The video highlights have been put together into a beautiful movie of our journey from Brisbane to Sydney. Watching it brings back some nice memories of the pain and happiness a 1,050km ride can bring. I can't believe how lucky we were with the beautiful weather and amazing scenery.
Enjoy!!
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
ePetition - Safe Passing Distance for Cyclists
Last Friday morning a memorial bike ride was held for Richard
Pollett who was cycling on Moggill Road and killed by an overtaking cement
truck in 2011.
The driver of the truck was found to be not guilty. I have strong feelings about this case (and the verdict), but putting my positive action hat on - there is something we can do to help avoid future scenarios like Richards.
The driver of the truck was found to be not guilty. I have strong feelings about this case (and the verdict), but putting my positive action hat on - there is something we can do to help avoid future scenarios like Richards.
The Pollett family and Safe Cycling Australia have launched an
ePetition calling for the legislation of minimum safe passing distance (1.5m)
between cyclists and other road users. The ePetition is supported by MP Bruce Flegg (who is a cyclist too).
ePetition link (closes 28/10/13):
ePetition link (closes 28/10/13):
If you support the
idea, please sign the ePetition and share with others.
RIP Richard - we hope that your death was not in vain and that we can make the roads a safer place to share with everyone equally.
Monday, 20 May 2013
2013 Bridge2Bridge Wrap-Up and Photo Diary
"You've ridden from where?!" The lady sitting in traffic beside me asks.
"The Story Bridge in Brisbane. Over 1,000km in a week." I reply a second time, with a half embarassed/half proud grin spreading across my face.
"Wow. Thats a long way. Wow! You guys are amazing. Good luck for the rest of the ride!" She smiles and waves goodbye to the group.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That was a pretty typical interaction from strangers we had met along our journey. Whenever we would have to put the Bridge2Bridge into words and explain to someone that we were cycling from Brisbane to Sydney, it would hammer home the sheer distance and size of the challenge (in case we had somehow forgotten).
As a fairly regular cyclist, I knew pretty well how much pain 1,000km would inflict on our bodies. But some of the other riders were less experienced (and much, much less prepared) and basically went in blind. For me, this is what made their achievement even more amazing. I know plenty of people who would have pulled out even before the first day was over.
There were definately times when I was hurting badly (physically and mentally) and thought about stopping or slow down. But the combination of the ride purpose, the people I was riding for and my determination to see it thru soon and give it my best soon banished those thoughts to the back of my mind. In the end, I completed it without too many problems and felt pretty good the next day. I even pushed myself on the climbs and set a quick average pace each day. My only real issues were:
- Saddle sores - They came on after 4 days of riding. I had used copius amounts of Assos Chamois Cream but they still appeared. They weren't too bad and I was able to continue riding (with a grimace) for the rest of the week. I would hate to imagine what it would have been like if I didn't use the cream (ouch!).
- Knee pain - My left knee was hurting quite abit when we hit the cold tableland country. Armidale, Scone and Glen Innes were all below 5 degrees and I found that my knee would hurt for a few hours until I had sufficiently warmed up. It didnt affect my riding too much as I would take it easy and warm up for the first 30-40km then hit top speed with Ivor and Lawrie later in the day. I should point out that I usually hate, hate, hate, hate the cold - and this ride would mark the coldest weather I have ever ridden a bike in.
- Flats - I was lucky with only 2 flats. Poor Ivor had 8 altogether, with 4 occuring in one day! That would have tested my patience I think.
- Shifting - My shifting on the bike wasn't as clean as I would have liked. I dropped the chain off the front a few times and there was some noise in the rear cogs too. I will have to spend some time looking over it this weekend.
The Team
The A-team! (L-R): Mark, Alex, Randall, Cure For Life rep, Graham, Rochelle, Lauren, Lawrie, Ivor, Kevin, Cure For Life rep, Andrew, Peter (and son), Me
Evil Masterminds (Randall & Mark): The key organisers. Randall lost his daugher to an aggressive brain tumor which lead to his first ride from Gympie to Sydney solo. After rebranding to Bridge2Bridge, Randall hopes to continue the ride for years to come. Mark is his key offsider - organising media appearences, meet & greets, school visits and rider preparation. Mark also loves a beer or three.
Guardian Angels (Graham and Rochelle): Our saviours. They drove the van and tended to our every need. I know how whingey and annoying I can be after a hard ride so I am so grateful for all their help managing and looking after 10 riders day-in, day-out. They put out breakfast, picked up our luggage, organised our motel bookings, provided drinks and food, warmed us up, cooled us down, encouraged us and provided vital distance and time checks (how annoying would 10 cyclists asking "how far to go now?" everyday be haha) and generally putting up with us. Without them, the ride would have been impossible.
The LJ Hooker crew: The major sponsor for the ride this year was LJ Hooker. This was led by the Sunnybank Hills branch. Peter is the head honcho and his team of Alex, Kevin and Andrew were along for the ride. Lauren (Alex's partner) and Lawrie (Peters friend) also joined up to boost numbers. They had strong motivation to complete the challenge with Lauren losing both her Dad and Sister to brain cancer and Lawrie losing his brother.
The Leftovers: Me and Ivor. Ivor knew Randall thru a friend and signed up for the first time this year. And me, well I just was on the internet one day and ended up on the B2B website. The rest is history.
Memorable Quotes
"Yep, they're screwed" - Was the resounding conclusion when Lawrie, Ivor and I had finally staggered into the motel in Warwick on Day 1 after 170km and the monster Cunninghams Gap climb. We were absolutely shattered and had little hope for the other less-experienced riders, especially after hear they had to walk up Cunninghams Gap. It was hours until we saw the next rider limp into the motel and the last rider finished in the dark. But none of them gave up, which speaks volumes for their mental strength."Damn you, Bolivia!!" - Muttered by me when my knee was giving me some grief climbing the long Bolivia hill outside Tenterfield. I still have no idea why this random climb is named after a South American country. Good news was I hit my highest speed of the trip - 75km/hr - down the otherside.
"How many hills are left?" - I think Lauren asked Randal this question daily haha. Safe to say Lauren wasn't a keen cyclist when she joined the ride but I am hopeful we have converted her now. She was the most determined person on the ride, with only 4 months of cycling under her belt she never gave up.
"Andrew crashed his bike further back. Peter might have pushed him off." - On the last day, Andrew had an unfortunate accident crossing a freeway onramp and was left sprawled across the tarmac. When his brother Peter, arrived fresh as a daisy miles ahead, we concluded that Andrew may have been caught up in sibling rivalry.
"Oh look, dead pig." - After seeing close to 50 dead wallabies on the side of the road, we were somewhat excited about a different dead animal. For the record, we saw only 1 dead pig, a few foxes, a deer and a couple of cats. My nose is now finely tuned to the stench of road kill - I can smell it coming a kilometer away.
"Kevin is lucky to still be alive. He ended up in a bogan coal mine." - On the second last day we passed thru Cessnock which has the reputation for being somewhat....bogan. Poor Kevin (our funny Korean rider) had set off by himself, was promptly verbally abused by some racist kids, got angry and rode off in a huff. Only problem being that he went down the wrong road and ended up on some Cessnock coal mine access road. Safe to say if Graham and Rochelle didnt find & rescue him, those rednecks would've had Kevvy for dinner. Funny story tho.
Afterthoughts...
For days after the ride I would flip flop between two trains of thought:- Well, that wasn't so hard. I am not even that sore. I didn't bleed, I didn't sacrifice a body part and with abit of training anyone could do that ride. Heck, even a rider with 4 months experience managed to finish. Its not that big of a deal.
