BikeNow supporting the Unsinkable project with 10% off ALL PRODUCTS in store

One week before surgery in June this year I went to the marketing department at the Victorian Institute of Sport with a proposal. I spoke to them about how I would like to track my journey through surgery and if I was to make it back - after what was to be the fifth major operation - it had the potential to be a powerful story. The conversation evolved into this blog, and also the production of an Unsinkable web video series. This post is about sharing with you the partnership between BikeNow in South Melbourne and the Unsinkable project. BikeNow want to offer all Unsinkable supporters 10% off all products in store and will pass back a small percentage of all these sales back to this project where it will be used to produce the ongoing web video series and ultimately a longer form documentary.
To be involved in this unique project and support me all you need to do is leave a comment with your email address on one of my blog posts at any time between now and the end of April 2014 and I will be happy to forward you a digital voucher entitling you to a discount.
How can you go wrong!? You can support this project by purchasing cycling equipment at a discounted rate. Everyone knows the benefits of cycling on good health, however it is the benefit of cycling that has seen many of Australia's top international athletes excel physically in the rowing boat. By reading my post from 13th October you will have read about the VIS spending three days on a cycling camp riding over 400 km: this shows that the VIS places high importance on the benefit of cycling to its elite international rowers. If you want to see how much importance I place on cycling simply check out my Strava page or look at this graph showing all 76 of my 30min efforts I have completed on the wattbike in the last three months.

 I encourage as many of you as possible to not only take this opportunity, but to also share this with your friends and colleagues to ensure that as many of you as possible are able to share in this opportunity, utilise the friendly and supportive staff at BikeNow and help Unsinkable reach its full potential as a digital media project!

Many thanks. John

First row in 9 months. Making Progress...

Yesterday I went for my first row since the 30th january this year. It was nice to be back on the water. I enjoyed it, and it felt great to feel that I was taking a big step forward in my recovery. I simply paddled for 7km, my time in the boat over the next few weeks is simply about finding my feet on the water again. I am hopeful that all the core stability work with Harry while in the gym during the year and in the pool swimming lots recently will mean that my body is physically ready to do what I want and that it is a matter of learning to coordinate the rowing movements again. I know from the work on the bike that my legs are physically ready. Here is a short video of my row on the Yarra River in Melbourne yesterday. This footage is part of a documentary that is being put together and will detail my rehabilitation over the journey. The 'Unsinkable' project will produce 10 episodes detailing different stages of the journey I have been on, the first episode is due to be released next week so stay tuned for some footage of me on my back in hospital back in June this year.
As always, thank you for following my progress, the number of views I receive each post are of great support to me. Cheers, John

So I have been cycling again

Hello everyone.

An update to enlighten you on the progress I have made over the past few weeks since I last checked in. This month I have been fortunate enough continue my progress out on the road on my bike.
The first week of October was both a Uni break and also school holidays so I took the chance to head to my parents house in Hamilton spending time with mum and dad and to enjoy myself on my bike. I managed 4 good rides over the 4 days. Attached below is a link to each ride which shows more details and a map of the particular rides.

I love riding at home as I am spoilt for choice on where to head and have the option of heading up the Victoria Valley into the grampians which is a favourite ride for me. (not to mention i usually see maybe one car an hour during these rides) The ride I completed with my Dad and Ken Dacomb a close family friend was also particularly enjoyable as it was now 10 years ago that i first started riding with them on these roads, and during the ride I was able to reflect on how lucky I am that I am actually even able to be cycling at all after everything that I have been through this year in regards to my leg condition.

The VIC Valley Loop ride was also the first 'long' ride post op, and was a big milestone for me as I was very concerned prior as i knew that at the completion of the ride if there was any vascular problems I was likely to know about it after 4 hours continuous riding. Thankfully I passed my little challenge. God knows what would have happened had i realised after a few hours that something was up with my legs..

Home to Balmoral 

1 hour 42 min 60km NP 330W

Vic Valley Loop

3 hours 52 min 121km NP 313W 

Riding with Dad and Ken Dacomb on my MTB

3 hours 7 min 85km 

Love the Country Roads

2 hours 26 min 79km NP 333W

These two photos are during a 22minute effort in which I 

held 445W while chasing a strava segment which

I achieved by a few seconds. Full Hero haha

Over the weekend the VIS rowing squad headed to anglesea for a 3 day commencement camp. On the friday we jumped on our bikes and cycled to Anglesea from melbourne, Saturday we cycled along the Great Ocean Road and had a fantastic day, we cycled up to Erskine Falls behind Lorne, something which i spoke about in my blog a few months ago that i was looking forward to. So this was a really enjoyable ride. That afternoon I went out for the first time in a Surf Ski with Glen Singleton for some training while the rest of the group completed a 23km hike. On the Sunday we cycled home again from Anglesea back to Melbourne, and spent 75% of our ride in the rain which put a slight dampener on the spirits of the group. For those interested, again I have posted links to the rides if you are interested to check them out.

MELB-Anglesea

4 hour 50 min 157km NP 290W

Ripping it on the Great Ocean Road in the sun

3 hours 42 min 118km NP 296W

Anglesea back to Melbourne

4 hours 44min 144km NP 235W

I know i spoke about the first long ride being a milestone in my recovery,well the weekend just past which also significant milestone, as i write this on monday arvo my legs feel reasonably good, and certainly no sign of any vascular problems. To have this after 415km and 13.5 hours ride time over only 3 days means that my condition is not affecting me at the present time. Big high five to myself... haha

The last two weeks of training... 

After 2 solid weeks on the bike things are progressing well and I am now itching to get in the boat, a sign that my body is now ready for the task. Hopefully my next post will include an update on how my first row in 9 months goes. Until then keep at whatever it is you are working towards just as I will be.

Cheers, John