An icy slog

My heart sank when I awoke to snow again yesterday. Snow + ice + Nigel on a bike = another crash! But not today, thankfully. After my last two crashes, today was the first time I didn't fancy it. It was cold, icy and I had 45 miles to get through!

As it turned out, it was a great ride. A little tentative in places where it was still icy, but a nice route around Essex, through Cambridge city and back out into rural Suffolk and Essex. With the slight wrong turning it came out at 46 miles, and took 3 hrs. I also managed to finish feeling much better than I did last week, with a combination of a couple of gels and a bar bringing me home. Feeling tired now, but hey, I just rode 46 miles! Each new distance is the furthest I ever cycled now, with 50 miles the target in a couple of weeks...

Weekly training update

I don't often talk about my midweek rides as they are typically either just to work or a quick jaunt locally. A two day training course based at the historic Wadenhoe House however, gave me a great chance for a change of scenery.


6.30am. It was cold, misty/drizzling and very very dark. As I set off from the tiny Northamptonshire village, the only light source was the silver disk of light thrown off from my headlight. Very quickly though my senses adapted and it was a truly enjoyable ride! It is amazing how quicky your senses adapt to the surroundings, and as I passed through Oundle, which was a relative hive of activity with streetlights, people and cars, it was almost an assualt on my senses! I passed through quickly and continued on my way, as far I think as Polebrook, around 14 mile round trip, arriving back as it was just getting light.

My long ride this weekend was much less eventful than last weeks epic! 40 miles through Essex in around 2.5 hours. All went fine until the last 30 minutes or so when my legs started to feel really shattered, a case of insufficient energy on-board I think.

Nigel's Training Lore #4.
Over 2 or so hours in the saddle burns lots of energy - ensure you take on extra in the form of bars, gels or drinks.

Book review

I've just finished reading a great book which may be of interest. Discovery Road, by Tim Garratt and Andy Brown tells the story of their trip across the southern hemisphere continents of Australia, Africa and South America. It's a great read, with a very relaxed style taking the reader through the build up of the adventure (why a teacher and successful city boy felt the need to chuck it all in and go around the world on two wheels) and the trials and tribulations the encountered during the trip.

The book isn't just a list of countries successfully ticked off however, or a handbook for cycling geeks. The authors (who take in turns to narrate a chapter) discuss the history and background of the places they visit, describe the people they meet and combine it all with a sense of humour that keeps the story moving. What come across powerfully is the humility of the two riders. The ride was done for Practical Action, a charity involved with projects in Africa and Latin America (amongst other locations), and the lads did divert to go and visit one of the projects. They also see themselves as two ordinary guys who nevertheless did a very extraordinary thing.

The book is a great motivator to get you out and get some miles in, and also did a great job of summarizing the authors philosophy, which also sums up very nicely why it is that I and my wife continue to be active for Bliss...

In fairy tales there is always a call to action, the hero responds and overcomes all obstacles to bring benefit to him or herself and to the wider community. The dragon is killed, the town is saved, the Princess won.

This is your call to action.

I urge you to get out there in your world. Take responsibility for life. Take action. Have real experiences. Make lasting difference to at least one person. Create change. Kill the dragon.

Reprinted from Discovery Road, published by Eye Books. If I am not allowed to put that up here, please let me know and I will happily remove it.

Reality check

It's time for a reality check. Everyone who has experienced life in the NICU with a premature baby knows about the frustrations...insufficient staff...transfers miles from home...concerns over the state of the equipment...getting the correct medication at the correct time...I needn't go on. It all pales into insignificance though, when premature baby care in the developing world is considered. Currently in Haiti for example (as of Jan 17th), there appeared to be one hospital only. Setup by Israeli aid, the hospital does include incubators for preemies, but clearly the facilities are limited. [Update: 20th Jan. Haaretz.com is reporting the delivery of a preemie in Haiti by Israeli medical staff, in addition to the treatment of another sick baby]

The March of Dimes has donated $100 000 to UNICEF for mothers and babies in Haiti.



Even without terrible earthquakes, the developing world is a bad place to be a preemie. A recent report by the March of Dimes and WHO estimates that 13 million premature babies are born each year. An astonishing 11 million of them in Asia and Africa - compared to around half a million in each of the USA (incl. Canada) and Europe. Globally, the rate of premature births is increasing (reasons are not entirely clear, but include assisted reproduction, increased age of mothers, earlier Caesarians and in Africa, the lack of drugs to treat infection during pregnancy and drugs to prolong pregnancies), and starts at a higher rate in Africa (approx. 12% of all births, compared with 6% in Europe).

Perhaps not surprisingly, in addition to the higher rate of premature births, survival rates are lower in developing countries, partly due to the greater prevalence in general of diseases such as malaria, but also due to the lower levels of care available. For example, as reported in the East African paper, whilst babies born at 32 weeks in developed countries stand almost as good a chance as term babies of survival, those in the developing world stand little chance of survival.

