Cycling For a Better Life

Posted: May 13, 2013 in Cycling, training, Travel
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The weekend just gone saw the 6th organised training ride as I prepare for the 550 mile cycle challenge from Hungerford to Ligueil and back from the 7th July this year. Starting in week 1 at just 14 miles, week 6 saw me doing 36 miles over some hilly terrain. Each week, the distance will increase to acclimatise me to the long distances required.

Now, as you read this, and having read some of my past adventures, you may be a little confused: after all, I’ve done some pretty significant rides in the past. So, why is it so different this time?

Well my last big ride saw my heart rate climb to 250+ and stay there for too long to be comfortable. In addition my breathing was getting more and more laboured. These two ‘issues’ took me off my bike for two years. Okay, I got out occasionally but always found it a struggle and suffered for a good 2 to 3 days after each ride.

Numerous hospital appointments decided that as far as my heart was concerned, although I had slight arrhythmia I was ok, phew. My breathing however was another issue with the diagnosis being COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or as I like to call it, Codgers Old Puffing Disease 🙂

Numerous test showed that my lungs were only 48% effective and I was told that they would not get better but they would deteriorate. Well, that was a pretty sobering thought and one that kind of concerned me a bit. But then I decided that these doctors know nothing 🙂 and I decided that I was going to prove them wrong. That is why I’m undertaking this challenge. And do you know what, it seems to be working. Where I was once laid up for 2 to 3 days after each ride I can now go for a ride the following day. And I’m getting stronger each week. Better still, the ride is for charity so other people benefit as well.

So, Codgers Old Puffing Disease I may, or may not, have but I will prove to myself that I can still ride a bike.

As the weeks progress, hopefully so will I. And, as the weeks progress, I’ll post such progress here.

In the mean time:

Go Podge, Go

http://www.justgiving.com/kevin-stirzaker
http://www.wheelsforrotary.com

2012 in review

Posted: December 31, 2012 in Uncategorized
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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,700 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 5 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Summary from Podge: Could Do Better 😦

Response from Podge: Will Do Better 🙂

Though 2013 effort will be shared with www.wheelsforrotary.com

In any event. I hope 2013 will be a Great Year for Everybody.

Cycle Challenge Update 1212

Posted: December 14, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Before I say anything else, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and the hope that 2013 brings for you all that you wish for.

From a cycling perspective, November & December are a pretty quiet time, with the weather being less than conducive to getting out on your bike. It certainly is for me. In fact, I have taken the drastic step of using the Christmas Holidays to prepare the basis for some serious training in the New Year. I will therefore be piling on the weight over the next two to three weeks so as to provide greater resistance when training and of course a great morale boost as I lose the pounds through January – March. it’s a flawed strategy I know, but I’m going to stick with it.

Looking forward to 2013, the dates for the 2013 ‘Wheelsforrotary’ Cycle Challenge have now been set. The ride will leave Hungerford on Sunday the 7th July heading for Portsmouth to catch the Ferry to Saint-Malo. From there we will spend 5-days cycling, via the Loire Valley, to Ligueil (twinned with Hungerford) before turning back north to Pegasus Bridge and the ferry back to Portsmouth to return to Hungerford on the 13th July. It is hoped that we will be able to coincide the return to Hungerford with the Hungerford Carnival and of course a welcome home party.

Throughout the ride, we hope to arrange other events, in particular a welcome party in Ligueil and a [almost-end-of-ride] party at Pegasus Bridge.

From April, a series of practice rides will be organised and will be designed such that they graduate in a combination of terrain and distance, so that any riders who follow the suggested route schedule will achieve a level fitness & capability that should enable them to complete the main ride in reasonable comfort. These Practice rides will also be a great opportunity to brush up on your orienteering.

More details of the event, including the practice ride schedule can be found on line at www.wheelsforrotary.com

Further details will be made available in the New Year, including the cost, which will of course be kept to the minimum.

Please, please feel free to pass this onto anybody you think might be interested in the event. I will be more than happy to add them to future distribution lists.

