The phone rang. It was my friend Andrew who asked if I would like to do the Tour Aotearoa cycle 3000km from Cape Reinga to Bluff starting 1 March 2022. I didn’t hesitate, no functioning bike, haven’t ridden for years, unfit and super busy. Where was the downside?
I didn’t think about needing to be strictly gluten free and, and I am grateful for this, neither did Andrew.
An extra challenge will be finding safe GF food on the trip. This led me to think about Coeliac New Zealand (CNZ) and whether the ride could help promote the amazing people who chose to safely cater GF. Through the CNZ Board, I support the CNZ Dining Out Programme and have seen businesses do really well when they get certified. I wanted to support that. I approached the CNZ Board – and sure enough they were keen on the idea to profile and fundraise to support the wellbeing of people with the coeliac disease? A Gluten Free for Life Ride was on!
I used to ride my bike. That was before 2002, at which time I left for Central America to learn Spanish and dance salsa. On my return at the end of 2003 I lived in the central city and walked everywhere…until that call.
I found my bike. A 1981 pink Shogun purchased for $368 when I was 16 years old. No longer rideable, all rubber perished and looking as a bike looks when untouched for 20 years! A bike shop said it was best hung on the wall as a heritage item. So I fixed it up and started riding it. They also said I can’t do Tour Aotearoa, I’ll need to train for a year and do it in 2023. So our start time is 1 March 2022 and I found another bike shop.
I needed to gear up. Covid-related supply issues meant the bike recommended wasn’t available for 6 months. Then trademe had the exact one new – an unwanted prize. No other bidders later and I had a Scott Scale 930. My second ever bike.
I was making slow progress getting fit and then came the August lockdown in Auckland and I got off my bike. I ordered a windtrainer but covid-supply issues meant a 7 week wait! Finally, mid-October, now vaccinated and even less fit, I got back on the bike and immediately injured my foot and couldn’t walk on it. Call in the physio and a podiatrist.
A fair amount of rehab later I finally started a training programme on 31 October 2021 with a physio following me around. I was wavering on whether I could still do the fundraiser part and do everything else I had going on. Andrew said I could and he would help. The CNZ Team was completely behind it too so I’m still in! Lisa Jury our CNZ Health Promotions Manager prepared the training programme. Turns out she’s an expert. And it’s working.
CNZ has Coeliac Awareness Week coming up in June with its theme: Thriving not Surviving. I’m going to try to live those words. If the ride can raise some funds to support CNZ and contribute to the wellbeing of those of us with coeliac disease then I’m keen as.
They start this journey on 1 March at Cape Reinga and you will be able to join along on their journey by logging into the Tour Aotearoa 2022 Maprogree website: https://touraotearoa2022.maprogress.com
During their tour they will discover, with your help, coeliac safe eating places that are gluten free. You can donate anytime prior to or throughout their tour via this givealittle page to support Max and Andrews ‘Gluten Free for Life’ tour of Aotearoa. Funds donated help Coeliac New Zealand to continue to educate and support individuals and whanau to confidently and safely live their best life with this lifelong auto-immune condition.
To donate to Coeliac NZ please visit our givealittle page.
https://givealittle.co.nz/event/gfforlife-bike-aotearoa-2021