As I have said many times on this blog, we are incredibly lucky. We had a premature baby born in the UK, endured a 3 month 'nightmare' in the NICU of two well equipped (by global standards) hospitals and brought home our little fella close to his due date. He will always be a preemie, but on the whole, he is now a happy little 2 year old boy and gradually is leaving consultants behind. I know others aren't so lucky and you truly have my admiration for how you continue to cope. In the grand scheme of things though, the NHS or the US health system doesn't do bad.

Interesting website

Just wanted to pass on details of a website I've come across. PreemieWorld is run by two mothers who have a passion for supporting parents through the NICU and beyond. In addition to blogs, the website contains a store from which to buy various thermometers (eg for the forehead, bath, bedroom etc), immunization charts and others. The most recent addition is a book (The Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU: How to Maintain Your Sanity & Create a New Normal) as well as a DVD called Little Man about the son of one of the site's owners, Nicole. Not sure if the DVD is available in UK compatible format, but thought I'd pass on the details...

Not again!

What a lovely day!

Clear blue skies...bike back from the shop after its first service...wounds healing nicely...a weeks worth of commuting behind me to start me back to fitness...all set for a nice 30 miler to get things going again. 1 mile in, over a humpback bridge and BANG, sliding down the other side using my ahem, bottom as a brake. Again. It was so icy that I had to crawl to the pavement to even be able to stand up again. It's kind of funny now (although the wounds aren't), but as I was setting off again, two cyclists came the other way. I warned them, they went slowly, reached the top of the bridge and BANG, sliding down the other side...you get the picture. They also couldn't stand up until crawling to the side.

The fun didn't end there. Not thinking what I was doing as I set off again, I went the wrong way and did an extra 6 miles! I did think it didn't look familiar. It was the 'no through road' sign that finally gave it away.

Back on the right road I was going along nicely, enjoying the scenery:

Great Chishill Windmill

...when coming down a hill a car pulled out in front of me without looking and I nearly ended up down again. I can't repeat the choice words I used! Finally got home bloodied and battered, but having completed the distance. One things for sure, I am earning every penny of sponsorship money I get! Yes, that is a hint...

Not all doom and gloom though. There were several positives to come out of today...

1. I was back on my shiny bike for the first time since falling off
2. I was back on my shiny bike for the first time since falling off again
3. It was a really beautiful day with great views
4. Getting lost put 6.5 miles onto the route and apart from the pain from falling off, actually felt really good, so I am in a better place than I thought after the recent lay offs. I will up the distance for next week
   

Enough's enough!

After the last month of ice, snow, a crash and Christmas overindulgence, I just had to get back on the bike today and get out for some exercise. Nothing too strenuous, just a little loosener for both me and the bike (the commuting bike had been in for a service so I wanted to check it out). I kept to main roads to avoid too much ice, and I guess went 12 miles or so. It was great to get out again, and hopefully was the first of a great year's cycling, with June 15th getting ever closer!

Here's hoping the snow - which does appear to be thawing at last - disappears and stays away so I can catch up on my training schedule in some way.

You know...pt.2.

Well, after the tremendous response I got from my original post on the Bliss website, here is part II of my "You know you're the parent of a preemie if..." posts. The original is here.

So, without, further ado, you know you're the parent of a preemie if...

1. ...you're concerned that a large poo will result in a loss in weight that night
2. ..you can't remember what day of the week it is, but you know exactly how many days old your baby is
3. ...the doll carried by a little girl is larger than your baby
4. ...you add olive oil or double cream to every meal
5. ...the ambulance officers and first year med students ask you if you're medically trained because all these medical terms just roll off your tongue when describing your child's medical history
6. ...the first and last thing you do in the day is ring the hospital
7. ...you know the number of the unit off by heart
8. ...you find yourself looking at other little babies thinking yours was never that small, was it??
9. ...you look back at their photos and still cry over a year down the line
10. ...you have an answer to everything that people will ask
11. ...you go out with the rain cover on even when its not raining
12. ...you start using their corrected age to stop people asking questions,
13. ...you hear beeping even when you're asleep
14. ...you have read a lifetime of magazines in a matter of weeks
15. ...you get overly excited about weigh ins
16. ...the unit is on your christmas card list
17. ...you talk about poo more than normal
18. ...the staff phone you worried if you've not called at your usual time
19. ...a month after discharge you're still changing your baby from the side
20. ...you can tolerate the breast pump on the highest setting and did away with the hand pump in a matter of weeks after getting RSI and breaking the first one from over use
21. ...sats of 92 are considered excellent, despite what nurses at Paed wards think
22. ...the names and phone numbers of all the agencies involved are typed up and taped to the kitchen boiler for all those phone calls
23. ...you have to get a trolley in Boots to pick up prescriptions
24. ...every achievement your preemie makes is so much more precious, you celebrate them breathing independently, eating lumps and learning to sign
25. ...you take a vomit bowl everywhere you go cos reflux hounds you!!!!
26. ...you correct the new resident's medical update at the discharge meeting
27. ...your baby's red book notes section is full up
28. ...you actually envy mothers with stories of big babies and resulting tears!
29. ...you have spent your own money on home alarms you don't actually need because you can't imagine your baby "unplugged"
30. ....the first thing you say to a visitor to your house is not "would you like a coffee" but instead is "please wash your hands, you're not sick are you?"
31. ...the space under your stairs is not filled with shoes and a hoover but oxygen cylinders.
32. ...you enquire about your friend's/children's health, not to be polite, but to double check if you should make plans to meet up
33. ...somebody tells you that the cousin of the wife of his brother also had a premature baby who is now 2 metres tall, has got 3 degrees and is the president of America.
34. ...you have their drugs chart pinned to the front of the fridge so you know what's left to give in the next 24 hours