- Holy moly that was hard. Don't forget how low you felt coming into Warwick on the first day - that was the worst you have ever felt on the bike. How many other people do you know that could do that? Sure the less experienced riders finished as well, but their mental strength is what kept them going. Its mind over matter when the body gives up. That was a tough ride.
Yes, it was the hardest week of riding in my life. But, it was also the most rewarding thing I have ever done. There is that magical feeling of pushing yourself to the absolute limit of exhaustion, yet still being able to smile and laugh only an hour later. Add to that the fact we were doing it for charity (and in memory of friends we lost), then you have this whole mixed feelings of achievement, honour and sacrifice. Regarding the charity side, its nice to know someone, who I will never meet, will benefit from the money we raised - and one day if a cure for cancer is found, I can quietly be proud to be one of the many who helped that happen.
All in all, I would count it as a life changing experience. One which I would love to repeat again.
Wide-eyed and Legless....exactly how I felt at the end of the ride
Photo Slideshow
News Articles
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/east/six-dedicated-riders-will-take-on-1000km-this-week-when-they-take-part-in-the-bridge-2-bridge-bike-ride/story-fn8m0sve-1226632796207http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/1490373/on-bikes-to-save-lives/
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/pedal-power-to-find-a-cure/1871087/
http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/1485089/putting-the-brake-on-cancer/
http://www.tenterfieldstar.com.au/story/1468298/riders-arduous-trek-for-cancer/
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/pedalling-for-cure-to-cancer/1849798/
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/bridge-to-bridge-riders-get-ready/1853297/
http://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/story/1596244/pedalling-for-a-brain-cancer-cure/?cs=459
Friday, 12 April 2013
Motivational Story - Reid Anderton (Aussie Challenge)
This is one of the most amazing endurance endeavours I have ever seen. The Aussie Challenge is Reid Anderton aiming to break the current record for travelling around Australia on his bicycle. He has set out to cover 400km per day for 35 days (total of 14,100kms).
As a recreational cyclist, I know what these kind of distances and times translate to (lets just say....alot of pain!). Not even professional cyclists do this amount of riding in their training.....and they get paid to ride!
Reid Anderton is nothing short of a legend. He is truly inspiring and an prime example of how far you can push the human body if you are willing to try. Mental toughness will long outlast your physical limitations.
From his website...
Breaking the Current Record
The Guinness World Record is currently set at 14,183 km (8,813 miles) around the coastline of Australia in 42 days, 8 hours and 25 minutes by Hubert Schwarz (Germany) on the 4th of October 1993. This averages around 337km/day. But there was another record set on the 20th of October 2011 by Dave Alley at 37 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes, or around 377km/day. Let's just say that's a pretty high bar to better and a lot of pain to endure.Reid Anderton who is part of the Challenge for Change team will be attempting to break the record for the fastest solo supported cycle around Australia. Reid is aiming to ride over 400km/day for 35 days - totalling 14,100kms. While he maybe cycling alone, he is hoping many will join the cause and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.
Suffering Alone
My (Reid) Challenge is ridiculous; 400km per day for 35 days around Australia. If I make it, it will set a new record for the fastest solo supported cycle around Australia. Everything would have to go my way for this figure to be achieved. Injury, weather (headwinds and rain), logistics, planning or lack of physical/ mental ability will all come into play, meaning my best case scenario could be severely limited, or at worst case, I could fail to complete the entire journey at all.On average I will be on my bike for 16-18 hours per day, burn 15,500 calories (enough to consume 28 Big Macs or 980 over the 35 days!) use 7 sets of tyres and cycle over 14,200km of following a single white line travelling at around 25-30km per hour, by myself. Enough to do anyone's head in!
400km per day – possibly not achievable? But given the right conditions...just maybe!
Why?
Why does Reid ride? To raise funds and awareness for kids living in poverty, particularly in Southern Africa, working with Eagles Wings. Abject poverty is a condition that around 2.5 billion people worldwide experience. It basically means they are trying to live or exist on less than $2 per day. I personally have no idea in reality what this feels like, but I have seen the effects and issues related to abject poverty, mostly within Southern Africa. It is not a good story.Your challenge will not be easy either. While I am on a bike for at least 35 days riding 400km per day, your challenge is to simplify your life-style for 35 days in order to raise $400. This way we will all stand in solidarity with children who currently live in extreme poverty raising vital funds and awareness.
Is $400 easy? Think through the certain luxuries you may be used to
in your day to day lives. You enjoy coffee, chocolate, a round of golf,
driving EVERYWHERE, desserts, restaurants etc. Get the picture? Each day
you have to simplify your life-style enough to save $12.00 per day.
This is where your $400 will come from. Individually this may be a big
challenge, but done as a family, or business it will be achievable.To place this in perspective it costs around $12.00 per month to educate a child in Africa. Every day you save $12.00, means ONE month worth of quality education for a child in need.
So take a deep breath, consider the purpose and sign up to simplify your lifestyle for 35 days. Give up the take away coffee, the extra chocolate and maybe that round of golf and before you know it you will have the $400.
Let us know what you have done to simplify your life in order to stand in solidarity with disadvantaged kids and how much you have been able to save as a result. Post your stories on our Facebook page. Encourage and inspire others to participate. A real challenge for your change.
Reid Anderton - Suffering for a Cause He Believes In
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
How are you seen?
A recent change in my personal life has made me think about my personality traits. In particular, my sense of positivity/negativity and the interaction with those around me. And how it affects who I am as a person.
I do most (okay...all) of my deep thought pondering on the bike. Its really handy for that - hours and hours of mostly silence and nothing to occupy your mind except random thoughts and following the white lines. Anyway, this is what I have come to conclude so far from my zen-like ponderings:
Mr Positive or Mr Negative (or Mrs for the ladies)
We all know one of these personalities - chances are someone in our friend group meets one of these descriptions. Note: Im not an expert so these descriptions are my watered down opinions.
Mr Positive - Always has something nice to say about life, never complains about their circumstances, when a problem arises they are the first to search for a solution, if they encounter some bad luck they shrug and move on and they try to learn lessons from not only their mistakes, but the mistakes of others. They are often putting themselves out to help others (sometimes even strangers) and are willing to balance self-sacrifice and selfishness. Overall, they feel life is good and life is there for you to make the most of.
Mr Negative - No conversation is complete without a rant or rave about all the things wrong in the world, often including criticisms of others. They feel the world is against them and if they had better luck they could be as successful as the other guy. When bad luck comes their way, its just another obstacle in their day and they throw their hands up in frustration - often repeating mistakes without learning why. Very rarely do they have the motivation to do anything for themselves, let alone others. They often feel depressed or hopeless and may conclude that theres no point changing anything about their lives.
I know that I have met people that meet both those descriptions. Whether they are friends or colleagues or people you meet thru friends. Of course, there is a whole spectrum in-between and not everyone fits nicely into those two categories.
What I find most troubling however - is that I have met quite alot of Mr Negatives and not very many Mr Positives. I am sure you are the same.
In fact, on the odd occasion that I do meet a positive person - it always throws me off as you tend to get worn down day-by-day by all the negativity and complaining. I imagine its like in England where it will rain for months and months.....then one day the sun will be out and everyone will just point and stare in wonder!
One good example of a Mr Positive was at the wake of my good friend Eddie. The funeral was (and they always are) a sombre occasion. And while you talk of the funny times and the laughs you shared, there is that background sadness of a life lost.
A friend of Eddies from his yoga teaching group came up to me randomly and just introduced himself - smile beaming and hand outreached.
I admit it - my first instinct was a raised eyebrow and to box him in with a car salesman or politicians - you know.....those people with the crocodile smiles and far-too-happy-for-the-situation demeanour.
