First Trip Back. Fail!

I had been anticipating my return to the adventurous world to be a little more sympathetic. But I was wrong!

I've wanted to take on a particular trip for a while now, one that started from my front door.

The plan was to ride up to Kalpower, QLD. Then onto the BBIRT (Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail), and from there we'd see.

The route started from home, Wallaville, and worked up through the back of; Horse camp, Nearum, New Moonta, Wonbah, Geata and onto Kalpower.

The main reason for this route was to ride the Nearum and Goyan Road section. After this, the Wonbah and Geata Roads section was another desired route I had planned to ride.

The day started late, much later than I wanted. I rode about three kilometres from home, realised I'd forgotten something important, went back and well, yeah. (Mistake 1)

The heat of the day had already hit. I was flustered, then became anxious, and that isn't good.

It wasn't long before the Garmin was showing 46C° on the black top. This is of course what I call "Reflective Temperature". Probably not it's scientific name. But it is the temp that we feel, especially when labouring in the sun.

After about eighteen kilometres I found I nice little bus shelter, it was way too inviting.

I wasn't in a rush so I thought I'd stop and call it a day. This was just to regroup, calm down, relax and to start afresh a new day. (Mistake 2. Sounded good in theory).

I had anticipated roughly six days before I saw a shop. Freeze dried veggies, rice, soy protiens and then snacks. The good old snacks...(Mistake 3. What I took as snacks).

I had also made allowances to carry 10.5 litres of water, allowing for 5.25 lt per day. (BIG Mistake 4. The biggest mistake).

Now let's get back to riding...we've scrapped Day 1. When camped, an elderly gentleman pulled up to where I was camped. He saw the bike and stopped for a chat. He told me of a creek, or small river, that had great water and even a platypus. Without checking where he was talking about, I assumed it was the way I was headed. 

My plan was to enjoy a great day of relaxed riding, stop to filter water, eat, rest and continue on. Because of all this I didn't ration, or pay mind to my water consumption. (All this combined...Mistake 5).

Now let's digress from the agony and heartache for a moment...Nearum and Gootan Roads...

This section of road is up there as some of the best I've ridden, especially after all the recent storm activity.

You come onto Nearum Road at the junction of Tablelands and Doughbouy Roads. The first thing you see is a sign saying Local Traffic Only. This is always a concern as I've found often there awaits a locked gate at the end.

After speaking to a local, she assured me you could go through. There were gates but to leave them how I found them.

The roads start as standard road base but eventually turns to a more forestry road. It does follow a creek for quite a way, a bloody dry one of course.

The surface ranges from compacted road base, loose rocky gravel, large rock fillings across creeks, and sandy sections. The 27.5"x4.5" tyres of the fat bike ate this all up.

The route is scenic, running down over dry creek beds, looking out over pastures, tree tunnels, and forest. It has it all and before you know it you're faced with Mount Perry Road. 

This was the end for me, New Moonta. Yes, I made mistakes that I shouldn't have. But out of practice I underestimated a lot of things.

I struggled eating the snacks I took, and even the prior night. My stoma blocked up and well... There are a whole lot of would've, should've, could've but it is what it is now.

I knew when embarking that I had bitten off more than I can chew, but it was also a testing ground for many things. One of which is the Perenial Hernia repair stood up to a heavy bike being pushed up hills. This was my big worry, and now a big relief.

I will make some changes to my dietary supplements, make room for more water, take a deep breath and relax.

Cheers all.

Plenty of pastoral views

Overgrown  

Norco Bigfoot 3 😁 

A beautiful road ahead. Shame the creek was dry.

                      A bit how I felt     

 

Days Are Getting Longer.

As the Queensland winter disappears, and Spring shines it's lovely head, the days are getting longer and longer. It's not just because of the change of seasons, but as I switch between laying and standing, time drags on.

Although I started with a whinge it isn't all that bad. The healing process is doing it's thing.

Pain is subsiding and mobility is returning. Even though the simplest of tasks can be exhausting, it feels good to be able to move around easier.

Although, I have to say that bending can be extremely difficult as everything is still tight. 

I've found that getting up and doing some light house chores helps. I've gotten out into the yard for walks, a good thing about living on an acre of land. I've even dragged my hammock out of storage and set it up with my new Altons tarp. 

It has been a tumultuous couple of weeks. There was the difficult run home from hospital. Then bad news, my mother passed away. This meant a flying trip, well snail paced trip south for the funeral.

After we returned home I did an unspeakable thing. My 5 kg weight limit was forgotten as I lifted Chief onto the lounge. Chief is the smallest of our two dogs, a British Staffy. Whilst smaller, he still comes in at a chunky 17 kg. A little too much for this Old Bum to be lifting. Sharp pain ran down my left buttocks cheek and down my leg. My abdomen was also in a great deal of pain.

I panicked for a out 3 days whilst the pain slowly dissipated. Luckily there doesn't seem to be any damage, but I was waiting for my bowels to drop out onto the floor...🤣

I suppose I should explain what has been done.

I suffered from a massive Perinial Hernia. The Hernia is a result of my APR (Abdominoperineal Resection) I had in 2020. It had been repaired once previously but I was told it would never be a permanent fix.

With an APR, the rectum, sphincter and anus are removed.  They then basically just sew your butt cheeks together. Nothing fills the hole where one's anus used to be.