Equally of course, if you want to be removed from the list, please don’t hesitate to let me know and I will of course accommodate.

News Flash: – The Tour de France will return to Great Britain in 2014 after Yorkshire won the right to host the Grand Depart. The county will host two road stages before the Tour moves south for a third stage finishing in London.

Keep Cycling For a Better Life.

Kevin Stirzaker aka ‘Podge The Puffer’

Riding Through France

Posted: September 16, 2012 in Cycling, Festivals, general, training, Travel
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Ok, here it is. The event I’ve been wanting to kick off is to become a reality.

I moved into Hungerford some 9-years ago and have recently developed an almost uncontrollable urge to [do something for the community]. For those that know me, you’ll have already guessed that cycling was going to be central to such an urge. So, following on from the theme of another well know event annual event, I looked for a possible cycle challenge for anybody who wished to [prove that they can] complete the event.

What is the event?

Well, Hungerford is twinned with Liguiel in France, just south of the Loire Valley; so why not cycle there, and back. Better still, why not time the ride so as to coincide with the Hungerford Carnival? So that’s the event / challenge (the carnival bit is still to be confirmed). Hungerford to Liguiel and back. The ride will hopefully comprise of 30 – 40 riders (more if we can manage it) plus 2 – 3 support vehicles (to carry luggage and look after the riders)

The purpose of the ride is [in conjunction with the Hungerford Rotary] to raise as much money as we possibly can for two very worthy causes:

End Polio Now

&

Bruce Trust Barges

Two very worthy cause which will hopefully encourage lots of interest and support.

When is the event?

The ride will  depart Hungerford on the 7th July 2013 (Sunday) and return on Saturday 13th July, having cycled 550 miles: The proposed itinerary is thus:

Sunday 7th July

Depart Hungerford and cycle (60 miles) to Portsmouth ferry terminal for overnight crossing to Saint-Malo.

Monday 8th July

Depart Saint-Malo and cycle (55 miles) to Rennes.

Tuesday 9th July

Depart Rennes and cycle (86 miles) to Angers.

Wednesday 10th July

Depart angers and cycle (80 miles) to Ligueil.

Thursday 11th July

Depart Ligueil and cycle (80 miles) to Le Mans.

Friday 12th July

Depart Le Mans and cycle (110 miles) to Caen – regrouping at Pegasus Bridge before heading for overnight ferry to Portsmouth.

Saturday 13th July

Depart Portsmouth and cycle (60) miles back to Hungerford for end of ride celebration. If possible, we will try to coincide the home coming with the Hungerford Carnival.

If you feel that you might like to take part in this event, then please do let me know of your interest (this does not commit you) and I shall add you to the mailing list.

Ride Route 2013

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car, only a high will impress you, and you’ll have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.

Ernest Hemingway.

The number for today is 5

Posted: June 28, 2012 in Uncategorized
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I only need one hand for counting now.

The number 5 is the symbol of the perfection in the Mayas.

The number 5 is apparently used to Symbolise the force and the limits of the man in his control on the Universe (!).

The number 5 is also the number of the life and the nature, according to Aeppli.

For His Podgeness, the number 5 really means:

5 more sleeps to go;
5 more sleeps to cruising;
5 more sleeps till the big fella gets on that boat,
with his bird and her boy;
5 more sleeps to cruising.

To add to the excitement, I’ve just realised there’s going to be firework displays as each ship sails out. What with the Red Arrows and the Princess Royal coming along to view me (she’s viewing everybody else as well I know but, permit me my dreams) I’m not sure how much more excitement I can take. I may just need a drink or two to calm me down. Actually, the Bombay Sapphire is looking quite enticing even now….

Do you know what, I think I’m starting to get quite emotional. Hmmm, must ‘man up’…

Wait: a horrible thought has just crossed my mind: after the cruise what will I do? No more countdowns 😦

Ah ha, no worries, after her indoors rescued me from the river recently, I apparently owe her a cruise. Possibly one in September. Yay. Another countdown could be on the cards. Better still, I think I may have conned her into paying.

Won’t be the same as the Grand Event though :-(.

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