It turns out that he was just a happy guy there to spread more happiness. He obviously saw some people feeling abit sad and took it upon himself to go over and spread some smiles. He talked about how positive Eddie was and all these funny conversations they had together at 'yoga camps' and in the end he sort of shrugged and said "Well, that's life isn't it.". And with his smile still beaming he wandered off to find some more people to talk to.
It was quite amazing actually - his behaviour didn't really sink in until hours later. And that's the shame of it all - I was so unfamiliar with a truly happy person that when I encountered one, it puzzled me. I immediately thought they were crazy or had some ulterior motive. When in reality, they were just positive. Positive about life and positive about living.
What about me?
Its fairly simple to see that the company you keep, affects the type of person you become. If you associate with negative people, you will eventually become one. Alternatively, if you associate with positive people, you can rest assure that their positivity with rub off on you.
I decided that this year was the year where I reduce the negativity in my life. People who complain, blame others, criticise, or moan are not the people I want to be around. I want to be inspired, I want to hear good things, I want to appreciate each day, I want to aim high (and sometimes fall short) and I want to feel good about myself, my life and my surroundings. And I want to hear about my friends achieving great things, travelling to new places and being all they can be.
I'm not saying that we all have to live like we are high on LSD - you are allowed to have a bad day or get frustrated about something going wrong. But its the way you handle these challenges that makes the difference.
This is something I plan to work at.
I do most (okay...all) of my deep thought pondering on the bike. Its really handy for that - hours and hours of mostly silence and nothing to occupy your mind except random thoughts and following the white lines. Anyway, this is what I have come to conclude so far from my zen-like ponderings:
Mr Positive or Mr Negative (or Mrs for the ladies)
We all know one of these personalities - chances are someone in our friend group meets one of these descriptions. Note: Im not an expert so these descriptions are my watered down opinions.
Mr Positive - Always has something nice to say about life, never complains about their circumstances, when a problem arises they are the first to search for a solution, if they encounter some bad luck they shrug and move on and they try to learn lessons from not only their mistakes, but the mistakes of others. They are often putting themselves out to help others (sometimes even strangers) and are willing to balance self-sacrifice and selfishness. Overall, they feel life is good and life is there for you to make the most of.
Mr Negative - No conversation is complete without a rant or rave about all the things wrong in the world, often including criticisms of others. They feel the world is against them and if they had better luck they could be as successful as the other guy. When bad luck comes their way, its just another obstacle in their day and they throw their hands up in frustration - often repeating mistakes without learning why. Very rarely do they have the motivation to do anything for themselves, let alone others. They often feel depressed or hopeless and may conclude that theres no point changing anything about their lives.
I know that I have met people that meet both those descriptions. Whether they are friends or colleagues or people you meet thru friends. Of course, there is a whole spectrum in-between and not everyone fits nicely into those two categories.
What I find most troubling however - is that I have met quite alot of Mr Negatives and not very many Mr Positives. I am sure you are the same.
In fact, on the odd occasion that I do meet a positive person - it always throws me off as you tend to get worn down day-by-day by all the negativity and complaining. I imagine its like in England where it will rain for months and months.....then one day the sun will be out and everyone will just point and stare in wonder!
One good example of a Mr Positive was at the wake of my good friend Eddie. The funeral was (and they always are) a sombre occasion. And while you talk of the funny times and the laughs you shared, there is that background sadness of a life lost.
A friend of Eddies from his yoga teaching group came up to me randomly and just introduced himself - smile beaming and hand outreached.
I admit it - my first instinct was a raised eyebrow and to box him in with a car salesman or politicians - you know.....those people with the crocodile smiles and far-too-happy-for-the-situation demeanour.
It turns out that he was just a happy guy there to spread more happiness. He obviously saw some people feeling abit sad and took it upon himself to go over and spread some smiles. He talked about how positive Eddie was and all these funny conversations they had together at 'yoga camps' and in the end he sort of shrugged and said "Well, that's life isn't it.". And with his smile still beaming he wandered off to find some more people to talk to.
What about me?
Its fairly simple to see that the company you keep, affects the type of person you become. If you associate with negative people, you will eventually become one. Alternatively, if you associate with positive people, you can rest assure that their positivity with rub off on you.
I decided that this year was the year where I reduce the negativity in my life. People who complain, blame others, criticise, or moan are not the people I want to be around. I want to be inspired, I want to hear good things, I want to appreciate each day, I want to aim high (and sometimes fall short) and I want to feel good about myself, my life and my surroundings. And I want to hear about my friends achieving great things, travelling to new places and being all they can be.
I'm not saying that we all have to live like we are high on LSD - you are allowed to have a bad day or get frustrated about something going wrong. But its the way you handle these challenges that makes the difference.
This is something I plan to work at.
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Motivational Story - Ernest Gagnon
I love articles about normal everyday people who decide to take control of their lives or take on an issue close to their heart. Its different when a multi-billionaire decides to build a hospital or donate a bunch of money - they enough resources to ensure that this act is not really going to affect their lives too much. But when someone donates all their savings to charity, or gives up a year of their lives to help out in 3rd world countries - you just have to admire their motivation.
I read this story about Ernest Gagnon in US and was pretty inspired. This is someone who had been down and out for so long - he just got up one day and decided he wanted a different life. Some people would've opted for medication, a fancy celebrity diet or surgery - not Ernest.
After reading this - there is absolutely no excuse for anyone else. Any time you feel abit tired, or you would rather stay on the couch and watch TV, think of this story. Inspirational!
From Velonews.com
Two years ago, Ernest Gagnon weighed 570 pounds. The 30-year-old lived in self-imposed exile in his Massachusetts apartment, leaving only to go to work and to the grocery store. He was depressed, lonely and suffering from crippling anxiety. Then the doctors gave him the news and two choices: Gagnon had type 2 diabetes; he could undergo gastric bypass surgery or die.
Gagnon chose a third option — cycling.
Today, the big man from the small town of Billerica is on a mission from the bike gods. He’s lost more than 200 pounds. His blood-sugar levels have been reeled in from off the charts to the high end of acceptable. He’s rapidly becoming an Internet celebrity in the cycling world .
Even better, Gagnon finally fits in somewhere. After a decade of isolation, Gagnon has friends. Unlikely friends. Bike racers.
“I’ve kind of always been into cycling,” Gagnon said. “But because I was big, everyone said, ‘Oh, you’ve gotta be a football player. You can’t do that cycling stuff.’” So he quit, while still a kid.
It was a harrowing childhood for Gagnon, full of insults in the schoolyard and uncertainty at home with an alcoholic father. Eating became his escape. He went off to college, and then got a job doing tech support for Internet security. “I had a pretty rough life after college,” Gagnon said. “I didn’t really do anything. I didn’t go out of the house except to go to work and to go to the store. I didn’t really have a social life. I just kept eating and eating. My only friend was food.” He went on like this for the better part of a decade.
“One of the reasons I didn’t go to the gym or go work out was because I felt I was looked down upon,” Gagnon said. “I was depressed.”
Embarrassed by his weight, Gagnon kept turning to his only friend. Only when Gagnon was diagnosed with diabetes and reduced blood circulation was he shocked into action. “I was scared,” Gagnon said. “I had to do something. My doctor was trying to push me into a bypass, but I really had an issue with changing my anatomy to fix an over-eating or weight disorder. I was tired of being scared of everything and scared of people.”
So he made a new friend — the bicycle.
“It was not really a decision. It was a gradual process,” Gagnon said. He began a timid Internet campaign. He started a Facebook profile with a picture of a bike. “I was too embarrassed to publish my photo,” he said. “I didn’t think cyclists would accept me.”
