I remember sighting it as I took the backroads down from Owen Sound some years.....yikes...twenty+ years or so ago. There was still track in spots at that time. I couldn't tell if it was still being used or not, but it struck me at the time as being of massive value some day. And that day is here. The next stretch is the Orangeville down to Brampton one. Once that becomes trail, we have a super trail to Owen Sound that connects with many possibilities. For now, I'll explore using the GOST bus from Guelph to Owen Sound to connect to/from it.
Very interested in the health check results and your positive response to the recommendations. The world is better by far with you alive and pedalling, all be it more sedately!❤
“I want to continue to in my own small way to be an advocate for an active recovery from a major medical issue” You literally said this while riding your bike on one of your regular solo gravel rides. That’s exactly what an advocate for active recovery from a major medical issue would do. I think you’re amazing.
Hey there Andrew. Thanks for the update and I totally get where you are coming from so yes take break for now regroup and to conquer once again. In the meantime we all enjoy your videos. Cheers
Bummed that we won’t line up again this year, but truthfully I enjoy you being around more than having a race line buddy. Do what’s right for you. I’ll still pepper the channel with likes, and comments.
I was 5 blocks from hospital and emerg doctors said I probably would not have lived through the tear in artery otherwise. I am scared of statins. So 5 yrs ago I did some reading of medical journals. Found some interesting stuff. Showed it to my doctor and long story short, I take a statin, alternate days. Helps liver and just as med journals showed, numbers are same as if I took the statin daily. Hang in there and cycle for relaxation not competition or to prove something. Stay well.
I had massive trepidation for taking statins. I'm certainly not the type to look at as someone who'd need them. It has to be monitored, but modern medicine is now past the last half decade of reactionary concern on its use, and *dosed correctly* it displays great value not only for reducing LDL , but *in some cases* it shows improvement in arthritic joints. For the latter, it appears to be in my case. It takes a good amount of time to assess these things, and specialists, with regular checks, are the key to getting this right. As for Cardiac, I'm not reading concern at all, I'm reading common sense and continued long-term cycling. The Maserati from the 80's that you used to use for mountain biking? Hey, parts got broken, they're now repaired. Take it long distance on roads and trails. Avoid the ditches. It'll run for a lot longer...
I was actually looking at riding the whole trail from Orangeville to Owen Sound. I think it's 160km. That section of the trail looks amazing!!! Btw, i was in that race where you collapsed. I ran by you while they were working on you. Small world.
Sounds very sensible. As you said, the memory of the traumatic event will weigh more heavily on your future decisions. My cholesterol was too high in Jan. Doc prescribed statins but I wanted to avoid them as long as I could. So I changed my diet drastically (avoided my usual treats eg pizza, cheese, baked goods, ketchup chips and ate more fish, veggies), and in May my levels had come down enough the doc said I didn't need statins. He wants to retest next May but I'm going to get the retest done in Dec to see how things are going. On another note, I signed up for PocketHealth and downloaded my medical reports. I had an echocardiogram in 2019 and I see my mitral valve has mild annular calcification and trace MR, and my aortic valve is mildly sclerotic. He didn't tell me any of this. Just said things look fine, so maybe it's not bad enough for me to worry about but I would like to know. Doc and I are going to have a talk next time I see him though.
Bingo! You've got an excellent attitude, good docs like seeing patients who are 'doing their bit'. Ultimately YOU are the Doctor. The Doc is just your medical advisor. A good part of my reticence in taking statins was dispelled when I read up on the dietary aspect of it appearing in certain foods.
Hey man, thanks for the update…good plan to back off on the hard stuff until you feel more confident to get back into racing…looking forward to seeing your next race!! 😊
Thanks for the update! Yes your health is important. How far did you ride along the trail past Markdale? I've now updated the Trans Canada Bike Route Network - C2 route from Dundalk to Crombles based on your report.
Great video again. Was that shot of you riding by at the very end (11:55) panned by somebody holding the camera, or is that done in the Insta360 camera software?
