would take me to Goodwood Rd and onto Coonar Rd.
Once on Coonar Rd I was once again hit by the strong Nor Easter...it was stronger now than before and I felt the pinch in my legs and in my head.
I only brought the one bar with me and my stomach was growling in competition with the rest of my body. I was down to half a bottle of water as well, and my mouth was dry. It doesn't seem all that long ago I could knock out a 100 km ride on an empty stomach on one water bottle. Ahh, how times have changed.
I knew that the route I was taking would see me head north onto Dr Mays Rd. This means the Nor Easter would be in my face all the way along here. Well, pretty much all the way home.
By now I still had 13 km to go. I was starting to struggle. I dropped the front chain ring back to the centre 36 tooth ring and made the gears lighter. I know this slows you down, but it is great for taking the pressure off the legs.
Halfway along Dr Mays Rd I had to stop. I drizzled some of the water I had left into my mouth and swirled it round. Perched on a set of cane tracks I sat with my head down getting a breather. This is a two sided coin. On one side you get your breath back, but on the other it's hard to get the legs working again after stopping. Especially when you're on the verge of bonking.
On the bike again, into the head wind I persisted. Now I could turn west onto Douglas Rd and some get some reprieve from that bloody wind. At least now it was from the side more than the front. Oh yes, had I mentioned that in this brief moment the decided to change to a Northerly. Gotta love riding in Bundy...lol
Now crossing Goodwood Rd again for Thomasens Rd the wind made yet another shift, now coming from the North West. My legs were loosing momentum now, several pedal strokes, then coast a while, pedal, coast, pedal coast. My hands were getting sore and the constant changing position was even more tiring.
I got to the corner of Thomasens Rd and Claytons Sidings Rd, the breeze cool and picking up in strength, I noticed a grassy and shady spot under some macadamia trees. That was it, the bike laid on it's side, I was on my back.
I lay there quietly looking up at the clouds float by. When was the last time you did this? I hadn't dome it for years, ages, I can't remember when. It was serene, and it helped me rest for the final short 6.5 km.
I could have laid there all afternoon, but I needed to get home. Back on the bike yet again, and onto Claytons Rd where the wind had picked up even more. Keeping a light cadence I kept telling myself, "Not far now". I found myself constantly looking at the Garmin to see the distance, but this just plays with your head, and makes what is left seem even longer.
I finally made it home 56 km later. It's not a long ride, and in comparison to what I used to do, it was just a short ride after work. But considering the circumstances, it was the longest ride I had been able to muster in a long time. The cancer and low caloric intake, not to mention my outright lack of fitness, makes it difficult.
But these are the days we live in. We don't live in, or for yesterday, we live today. We do what we can do, how we are able, and when we can. I'm glad in one aspect that the past is gone. Gone are the days of pressure training and trying to improve myself. Gone are the days of feeling inadequate because, "Why can't I go faster?"
Today I just enjoy the ride, it doesn't matter where that ride leads. It doesn't even matter for how long it is.
I am at a stage that bike riding will be out for at least 6 months shortly due to my operation. I just want to make every ride count whilst I can today.
Cheers guys
