Day 13, Stage 10
Limoges – Issoudun, 194.5km
Today is the first of 6 flat stages in a row that are all approximately 200km in length. I am preparing myself for a long boring slog in the saddle. We have broken the 6 stages up with 2 rest days though so we won’t do more than 2 big days in a row in an effort to keep ourselves as fresh as we can be.
We were all sluggish and tired in the morning and there appeared to be more uphill than down so we felt quite slow and hopeless. In the afternoon the wether warmed up a bit and so did our muscles. We seemed to have more downhill than uphill, our attitudes were positive and we seemed to pick up the pace quite a bit.
As I rounded a corner on a descent I saw Dale crouched over beside the road and looking like he was in a bit of pain. Then I saw dad sprinting back from the support car that was parked about 30 metres down the road. When I saw dad’s response I knew there was something wrong.
So I raced over to Dale and found that his chain fell off at 45 – 50kph and he get caught up and took a tumble.
He was skilful enough to steer towards the side of the road where there was a patch of grass about 1 metre wide wedged between the road and some nasty prickly looking blackberries, or something similar, and he managed to fall there which is very lucky and very skilful.
He still went head first and caught himself on the forehead and the arms and legs (his helmet was full of grass!). There were a few scratches and cuts n bruises. His huge frame left a divot in the side of the road that looked more like a meteor hit it!
He also blew his tyre and buckled his wheel a bit but he made the day of an old French guy who was over the road and witnessed the whole thing. He came running over exclaiming “Pooof” and “Kapow” and had a look of awe on his face like he couldn’t believe that Dale had actually gotten back up again.
He was very lucky that he hit the grass.
Dale’s Post-Crash Video Diary
Today is the first flat stage that we haven’t got lost and haven’t had to make phone calls to each other. It’s all starting to work now. Jane (our GPS unit) is redeeming herself after some early teething problems.
We met an old French lady out the front of her house when we stopped this afternoon and she was offering us beers, drinks, food etc. Even though we declined the beers it ended up being one if the highlights of the day. She didn’t speak a word of English and we didn’t speak a word of French but we spent a bit of time having a chat, of sorts, and we think we all understood each other. She collected a bowl of cherries for us straight from the tree and bought out drinks for us all. She was a really nice lady and we had a lot of laughs with her and it was a real highlight.
As we passed a herd of cows this afternoon they all decided to sprint along the fence-line next to us for a few hundred metres. That was a bit unexpected and weird. The cows over here seem to have more energy than any others that I’ve ever seen!
We saw what looked to be a bike loaded up with panniers approaching us and as it got closer we realised it was actually a scooter (that you push along with one foot – not a motorised scooter!). We were amazed as it looked like hard enough work to begin with but with all the bags it would be way harder and he appeared to be going quite a distance – hard core.
For the second time in two stages we have been stopped on a motorway and told that we can’t ride there. I am thinking that the rules must vary between the different regions of France.
French Drivers are fantastic. They are very courteous and due to their cycling culture and love of the sport it seems that cyclists have right of way throughout the entire country. We are getting lots of “toots” and waves from passing motorists and it is very encouraging. I think Melbourne motorists could take a leaf out their book as we haven’t had one road rage incident in 10 stages of riding and you get at least one every time you go out on the bike in Melbourne.
For the entire tour I have been suffering from the worst hay fever I have had in about 10 years. There have been a lot of Yackandandah and Mt Beauty smells in the air and these flat stages seem to be “hay fever central” with rolling fields of crops, massive piles of hay and plenty of pollen in the air.
We were in bed before 11pm which is our record by a couple of hours I think. Hopefully we can continually improve on this as sleep is crucial for our weary bodies right now.
Damian’s diet for today can be found at the base of this update for those who are interested.
Post Ride Video Diary
Plotting the Route for Tomorrow
Crohn’s Fact
As a chronic condition there is a strong link between Crohn’s disease and depression; many people suffer social anxiety from fear of symptom flare-ups while the stigma of discussing bowel problems prevents many from talking about their condition.
Crohn’s Profile
Name: Rudolf
Age: 45
Lives: Kapfenberg, Austria
Age of Diagnosis: 31
My Story:
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s 14 years ago.
I had an operation at once and got an ileostoma and had many years of great problems with this.
This had an enormous impact on my life.
A positive attitude has helped me very much.
I had my latest operation 7 years ago and I have been relatively well since then.
I can work normally which is very good.
Of course I must always take medicine.
My Stoma increases my quality of life.
My message:
Family and friends are important.
Positive attitude and self-respect help us to live well with the illness.
Life goes on.
Today’s images can be viewed here
Sponsor Profile:
Sponsor Name: Back In Line Chiropractic
Sponsor Level: Official Chiropractor
Sponsor Website: www.backinline.com.au
Back In Line Chiropractic is a Performance and Family Wellness Centre where we help families and sportspeople achieve optimal health through Chiropractic Care, Orthotics and Lifestyle Advice. Dr. Roy has recently been awarded ‘Chiropractor of the Year 2008′ in Victoria.
Dr Roy says – “We are sponsoring Damian as we know that not only will it reduce his chances of injury but will also have him performing at his peak. Damian is riding for a great cause and we know that he will raise public awareness of Crohn’s Disease. Back In Line Chiropractic look after several Crohn’s sufferers, many whom have wonderful health improvements through our care and advice.”
Damian’s Diet for today:
Before Ride:
1 bowl muesli with light milk
2 x chocolate croissants
1 x Swisse Multivitamin
1 x Zinc Tablet
1 x Magnesium Tablet
1 x ultra muscle-eze
During Ride:
30km – 1 banana
39km – Winners energy bar – Sticky Date Pudding Flavour
50km – 2 rounds nutella sandwiches on white bread, 1 mars bar
75km – 1 banana, 1 PB energy gel
76km – 6 lollies
90km - Winners energy bar – Sticky Date Pudding Flavour
107km – 4 lollies
Lunch at approx 110km – 2 ham and lettuce sandwiches, mars bar, 2 chocolate croissants, 3 biscuits
144km – 1 banana, 1 PB energy gel
152km – 450ml coke, fresh cherries (straight from the tree) from a nice old French lady whose house we stopped in front of.
162km – Winners energy bar – Sticky Date Pudding Flavour
166km – 6 lollies
180km – 1 banana
After Ride:
3 rounds Jam sandwiches
1 x ultra muscle-eze
1 Big Mac, I Fillet o Fish, Large Coke, Large Fries, M&M McFlurry (my dietitians would kill me for eating this but it was all we could find – usually mum cooks up pasta but we didn’t have access to ma kitchen tonight)
Approx 4 to 5 litres of water over the entire day. Drinking much less than in the mountains and didn’t have as many PB Energy Gels of which I had many in the mountains.
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