It's getting serious ...

I've been to gym several times and am even waking up at 04:30 (without the aid of the faithful alarm clock). I reckon getting up and going to gym beats staring aimlessly at the ceiling - the thought of not getting my knee to bend sufficiently to do the revolution required by a bicycle pedal is giving me sleepless nights. Knee surgery 3 years ago (and my consequent laziness) still has me dealing with a very stiff knee, which still has a steel pin embedded in it to ensure that I don't strip the entire ligament when I trip, slip and fall - which tends to happen with alarming frequency. Progress: I can now walk up steps one foot at a time instead of doing one step at a time with both feet hitting the step (kadoonk, kadoonk). I celebrate every small victory ...

Let me briefly sketch my 1st attempt to re-introduce my backside to a bike seat. It was a rainy Thursday afternoon and Russell convinced me that I should get out on the brand new Giant Mountain Bike which he had bought for me in honour of this historic (2nd!) attempt at conquering the Argus Tour. For starters I found it very hard to lift my stiff right leg over the saddle/cross bar and it's impossible to do this from the left side - I'm right-handed, and it just doesn't 'feel' right, after all! At this stage Erin and Chaeli are still trying to be polite and are hiding smiles behind their hands - supportively shouting encouragement. I eventually put the bike down on the ground, straddle it while it submits to my obvious superior strength, and lift it into the conventional 'ready' position. I'm wearing the aerodynamically streamlined helmet, feel totally in charge with the cycling gloves with the cute peep-finger effect and decide to forego the water bottle as this will be my 1st trip out on the road on my new steed - and it's going to be a short one. Much shorter than anticipated, I'm afraid ...

Having successfully mounted the bike, I stagger/wheel it off the verandah as Russell sweeps towards our gate, ready to lead me on the adventure that is cycling. Not having been on a bike since the summer of '91 when I last did the Argus, I feel a little insecure lifting my ample buttocks onto the seat and gingerly place my feet on the pedals - ready for action! The horror of finding out that my gammy right knee does not bend enough to make not even ONE single revolution required by being attached to the pedal dwindles into insignificance as I try to eject myself from the bike before I do irreparable damage to the offending joint (and the other body parts attached to the joint and the bike). By now, Chaeli is in danger of falling out of her wheelchair and Erin can scarcely breathe through the hysterical laughter.

It gives me joy to entertain my children with such mundane and ordinary examples of my physical prowess. And now, surely, you understand my problem ...

Having put it out there that the Argus is beckoning me I am determined to get my bum on a saddle as soon as possible. Later today I have my 1st meeting with the Biokineticist, who has already mooted emulating the cycling motion in the pool. Big white body, small black cozzie, lumo orange headgear. I can't wait ...