New experiences

We give some insight into some of the more unusual things that happened when we were out riding our bikes. I remind you that both Chris and I are in our 60’s and we were real novices when we started out training for this bike challenge.

The information and tips given by the other challenge participants (who were much more skilled bike riders) were invaluable and were a great help to both of us as it did improve our riding skills. One important tip given was to raise our saddle height so as to fully extend our legs when peddling. At first this was uncomfortable but it soon proved to me that I required less effort in peddling and was able to go faster and a further distance.
Our sincere thanks to Brendan, Max, Leanne, Clare, Clare’s husband Peter and Leanne’s partner Chris. When out riding as a group, they often had to wait for us (mainly me) to catch up.

Now for some laughs!

• A few weeks after acquiring our bikes I managed to get the rear wheel caught in a deep rut between the edge and the concrete bike path. This happen as I made room for walkers sharing the path. I controlled the bike without issue, but on getting home I found the wheel was buckled, which was a surprise. I was advised by the bike shop that it was damaged beyond safe repair. What frustration, after recently buying a new bike I now had to buy a new wheel.

• We were advised early on about using suitable bike clothing especially padded nicks, so we went out and purchased some bike clothing; remember we started our training coming into winter. What we soon fund out was that not only was the clothing important, but so was having a comfortable saddle. We both had to purchase gel seats – fortunately we can take our saddles with us to Vietnam as our backsides should be now be moulded to the shape of the seat. It certainly makes a big difference having a comfortable seat when cycling for long periods. The lycra look is not very flattering, but it helps makes you look the part of a cyclist. We recently received our “Peddling for Parkinson’s” cycling clothing.

• Both of us wear glasses, but we found they were not suitable for riding bikes as in the wind we were continually trying to dry our eyes and keep the dust out of them. When it was sunny we did not have adequate protection for our eyes from the side. We looked around and decided we needed to get the “cool look” wrap around glasses, but as we both have prescription glasses we were concerned about the high cost of getting prescription sunnies. So off to the pharmacy we went to check out the range of Cancer Council approved wrap around sunnies. After spending time ensuring we found the right look, we each came away with a $40.00 pair of sunnies. They certainly made a difference to our eye comfort when cycling; the only problem now was one of us had to take our regular glasses with us in case we needed to read any small print – such as café menus. Wearing our lycra gear and wrap around sunnies we are a pair of cool looking cyclists.

• One sunny Sunday afternoon we travelled along the Western Ring Road bike path and had travelled 23kms (a “good” Parky day), when the bolt holding my saddle broke, fortunately I was going slow at the time. The bolt had actually fractured – a manufacturing fault. Realising I had left my mobile phone at home we walked to a nearby petrol station to use a phone, but no phone was available. A coach driver let me use his mobile phone and I made contact with one of our sons to meet us. We could do nothing but stand in the shade at the petrol station in our lycra gear and wait. Darren eventually came took the bolt and mum and went in search of a bike shop. In the meantime, Kevin another son turned up (Darren had told him of our plight), after ensuring I was okay he drove home and brought back my mobile phone. Darren was able to obtain a new bolt from a bike shop (bike fasteners are not common sizes, so we found out later) and I was able to reattach my saddle. After spending some 95 minutes at the petrol station we were able to get back on our bikes and ride home. It was a very long day, fortunately not all in the saddle. We now make sure we do not leave home without the mobile phone.

• One of the changes affecting my Parkinson’s condition is a tingling sensation in the hands - from gripping the handle bars. This often occurs in both hands and can be uncomfortable, I have to release one hand at a time and keep shaking the hand to relieve the tingling feeling. It can be very awkward depending on where you are when this happens. If you are cycling up hill and have take one hand off the handlebars, I start struggling with balance – not nice. Christine says it looks strange seeing a person riding one handed fiercely shaking the other hand and then change over doing the same with the other hand. If I try and ignore it the tingling feeling gets to intense and I have to stop.

• One sunny midweek morning we decided to take the Westmeadows bike track up to the Homestead, we had travelled along a short part of this track before. It was an interesting and very quiet ride, we hardly saw anyone else along the track. The track was a well defined but in places it was a very rocky path. Going through various gates we cycled under one of the flight paths, the planes seemed close enough to touch. Going through another gate we soon found we shared a paddock with a number of grazing kangaroos, all looking curious and probably wondering what we were about. Some were close to the bike path and fortunately moved away when we got closer, nevertheless it was a little uncomfortable as they looked big and strong compared to us on our bikes. They stood and watched us go by and then got back to their grazing, we just continued on, eventually coming to a newly constructed resting place (a couple of bench seats) where we rested for a while sharing rest with all the flies. The track we had travelled was not flat it is very much uneven, hilly and rough in parts; we had travelled nearly 20kms and not reached the homestead. Concerned about travelling too far we decided to turn back for home.