Every time you post a video I want to go out to ride a rail trail, thanks for sharing! Are you doing the Tour de Norfolk by any chance? Did I hear you're riding a waxed chain? I'm testing that out this year, loving it so far.
Unfortunately I will not be doing the Tour de Norfolk. I just checked it out on the internet though and it definitely looks like it could be a possibility for 2025.
Cardiac: Change the nature of your races! I'm 75 in a few weeks, and due to a complex medical history (including a very aggressive case of thyroid cancer) my metabolism is determined by a higher than normal hormone replacement dose to suppress any tendency for 'neoplastic' growth to return a third time. Long story short, I've recently been started on statins due to concerns of a stroke. The dose you were on was the top end of what's recommended. The new lower dose you're on is still the upper side of mid-level dosing. You've got to look at it another way: The reason that's possible is because the results you're showing allow it. Your muscles will likely thank you, as one of the side-effects for some taking statins is muscle cramping. Watch your diet very carefully! Watch the ice-cream and poutine. The statins only do what your diet and body should be doing. Many folks fail to realize that many foods contain statins naturally. I'd link some sources, but TH-cam would scour the post and it would disappear. I've just Googled, and lots of results show. Instead of races in terms of 'trying to beat others'....race against yourself, and the clock. One of the better ways of doing this is to take a bus/train/lift to a location, and you're left with time to make it to your 'connection'. This means that very few 'sudden urges' result from split second decisions. A steady pace with breaks is both better mentally and physically. Dammit, if I could get in touch with you somehow, I'd offer to do some rides with you. A lot of the younger ones half my age can't keep up. It's not the top speed, it's the steady pace, and then they get flummoxed when I suggest side-trips to see as much as I can of what's proximous to the route. What you're doing is perfect for what you need. Keep doing it! Seriously, you're still scraping mud and bruises off the Paris-Ancaster Race. At some point, that's going to come to grief. Your race partner, your best friend, is Nature. And it all comes down to escaping with pace.
@@MokaBoucha I guess it depends on, how old the bike is, how many kilometres I have ridden on it and the usual terrain, surface and conditions that it experiences. (4 years, 30,000KM, Paris to Ancaster like conditions often and barely a KM done on asphalt).
Makes sense then - I’m just a believer in smaller home maintenance to avoid overhauls. Huge fan, cutting back for health is a great idea whether you needed or not. Because of you I take on new trails, planning to do Grey County shortly - cheers!
@@MokaBoucha I totally hear you. I protect and maintain my bearings and brakes as much as possible, but when it comes to changing bearings and bleeding brakes, I'm really happy letting someone else do it. I am glad you will be tackling the Grey County Trail...let me know how it goes.
Glad to hear you got to ride more of the Grey. Take care of your health and keep the great videos coming!
Thank you.
God bless and keep cycling. Great videos as always Andrew! I may give the Orangeville to Owen Sound a try again (3 years ago, it was terrible). Alex
Thank you. It may be a little busy with ATV's at the weekend, but during the week I only saw one.
I remember sighting it as I took the backroads down from Owen Sound some years.....yikes...twenty+ years or so ago. There was still track in spots at that time. I couldn't tell if it was still being used or not, but it struck me at the time as being of massive value some day. And that day is here.
The next stretch is the Orangeville down to Brampton one. Once that becomes trail, we have a super trail to Owen Sound that connects with many possibilities. For now, I'll explore using the GOST bus from Guelph to Owen Sound to connect to/from it.
Very interested in the health check results and your positive response to the recommendations. The world is better by far with you alive and pedalling, all be it more sedately!❤
I even added a lovely daisy in there xx
…never miss your gifts!
“I want to continue to in my own small way to be an advocate for an active recovery from a major medical issue”
You literally said this while riding your bike on one of your regular solo gravel rides. That’s exactly what an advocate for active recovery from a major medical issue would do. I think you’re amazing.