Over time the bowel pushes it's way back down where it thinks it belongs. After months of radiation and chemo it damages the skin in that area. The skin has no strength and does nothing to hold back the bowel. The bowel eventually pushes through and out. The skin with no structure stretches, and the Hernia protrudes.

The procedure I had was a Myocutanious Flap. It is a muscle graft that is essential an anal comb over, a hammock like thing that helps hold it all in.

They slice the muscle from the butt cheek and fold it over into the cavity that was once my anus and rectum.

The muscle stays connected to the donor site as it needs a constant and fresh blood supply. They then graft skin over the top, and voile, my Ken butt returns and I no longer have a 15 cm tail hanging out.

They did use a bio mesh that dissolves over time. It is designed to help hold up the bowel while the graft takes and forms a permanent (🤞) bond.

It can be a difficult procedure,  especially in men. The prostate is in that area, making it difficult to sew things in. Also my size didn't help the issue either.

Along with the perinial hernia repair I also suffered from a Parastomal Hernia. This is a hernia behind the stoma. It's not something they rush to fix as they are common. 

This hernia, again was quite large. Everything has been poked back in and mesh applied, and all seems to be holding.

I've list 7 kg since hospital. I still struggle with appetite and this could be a reason behind feeling as though I have no energy. But that is improving.

If I do too much I seem to get sharp pains in the stomach. It's not stoma or repair related, but, pain, ouch, whoosh, bowel movement. At least my bowels are working without the need of gastro goop.

All in all the recuperation is going down the right path. I'll continue to take it easy, and probably will have to for the rest of my life. As long as I can push a loaded bike, carry a pack and launch a kayak and boat, I'll be happy. 

Following are some pics of the perenial hernia repair. They're not pretty but will give some idea of what happened.

The Perenial Hernia

Just out of surgery

The Donour Site

Mike Tyson's Training Bag

The results of a Parastomal Hernia repair.

3 Weeks In

Again, The Donour Site

All still seems a little puffy and swollen, but it is improving as time goes on.

One Week On

Ok, ok, let's not get caught up in semantics. I know it's a little over a week. A recuperating man gets busy you know. There's the resting, and then there's more resting, a toilet walk, a drink walk and more resting.

The week home has melded into some kind of mega day. I'd make a movie about it, but Ground Hog Day covers it all.

As the wounds heal, the pain is subsiding a great deal. There is of course still the muscular pain, which is like the pain you get when you exercise too much. That is something I'm not used to.

The stitches have all fallen out, and the need for bi daily dressings has ceased. My mobility is improving, although I am still not sitting, which I can't do, because it's naughty to do so. 

Sitting is something that I am missing right now. Laying or walking constantly is a pain. I've mentioned my little front porch, well it's not the same as going out and sitting. Funny how little things are missed.

Driving in the car is no easier, albeit a little less painful. It is still a matter of laying across the back seat, with seatbelt somehow entwined around me.

With a lot of time spent in bed I have become somewhat of a novelty for our cats. One has always liked to lay on our bed, but it appears that it is now a case of how many can we fit. Hopping on the bed, no problem, using as a wrestling mat or zoom pad is unacceptable. No matter how I show my outrage, the buggers don't listen.

I'm hoping that next week I'll be able to venture outside a bit. The problem that has been to date is that after standing, or walking for a while I get sore, nauseous and very tired very quickly.

I plan to start back on meal replacement meals next week. I've eaten a full and varied diet, now I'll focus on less calories for a while, at least whilst sedentary.

That's pretty much it this week, like I said, repetitive. Hopefully a little more excitement next week.

First Day Home

It's cold, wet, and with enough breeze to put that extra chill in the air. It is an absolute cracker of a day to be stuck in bed.

I slept like a log last night in my own bed. I awoke whilst it was still dark and instantly thought, "Oh no", a thought that runs through my head regularly. But soon after I heard Sharon's alarm chime, I knew a full night's slumber had been had.

I did wake earlier on in the night as Sharon came to bed. I got up changed a bag, and well, sleeping in bicycle knicks, no. They came off.

Another side effect of mental health issues is insomnia. It has plagued me for years. We've all suffered it to an extent, its just a part of my nightly routine I'm afraid.

It's not just my mental health, but years of odd hours, never setting a pattern life, in the transport industry has offered up its hand as well. They say sleep plays a huge roll in mental health, maybe it's another reason why I'm so bat shit crazy in the head. That, and possibly the copious amounts of alcohol and drugs ingested growing up through my late teenage years.

I don't look at the time through the night. I think it somehow makes the night longer. The more you look, the slower the hands move.

Medical Cannabis has helped tremendously in this issue. I've been smoking/vaping it for three months now as a trial. It works. 

Not only in the sleep department, but even throughout the day when not smoking, my anxiety, frustration and general motivation have all seen significant improvements.

Even as pain relief over the past month prior to surgery it works. Now I say pain relief, not pain innialation. At the end of the day it would ease the throb coming from the extra appendage I had formed over the past twelve months to a bearable grimace.

It was funny to see the prejudice in the medical field still around Cannabis. Probably the same prejudices I had until several months ago.

My prejudices stem from a mixture of my younger years, transforming into a so called "christian", and just becoming old 🤣 Maybe it's true, we do gain wisdom as we get older?

Anyway cutting a long story short, even after explaining to my colarectal surgeon that I had transitioned from Tevatiapan to Cannabis, she deemed a nightly sedative was not necessary...ah, insomnia my old friend.