And finally...

You know you are the parent of a preemie because all their achievements mean more

Thanks a million everyone.

Join my Experiment!

Tonight I started an experiment that may work or may not!

We've all seen the stories. The man who sold his whole life online, the guy who sold advertising for one million pixels at a dollar a pop, the best job in the world, the so-called 419 scams trying to get you to help shift money out of Nigeria in return for a healthy cut, the Facebook campaigns that resulted in the UK Christmas #1, increased software sales, and changes in the formulation of a soap.

Wouldn't it be great if the same distribution and audience potential of the internet (estimated at just shy of 2 billion users) could be used to harness something really beneficial?

I have started emailing the following email to people I know and asking them to pass on the message and to sponsor me. As I said, it may not work, but even a few more quid would be great! If you're reading this and haven't received an email, do feel free to copy and paste the following message and pass it on. Thanks!

Hi,

This is an experiment! It may not work, it may be a phenomenal success. Either way, at least I have tried and it will be interesting to find out!

We have all read the mountains of spam that people receive asking for help getting 15 million dollars out of Nigeria or advertising Russian wives.

Well I want to see if email can be used for something really beneficial.

My son was born nearly 3 years ago, 3 months premature. He nearly didn't make it, suffered many setbacks along the way but finally came home from hospital after 3 months in intensive and special care. This was an incredibly difficult time not only for my son but the rest of the family too, and since then we have been determined to both raise awareness of the issues affecting premature babies and their families and also raise money for Bliss, the UK premature baby charity.

To this end, in June 2010 I am setting off to cycle from Cambridge to Paris in aid of Bliss. I am aiming to raise at least two thousand pounds, but am hoping to raise an awful lot more than that. And that's where you come in! There are many examples of the huge reach of the internet being used to sell bizarre things on eBay, shape political opinion or even determine the Christmas number 1! All I'm looking for is a donation from lots of people to take me above and beyond my two thousand pounds limit. If 10 people each forward this to 10 people, and each of those forward it to a further 10 people, all of whom donate a tenner, that's ten thousand pounds right there for Bliss to help future premature babies! Imagine the possibilities!

So, how can you help? It would be fantastic if you could make a donation, via my Just Giving website (http://www.justgiving.com/NBailey). Then, please forward this to anyone who may be able to help (the more the better!).

If you are reading this and have no idea who I am, then it is showing that this is actually working, so please do keep it going.

How much good is it possible to do using the power of the internet?

With heartfelt thanks,

Nigel Bailey
January 2010

Please visit my just giving site at http://www.justgiving.com/NBailey
Follow my progress at http://preemieblog.blogspot.com/
Learn more about Bliss at http://www.bliss.org.uk

Crash and Burn

Kind of ironic title given all the cold weather and snow! The very last ride of last year though resulted in a crash coming down a hill in Ireland. Weather was terrible but nevertheless, right until the end it was a great 20 mile ride down to the town of Newcastle in Co. Wicklow and back to Bray:

I had made it over the monster hill from Greystones to Bray (not so much high but very very loooong!) with Bray Head to my right, was coming down the other side and all of a sudden parted company with my bike and continued down the hill at some speed. No bones broken but very battered and bruised, with my leggings shredded, along with the skin underneath.



It could have been so much worse. The car behind was sure he'd hit me. Several others cars had to stop and all avoided hitting each other and neither me nor my bike are seriously broken. Looking on the bright side, I am missing getting out on my bike during some pretty awful weather and hopefully will be raring to go once the weather brightens a bit. It's also given me chance to get both bikes to the bike shop for some TLC.

In the meantime, there's only one thing for it...more carbo loading with another slice of Xmas cake.

Nigel's Training Lore #2.
Getting out for a ride whatever the weather may be admirable. It is also stupid

Nigel's Training Lore #3.
Putting an extra pair of ordinary socks on is no match for sub-zero temperatures in driving wind and rain in December. Get some thermal socks!