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate that.
Hey there Andrew. Thanks for the update and I totally get where you are coming from so yes take break for now regroup and to conquer once again. In the meantime we all enjoy your videos. Cheers
The great thing is, I don't have to race to keep the videos coming, so expect an avalanche of content.
looks like my kind of trail. Thanks for posting
It is certainly very peaceful.
Bummed that we won’t line up again this year, but truthfully I enjoy you being around more than having a race line buddy.
Do what’s right for you. I’ll still pepper the channel with likes, and comments.
I shall head west for a ride on G2G soon. Just let me know when you are going to be around.
I was 5 blocks from hospital and emerg doctors said I probably would not have lived through the tear in artery otherwise. I am scared of statins. So 5 yrs ago I did some reading of medical journals. Found some interesting stuff. Showed it to my doctor and long story short, I take a statin, alternate days. Helps liver and just as med journals showed, numbers are same as if I took the statin daily. Hang in there and cycle for relaxation not competition or to prove something. Stay well.
Thank you for your story. My biggest advantage is that I really do not feel that I have anything to prove.
I had massive trepidation for taking statins. I'm certainly not the type to look at as someone who'd need them.
It has to be monitored, but modern medicine is now past the last half decade of reactionary concern on its use, and *dosed correctly* it displays great value not only for reducing LDL , but *in some cases* it shows improvement in arthritic joints. For the latter, it appears to be in my case. It takes a good amount of time to assess these things, and specialists, with regular checks, are the key to getting this right.
As for Cardiac, I'm not reading concern at all, I'm reading common sense and continued long-term cycling.
The Maserati from the 80's that you used to use for mountain biking? Hey, parts got broken, they're now repaired. Take it long distance on roads and trails. Avoid the ditches. It'll run for a lot longer...
Thanks again for riding a trail I live beside but didn't know existed. Glad you're feeling well. 🙂👍🚴♀️
Thank you Brian.
I was actually looking at riding the whole trail from Orangeville to Owen Sound. I think it's 160km. That section of the trail looks amazing!!! Btw, i was in that race where you collapsed. I ran by you while they were working on you. Small world.
Wow, yes it is definitely a small world.
Thanks for the health update, I must warn you , I quite racing in 2022, good thing, I have only raced about 8 times since .
I totally get it Steve, racing and more specifically the race atmosphere draws you in.
I would suggest volunteering at the races! Great way to stay part of the community you love until you are ready to race again!
Yes indeed. I shall be volunteering at the Eager Beaver Gravel Race in August. See you there.
Sounds very sensible. As you said, the memory of the traumatic event will weigh more heavily on your future decisions.
My cholesterol was too high in Jan. Doc prescribed statins but I wanted to avoid them as long as I could. So I changed my diet drastically (avoided my usual treats eg pizza, cheese, baked goods, ketchup chips and ate more fish, veggies), and in May my levels had come down enough the doc said I didn't need statins. He wants to retest next May but I'm going to get the retest done in Dec to see how things are going.
On another note, I signed up for PocketHealth and downloaded my medical reports. I had an echocardiogram in 2019 and I see my mitral valve has mild annular calcification and trace MR, and my aortic valve is mildly sclerotic. He didn't tell me any of this. Just said things look fine, so maybe it's not bad enough for me to worry about but I would like to know.
Doc and I are going to have a talk next time I see him though.
Well done with the life changes.
Bingo! You've got an excellent attitude, good docs like seeing patients who are 'doing their bit'. Ultimately YOU are the Doctor. The Doc is just your medical advisor.
A good part of my reticence in taking statins was dispelled when I read up on the dietary aspect of it appearing in certain foods.
I live in Grey County and bike a lot. But never done that particular trail. I'll give it a try this summer.
I believe that it has improved drastically in the last several years.
Yeah, it certainly looks inviting.
The Giant looks amazing. Love that new, waxed chain!
It is a complete new bike.