Ah well, I didn't mean to talk about all that, but this is what has come out.

It is great to be at home though. I've missed my little front porch that I had adopted as my spot. OK, now it mine and the cats spot, but I don't mind sharing.

Even in that ten days way, the elation I felt when I walked out there last night brought a welling in my eyes and a hugging to my heart. 

It's just a cane field across the road. But the tranquillity that comes from just sitting and watching it is amazing. It has become a welcomed habit, not only to watch the wind in the cane. But to watch, waiting for the cane to be harvested to reveal the mountains that lie behind.

So yes, it's great to be home.

Homeward Bound

 It was quite a painful ride home today. I felt every bump on the way as I laid on the back seat.

Last night we stayed at Wondai as Goomeri and Murgon were all booked out.

We found a lovely moter inn, The Colonial. Quiet, comfortable, and with great room service and tucker, made the, "I can't go any further" hurdle somewhat easier.

We came home via Murgon Gayndah Rd, Ban Ban Springs etc today. Still a much preferable option than Woolooga Brooweena Rd.

It is absolutely wonderful to be at home in my own bed. It really does help soothe the aches that abide. The ones that were the result of laying constantly on one's side on a rather stiff hospital bed.

Im home now and as the drugs wear off, and all the crap leaves my system I begin the healing process. The doctors have given me six to eight weeks before doing too much, especially driving, riding etc. I am giving myself eight to twelve weeks. This is going to be a permanent repair. It has been repaired correctly, I want to keep it that way.

For the next month at least it is, 

lift nothing over 5 kg

Lay 1 hr, stand 5 min

Light walks

Wear my bike knicks constantly, who'd a thought I'd have a box full of the perfect healing attire.

Absolutely no sitting for the next six at least. Shit I miss it.

I have to honest and say that this bout of surgery was as worse, or in some cases even worse, than my original APR. The abdominal pain is horrendous. Impacting it further, is the dry cough one picks up whilst in hospital and after anaesthesia.

Ah well, that's pretty much it in a nut shell.

I did do one naughty thing when I arrive home. I went briefly to the shed to peak in on the new bike. I also looked longingly over at my other darlings as they sit patiently for Old Bum to ride again.

Hopefully The Tide Is Turning

 I know, I know, I know...if I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times...

The past couple of years have seen my blog pretty much non existent, but I plan to rectify that.

It's hard to blog when every day seems to be the same, a non event. But that is changing. As health issues get behind me, fingers crossed this is seeing me become more active once again; the bike being a big part of it.

I purchased a Marin Nicasio back in 2020. It was an end of year run out and was a sizeable chunk of change off the original price. I've wanted to get a gravel bike for some time with the ones on my list being out of my price range, and not quite exactly what I wanted. That was a cromoly steel framed biked with a decent 2 x drive system. So online I went, amd a shopping I did go

The Nicasio came standard with a Claris 2 x 8 drive system, and whilst adequate, I wanted something better. I purchased GRX 810 cranks, an 812 rear derailleur and an 810 front derailleur. The operate the drive system I stayed within my financial restraints and bought a set of 105 eleven speed shifters. I decided to keep the original mechanical disc brake system that came on the bike.

To go with the gravel theme I purchased a set of WTB SX19 MTB rims. This is where I ran into trouble, the rear hub was supposed to be 11 speed compatible. Unfortunately the SRAM and Sunrace 11 speed cassettes didn't fit. I spent months looking for a freehub body that was cend the problem was solved.

Compatible, without success. I was in the process of looking at, at least a new rear wheel when in my box of spares I found two Sunrace 11 speed cassettes that were an 11 - 42 combination. These for some blood reason fit. Don't ask me why, I don't if the other cassettes where being road, stacked higher...but look, in the  end the problem was solved, and to be honest I don't mind the extra gearing.

With that solved I set about stripping the bike down. Everything went smoothly as I continued to rebuild the bike.

All parts from the shifters to the BBR62 bottom bracket went into place as I plodded along with the build.

The GRX cranks come with a 48/31 combination and I found that I could get all gears. The problem being that when I was in 31-11 the chain was too loose. I had to customise the chain length. This took a bit of time taking one link off at a time. I finally got to an optimal length and able to get all gears except the big gears, 48-42. This is OK, I wont be using that anyway.

I did work out that if I replaced the 48 t chainring with a 42 t I would easily get all gears and shorten my chain even further. I purchased a 42 t ring only to realise in my haste I purchased a 1 x ring. It works but changing between rings is not nice and smooth at all. I do plan on doing some touch ups to it with the dremel, and shape it more to a 2 x shape.

With all being said and done, I have to say I'm ecstatic with the bike. I added a set of FUNN 600 mm wide gravel bars to add in the comfort, and it all works, and works. I do need to fiddle with the front derailleur a little, but I am just waiting for the cables to stretch and all break in a little. Re-adjustments will be necessary shortly down the track

So now I have the bike I want, and at half the price of what I was looking at on my shortlist. I took the gamble and it paid off.

So needless to say I am back on the bike, with mixed successes. But I am getting stronger as I go, getting fitter and loosing much needed weight that has piled on over the past couple of years.

