The thief and the walking stick

Back in April 2023 I knackered my back trying to move a fridge. At that time it took a week to get back on the bike and be able to do some light pedalling after a week of intensive heat and massage from a tens machine. But it probably took weeks to actually recover. For the past 18 months, although I niggled it in a step class at the gym which eventually lead to me leaving, it’s been ok. Until now.

Monday I was up and getting ready to leave for a meeting in Bristol. I needed to move my printer on our dining table to print something off and then it went. It just capitulated on me. Searing pain. My legs collapsed and I was locked in a position on one knee down the side of the table trying to support myself between the wall and table. There is no pain like it. I’ve no shame saying it brought me to tears. Tears of pain and frustration. Luckily Sally quickly rushed to my aid and got me on the floor. No where was comfortable. I effectively couldn’t walk without support. She immediately ordered me a back brace and walking stick and those came the next day. A combination of co-codamol, the walking stick and belt all managed to at least get me mobile. Over the past few days I’ve been adopting heat patches and a tens machine to massage my back and slowly but surely a bit of shape and mobility have come back. Old man shuffles have become actual steps. I was even able to play some darts today without too much bother. I plan to turn the pedals indoors tomorrow and I’m booked in to the see the physio next week with the bat phone on alert for any cancellations so I can go sooner.

My mission now is to not let it happen again. When I’m able to, I have to do some strength and conditioning to help my back avoid anything like this again. Maybe a pilates class too. I did that as part of my rehabilitation from a double-prolapsed disc around 11 years ago. It worked. My back has history.

Right now I’m just focused on getting back on the bike. I don’t want to let my fitness run away from me too much. It’s too hard to get it back at this age.

The thief

If my back wasn’t enough stress, this week I was also accused of been a thief LOL. I rode the last Gravelton Event of the season last weekend and the big turn out really bouyed me up to carry on. So over the weekend I rebuilt my calendar and I’ve already pencilled in a couple of events for 2025. I wanted to make them more inclusive distances and make an extra effort for riders to find them so aswell as Facebook I also revisted Strava where I’d setup a club on there some time ago but never really posted anything. Thumbing through the old posts I saw a post from a couple of months ago where someone had accused me of stealing the The FoD Plod route and passing it off as my own.

Graciously, Dave C, a local rider, had jumped to my defence but I hadn’t seen any of this interaction because my notifications were turned off. The keyboard warrior had posted a couple of responses and ended up saying I should at least give the route owner credit. Hmmmmm. This got me thinking.

Firstly, where did I actually get the route from? The truth is I don’t remember but it’s also true, like everyone else, I sometimes ride a route someone else has ridden and posted (the actual point of Strava, Komoot etc right?). Sometimes I may tweak them, sometimes I make my own up from scratch but what I’ve never done is taken someone else’s route and pass it off as my own work. If I’m guilty of anything, I’ve shared the route onwards again not withstanding if I found it, anyone else could probably find it too.

Secondly, the guy referred to an entity called Dirty Devil based in the Forest of Dean, whose route it was, but it’s now defunct. He also mentioned they used the same format as I do with Gravelton Events. Free, no frills, just turn up and ride on the day.

So it became clear he thought I’d copied not just the route but the whole concept. However, what he failed to do was simply ask a few questions or do some research. If he had there wouldn’t have been any toxicity, he’d have received an honest answer and be reminded you can’t copyright a group ride format. I’m not sure I need to credit an entity that no longer functions either but I did reach out and asked if he could give me the name of the route creator and send me a copy of that route so I can confirm mine was an exact copy. Then I’d happily credit them. As I currently do with my existing events which I think he failed to realise too.

After taking the time to craft a response I’ve heard nothing. Not that I expected to. So, if you’re reading this Jason Oliver. Go fuck yourself you piss stain troll.