Archive for the ‘training’ Category

Just 15 Days To Go – Cycling For a Better Future

Posted: June 23, 2013 in COPD, Cycling, training, Travel
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Blimey, time seems to accelerate as you close in the target. In this case, the 550 miles I challenged myself to cycle from Hungerford to Ligueil and back to prove that ‘The Old Codger’ can and to prove that COPD need not stop me from doing what I like to do, while also helping others.

At my last checkup with the nurse my obstructive lung lung effectiveness was 48% while my restrictive lung effectiveness was 49%. Now looking at these figures, this suggests to me that i’m effectively operating on one lung, which isn’t that good. My understanding is also that while my restrictive effectiveness can be improved by losing a bit of weight (too much fat restricting the movement of the diaphragm is bad) the obstructive part will NOT improve. If that’s the case then, ooh err, I’m in for some bad times ahead.

A hint at the possible bad times ahead came to the fore last Sunday when I was out on my 74 mile epic. As I ‘pumped those pedals’ onwards and upwards my breathing would get harder, as for everybody else. In my case however I was breathing in vast amounts of air (well, I thought it was vast amounts anyway) but I seemed to breathing back out the same. It felt as though while I was breathing I wasn’t getting the oxygen: that, was scary. Obviously I was getting oxygen otherwise I would be here and you wouldn’t be reading these words 🙂

I have a checkup tomorrow followed by a lung function check the Thursday before I depart and I will be interested to see what the figures are. In the meantime, the next 15 days are all I have to prepare myself for the big challenge which will hopefully help others. Others such as those less mobile than myself and would welcome the opportunity to enjoy the nicer things in life just like those more mobile. In this case, it is enjoying some tranquil relax time on canal boats: Canal boats that have been specifically designed to accommodate wheel chair users, such as those operated by Bruce Trust Barges who rely on charitable donations to keep the boats operating and even acquiring new boats. Others that I hope to help are those still at risk of contracting Polio.

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, and for as little as US$0.60, a child can be protected against the virus for life. If we don’t finish the fight right now, more than 10 million children under the age of five could be paralyzed by polio in the next 40 years.

The above was taken from the End Polio Now web site. The site shows that we are so close to eliminating this disease. But my fear is that because we’re so close, there’s the danger that we may ‘take the foot off the pedal’ and relax. We must make sure we avoid this, we must keep going to totally eliminate Polio once and for all.  But this takes funds. This is why I’m riding my bike: To prove I can and to help others, so who will help me?

If you want to help me to help others then why not support me, and encourage me via my just giving page at www.justgiving.com/kevin-stirzaker.

Now, I’m off for breakfast and to plan today’s training ride not sure how far yet but it will be less that 74 miles I do know that much 🙂

Go Podge, Go

Mostly Yesterday

Posted: June 17, 2013 in COPD, Cycling, training
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I was cycling (often in the rain) around Wiltshire & a little bit of Oxfordshire. Why? Partly because I’d paid my entrance fee; partly because I had already said I would; partly to get out of household chore but, mostly because I needed to: in just 21 days time, I’ll be setting off on a 500+ mile cycle challenge to Hungerford’s twin town of Ligueil, and back. And why am I doing that?

Mainly because I love cycling, I love it to bits [back in the 60’s I missed many a school day just so that I could ride my bike] and not cycling would leave such a massive hole in my life. So when I was told I had COPD and that it wouldn’t get better but would in fact deteriorate I was more that a little bit upset.

Resigning myself to the fact that my breathing was only going to worsen I started selling my bikes. First the Colnago fixie (sad, sad day), the thee the Specialized Roubaix. Next was to be the De Rosa when I thought NO, COPD is NOT going to do this to me. I was going to ride my bike(s) and prove that I could still do so. But, i needed a goal, something to aim for. Hence the series of cycle challenges.

Anyway, back to yesterday. We (Matt, Nick and myself) arrived at the registration point for the Great Western Sportive where we were met by Mike, Barry & Charles. Together we would take on and beat the route (72 miles) and, get back before the organisers took down the directional signs. Which by the way, we did.

Riders were sent off in groups so as not to crowd the roads with hundreds (literally) of cyclist all at once. Our allotted start came and off we set: left out of the venue, left at the roundabout, left at the junction and away we go. After two miles we were stopped by road works traffic lights. It was then that we realised we had lost Charles. We waited, waited and waited. So, Nick being the young whippet that he is was despatched to find him. In the mean time, the next wave of cyclist went by. We were losing time. Then I got a call: Charles had got a puncture as we left the departure point and had gone back to the service station for help. Nick came back to report that couldn’t find him (not surprising really). We waited as the next wave of cyclist went by. So, this time, His Podgeness was despatched to find him. After a mile Charles spotted coming out of the junction and in time, all we’re reunited. All except that is for Matt. While we taken on the 72 mile ride, Matt had opted for the 100+ mile route. Ooh, what a show off.

Anyway, having lost at least 20 minutes, we were off and away. We had been warned of the first hill shortly after the start and so we approached it with dread. But, on reflection, it wasn’t that bad and reaching top we fairly whizzed along. God, this is great. This is what I was born to do, ‘ride my bike’.

The first stop was due, I calculated, after 24 miles. As we came to a right turn with a friendly cyclist come Marshall, we were told the stop was at the top of the hill. I looked forward then up, then I looked up some more and I saw one of the white horses carved into the hill side. What a magnificent site it was. Then, I realised the road went up and around the horse, then up some more. This is where my breathing limitations (48% effective) made their mark and the bike became a ‘push bike’ 🙂

Anyway, we reached the stop, and the rain came. Fortunately, I had my rain top tucked away under the saddle. We rested for a good 10 minutes before setting off along some great roads and into Avebury. By now, we were getting a little bit wet (can cyclists get trench foot) but on we went.