Amidst the riding I have a kayak as well and have just finished a week long trip up the Upper Noosa River. This is something that I will continue to do, kayaking is so much like riding a bike. I have a new sit in kayak on order to make away trips paddling more eventful. The current kayak, a sit on top will be my fishing boat. With a 42 lb thrust motor, sounder and some homemade stabilisers it should more than adequate.

I'm currently on a road trip trying out the new bike on gravel roads, although a brief hiatus is happening due to a bout of food poisoning. With some heavy rain expected this week I'll head off at the end of it and continue on my way.

On top of all this a move was planned and executed. We sold up in town and moved to the small village of Wallaville. We moved form a suburban block to a nice little acre patch that overlooks cane fields and mountains from the front, and cattle and feed paddocks behind us. Gone is the traffic that constantly plagued our existence, replaced now by birds chirping and cattle mooing. The new property is on the opposite side of the highway to the entrance of Goodnight Scrub, a patch of National Park that has many wonderous gravel roads and trails, the perfect access to some awesome bikepacking trips.

Along with the move comes the fun of renovating the new digs, an older home this will be a work in progress for some time to come. The kitchen will be our first port of call, then onto the bathroom which desperately needs ripping out and rebuilding.

I also purchased a new, well new to me, van. A 2004 Kia Pregio. A 2.7 lt naturally aspirated diesel, it doesn't do too well at pulling the skin off custard, but will serve well as an on road campervan/bike carrier...you know, for those planned bike trips. The car sat for two years after having the engine and gearbox rebuilt, I think I have the rats out of it. Well at least the rat smell anyway...

I also bought a boat, yes a boat. I.ve wanted one for ages. It is a Quintrex 4.2 mt tinnie that has a Mercury 50 hp 2 stroke on the back. The previous owner added some pods to the transom to help support the extra weight of a fully framed floor, large under floor fuel tank etc. This takes the boat out to 4.5 mt in length, and with it's slightly higher sides will make a great, close off shore boat. I look forward to some great boating adventures ahead.

There is also a new bike on the way. I was told once that if you go fat, you wont go back...lol. The bike is a Norco Bigfoot 3 Fat Bike. It has a a 1 x 11 drive chain, 27.5x4.5 inch tyres and will make the perfect permanent bikepacking set up. I am much closer to Promiseland Mountain Bike park where I live now, so I want the Cube to be a permanent mountain bike. It will help with the constant setting the bike up before I travel. With the Norco it will be just a simple case of load and go, and not trying to fit racks etc to head off. I'll use my existing bikepacking kit, the Blackburn Outpost front roll back, frame bag and cages, and Topeak 16 lt Backloader tailpack. I've also purchase an Aero Spider Rack for the rear it, giving that much needed extra room.

As the Nicasio, Sutra and Attention SL continue to preform wonderfully it has become a case of N+1 yet again, something that wasn't planned...but it is what it is...lol

I do have another operation to face sometime in the not too distant future. The Perennial Hernia has enlarged to a terrible state and is need of repair. This time it will be with a plastic surgeon, so my butt will get a cut and tuck. Hopefully this will be a permanent repair. It will be a about a six week convalescence, so there are some plans I have put on the back burner until I know more. It may be a case of another year written off, but this time with some light appearing at the end of the tunnel.

I am also still cancer free, That is just over three years now, fantastic news.

Well that is about it, and should get you all up to date. I have found my camera so I can write about my Wooroolin trip next.

As I said, I hope this is a turn around, social medias just haven't bee a priority over the past couple of years.

Cheers all, and ride safe out there

It's Been A Long Drought

One thing I have always loved is writing on this blog. Unfortunately amid home renovations, more surgery, more recovery and extremely low motivation, the blog has suffered.

I've really cut back on social media so it is not only the blog that has gone array. Facebook and Twitter had become far to political where one was to accepting of others' but was attacked for their own. The whole new Religious Cult of Politicalism (that's what I call it) has become tremendously disturbing. You don't dare rebuttal the narrative. Sadly the vast majority of Australians have been programmed into mindless Socialist sheep.

I have deleted my website. I wasn't using it, and although it was a free site it was pointless. My blogsite here will become that. It's easy and convenient. YouTube and Instagram are still open, although uploads on YouTube have only just started up again.

To be completely honest, I was really over it all. But here is a place where I clear my head, a place that I say what I feel, although mainly bike related.

I have been off the bike since October as I had a series of hernia repairs that were the result of my cancer surgery in 2020. It's all healed now, although there is no guarantee of how long it will last. The bike should make a comeback by the end of March, fingers crossed.

I have purchased a kayak which should see me out on some adventures. It's a sit on top, but one that you sit quite low in. It is very stable, which is great for me. I have purchased a 44 lb thrust motor for the back of it, which will be used mainly for fishing. Camping adventures will be done the old fashioned way, paddling. I plan to get out on day trips, and overnight, maybe even the longer trip or two...who knows?

Hiking is on the comeback. I have a new, much lighter backpack. But it is something I love to do. Yuraygir Nat Park in Northern NSW and The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk are two hikes that are on my list.

We've been busy getting an older caravan up and running. We had the 2010 Jayco Penguin, but as the girls get bigger and still want to tag along we've upsized. The van is a 1987 Windsor 17' pop top. It's much bigger inside and gives us a whole heap more room for inside living when necessary. 

There is still work to be done. I have got 2 x 250 watt solar panels to through on the roof which will power up the new (and yet to be purchased) 200 am/h LiPo battery.