Hey man, thanks for the update…good plan to back off on the hard stuff until you feel more confident to get back into racing…looking forward to seeing your next race!! 😊
Thank you for the support.
Andrew - sorry to hear about your setback, but hopefully you'll be back on the race circuit at the P2A Breve in 2024!
I feel that I probably will Kevin.
Nicelooking hotrod of a bike 👍
Thank you. I personally think the tan wall tires compliment it perfectly.
Thanks for the update! Yes your health is important.
How far did you ride along the trail past Markdale?
I've now updated the Trans Canada Bike Route Network - C2 route from Dundalk to Crombles based on your report.
I only went a few Kilometres beyond Markdale, then I did a road loop to test the bike out on the hills.
Great video again. Was that shot of you riding by at the very end (11:55) panned by somebody holding the camera, or is that done in the Insta360 camera software?
You are absolutely right. It is an Insta 360, set to tracking in editing.
Every time you post a video I want to go out to ride a rail trail, thanks for sharing! Are you doing the Tour de Norfolk by any chance?
Did I hear you're riding a waxed chain? I'm testing that out this year, loving it so far.
There is no better compliment than that!!
Unfortunately I will not be doing the Tour de Norfolk. I just checked it out on the internet though and it definitely looks like it could be a possibility for 2025.
Loving the waxed chain!!
Maybe stay involved in the racing community by volunteering in some way
That is a fantastic idea. I think I shall do exactly that.
Cardiac: Change the nature of your races! I'm 75 in a few weeks, and due to a complex medical history (including a very aggressive case of thyroid cancer) my metabolism is determined by a higher than normal hormone replacement dose to suppress any tendency for 'neoplastic' growth to return a third time. Long story short, I've recently been started on statins due to concerns of a stroke. The dose you were on was the top end of what's recommended. The new lower dose you're on is still the upper side of mid-level dosing. You've got to look at it another way: The reason that's possible is because the results you're showing allow it. Your muscles will likely thank you, as one of the side-effects for some taking statins is muscle cramping.
Watch your diet very carefully! Watch the ice-cream and poutine. The statins only do what your diet and body should be doing. Many folks fail to realize that many foods contain statins naturally. I'd link some sources, but TH-cam would scour the post and it would disappear. I've just Googled, and lots of results show.
Instead of races in terms of 'trying to beat others'....race against yourself, and the clock. One of the better ways of doing this is to take a bus/train/lift to a location, and you're left with time to make it to your 'connection'. This means that very few 'sudden urges' result from split second decisions. A steady pace with breaks is both better mentally and physically.
Dammit, if I could get in touch with you somehow, I'd offer to do some rides with you. A lot of the younger ones half my age can't keep up. It's not the top speed, it's the steady pace, and then they get flummoxed when I suggest side-trips to see as much as I can of what's proximous to the route.
What you're doing is perfect for what you need. Keep doing it! Seriously, you're still scraping mud and bruises off the Paris-Ancaster Race. At some point, that's going to come to grief. Your race partner, your best friend, is Nature. And it all comes down to escaping with pace.
Thank you.
Did your bike need so much work bc of P2A or longer term neglect?
Neither.
Tks…just seems a lot to me if a bike is somewhat maintained.
@@MokaBoucha I guess it depends on, how old the bike is, how many kilometres I have ridden on it and the usual terrain, surface and conditions that it experiences. (4 years, 30,000KM, Paris to Ancaster like conditions often and barely a KM done on asphalt).
Makes sense then - I’m just a believer in smaller home maintenance to avoid overhauls. Huge fan, cutting back for health is a great idea whether you needed or not. Because of you I take on new trails, planning to do Grey County shortly - cheers!
@@MokaBoucha I totally hear you. I protect and maintain my bearings and brakes as much as possible, but when it comes to changing bearings and bleeding brakes, I'm really happy letting someone else do it. I am glad you will be tackling the Grey County Trail...let me know how it goes.