But Gagnon pursued his dream with a sincerity that only the most carbon-hearted roadie could mock. He sent out hundreds of friend requests and messages to scores of cyclists, asking if they’d like to ride. Two of Gagnon’s first riding buddies were Zach LaBry, a Category 3 road and cyclocross racer from nearby Cambridge, and Cosmo Catalano from Hartford, Connecticut (author of the excellent blog Cyclocosm).
“I was on Facebook one day and Ernest sent me a message and was like, ‘Hey, when are we riding?’” Catalano recounted. “I understand it seems a little weird maybe to just go riding with someone random from the Internet, but a lot of cyclists I know are from the Internet. “All he had for a Facebook profile picture was a picture of a road bike. His story all sort of came out in bits and pieces from that conversation.
“He was like, ‘By the way, I ride really slowly.’”
“I was like, ‘That’s fine.’”
“Then he was like, ‘By the way, I weigh like 500-some-odd pounds.’”
“I was like, ‘… that’s good too.’”
The guys suggested Gagnon meet them at the Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross race in Northhampton, Massachusetts. Cycle-Smart is a UCI C2 cyclocross race — one of the biggest in New England with hundreds and hundreds of racers and fans. To say that Gagnon was nervous is a radical understatement. He was prone to panic attacks when going out in public. Inserting himself into a crowd of super-fit ’cross racers and sticking out like a sore thumb was terrifying, but Catalano and LaBry helped talk him through it.
They also helped Gagnon onto his bike after the race — not easy for a 500-pounder — and they rode a mile or so around the parking lot.
Then the racers started riding with Gagnon on the Minuteman trail, a flat bike path outside Boston. “The first time was only a mile down and a mile back,” Gagnon said. “Then we started doing half of it. Then we did the whole thing — the whole 22 miles.” Last year, Gagnon got a custom Seven Mudhoney S to replace his clunky coaster-brake Globe, which kept snapping seatposts. He started riding several times a week. Then he met another Cat. 3 racer, Steve Lachance. The duo rode the trainers together all winter. Eventually Gagnon built up to riding five or six times a week.
“He’s got this crazy drive,” LaChance said. “We’ll go on a crazy ride and he’ll go as fast as he’s ever gone, and it’s not good enough. He wants to go faster. He wants to go farther. The mental fortitude that it takes to push through all the barriers that he’s got is amazing. It’s really awe-inspiring.” Lachance and Catalano both initially rode with Gagnon just to be helpful. Today, they ride with Gagnon because they’re friends. His story has inspired the New England racing community. Gagnon’s Facebook profile is maxed out at 5,000 Facebook friends. Strangers say hi and congratulate him on the street.
He volunteers at races most weekends to give back to the community that gave him so much. This year he purchased a USA Cycling license and plans to race cyclocross in the fall. Catalano said Gagnon has undergone a change that’s bigger than the number of pounds shed — big as that number may be.“What hasn’t changed?” Catalano said. “We recently went on a trip to DC and it was as if he had forgotten that he had anxiety problems. He’s becoming comfortable with himself. He’s such a good dude. And it’s been cool helping him realize that.”“I feel free,” Gagnon said. “I feel like I can finally be myself. Beforehand, I felt like I was trapped. I’ve never been able to be who I wanted to be. I always felt like the world was telling me I can’t be that way because I was too big. So to ride with all these guys — I mean, these are elite racers and Cat. 3s — to have these friends is awesome.”
Gagnon has one rule for those who ride with him: Kit up. This stems from his “Spandex Theory,” which postulates that in order to lose weight, he had to stop hiding.
So no matter who you are, what you look like, or how far you think you are from your goal — kit up and get started. Your friends are out there, waiting for you.
Ernest's personal blog - http://ernestgagnon.blogspot.com.au/
I read this story about Ernest Gagnon in US and was pretty inspired. This is someone who had been down and out for so long - he just got up one day and decided he wanted a different life. Some people would've opted for medication, a fancy celebrity diet or surgery - not Ernest.
After reading this - there is absolutely no excuse for anyone else. Any time you feel abit tired, or you would rather stay on the couch and watch TV, think of this story. Inspirational!
From Velonews.com
Two years ago, Ernest Gagnon weighed 570 pounds. The 30-year-old lived in self-imposed exile in his Massachusetts apartment, leaving only to go to work and to the grocery store. He was depressed, lonely and suffering from crippling anxiety. Then the doctors gave him the news and two choices: Gagnon had type 2 diabetes; he could undergo gastric bypass surgery or die.
Gagnon chose a third option — cycling.
Today, the big man from the small town of Billerica is on a mission from the bike gods. He’s lost more than 200 pounds. His blood-sugar levels have been reeled in from off the charts to the high end of acceptable. He’s rapidly becoming an Internet celebrity in the cycling world .
Even better, Gagnon finally fits in somewhere. After a decade of isolation, Gagnon has friends. Unlikely friends. Bike racers.
“I’ve kind of always been into cycling,” Gagnon said. “But because I was big, everyone said, ‘Oh, you’ve gotta be a football player. You can’t do that cycling stuff.’” So he quit, while still a kid.
It was a harrowing childhood for Gagnon, full of insults in the schoolyard and uncertainty at home with an alcoholic father. Eating became his escape. He went off to college, and then got a job doing tech support for Internet security. “I had a pretty rough life after college,” Gagnon said. “I didn’t really do anything. I didn’t go out of the house except to go to work and to go to the store. I didn’t really have a social life. I just kept eating and eating. My only friend was food.” He went on like this for the better part of a decade.
“One of the reasons I didn’t go to the gym or go work out was because I felt I was looked down upon,” Gagnon said. “I was depressed.”
Embarrassed by his weight, Gagnon kept turning to his only friend. Only when Gagnon was diagnosed with diabetes and reduced blood circulation was he shocked into action. “I was scared,” Gagnon said. “I had to do something. My doctor was trying to push me into a bypass, but I really had an issue with changing my anatomy to fix an over-eating or weight disorder. I was tired of being scared of everything and scared of people.”
So he made a new friend — the bicycle.
“It was not really a decision. It was a gradual process,” Gagnon said. He began a timid Internet campaign. He started a Facebook profile with a picture of a bike. “I was too embarrassed to publish my photo,” he said. “I didn’t think cyclists would accept me.”
But Gagnon pursued his dream with a sincerity that only the most carbon-hearted roadie could mock. He sent out hundreds of friend requests and messages to scores of cyclists, asking if they’d like to ride. Two of Gagnon’s first riding buddies were Zach LaBry, a Category 3 road and cyclocross racer from nearby Cambridge, and Cosmo Catalano from Hartford, Connecticut (author of the excellent blog Cyclocosm).
“I was on Facebook one day and Ernest sent me a message and was like, ‘Hey, when are we riding?’” Catalano recounted. “I understand it seems a little weird maybe to just go riding with someone random from the Internet, but a lot of cyclists I know are from the Internet. “All he had for a Facebook profile picture was a picture of a road bike. His story all sort of came out in bits and pieces from that conversation.
“He was like, ‘By the way, I ride really slowly.’”
“I was like, ‘That’s fine.’”
“Then he was like, ‘By the way, I weigh like 500-some-odd pounds.’”
“I was like, ‘… that’s good too.’”
The guys suggested Gagnon meet them at the Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross race in Northhampton, Massachusetts. Cycle-Smart is a UCI C2 cyclocross race — one of the biggest in New England with hundreds and hundreds of racers and fans. To say that Gagnon was nervous is a radical understatement. He was prone to panic attacks when going out in public. Inserting himself into a crowd of super-fit ’cross racers and sticking out like a sore thumb was terrifying, but Catalano and LaBry helped talk him through it.
They also helped Gagnon onto his bike after the race — not easy for a 500-pounder — and they rode a mile or so around the parking lot.