The standard 65 lt Dometic 3 way absorption fridge is fitted. That will be ripped out and a 85 lt Brass Monkey 12/24 V fridge will be mounted. I just find that 3 wat fridges are ho hum when it comes to working in the Queensland climate.

An external awning is yet to be fitted as well. I do love the Fiama wind out awnings, but will probably go with a Dometic pull out.

Kitchen renos are almost done and should have them done by the end of next week, hopefully. then it will be time to attack the outside, painting, fixing trim etc. We are considering selling whilst the market is good and buying acreage in maybe in Central NSW. Maybe even very close the Central West Cycle Trail. That would suit me :)

The old 4wd is still going strong and I have no plans to change it. With that said, the upgraded van, the Paj, and the house sale could mean a road trip is on the cards.

So that is what is happening in my world at the moment. There is new pieces of kit to review, a tent has been purchase, and new camera gear all to be reviewed and chatted about. So, as I attempt to break the drought and get back behind the keyboard I have got plenty to talk about.

One more thing I wish to get involved in this year is long distance gravel events. I have the Marin Nicassio and all the upgrade gear has arrived. The build on that will be soon. It si something that has always interested me, Audax style.

New Bike Day.

There is something about getting a new bike, whether it be assembled at a bike shop, or delivered in a box. But I have to say, unboxing is a little special.

Now I've always preferred the LBS, Local.Bike Store. But over the past years I have had reason to turn away from them in my town. I have, luckily found one that I may frequent.

Being told that your Cube is pretty much a shit bike that I'll have trouble with, and another that charges well above prices...well. By the way, I have not had one once of trouble with the Cube Atyention SL in the three years I've owned it.

Anyway digressing...yes opening up the box, lifting it out and starting to separate the pieces of the beautiful puzzle was, well, exciting.

I purchase the new bike online as you've probably guessed. The bike is a Marin Nicasio gravel bike, as I've been looking for this style bike for  while.

I've looked and pondered some over the past twelve months or so, and on my list was the Bombtrak and Kona. But prices intontje high 3k made me hum and ah.

Price was a big factor of the Nicasio. It came in at $897.00 AUD on an End Of Finacial Year Sale. Normal retail is around $1099-$1299 AUD.  It is a budget friendly bike but it had characteristics that caught my eye.

It is has a Chromoly frame and forks with plenty of rack, guard and cage mount options. It has the Shimano Claris 2 x 8 drive chain with .... mechanical disc brakes. STI shifters are Claris as well.

It comes standard with Marin double walled aluminium 32H rims that sport 30 mm .... tyres and 6 bolt 160 mm rotors. The rear wheel is fitted with a Sunrace 11-34 cassette, which in my opinion only just fits. It seems a little snug changing into the granny gear.

The saddle is a Marin and is mounted using a 27.2 mm seat post. This saddle is quite surprising. The Kona Sutra is the only bike I've owned that I didn't change to saddle on straight away. The Cube, and even my munched loved Trek Domane 5.2. The Bontager Paradigms were far from a comfort endurance saddle. But the Marin saddle is extremely comfortable, it's an astonishing keeper.

Cranks are FSA with a tapered seald BB. They measure on my size, a 58, 175 mm and length, and run a compact chainring set, 50/34.

The bike rides very well for a starting point bike. The last bike I had with Claris 2 x 8 was my Trek Alpha 1.1, a base road model. Shimano has vastly the Claris shifters and derailleurs. They are much smoother than they used to be.

The bike is smooth and feels light for an all steel bike. It has agile and responsive handling, and gives you plenty of road feel whilst suppressing the bumps.

The standard 30 mm tyres are more of a road tyre  but do handle gravel OK. But they're not something I would like to ride the BVRT with. They do, however, grip well even in the wet.

If you're after a budget bike, it would be one well worth considering. Purchasing the bike through Bicycles Online was easy, and delivery time swift. It only took three days from Sydney to Bundaberg. The bike was exceptionally well packed with Velcro straps and compressed neoprene as the packing.

Assembly was easy. Simply fit handlebars and seat post/seat, front wheel and pedals. I did find some adjustments needed to be done, brake cable tension, and pad adjustment, along with some indexing and cable tension adjustment on the gears. Even if you're a newby to riding and have little mechanical skill set it isn't hard, a quick search on YouTube will have your bike up and running in no time. Oh, and the bike comes with a multi tool and a pedal spanner. Yes the bike comes with pedals...they are just basic plastic flat pedals. But they do have a good sizable platform.

To be honest, out of the box this bike is a good bike. Basic components make for simple maintenance. It's ride quality and agility make it a great bike. It would make a great commuter bike as is, but to say it is a gravel bike is a push. It handles gravel well, don't get me wrong, but tyres are the thing that would let it down here. It has room for 700x40c or you can swap to 650bx47c. They do state that it takes up to a 700x35c tyre, but later in their description they state 30-40 mm tyres.

All in all I'm very happy with the purchase, even as is. But me being me, it won't stop there. I have also been busy purchasing upgraded components to make a great little bike even better...but we'll leave that side of it for another time

The Endless Mind Game

 It has been crazy here. I've had a lot too deal with, not physically but mentally. This is where it gets tough for me.

In April of 2019 I retired from work due to anxiety, depression and PTSD. I've always battled the first two, and fought well to control it. But in September of 2014 a car overtook my truck up over the crest of a hill and over double unbroken lines.

