Posts Tagged ‘COPD’

Job Done

Posted: July 15, 2013 in charity, COPD, Cycling, Rant, Travel
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First and foremost, let me express my heartfelt thanks to all those that supported me through my 550 Mile Cycle Challenge. To all those who supported me through donations via my Just_Giving page I would like to say a big Thank You: both the charities (End Polio Now & Bruce Trust Barges) and I genuinely appreciate it. For those who supported me during my training and the event itself, I also say Thank You: without you, I wouldn’t have been able to make it.

I’m not to going to make out it was easy because it wasn’t. In fact it was harder than I thought it would be. The combination of daily long distances, temperatures as high as 105f and a worsening of COPD did take its toll. But there are others worse off than me, which is why I take on, and complete these challenges.

While I will write a more comprehensive account of each day, this is just a brief recount.

We left Hungerford at the allotted time (mid-day) to head for the Ferry Terminal in Portsmouth where we were to encounter our first challenge of getting 6 bicycles and 7 passengers into a 2-berth camper van along with all the associated luggage and provisions including 18 Kilo’s of Bananas(!). One big problem was that the cycle rack on the van was only designed for three bikes, but with the aid of numerous zip ties, we were able to extend the rack’s capacity to 6 . I’m not sure if we could have taken to the public highway, but for boarding a ferry, it was ideal.

2013-07-07 20.08.00

Each day thereafter brought with it, its own challenges, low points and high points. The challenges, in the main, were distances and hills combined with high temperatures. The highpoint, for us all, was the reception we received from Hungerford’s Twin Town of Ligueil: they certainly know how to lay on a barbeque and their hospitality was second to none. The low point? It has to be me being taken out by a stupid driver who clearly wasn’t yet awake. As I was navigation round a roundabout, using the well marked cycle lane, a Renault 4 failed to spot me (a great big overweight cyclists in garish cycle clothes on a garish Colnago) a turned off the roundabout taking me with it. I was only bruised and winded but with a dented pride I just lay there gathering my thoughts before getting back up and continuing with my journey.

All too soon however, the ride was over and we headed back to England and Hungerford to a fantastic welcoming committee laid on by the local Rotarians and Bruce Trust Barges plus many more well wishers, all of whom plied us with drink and cakes (I think there was sandwiches as well). And then, it was over: we all dispersed and went home to rest and then rest some more.

Now the planning starts for next years ride……

Must Stop Cycling: Must Stop Cycling. . . .

Go Podge, Go

www.justgiving.com/kevin-stirzaker

I Was Not Ready For This

Posted: July 8, 2013 in charity, COPD, Cycling, Travel
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So, the ride down from Hungerford went pretty well having set off only a few minutes after 12:00, my first obstacle was Combe Gibett, when once again my bike realised the term Push Bike. But, after that, it was so much the better as so much of the next fez miles were either down hill or flat.

Being an uneventful, albeit slow ride, we opted to stop at Cheriton for a drink and lunch, but as always,  they had stopped doing food so we had a quick drink and set forth for the Ferry Port. This ti,e, to cut out as many busy roads as possible we opted for the back roads over Ports Down Hill via Pigeon House Lane: by now, i was too hot and bothered and caved in a little bit too quickly and climbed off to push ny bike up the hill. On reflection, it wasn’t that steep and I could probably have nade it, but hey ho, fro, here on in, it was all down hill, pqst the hospital, past the scene of the cat incident, and round the back roads to the Ferry Port.

This when the truth hit us, we had been pooked on as 7 passengers with 6 bicycles all in one camper van. Well, we did it, we placed three bikes on the outside rack then zip tied the others to then so that we had all 6 bikes hanginf oof the back. In all, these 6 bikes were probably worth in excess of 10 grand, but what the heck: We had to get on. We had a few strange looks but we got away with it 🙂

That’s about all I can say about Day 1. So what was I not ready for? The next dqy’s temperature hitting 105° F. More in next Updqte.

Go Podge, Go

www.justgiving.com/kevin-stirzaker

Am I Ready

Posted: July 5, 2013 in charity, COPD, Cycling, training
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I started my training proper on the 7th April and over the subsequent weeks, increased the ride mileage from the initial 14 mile ride to the longest ride at 74 miles.

Over that time, My average speed has gone up by 2.5 mph while my average heart rate has dropped from 130 to 118. These facts suggested to me that I must be at least more ready than I was for the Hungerford to Ligueil Cycle Challenge. So, when the time came for my regular respiratory test, I was quite naturally upbeat.

how misguided was I!

After numerous goes at getting my best blow into the machine, nearly passing out each time, the results came back worse than they were in March. The figures suggested that my COPD had deteriorated from moderate to severe. The nurse could see that I was clearly downbeat, especially with all my efforts over the last three months and she tried to impress upon me that irrespective of the results, the main thing was how I felt in myself and I must be doing all the right things: nevertheless, my lung performance had dropped.

disheartened? Of course I was, and very upset.

But, having had time to mull it over, I decided, I’m not going to give in. I’m going to complete the challenge: I’m going to lose even more weight: I’m going to keep on cycling; and when I can cycle no more, I shall organise and support cycle rides by whatever means I can. The one thing I’m not going to is resign myself to becoming inactive. Neither am I going to quit cycling. Now, it truly is what I live for, and Debbie of course who is just so supportive: I’m not sure what I’d do without her. And then of course there are her two boys, Matt & Nick who carry on my passion for cycling. I love them all though in slightly different ways…..

So, until the Good Lord decides otherwise, cycling shall be my driver for life. After this years ride, I start to prepare for next years ride to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. My aim is to find 70 riders. Tall order, but it’s the stake in the ground. Give me nudge if you might be interested.

Must Cycle Harder

Go Podge, Go

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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