Then the racers started riding with Gagnon on the Minuteman trail, a flat bike path outside Boston. “The first time was only a mile down and a mile back,” Gagnon said. “Then we started doing half of it. Then we did the whole thing — the whole 22 miles.” Last year, Gagnon got a custom Seven Mudhoney S to replace his clunky coaster-brake Globe, which kept snapping seatposts. He started riding several times a week. Then he met another Cat. 3 racer, Steve Lachance. The duo rode the trainers together all winter. Eventually Gagnon built up to riding five or six times a week.
“He’s got this crazy drive,” LaChance said. “We’ll go on a crazy ride and he’ll go as fast as he’s ever gone, and it’s not good enough. He wants to go faster. He wants to go farther. The mental fortitude that it takes to push through all the barriers that he’s got is amazing. It’s really awe-inspiring.” Lachance and Catalano both initially rode with Gagnon just to be helpful. Today, they ride with Gagnon because they’re friends. His story has inspired the New England racing community. Gagnon’s Facebook profile is maxed out at 5,000 Facebook friends. Strangers say hi and congratulate him on the street.
He volunteers at races most weekends to give back to the community that gave him so much. This year he purchased a USA Cycling license and plans to race cyclocross in the fall. Catalano said Gagnon has undergone a change that’s bigger than the number of pounds shed — big as that number may be.“What hasn’t changed?” Catalano said. “We recently went on a trip to DC and it was as if he had forgotten that he had anxiety problems. He’s becoming comfortable with himself. He’s such a good dude. And it’s been cool helping him realize that.”“I feel free,” Gagnon said. “I feel like I can finally be myself. Beforehand, I felt like I was trapped. I’ve never been able to be who I wanted to be. I always felt like the world was telling me I can’t be that way because I was too big. So to ride with all these guys — I mean, these are elite racers and Cat. 3s — to have these friends is awesome.”
Gagnon has one rule for those who ride with him: Kit up. This stems from his “Spandex Theory,” which postulates that in order to lose weight, he had to stop hiding.
So no matter who you are, what you look like, or how far you think you are from your goal — kit up and get started. Your friends are out there, waiting for you.
Ernest's personal blog - http://ernestgagnon.blogspot.com.au/
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Training Diary 21/03/2013
Charity Ride Stats:
Training Stats:
Continuing on the theme of the year - it has been a mixed bag in terms of training. The weather in Brisbane has been terrible for training - rainy days with the old day of clouds, then more rain again.
This has made training hard (as morale can get low if you spend 10hrs a week sopping wet and cold). Cleaning the bike is just about a weekly chore and I need to buy some new brake pads as the water is quickly dissolving mine away.
I have still been putting in long commuting hours (incorporating the Riverloop) which has been good and I am looking forward to finding some new weekend rides to do. Strava has a great "Activity Search" function where you can see the rides other cyclists have been doing near you. Good for new route ideas!
Newcastle and Hunter Valley Trip
Bianca and I flew down to Newcastle on the 9th March to spend just over a week in the area. The main reason for the visit was to see my grandma for her 89th birthday (not a bad innings!!) and see my aunty and uncle as well. I also wanted to spend some time in Newcastle city and Hunter Valley with Bianca and explore a little bit.
Contrary to most peoples opinion - I found Newcastle to be a great city to visit. Its a smaller, sleepier city compared to Brisbane - its CBD is only a few blocks across - but this was a great change of pace. Work has been really hectic lately (I had to work late in the days before we left) so the slow pace and lack of schedule suited me just fine.
We stayed at the Novotel near Newcastle Beach which was right in the heart of the city. The cost was pretty good and the room was very nice. Our morning ritual consisted of waking up (without an alarm) and wandering off to find a good cafe for breakfast. One our favourite places was the Estabar Cafe which overlooked the ocean and had really good coffee. They also served yummy bircher muesli and gelato (which we sampled many times). I highly recommend visiting.
The trip was timed perfectly with the 2013 Loop the Lake charity ride, which circumnavigates Lake Macquarie over a distance of about 90kms. The lake is a beautiful area and I was really keen to take part in the ride. More on that ride below.
I borrowed a hard bike case off a forum friend, and packed the bike neatly into it. The only other cost was for additional baggage on the flights and for 2 waterbottles as I forgot mine in the rush to pack! The hard case was excellent in protecting my pride and joy, but was a little on the heavy side. I have heard many horror stories of heavy-handed baggage handlers breaking carbon frames on delivery - I was keen to avoid that happening to me!
After 3 days in Newcastle, we caught the train down to Morisset where my relatives live. Its a sleepy town (theres only one main street) next to Bonnels Bay which is a part of Lake Macquarie. I was amazed that every area around the lake has beautiful views and barely any of it is ruined by high rise apartments or commercial developments. Its a great place to live. My extended family was excited to see me and even more excited to meet Bianca. I can read them like a book and I can tell they absolutely loved her. Nan was especially delighted to have someone new to tell all her stories too. I think I heard over 1000 stories during our 3 days stay - theres no secrets about the McGlinn family now!
From Morisset we hired a car (Nissan X-Trail) to drive up to the Hunter Valley. The car was beautiful to drive and I was thankful for paying more for a "4x4" as the potholes in the Hunter Valley would have swallowed up a small car.
We stayed a Peppers Guest House in Pokolibin, just north of Cessnock. It was very expensive and in high demand as there was some country music festival on the same weekend. The room was nice, but I couldn't help compare it to the places we have stayed in on our trips to Asia (for much, much less money). But it is what it is.
We visited a few winerys (even found a Petersons Winery, which we bought two bottles of Shiraz from) and drove off road to the various lookouts. It is not a flat area and you seem to either be driving uphill or downhill. I even got to take my bike out a few times and it was very hard work. It was quite hot during the day (between 25-30 degrees) which was quite a change from the dreary Brisbane weather. The scenery on my rides was fantastic - like nothing I have ridden thru before. I am glad I took lots of photos (which are now on my electronic photo frame).
All in all it was a great trip south and I was really happy to have the sunny weather. Can't wait for our next adventure!
Hunter Valley Ride Strava Link
2013 Loop the Lake
I rode from Newcastle city to the start of the Loop the Lake at Spears Point, about 20kms away. I knew the Loop ride was about 90kms so I was in for a big day on the bike. I decided to go pretty quick at the start to keep up with the fast groups and then take my time on the last leg so I didnt have to limp back to the city.
It was a beautiful ride - the weather was just perfect with blue skies and whisps of fluffly clouds. As we started early at 7am it wasnt too hot either. The roads on the loop are quite good considering you are pretty rural and alot of the roads had a generous shoulder. There were some parts of bad shoulder and potholes but this was less common than I had expected.
Although 2000 riders had signed up for the ride (it has several route lengths you can choose from), I found myself riding alone or with a handful of others most of the time. This was quite nice and allowed me to enjoy the scenery and new sights without being worried about crashes or crowds etc. On the last leg, I made friends with Russell from the Central Coast and enjoyed a good converstation which made the last 20kms fly by. Russell has signed up for the Five Peaks Challenge in Canberra which is on my bucket list of things to do one day. Lots of climbing but we cyclists are suckers for pain :)
After we rolled into the finish area, we shook hands and bid farewell. I ate a banana and refilled my bottles and headed back to the hotel. Bianca had made her way down to the beach so I showered and promptly filled up on a delicious steak burger and chips (hey, I earned it!) and met her on the beach to watch the late afternoon sunset. Dinner that night was shared spanish tapas and a jug of sangria - a great way to end a great day!
Loop The Lake Ride Strava Link
Donations:
Big thanks to the following people who have donated - It really means alot to me to have your support!