That on itself is annoying more then threatening, but a car carrying two occupants was coming the other way. It was that moment that sealed my fate as well. Watching two innocent men, fathers and husbands scream to their deaths has haunted me ever since.

In 2017 I was diagnosed with Severe Anxiety and Depressive Disorder along with PTSD. It has been a long battle to get some form of life, and is still a hard war to fight even to this day.

Motivation is squashed, desire buried and the will to live is non existent. I am on the road to recovery, well stabilisation now. I see a psychiatrist regularly and I will ne seeing a new psychologist soon for a new line of treatment for me, EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprogramming. Essentially how it was explained to me is that the part of the brain that controls the flight or fight responses has never turned off. This hasn't allowed the part of the brain that processes dramas and the such to process my trauma.

It's not a new treatment, it's been around for a while. But it is new to me and we'll see how it goes.

At the moment I take a daily cocktail of medication to keep me somewhat sane, or as sane as I can be. The EMDR hopefully will weave it's magic and get me off, or at least reduce the amount of medication I'm on.

Riding makes a difference to the headspace I become imprisoned in. But it is always easy. The Anxiety when high cause a dizziness, similar to that of vertigo of which I'm no stranger to. Once.on the bike and riding this dizziness disappears. But somedays it's difficult to feel safe balance wise. I know if I push through things will improve dramatically. But keeping balance on the bike until then is sometimes extremely scary. It's an oxymoron really, stuffed if I do, and stuffed if I don't.

Of course the time spent fighting cancer last year did not help the situation. Between lockdowns and recovery it become increasingly difficult to fight back against the drowning dark cloud the encapsulated me. 

I suppose that's what it feels like to me anyway. Imagine being in a fog so thick that you can't see before your face as you stumble around. At the same time knowing that there is a cliff face near you, worrying if your next step could be your last, heart racing, mind thumping and every nerve in your body feels like it's on fire. So then you lay down to protect yourself. The fog turns to a blinding darkness, the air around you is somehow vaccumed out, not only your lungs, but the atmosphere around you.

Then the body gives in to the mind's deception. You collapse, unable to move, so fearful. You start to weep internally and the thoughts of gloom become stronger and stronger. Something so minuscule becomes a giant that you have no way of knowing how you'll over come it.

You find safety in your surroundings. Its a comfort thing. You isolate yourself, not just from friends, but from loved ones as well. Then, when you think it's all over and you get up to leave, the safety of isolation turns to a prison, one of continual torment, attacking your self worth and esteem. You give in and allow the shackles to keep you chained in that thought. It becomes easier to give in than it is to fight.

It's not an easy road, I know I'm not the only one...but you feel so alone. Your self confidence shattered becomes shards of glass that cut and tear at your soul as you crawl around in torment. You forget who you are, you character and personality sucked out of you. You've been imprisoned for so long you have no idea of what freedom is. It is easy to open a door of a bird cage, but it is not always easy to get the bird out.

Hopefully this new treatment will give me confidence enough to step outside that cage door. Hopefully it will give me the desire to find me again. It was journey that began in 2019 when I started pedalling south. It never happened the way I wanted. The prison drew me back in.

But I want to fight, I want out, I want to win. I know I can do it. I may never be the man I used to be. But maybe, just maybe I may even come out of this stronger and better than before.

Five Days Is better Than None

I headed off from Childers with the intention of redoing and beating the Kullogum Killer. That was the ride where I ended up badly dehydrated whilst still in the midst of Wongi State Forest.

I had planned better and was prepared better. I had more supplies and was able to carry more water due to the fact that I was towing my Extrawheel trailer.

The first day was simple, it was around 2.00 pm when I left Childers. I was planning on camping in one of the local parks or rest areas, but being a long weekend there was just too much traffic. So I decided to ride out of town along Rainbows Rd until it got closer to night fall. It was around 16 km when I finally found a nice area to camp.

I got set up, this was going to be the first night in the new Burrow Bivvy Tent. I set it up, found some rocks and made a fire pit and gathered some firewood.

Dark came soon enough and with a cosy small fire going I set about getting some dinner on. Tonight's specialty was spaghetti bolegnese. 

I hadn't seen a car, or another person since I had left the small town. It was quiet, and it didn't take long for the serenity to start soaking in. This is what I love, in the middle of nowhere, a small fire and not a sound except the crickets and night birds. I turned in shortly after and it didn't take long to fall asleep.

Morning came around after a mixed night's sleep. Changing between hot and cold in the new bivvy made it uncomfortable at times. It held some condensation over the course of the night, although not to the point where it was dripping on me.

Up and with some porridge and coffee on my stomach it was time to get packed up and on the road. I will say that the new bivvy made for a quick pack up. I left my sleeping mat and pillow inside it when rolling it up.

Off on the new route now, it seemed so much easier than the previous time I went through Wongi. The road much smoother, with less ruts and washouts made it easier to ride loaded. The trailer in tow seemed to help with less weight directly on the bike.

Continuing along Rainbows Rd it wasn't long before I was Agnesvale Rd. The road narrowed but was still a joy to ride in. It was also signed along the way making it more comfortable knowing I was on the right track. Something that caused me a lot of questioning on my prior trip.

My plan was to head down these roads and join onto the beginning of Old Coach Rd, but this didn't happen. I followed the signs and my route on Komoot but ended up on some of the old route that I had done. It was good though, this was the better section of the forestry roads.

