Fast

If you thought, for a moment, that this post would have something to do with ways to improve your speed on a bikecycle, then you would be mistaken. If you've met me, you will know that I have won my battle with anorexia, convincingly, and cannot be considered a credible authority when it comes to the elusive art of going swiftly.

No, This post has got to do with food. A subject where I consider myself a bit of an expert. Especially the consumption of it. But I'm tired of being fat.
Its not so much the way people look at me, or the fact that fat people are discriminated against. Its the fact that I have to carry a lump of lard around with me on the cycle. Something I can ill afford.

So I consulted the World Wide Web for solutions.
Their advise is that I should eat less. Apparently, no-one on a fatal hunger strike has ever died from morbid obesity. "You should try fasting", it says. It has untold benefits such as increasing growth hormone, stabilizing blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol and my personal favourites, autophagy and weight loss. Look it up.

The 5-day one looked manageable.
So my first day, Monday 27 May, started with a weigh-in.
The protesting bathroom scale showed a figure that would have made a batsman proud, but had no place on an athlete trying to get down to Richards Bay in 60hrs.
One hundred and five, not out.

So I have eaten nothing for 5 days, drank only black coffee, black tea and water. To try and retard the possibility of reducing muscle mass, the one expert suggested I do some physical exercise.
So I cycled 4 times this past week.
Hopefully, this is a 2-in-1 package deal. The mental fortitude one needs to stay the course, must surely stand me in good stead when it comes to 24 hrs on the bicycle and hopefully I lose a chunk of blubber in the process.
One forgets what a huge part of ones day revolves around food. Preparing it, eating it, socialising around it and then planning the next gathering at the trough. So removing it from your day, leaves a huge void. This is the most challenging thing about a fast.
I can honestly say, that I seldom felt hungry over this past week but morning tea without milk...

Luckily my torture ends tonight, Friday 31 May. Tomorrow is the big weigh-in.


The Weigh-In

The results are as follows:

Thats 8.3kg in 5 days! I didn't think this possible.
Four 2 litre bottles of Coke!
I'm under no illusion that a large part of this is not water or Coke or beer, but it's a launching platform.
I'm more interested to know if I've lost muscle mass and I'm hoping to see positive results from a healthy dose of autophagy.

Some observations:

• Its tough to do, but probably easier than you'd imagine
• You may feel some aches and pains from withdrawal symptoms
• Drink more water than you think, but add Hymalayan salt or similar. Limit to 3 litres.
• You wont be hungry.
• My eyesight appeared to worsen. I have experienced a fluctuation before. Hopefully it'll recover..
• I developed excessive mucus, but this might be flu related.
• The last day, I had back pain in the small of my back
• I had some cramping issues. Probably a lack of electrolytes.
• Be careful and better still, see a doc before blah,blah,blah.

Apparently, its very important to approach the re-feed process with caution. Something like avo and scrambled eggs in small, regular amounts. Introduce fats and protein with caution.

For those who are following a ketogenic eating regime, my keto reading was 3.8, which is through the roof. A good start for fat adaption.

Hope this helps anyone who wants to have a go.
So fast and perhaps you'll go fast.

Come on ...

The cold winter days are approaching and 'Yes' the days are glorious now, but it will get cold and the lack of sun will affect your sense of well being. But don't despair! We have a solution.

Six weeks from now, on Saturday, July 13, we want you, to join us on a MTB ride from Heidelberg to Richards Bay, along the railway line service roads. You'll get your fair share of sun, exercise and laughter and if the medical fraternity is to be believed, that will make you a radiant little bundle of positive energy. Just the type of personality, people love to be around.
If not, we will reimburse all your costs for the entire experience. Fact!

"So how will this work? I don't think I'm fit enough. It seems like an awful long way? I would go, but I can't take the time off work. How will we get back?", I hear you say.

Suggestion no. 1: Ride for a day, the weekend, or do the entire route staying at B&B's along the way.
Suggestion no. 2: Leave  a day earlier or later or join us midway through.
Suggestion no. 3: Share a car with some friends and alternate driving responsibilities driving half days or alternate days or employ the services of our trusty driver,Denzel.
Suggestion no. 4: The Chuck Norris Option. Ride as hard as you can, setting your best time. Sleep out, forage for roots, eat grubs and Mopane worms. I find Pizza, 2 minute noodles or Eisbein to be a more palatable option, but hey...
Suggestion no. 5: You've done the Sani and it would be a pity to let all that good work go to waste. Use the event as motivation to keep up your training through a dreary winter.
Suggestion no. 6: If you've always fancied having a go at bikepacking, now's your chance. You wont regret it.
Suggestion no. 7: Use this as a warm down event from the 1000 Miler or Freedom Challenge events...or even, as training for the Silk Road or Munga. Just saying.
Suggestion no. 8: Familiarise yourself with the route, so that you can have a go at the record, on some future date.

So lets talk and buddy up with like minded individuals and enjoy this winters ride. If you want someone to bounce ideas off of, Elton, as always, is willing to assist.

To get the ball rolling, here are my plans. I have unfinished business with this route and want to break the 60hr barrier. I will be leaving on Monday, 15 July at 6:00am, my main motivation is a full moon the following day. I will ride as hard as I can and have resigned myself to the fact that I will, probably/ hopefully, have to sleep out. A truly unsupported race in all sense of the word!

Feel free to join me, but promise not to wait for me and I promise not to wait for you!

Bottom line. We want you. Please come.

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