Chris McGlinn (my brother), Damon Oudejans, Tara Puzin, Nik Vassilev, Mum & Dad, Josh Taylor, Brody Willys, Dorothy McGlinn (my grandma) and Shirley & John Schulz (my aunty and uncle).
Thank you all so much.
- Weeks until Bridge 2 Bridge ride - <7 Weeks
- Donations collected - $2,330.00
Training Stats:
- Distance YTD - 2,364 km
- Elevation YTD - 20,950 m
- Ride Hours YTD - 97hr 33min
- Current Weight - 77.5kg
Continuing on the theme of the year - it has been a mixed bag in terms of training. The weather in Brisbane has been terrible for training - rainy days with the old day of clouds, then more rain again.
This has made training hard (as morale can get low if you spend 10hrs a week sopping wet and cold). Cleaning the bike is just about a weekly chore and I need to buy some new brake pads as the water is quickly dissolving mine away.
I have still been putting in long commuting hours (incorporating the Riverloop) which has been good and I am looking forward to finding some new weekend rides to do. Strava has a great "Activity Search" function where you can see the rides other cyclists have been doing near you. Good for new route ideas!
Newcastle and Hunter Valley Trip
Bianca and I flew down to Newcastle on the 9th March to spend just over a week in the area. The main reason for the visit was to see my grandma for her 89th birthday (not a bad innings!!) and see my aunty and uncle as well. I also wanted to spend some time in Newcastle city and Hunter Valley with Bianca and explore a little bit.
Contrary to most peoples opinion - I found Newcastle to be a great city to visit. Its a smaller, sleepier city compared to Brisbane - its CBD is only a few blocks across - but this was a great change of pace. Work has been really hectic lately (I had to work late in the days before we left) so the slow pace and lack of schedule suited me just fine.
Me enjoying my morning coffee and paper
We stayed at the Novotel near Newcastle Beach which was right in the heart of the city. The cost was pretty good and the room was very nice. Our morning ritual consisted of waking up (without an alarm) and wandering off to find a good cafe for breakfast. One our favourite places was the Estabar Cafe which overlooked the ocean and had really good coffee. They also served yummy bircher muesli and gelato (which we sampled many times). I highly recommend visiting.
Estabar - A must visit cafe
The trip was timed perfectly with the 2013 Loop the Lake charity ride, which circumnavigates Lake Macquarie over a distance of about 90kms. The lake is a beautiful area and I was really keen to take part in the ride. More on that ride below.
I borrowed a hard bike case off a forum friend, and packed the bike neatly into it. The only other cost was for additional baggage on the flights and for 2 waterbottles as I forgot mine in the rush to pack! The hard case was excellent in protecting my pride and joy, but was a little on the heavy side. I have heard many horror stories of heavy-handed baggage handlers breaking carbon frames on delivery - I was keen to avoid that happening to me!
After 3 days in Newcastle, we caught the train down to Morisset where my relatives live. Its a sleepy town (theres only one main street) next to Bonnels Bay which is a part of Lake Macquarie. I was amazed that every area around the lake has beautiful views and barely any of it is ruined by high rise apartments or commercial developments. Its a great place to live. My extended family was excited to see me and even more excited to meet Bianca. I can read them like a book and I can tell they absolutely loved her. Nan was especially delighted to have someone new to tell all her stories too. I think I heard over 1000 stories during our 3 days stay - theres no secrets about the McGlinn family now!
Family portraits
From Morisset we hired a car (Nissan X-Trail) to drive up to the Hunter Valley. The car was beautiful to drive and I was thankful for paying more for a "4x4" as the potholes in the Hunter Valley would have swallowed up a small car.
We stayed a Peppers Guest House in Pokolibin, just north of Cessnock. It was very expensive and in high demand as there was some country music festival on the same weekend. The room was nice, but I couldn't help compare it to the places we have stayed in on our trips to Asia (for much, much less money). But it is what it is.
We visited a few winerys (even found a Petersons Winery, which we bought two bottles of Shiraz from) and drove off road to the various lookouts. It is not a flat area and you seem to either be driving uphill or downhill. I even got to take my bike out a few times and it was very hard work. It was quite hot during the day (between 25-30 degrees) which was quite a change from the dreary Brisbane weather. The scenery on my rides was fantastic - like nothing I have ridden thru before. I am glad I took lots of photos (which are now on my electronic photo frame).
Mt View Lookout - This climb was tough!
All in all it was a great trip south and I was really happy to have the sunny weather. Can't wait for our next adventure!
Hunter Valley Ride Strava Link
2013 Loop the Lake
I rode from Newcastle city to the start of the Loop the Lake at Spears Point, about 20kms away. I knew the Loop ride was about 90kms so I was in for a big day on the bike. I decided to go pretty quick at the start to keep up with the fast groups and then take my time on the last leg so I didnt have to limp back to the city.
Loop the Lake - Looking euro pro...
It was a beautiful ride - the weather was just perfect with blue skies and whisps of fluffly clouds. As we started early at 7am it wasnt too hot either. The roads on the loop are quite good considering you are pretty rural and alot of the roads had a generous shoulder. There were some parts of bad shoulder and potholes but this was less common than I had expected.
Although 2000 riders had signed up for the ride (it has several route lengths you can choose from), I found myself riding alone or with a handful of others most of the time. This was quite nice and allowed me to enjoy the scenery and new sights without being worried about crashes or crowds etc. On the last leg, I made friends with Russell from the Central Coast and enjoyed a good converstation which made the last 20kms fly by. Russell has signed up for the Five Peaks Challenge in Canberra which is on my bucket list of things to do one day. Lots of climbing but we cyclists are suckers for pain :)
Loop The Lake Ride Strava Link
Donations:
Big thanks to the following people who have donated - It really means alot to me to have your support!
Chris McGlinn (my brother), Damon Oudejans, Tara Puzin, Nik Vassilev, Mum & Dad, Josh Taylor, Brody Willys, Dorothy McGlinn (my grandma) and Shirley & John Schulz (my aunty and uncle).
Thank you all so much.
Hunter Valley...blue skies, dirt roads and vineyards
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Reflections of Goodbye
Goodbye
Yesterday I attended the funeral for Eduardo Pose. I was honored to be chosen to say a few words to express the friendships Eddie had with his work colleagues.
This is what I shared:
We stand here today to remember Eddie as a colleague and a friend.
After a stint with the private company TTM, Eddie pursued a career at Brisbane City Council with the City Design branch in 2003 before joining Development Assessment team in 2004. He rejoined City Design in 2008 as a Design Project Manager with the bikeways team, where he could merge his passion for bikes and engineering work. Eddie was involved in the successful delivery of the $100M bikeway program between 2008-11. Eddie transferred to the Flood Management team in early 2011 to help with flood recovery work.
Eddies contribution at BCC was acknowledged by the CEO himself. Colin Jenson thanked Eddie for his contributions, in particular his work in the Norman Creek Bikeway Project which was hailed as a huge success as it was delivered within budget and ahead of schedule.
Eddie wasn't just a great work colleague; he was a great friend. He was always willing to lend a hand or share a conversation.
I became close friends with Eddie when he joined the Flood Management team. We quickly figured out that we had a mutual passion for all things cycling. We would discuss any and every thing cycling - brands of groupsets, favourite riders, favourite races, our next upgrades and planning out next ride. This would continue on & off the bike, at lunchtime, on email and over the phone. Safe to say, I haven't met anyone else who liked to talk bikes as much as Eddie.
Of course from his point of view, the Spanish cyclists were the cleanest riders on the planet. It was everyone else that was bringing cycling down with scandals. Whilst he was of Spanish heritage, his love for things Italian knew no bounds. I am sure that if he was given a bike with the best and most expensive Japanese components - he would promptly sell it for one with affordable mid-range gear.