I started noticing familiar sights, like bridges, clearings and a particular creek crossing that I collected water from. I came out right where I had camped before. This was good, I knew where I was. That's always a good feeling.

On Old Coach Rd now I was making my way for Kullogum Rd. There was evidence of four wheel drives and some of the road had been chopped up. Up hill and down I continued and onto Kullogum.

It was still a challenge and I was tiring. I was also getting low on water, again. This was all good though. I wasn't aiming for Brooweena, I was only aiming for North Aramara, which much closer.

I soon found my spot where I had collapsed last time. I was so excited to make it past here. One more hill and I was on a down hill run. I finished the last of my water at the top of this hill as a celebration. Down hill for the most part now to North Aramara.

I came into the small village just prior to 5.00 pm. I was told I could get water at the town hall on the other side of the township, but I needed somewhere to camp. As I came into town I saw the old Armara North State School that was now closed. This was now a recreation area cared for by Fraser Coast Council. There was a weather shed at the rear and a tank of crystal clear water, just what I needed.

Set up for the night under the shelter I had no phone service to check in. My wife is coming accustomed to this, but it did make me think of the importance of a sattelite messenger. With dinner done I turned in watching the lightning show coming up on the horizon. Then it was rime to listen to some heavy rain as I drifted off to sleep.

After a good night sleep I was woken by some nearby roadworks machinery. Up, packed and coffeed up it was time to hit the road for Memorial Bridge. Not an overly long day, but I was ignorant of what may lay ahead.

It didn't take long to ride the remainder of North Aramara Rd. With just a short pedal along Maryborough Biggenden Rd I was on Glenbar Rd which was much, much quieter.

It wasn't long before I was on gravel, Walkers Flat Rd and enjoying the scenery, and the serenity. Again, back on roads devoid of cars I was in my happy place. After a few more bends I was onto Gigoogman Rd, and much more open country. Tucked on behind trees I hadn't noticed the very strong westerly that had formed. I was now facing it head on, and it wasn't kind at all.

After many stops I turned onto Bullocky Rd still facing my fierce nemesis, the headwind. I was extremely close to finding a camp site along this stretch. But I pushed on and finally made Brooweena Woolooga Rd, and now only had a short distance to Memorial Bridge. 

I made it, and enjoyed such a pleasant break. It had cooled down significantly since I had hit the headwinds. Earlier in the day I had changed from a long sleeve shirt to a short sleeve. But now at Memorial Bridge I was clammering for something warm to put on. The westerly wind changed aandcoming now more from the south brought a very cool change indeed.

Warmed up and coffee on I was settled in. I set up the bivvy under the picnic shelter and tied off both ends to the structures posts. Night settling in as the sun dove down over the horizon I set in to have some dinner and turn in for the night.

It was a cool night and I was met with a cool morning when I awoke. Up and porridge with coffee I set about gettongbthings packed up. Some workman had turned up earlier to do some painting repairs to the Bridge, which is the only privately owned War Memorial in Queensland.

I was on my way and enjoying the morning. Vehicle traffic was higher on this road but they were all friendly and courteous. I stopped a few times to snack and catch my breath, and once on Running Creek Rd I was hoping the creek had water...and it did.

I stopped for a while, filtered some water and enjoyed a cool drink before heading on up the hill. This second hill is the steepest and longest along this road, and I walked it pushing the bike. But I love this road and fund it as enjoyable as the tail trails.

It was late afternoon and I wasn't feeling the best. I was still in a bit of a recovery mode from the previous two days hard yakka. About ten kilometers from Kilkivan I decided to call it a night.  On the sideof the road, the tarp strewn between two trees and the bivvy under it.

A farmer came by later in the evening with her four dogs, one I aptly named Physco...it was, in a funny l, loving kind of way. After our chat she left with her dogs behind and I settled down for some dinner. I ran out of water at the end of the night, but wasn't too concerned as it was only a short, mostly down hill run in to Kilkivan.

Up, packed and on my way skipping breakfast I was pedalling to town. I decided to go an egg and bacon roll with a couple of hash browns and coffee at one of the local establishments. I also decided that I would only rode to Kilkivan and camp for the night. I thought that a good rest might help recharge the batteries a bit.

It was here I started having issues with my colostomy again. Bugger this, I was over it. This is where I decided to call it quits for the trip. I probably overreacted too much too soon now in hind sight. But I'm still getting used to this colostomy whilst bike touring thing.

I had a great time, five days of glorious riding in some scenic and beautiful country. I met so.e characters along the way, enjoyed some serenity, and felt a little like old me again. Bit most of all I was able to extend my trip a little further than the last one. I also managed to learn and gain some experience in regards to managing myself on a trip.

Five days and two hundred kilometers, what's next? Well stay tuned for that...

Cheers, and ride safe out there 👍

Cancer and Dealing With It's Aftermath On The Road

All I've wanted to do is get on my bike and ride. I don't mean around town, I can do that anytime on any day. But travelling by bike on a trip is what I am so wanting to get doing again.

It was a long 12 months last year, dealing with cancer, my operation and the changes that it brought about. It became even longer after dealing with the broken neck on top of it all.

As someone who has battled Anxiety, Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, riding isn't just a lovely hobby, it has become a necessity for survival.

