The Heart Was Willing

During a barbeque, early in August, the Norfolk Churches Trust sponsored bike ride came up in conversation, and much to the horror of the fit people there I stated my intention of having a crack at it. Of course I had a bike that had sat in our shed untouched for approximately three years, the reason being I was too busy to ride, running a business and unknowingly getting ready for my collapse and hurried journey into the CCU.

The necessary forms and list of churches were obtained, the bicycle removed from the shed, cobwebs removed and the whole thing serviced. After showing the list of churches to the rehab staff and asking the question "Am I capable of doing this?" and receiving the answer in the affirmative along with some sponsorship, it was time to address the real problems: How to ride a bicycle for eight hours, in a comfortable and efficient manner! 

The bicycle had originally been purchased from Stuart Males Cycles in Gorleston and I had spent some of my time in hospital opposite Richard Males when I was suffering from pneumonia. I also recalled that the thing you had to sit on had a dual purpose, firstly as a saw to cut you in half and secondly as a perch to give it somebody to saw through.