My favourite memory of Eddie was the day we rode up Mt Mee with a few other cycling friends. New to cycling, I had never ridden up a climb that long or that high before - and was convinced I would be walking to the top. But Eddie waved off my uncertainty and assured me that could do it. The group cycled into Dayboro and as the road started to rise, the more experienced riders pulled ahead. Taking Eddies advice I kept my own pace, steadied my breathing and enjoyed the scenery. Sure enough as I reached the crest Eddie was there cheering and was the first to congratulate me on my first 'real mountain climb'. The photo of him giving me the thumbs up is from that morning and captures Eddie perfectly.
Other friends have mentioned times when they would go riding with Eddie, and although he would be barely warmed up, Eddie would gladly turn back if they were too tired to continue. He was quite content to leave it at that and keep you company instead of riding on without you.
Another memory of Eddie shared was when he was asked to give a brief talk on a topic of interest during a regular team meeting. Most people in this situation would create a PowerPoint or Q&A style presentation - but not Eddie. At this stage he had been teaching yoga for some time and so he decided to run a small yoga session with his team. It was highly entertaining for Eddie to watch all the yoga novices attempt the various positions he was demonstrating. It was a lot of fun and brought enjoyment to the team.
Most of us remember Eddie for his immense positivity, even over his biggest battles against cancer. There was hardly a time when Eddie would whinge or be critical or something....well maybe with the exception of Apple Products. And although he wasn't a fan of the iPhone or iPad he still had good things to say about them - that's just how he was.
In the relatively short time we knew Eddie, there was never a dull moment. He had an incredible zest for life, loved to travel, was always enthusiastic and as you now know was contagiously passionate about cycling. Eddie was well balanced and wished that everyone in the world would accept everyone for who they are and what they believed in, instead of being judgmental and critical about others choices.
In the last few weeks of his life, Eddie said that if he had the energy he would do his bit in making the world a better place. But we all know he didn't have to - because if you look around this room today, all of us have become better people just by knowing him. And to me, that means that Eduardo Pose has already made this world a better place.
The ceremony really was beautiful. It was made even more special because Eddie himself picked out the words and songs he wanted. He wrote a short reflection on life which was included in the handout - and a slideshow of photographs was set to 2 songs of his choosing; Foreigner - "I wanna know what love is" and Rebecca Ferguson - "Nothing's real but love".
It really was a great way to celebrate his life. While it was a sad occasion, it was so nice to be able to share funny stories and photos of him and share a laugh. He would've wanted it that way. Liz shared that his final wishes included that his ashes should be spread over Mt Mee, Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious. These were his favourite places to visit. Every now and then, I want to ride up these mountains and take in the scenery, breathe in the crisp air and think of him.
Reflections
Bianca and I drove up to Caloundra after the ceremony and we had time to reflect on it and life in general.
I really do regret that I didn't get to know Eddie better. We were primarily cycling buddies, but in the last year we really started to touch on more in-depth topics in life. Love, marriage, kids, houses, happiness, peace, war and wellness are some of the things we had chatted about. We shared our ideas, thoughts and opinions. We really started to have a great friendship.
At the ceremony it became apparent to me that there was so much more to Eddie than I knew - so many other interests and hobbies which we had not shared yet. And it makes me sad to know that I have missed the opportunity to have him teach me some yoga or ask him about android phones or his past trips overseas.
Bianca and I decided that we wanted to take some learnings from Eddies life. The main one being to live simpler with a focus on love & happiness. From small day-to-day things like sharing lunch together to bigger changes like altering diet and lifestyle choices. I am excited to see what path it takes us on. Even in the sadness and negativity of death, there can be a positive outcome.
Thank you, Eddie.
Enjoying a sunrise walk on the rocks at Caloundra
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Saved By The Bike
Who doesn't love a good news story?
In a world where there only ever seems to be bad news, a feel good story can really lift your spirits.
These two are recent examples which have really put things into perspective for me.
From Genocide to the Games
Adrien Niyonshuti is young man from Rwanda. He survived the infamous 1994 genocide, when he was only seven years old. Tragically 6 of his brothers and 60 of his wider family were killed.
Later he took up cycling as a way of dealing with the horrors of his childhood. When he was older, he impressed selectors and was signed to the Team Rwanda based in Ruhengeri.
From there he only excelled - becoming the first black African to compete in the pro peleton when he raced the Tour of Ireland in 2009.
In 2012 Adrien was chosen to represent Rwanda at the London Olympic Games in the sport of mountain biking. He proudly carried the flag of Rwanda at the opening ceremony. A dream come true.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/09/sport/olympics-rwanda-cyclist-niyonshuti
From Jail Bars to Handlebars
Reon Nolan had a troubled childhood. Born into a world of crime and violence, Reons dad was murdered when he was 11.
Spiraling out of control, he joined a gang and lead a life of crime, drugs and stealing. These activities led to him serving jailtime many times, sometimes only spending a few months 'on the outside' before being sent back behind bars.
After being letdown by his so-called 'gang friends', Reon was parolled and released into the care of the Sailsbury Street Foundation, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. It was here that he was introduced to cycling.
Fast forward through thousands of kilometres of training and racing over the last two years, and this unlikely character is representing New Zealand at New Zealand’s only international race - the NZCT Cycle Classic.
Just goes to show, it's never too late to turn your life around.
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/42134/Reon-Nolan:-Saved-by-cycling
In a world where there only ever seems to be bad news, a feel good story can really lift your spirits.
These two are recent examples which have really put things into perspective for me.
From Genocide to the Games
Adrien Niyonshuti is young man from Rwanda. He survived the infamous 1994 genocide, when he was only seven years old. Tragically 6 of his brothers and 60 of his wider family were killed.
Later he took up cycling as a way of dealing with the horrors of his childhood. When he was older, he impressed selectors and was signed to the Team Rwanda based in Ruhengeri.
From there he only excelled - becoming the first black African to compete in the pro peleton when he raced the Tour of Ireland in 2009.
In 2012 Adrien was chosen to represent Rwanda at the London Olympic Games in the sport of mountain biking. He proudly carried the flag of Rwanda at the opening ceremony. A dream come true.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/09/sport/olympics-rwanda-cyclist-niyonshuti
From Jail Bars to Handlebars
Reon Nolan had a troubled childhood. Born into a world of crime and violence, Reons dad was murdered when he was 11.
Spiraling out of control, he joined a gang and lead a life of crime, drugs and stealing. These activities led to him serving jailtime many times, sometimes only spending a few months 'on the outside' before being sent back behind bars.
After being letdown by his so-called 'gang friends', Reon was parolled and released into the care of the Sailsbury Street Foundation, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. It was here that he was introduced to cycling.
Fast forward through thousands of kilometres of training and racing over the last two years, and this unlikely character is representing New Zealand at New Zealand’s only international race - the NZCT Cycle Classic.
Just goes to show, it's never too late to turn your life around.
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/42134/Reon-Nolan:-Saved-by-cycling
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
My Friend Eddie
Sadly, this Friday I will have to farewell a friend from this world.
Eduardo "Eddie" Pose passed away on the 1st February 2013, the day after my 28th birthday.
Eddie had been fighting cancer in various forms over 4 long years. I first met him after he was in remission from a tumour on his heart. About a year later doctors tests revealed he had a secondary cancer in his lymph nodes. The treatment was a long process and he was in and out of hospital for over a year. At the end of 2012 it looked as if he was getting on top of the disease and looked stronger each day. We even enjoyed 50km rides together just before Christmas. But then suddenly he was administered back into hospital with a virus attacking his gut. It was particularly painful for him and he couldn't eat/drink for weeks.The doctors ordered 3 tests of his bone marrow to rule out any progress of the cancer. The first two results came back clear and I was quietly hopeful that this was the end of the cancer. I had always just assumed he would back healthy and riding with me sooner or later.
Devastatingly, the third test was positive for cancer in the marrow and doctors outlined that there was nothing that could be done. With good luck, he could have months left to enjoy life - with bad luck he may only have days.
I remember the phonecall we had after he had that conversation with the doctors. Eddie sounded so calm and collected for someone in that position. I just couldn't understand - I would have been a mess of denial and sadness. But not Eddie. He was reflective on life and thankful for time he had on earth. As he said to me "That's just the way life is - sometimes it doesn't work out the way you want". He was strong in the face of defeat and ready for his final journey.
I will always remember Eddie in his prime. We did many rides together and the more I think about it, the more he is a big part of why I ride. As a somewhat introvert, I tend to mostly ride solo. I love to hear the wind whistle past, feel the breeze on my skin, the buzz of the freewheel and steady rhythm of my breathing. The great thing about my rides with Eddie was that he loved those same things. There would be rides where we would be mostly silent and just enjoying the magic which is cycling. Other times we would discuss any and all areas of cycling: running gear brands, clothing, who's a doper, who's not, grand tours, one day classics etc. We just loved to talk cycling. And that was our thing.
As he opened up about his condition, we started to talk more about the 'big things' in life - why are we here, what does it mean to be a good person, why are there wars and what happens when you die. Like me, he was a lover not a fighter. The recipe for peace seemed so simple to us - just accept others for who they are. To us there was just no sense in hating someone for their color, sexual orientation, what country they're from or what car they drive etc. Life is bigger than that.
On the few rides I have done since Eddie passed, I have again visited these topics in my head. But this time, it's only the wind, the freewheel and my breathing to keep me company.
I will miss my 'cycling buddy' Eddie Pose, and our friendship was unique. I am thankful for the thoughts he provoked and the observations he passed onto me. And even in death, he has still reminded to enjoy my life, love my friends & family and don't take any for granted. Life is short.
Rest in Peace, Eddie. I hope there's a tailwind whereever you ride now.
Eduardo "Eddie" Pose passed away on the 1st February 2013, the day after my 28th birthday.
Eddie had been fighting cancer in various forms over 4 long years. I first met him after he was in remission from a tumour on his heart. About a year later doctors tests revealed he had a secondary cancer in his lymph nodes. The treatment was a long process and he was in and out of hospital for over a year. At the end of 2012 it looked as if he was getting on top of the disease and looked stronger each day. We even enjoyed 50km rides together just before Christmas. But then suddenly he was administered back into hospital with a virus attacking his gut. It was particularly painful for him and he couldn't eat/drink for weeks.The doctors ordered 3 tests of his bone marrow to rule out any progress of the cancer. The first two results came back clear and I was quietly hopeful that this was the end of the cancer. I had always just assumed he would back healthy and riding with me sooner or later.
Devastatingly, the third test was positive for cancer in the marrow and doctors outlined that there was nothing that could be done. With good luck, he could have months left to enjoy life - with bad luck he may only have days.
I remember the phonecall we had after he had that conversation with the doctors. Eddie sounded so calm and collected for someone in that position. I just couldn't understand - I would have been a mess of denial and sadness. But not Eddie. He was reflective on life and thankful for time he had on earth. As he said to me "That's just the way life is - sometimes it doesn't work out the way you want". He was strong in the face of defeat and ready for his final journey.
I will always remember Eddie in his prime. We did many rides together and the more I think about it, the more he is a big part of why I ride. As a somewhat introvert, I tend to mostly ride solo. I love to hear the wind whistle past, feel the breeze on my skin, the buzz of the freewheel and steady rhythm of my breathing. The great thing about my rides with Eddie was that he loved those same things. There would be rides where we would be mostly silent and just enjoying the magic which is cycling. Other times we would discuss any and all areas of cycling: running gear brands, clothing, who's a doper, who's not, grand tours, one day classics etc. We just loved to talk cycling. And that was our thing.
As he opened up about his condition, we started to talk more about the 'big things' in life - why are we here, what does it mean to be a good person, why are there wars and what happens when you die. Like me, he was a lover not a fighter. The recipe for peace seemed so simple to us - just accept others for who they are. To us there was just no sense in hating someone for their color, sexual orientation, what country they're from or what car they drive etc. Life is bigger than that.
On the few rides I have done since Eddie passed, I have again visited these topics in my head. But this time, it's only the wind, the freewheel and my breathing to keep me company.
I will miss my 'cycling buddy' Eddie Pose, and our friendship was unique. I am thankful for the thoughts he provoked and the observations he passed onto me. And even in death, he has still reminded to enjoy my life, love my friends & family and don't take any for granted. Life is short.
Rest in Peace, Eddie. I hope there's a tailwind whereever you ride now.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Life - Good and Bad
Shortly I will be adding a post about a big event that I have signed up for. I am really excited about it, not just for the event itself - but for the cause it raises money for.
In 2011 I signed up for the Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer. It was its first year in Australia, held in Brisbane. The money raised went directly the QLD Medical Institute of Research which performs important cancer research. I managed to raise $2,845 with the help of my friends and family. The cycling challenge part involved riding to Wivenhoe Dam, camping overnight, then returning back to Brisbane (240kms round trip). It was a tough ride with alot of hills, not to mention it stormed on the return journey. But I loved the challenge of it. At the time, it was the biggest cycling acheivement I had ever done. My next event dwarfs that ride.
While I have never had to deal with the harsh realities of Cancer, there are quite a few of my friends that have. Bianca's Dad, my Nan, two of my friends Mums and a friend from work - they have all had to stare Cancer in the face. Some have managed to beat it and live on....and sadly some have not. Some are still locked in battle.
For me, being exposed to Cancer sufferers, has changed the way I think about life. I never used to worry to much about what I did day-to-day. I would just float around doing whatever I wanted without much thought about the 'big picture'. However, I now find myself wanting to ensure that should the worst happen to me - I can be proud and happy with the life I have lived. This can mean different things to different people - but for me, it includes (but isn't limited to):
Make the most of life - its the only one you have.
In 2011 I signed up for the Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer. It was its first year in Australia, held in Brisbane. The money raised went directly the QLD Medical Institute of Research which performs important cancer research. I managed to raise $2,845 with the help of my friends and family. The cycling challenge part involved riding to Wivenhoe Dam, camping overnight, then returning back to Brisbane (240kms round trip). It was a tough ride with alot of hills, not to mention it stormed on the return journey. But I loved the challenge of it. At the time, it was the biggest cycling acheivement I had ever done. My next event dwarfs that ride.
While I have never had to deal with the harsh realities of Cancer, there are quite a few of my friends that have. Bianca's Dad, my Nan, two of my friends Mums and a friend from work - they have all had to stare Cancer in the face. Some have managed to beat it and live on....and sadly some have not. Some are still locked in battle.
For me, being exposed to Cancer sufferers, has changed the way I think about life. I never used to worry to much about what I did day-to-day. I would just float around doing whatever I wanted without much thought about the 'big picture'. However, I now find myself wanting to ensure that should the worst happen to me - I can be proud and happy with the life I have lived. This can mean different things to different people - but for me, it includes (but isn't limited to):
- Making sure I spend time with those I love - friends and family.
- Making sure I make time for the activities I find fun - cycling is one of them.
- Healthy body & healthy mind - good diet, low stress, good nights sleep etc.
- Trying new things and challenging myself (physically and mentally). And
- Every now and then - do something for someone else. Something I believe in.
Make the most of life - its the only one you have.
At the finish of 2011 RTCC - High on Life
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