Riding is my peace, my Zen, the balancing of my ying and yang so to speak. It clears my mind, it soothes my soul. It takes away the Anxiety that abounds in this troubled mind of mine.

I actually believe that if it came to a point that I could no longer ride, I would die. To me it is as necessary as breathing.

That all being said, I have to change things a little. Yes, I love my riding around town, everything from exploration, just riding or transporting to shops etc. But I also adore my touring and bikepacking, and in this lies the dilemma.

Ever since Rectal Cancer last year left me with a permanent colostomy, it is in this that hides the challenges of touring and packing. It is no longer a case of just packing a bike with a roll of toilet paper and heading off.

Now it takes much more planning. Now I'm not talking about an overnighter, or a couple of days. They are relatively easy to deal with. But longer trips, a week, two weeks and longer.

I started out using standard colostomy pouches, both closed and drainable. Closed ones are just that, they're closed. Once filled they are disguarded and thrown into the rubbish. Drainables have an open end that can be emptied into the toilet, for such instances as diorea.

Pouches are basically a bag that adheres onto the abdomen over the stoma. It collects your output, or faeces. Not the most pleasant of subjects I know. 

Now in itself they have served their purpose. But the big issue with wearing a pouch is that your output is irregular. It happens when it happens. This makes it difficult to judge how many pouches are required on any given trip.

To give you a bit of a background here...I could go two or three days without going to the toilet. Then I could go three, or even more times in one day. Some days it was just constant small amounts of output. Some days I would have diorea. Nothing was normal or regular. I then investigated a method called Irrigation, or Bowel Training. This is what I now do.

This method is a little more involved than sticking on a bag. It requires a little time and effort, and water.

Irrigation is a basically giving yourself an enema. Filling a bag with around a liter of water at a particular temperature. Then is fed into the stoma filling the bowel at a prescribed rate. To fast a flow, or wrong temperature and it can cause stomach cramps, and even cause one to pass out.

Now, of course there is a method by where the waste is caught. Prior to filling the bowel a temporary disposable drainage bag called an Irridrain is applied. This catches any water spilled and the waste that comes out.

It takes around ten minutes to fill the bowel. Then it takes around thirty to forty minutes for the bowel to drain. This can be done daily, or every second day. I haven't had much success with going two days at yet.

After this is done a small pouch called a Mini Cap is applied. This helps contain any small amounts of output that may happen the next day. These occurances are rare though.

Why do I do this? It's simple, I have control. Where as I would go any time, any amount, I now have control over my bowel and my movement. It is a bit like being normal and regular in a way.

I choose to do this at night after dinner. I give my dinner approximately an hour to digest then go into the bathroom and do my thing. I've chosen night time for a couple of reasons.

1. I live with four women in the house. My wife and three daughters. The bathrooms in our house are pretty much over occupied in the mornings. Night time is quiet...lol.

2. I have decided to do it at night for when I go biking, and hiking. As it takes the best part of an hour to complete, it makes more sense to me to do it at night. The day is done, I'm sitting back and relaxing.

Once the application is done I can walk around and do what I want whilst I'm waiting for my bowel to drain. So I can clean up, get stuff packed ready for the next morning, blog, post on social media etc.

Yes, the drainage bag needs to be emptied. This also creates a problem. If at a comping ground, caravan park or rest area where there is a toilet, it all honkey dory. But if in the middle of the bush I have to dig a small hole to empty the contents. 

I'm a person who likes to live by the motto of Leave No Trace. Unfortunately there are certain times I have to break my own rule.

The plastic bag of course goes into my rubbish bag well wrapped up in a disposable nappy bag. So there is no rubbish left behind.

I know sometimes we have to go when we have to go. So riding or hiking along a trail nature may call, and call loudly. So I guess burrying my waste isn't a real big deal.

Unfortunately, as I said, it's not as easy as packing a roll of toilet paper. But when I look at it, I choose where I can bury it, I leave no toilet paper floating off into the breeze and the rest of my rubbish comes with me until I find a bin.

That's just the application process, on top of all this I have to plan and carry my supplies with me. Mini caps are much smaller and lighter than closed or drainable pouches. But the irrigation drainage bags are not the lightest and when I have carry quite quite a few they soon add up in weight.

This is why I found it difficult to bikepack on my last trip and took my trailer. Everything was just too overloaded.

I've decided that lightweight bikepacking for more than four days is not practical for me. Anything over that I really need to take a touring approach, either on the Kona with all four panniers, or bikepacking with the trailer in tow. There's no other way around it that I can see at the moment.

Water is essential for this process. Its not just needed for the application but I have to remain hydrated. The lower bowel removes a moisture from waste ready for processing in the rectum. Seeing I no longer have a rectum, if I become dehydrated I can end up with a blockage, something I don't want to go through. This is all big reason why I called my wife the first time on Kullogum when I became dehydrated.

I have to maintain a healthy amount of water throughout the day. Now I know that is a given but if I don't, the water will not flow into my bowel and flows straight into the irridrain. It's a waste of time, and precious water. I need to be well hydrated for it to work properly.

I know that this may have been a gross subject, but I just wanted to point out what is involved for someone with a stoma and colostomy to bikepack, tour or hike. It is still a work in progress.l and I won't give up, I will find a solution...

Cheers and ride safe out there 👍

The Irrigation bag and colostomy tip

A closed pouch v's a mini cap

The irridrain

The method

Where it goes, into the stoma