NSW - BBR Comments

Bike Maintenance

Five weeks before the ride, my cluster went, so a new cluster and chain was put on.

One week before the ride, re greased the rear axle and ball bearings, they would have needed doing anyway. Also purchased a new rear tyre, a Schwalbe Marathon to match my front one. Good tyres they are.

Day one of the ride, after 8000 plus Km, there came a click in the right pedal. Day two it became worse and could actually feel the "broken ball bearing" or whatever through my shoe. Bought a new set of pedals from the traveling Pegasus shop.

Day four of the ride, I discarded the bike stand. It was probably ten years old and worn to such an extent that every time I hit a bump, it extended, dangerous, but not only that, every time it happened, one of the other thousand riders would tell me, "Your stand is down".

Body Maintenance

Had been in training for some time, doing 60 - 90 Km rides. Four weeks before the start, did what was for me a fairly hard 92 Km ride. Rested the next day and the on the third day, I was almost crippled, no power in the knees which were sore as well.

I just rested, took things easy, the doc gave me some anti inflammatories which didn't do anything. Started to prepare myself psychologically for failure.

Anyway to cut a long story short, days one, two and three weren't too bad, just took it easy, used one gear down and walked when I had to. On the fourth day, I was riding along and suddenly noticed I didn't have a knee problem, and that state continues to this day. Why?