Eventually we reached Ramsbury and started heading towards Hungerford coming within 4 miles of home. Unfortunately, my car was in Swindon with another 30 (hilly) miles to go. So we resisted the temptation and turned left to go upwards towards Lambourne. Not long after we espied two damsels in distress. His ‘gallant’ Podgeness couldn’t just leave them and so, along with Charles, assistance was offered. By now of course, the rest of the group were well in front so we thought we might as well stop. For AA few minutes we stood chatting while watching try to sort their puncture out then frustration took hold and I helped them refit the tyre. Satisfied they were once more roadworthy, we bid them farewell and off we went. After 20 miles the ‘damsels’ whooshed by us and with a thank you for our help, they were gone. Charles and I were now convinced we were the ‘lantern rouge’. Still, I said, at least we’re something.

After that it was just a case of slogging onwards and upwards until at last Swindon was in view. From our vantage point I could clearly see the hospital. Well, I certainly wasn’t going there! From here we seemed to be in a holding pattern as we zig zagged along the top of the hill before eventually dropping down to the ride end and a welcome coffee and Mars Bar: I’d earned it.

And that was that. 74.5 miles and it was still daylight.

Next week? Something shorter I think.

Go Podge, Go
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Mostly Today

Posted: June 16, 2013 in Cycling, training
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I’ll be riding my bike around Wiltshire for 117km just for the hell of it. Actually, it’s not just for the hell of it at all. It’s part of my training plan, which I’m making up as I go along, to prepare for the WheelsForRotary 500+ mile Cycle Challenge. So, Porridge consumed. Coffee drunk. Creatine taken. Paracetamol taken. Codeine taken. Ibuprofen taken. Heart tablet taken. All set for the 117 km The Great Western Sportive cycle ride. Hope they’ve got cake and bickies 🙂

Go Podge, Go

All sponsorship welcome at  @  www.justgiving.com/kevin-stirzaker

Size Does Matter

Posted: June 2, 2013 in COPD, Cycling, training, Travel
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Sometimes, you can go too large. I found this out today, to my cost. Those reading my recent entries will no doubt smile (again) at the number of punctures I recently endured. Well yesterday I found the cause: there was a nick in the side of my Continental Four Season Tyre which just large enough to let the tube squeeze into and subsequently burst. Pleased with my discovery (I was beginning to think the rim itself was at fault) I changed the tyre. The only spare useable tyre was a tyre labelled as an All Conditions Armadilo 700 x 25mm. Well, I’m sure I run 25 mm tyres before on the Colnago so on went the tyre. Pumping the tyre up to 120 psi I was so pleased to note that nothing burst and the tyre stayed hard I put my trusty steed away for the night all ready for the next day’s ride.

Morning came, and route all mapped out off I went tot he Hungerford Library Car Park to meet up with Charles before setting off on our epic route. After about half a mile, we meet our first climb, a climb I always find tough but today was particularly tough and I remember thinking just how am I going to get through today if I struggle like this at the first hill. Anyway, hill conquered, on we went, down hill and having to pedal: Surely I can be this bad I thought. During the next couple of miles, on I struggled as cyclist by the dozen (I may be exaggerating the numbers) flew past me most likely who was the fat wheezer on the Colnago: well, if any of those cyclists are reading this, you now know the answer, it was me.

Turning left in Little Bedwyn we went uphill past The Harrow [too early for a refreshment stop and they’re shut on Sundays anyway :-(] and ran out of gears with the first 100 yards. Eventually I stopped and checked the bike out. I’m used to struggling for the first five miles of any ride (COPD seems to do this), but this was ridiculous. It was then that I found out that the new tyre on the rear was just a little bit too wide and any strain on the pedals was pulling the wheel just enough to pull the tyre against the rear stay thereby providing me with a third brake that I really didn’t want or need. I released the wheel, reset it and off we went again. Onwards we climbed and still the tyre rubbed. But, after last week having three false starts I was determined not to stop and kept going. Actually it was probably quite good as it was like resistance training: every mile was equal to two as a consequence.

Inevitably however, I had to cave in. If I’d continued the tyre would have been reduced from 25 to 23 mm and with it would come the risk of a blowout and I real didn’t fancy too long a walk home. Also, all the rubbing can’t have been doing my frame any good at all. And so after just 15 miles, we head back into the comforting arms of The Downgate, open by now for a quick top up of fluids before going home in a big sulk.

So, my 58 miles became 15 but being home earlier than planned did mean that I could order some new tyres before tackling any chores in the garden.

Maybe I’ll get out later in the day on the De Rosa.

Slow Podge, Slow

The Pressure is On

Posted: June 1, 2013 in COPD, Cycling, training, Travel
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So, today is the 1st June. With the WheelsForRotary scheduled for July, the pressure is really on for me to be ready for the event. The question is: Will I be ready?

I really hope so. I really want to prove to those doctors that COPD or no COPD, I can still ride a bike.

Last week was 52 miles: 52 tough miles but I did it. This week, tomorrow, it will be 58’ish miles – I may plan the routes but until I actually ride them, I never know the final distance. Navigational errors (going the wrong way) can cause the overall distance to increase or decrease although experience tends to suggest that an increase is more likely than a decrease.

So, I will be at the Hungerford Library Car Park at 10:00 for a 10:15 depart if anybody wants to tag along. The route can be found here:

Question is, do I ride the Colnago or the De Rosa?

Go Podge, Go.

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