One riding advantage in Vietnam is that the journey is one way, we do not have to worry about getting back.

That's it for now.

Training

Following approval from our doctor and my neurologist, we both signed up for the challenge in March 2008. We had no bikes so we had to go out and purchase 2 new hybrid bikes. Christine last rode a bike over 40 years ago, and that only had 1 speed, the new bikes are 28 speed. So off to Brimbank Park (a large open area near home) we went, so that she could try out the bike when no one was around. After about 40 minutes she was ready to go on a bike track, but she would have to wait a few days as my bike was not yet available.

Early April we set off for our first bike ride along one of the local bike paths, we only managed about 12kms, testing out; the bike, the gearing, ourselves and everything in general. Balance is an issue for us with Parkinson’s and I soon proved this as I fell of the bike when slowing down and suffered cuts and bruises. I quickly learnt how to stop and maintain balance without falling and fortunately this has not happened since. Boy we were stiff and aching after our first few rides, the weather was typical for Autumn, some days cold and windy. We tried to ride twice a week and eventually managed to ride 20kmseach time. I soon found out that my legs did not like the small hills; I often had to stop and walk up then.

In the meantime Christine was gaining confidence in both riding and gear changing, she also found the hills difficult but was overjoyed when she was able to ride up them. I found that doing the bike riding had an effect on my Parkinson medication, and I quickly lost energy, following discussions with my neurologist to try and offset this, I took additional Parkinson medication whenever I went bike riding. I am on a schedule of 4 hours between Parkinson’s medication and I need to manage this otherwise it takes sometime to get my body back to some normality, so the timing for this additional medication was critical as I could easily become dyskinetic (loss of some control of my movements) if I took to much medication within a certain timeframe. This coupled with the occasional ‘not so good’ Parky days often cut short some of our times on the bike. My 60+ year old body often wanted to give up, but this was when we were heading home and we still had 10kms or more to go – it was either walk or ride sometimes a bit of both. Christine was always there beside or behind me, often being held back due to my lack of strength and endurance as my legs peddled away and not travelling far.

We knew this was not going to be easy, but it was a challenge we accepted and both want to do.

Through April, May, June and July we road as often as we could doing between 18 – 25kms each time, often fighting the wind on the return home leg. One Sunday in August we rode to Docklands for coffee and then home again – a total of 48kms. It was hard work, I was totally stuffed, but we were excited as we had almost reached the 50km milestone. In September we met up with other participants for a ride along the beach front around St Kilda area. It was an extremely cold and windy day. I was the back marker that day and realised I would be the back marker on our Vietnam leg as many of the other participants were accomplished bike riders. Chris and I persevered and we were acknowledged by the others for not giving up in such terrible conditions. Throughout the training period a number of rides were organised where we got together and rode our bikes. We have a great group of people of various ages who will be going to Vietnam.

Around October I found that I was really struggling to exceed 20kms, and generally my Parkinson’s condition had worsened. I was now finding it extremely frustrating as I was having more ‘not so good’ Parky days. A change in Parkinson’s medication was made by the neurologist and after a while some of my Parkinson’s symptoms settled down. Unfortunately the worsening of my Parkinson’s has not made it possible for me to increase the distance of my bike riding, though I still keep trying. I seem to hit the WALL at 25 – 30kms and I can not go any further without a long rest. This is not going to stop me from going to Vietnam; if necessary I will do shorter bike rides and travel in the support vehicle.

Next instalment – some of the funny and not so funny adventures during training.

That’s all for now

The start of the journey

Christine and I started our new married life together by emigrating to Australia in 1968 and settled in Melbourne. We have 3 adult sons who are successful in their chosen careers.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2003 and after accepting the situation we both set about getting on with our lives and not be put off with what the future may hold. We take each day one day at a time. Both of us support the community in a number of ways:- We are both involved in the support group, actively promote awareness of Parkinson's; Fred is a computer tutor for Hume U3A (University of the Third Age) passing on skills to mature aged students; while Christine assists at a local Opportunity Shop. We have been doing this for a number of years.

In March 2008 we both accepted the Parkinson’s Challenge and have been fund raising and peddling our bikes ready for Vietnam.

Why did we accept the Challenge?

• It challenges our personal boundaries both physically and mentally
• We are determined to help make a difference for people with Parkinson’s
• It is ‘the cause’ about which we are already passionate about
• To demonstrate that most things are possible, if you remain determined
• Provides an opportunity to improve awareness and increase the Parkinson’s profile

Some of our successful fund raising ideas, which has helped us exceed $18,000.00

• Produced handout brochure giving details of campaign, which help to clarify awareness and obtain donations
• Selling Parkinson’s Passion (new 2008 Parkinson rose)
• Diner dance / silent auction (250 attended)
  
• Letters of funding request to business
• Ambassador presentations to various organisations resulting in good donations.

We were well supported by family (both in Australia and England), friends, Essendon Support Group and U3A.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL