Lessons from a bike
Want to know how NOT to prepare for something? There are lessons from a bike coming right up that you can apply to anything at all, believe me.
Do you remember that last week we talked about the importance of doing the preparing before the doing – whatever it might be? Just in case you missed it, you can refresh here.
Preparing for anything has been front of mind for me due to my inability to move my neck for quite some time after a gazillion handstands but also because of a random encounter on a plane.
Back in October, I boarded a plane in Sydney bound for my hometown Perth. I was at the end of the queue, so by the time I found my home for the next five hours, both occupants of the seats either side of me were ensconced. The gentleman in the window seat was deep in conversation on his phone as I got settled and although I know it is rude to eavesdrop, it was a little hard not to when you are sitting 1cm apart from each other.
Although it was not mine, I quickly became engaged in this conversation. It didn’t take me long to work out that my travelling companion (lets call him TC) was about to embark upon a bike event that he was ill-prepared for and with just two days until the start gun sounded – there was no small element of PANIC.
Once TC was off the phone – I couldn’t resist questioning him on what he was actually doing. Firstly, hats off to him committing to a very worthwhile cause, the Ride to Conquer Cancer. But and there is a big but – when that commitment involves two consecutive days of sitting on a bike and cycling a grand total of 200km – preparing is central to one’s success at making it off the bike alive.
With five hours to spare, I had all the time in the world to grill TC. This is how it went.
Q. How much training have you done? A. None.
Q. Is your bike ready? A. Probably not, the last time I saw it was in the garden shed and it may have a basket attached to the handlebars.
Q. What are you wearing? A. What do you mean?
Q. What have you planned to eat and drink on the day? A. No plans as yet.
I could see that in order to assist TC to avoid being on the nightly news over the weekend, intervention was required and let’s just say that a crash course in general preparation, sports nutrition, logistics of cycling and survival skills ensued between Sydney and Perth that night.
I thought of TC often over that next weekend and first thing Monday morning he kindly updated me on his adventure. Here is what TC had to say…..
Hi Julie
Well, I completed the 200km and followed your nutrition plan to the letter. Had I not, I would be dead…
Key Take-aways:
Identify obstacles – the weather Saturday was extreme
a. Pissing rain from the start
b. Hail in Byford
c. Howling Sou’Wester (clocked at 80km / hour) that we rode directly into for the last 60km!
Think logistics – setting up the swag at ground level was torture
a. My knees were swollen enough without having to kneel on them.
b. Slept first 3 hours in my shoes as I could not face the torture of taking them off
c. Woke at midnight to find my way to porta loo and change into more comfortable attire in blustery 7 degree temperatures
d. At first light surrounded by very enthusiastic cyclists who were looking forward to a 3 – 4 hour effort back to Perth and a lazy Sunday afternoon… Not available for me
The right equipment is essential – my bike was a piece of s**t
a. Sunday morning I woke to two broken spokes, a bent rim and 15 Psi in an 80 Psi tyre – all of which I suspect I rode with for a good portion of on Saturday
b. Was told by learned colleagues my weekend was over… Some called it deliberate sabotage by me to avoid the 2nd 100Km
c. I thought I would give it a bit of a go for personal pride with no thought of actually making it. Surprise, surprise, I crossed the finish line at McCullum Park on my bike in the second last group of real battlers.
Recovery is Important
a. Epsom salts
b. Hydralyte
c. Ice on both knees
d. 50mg Voltaren tablets
e. T Bone Steak
f. Half a bottle of Red
g. Compression bandages applied indefinitely
Signed up for next year…Thanks for your contribution and being interested – part of the healing process is being able to talk about these things. TC
Thanks TC for the lessons you have shared and the grace in which you accepted your fate. Lets catch a plane a little earlier next year.
