We made it!! - the view from the back of the Tandem

Submitted by Margaret Benson

I¹ve been meaning to write a little blurb letting everyone know what it is like to ride on the back of the tandem, but I haven't had the time (planning our pub night fun(d) raiser) and I also wanted it to be memorable.

Oh, was Saturday ever memorable. Stan was correct, Brian and I headed out, in the rain, to ride the big mountain, Cypress.  

I have to admit it seemed a bit daunting at first, but I had my trusty steed, guide, mountain man and crazy husband up front to lead the way. I had no choice and what could go wrong????

Before I go on, I need to answer a question everyone has been asking, "Why ride on the back of a tandem, don¹t you want to ride on your own?" First, I'm not a confident rider and don¹t own a road bike, plus Brian and I have been through a lot, and I mean A LOT, why not do one more crazy adventure together?

The next question people have asked, "Do you trust Brian on the front of the bike? I don't think I could trust anyone in that situation." Simply put, I trust him with all my heart and I couldn¹t imagine doing this journey with anyone else, but him.

Living with Cystic Fibrosis and going through a double lung transplant, "TRUST" is not just a word, it is a life style. Every day of my life I have had to trust: doctors, nurses, physiotherapist, IV specialists, surgeons,
researchers, pretty much everyone I'm surrounded by I have had to trust. Life is about trusting others with your heart, pain, secrets, tears, joys, laughs, adventures, dreams and trusting they will be true to you. In the twenty three years that Brian and I have been together "Trust" has been a huge part of our relationship, so who better to do this journey with then him!

Back to today's adventure. We headed up the mountain dressed for wet weather, but knowing we would be working hard to climb the mountain, we did not overdress. The best part about being on the back of the tandem, I have a little more freedom to enjoy the view and not just of Brian's backpack and helmet, but the beauty of the surroundings. Today, despite the rain, fog and cold weather, was magical. I noticed birds flying through the trees, heard grouse beating their wings, saw numerous waterfalls large and small, was amazed by the flora on the forest floor, but for me the most beautiful thing of all; my breath. Something as simple as that makes a day like today, magical. I remember 11 years ago I couldn't breathe with ease, I needed the help of an oxygen tank, I struggled for every breath. Don't get me wrong; I was struggling for breath, but for a different reason.

I also was thinking of the reasons behind the GearUp ride. I'm pedaling for all those living with CF struggling for every breath, those waiting for transplant, those who lost their battle with CF and for my donor and donor
family and giving thanks. Thinking of the purpose made climbing Cypress Mountain was a breeze.

At one point, I started to breathe and whistle at the same time, something I do to help me breathe easier, to which my trusty steed said, "If you can whistle, you¹re not working hard enough, pedal harder." He's such a
spoilsport. His first rule of the road for riding on the back of the tandem is: "Yakity Yak Don't Talk Back" I wasn't talking, I was whistling. Rule number two: "If you can whistle, you¹re not pedaling hard enough". Pedal/don't whistle. FINE!!!!!

 Brian was anticipating it would take us two to three hours to ride up to the top. He was very pleasantly surprised we got to the top in one hour and thirty nine minutes. Not bad for a tandem. We had a steady pace going up, faster then we expected. At the top we took a few pictures, had a bite to eat, got into some warmer clothes for the trip down. I thought I had brought way too many clothes for the trip down; seriously I could have worn a fur-lined parka and still not had enough clothes. It was freezing for me on the back with Brian
as my wind block, all I could think about was how cold he must have been. I didn't dare complain. Ducking my head down, shivering, teeth chattering I hoped for a speedy decent. Half way down I asked, "Are you OK?" To which I got, "OK, but fricken freezing." I kept my mouth shut.

Twenty minutes later we were at the truck, knees knocking, lips and fingers blue, soaking wet, but happily grinning ear to ear. We did it! We climbed Cypress Mountain on our tandem bike. Eleven years ago when I was dying of CF did I ever in my wildest imagination think I would ride a bike up Cypress Mountain. NEVER!

...but now I can say, "I did it" with my trusty steed  Brian.

One more thing to take off my "To Do" list.

- Margaret





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