Man ride 2018

Day 5 & Global Man Ride Day

By Black Sheep Cycling

October 11^th, 2018

the homecoming.

For the second year consecutive year, Day Five of the Man Ride would culminate in Global Man Ride Day. Our Soloists from Australia, Europe, the UK and South America would all be greeted by groups of riders with the finish line in sight, and 11 other cities worldwide would take part in lending their voice to the conversation of Men's Mental Health. Global Man Ride Day would also include a Virtual Man Ride on Zwift in three different time zones, leaving no stone unturned in our bid to raise awareness of this significant issue.

As with last year, Day Five proved to be an emotionally charged one for our riders. Fatigue, whether you like to believe it not, had well and truly set in and rational thought had begun to fade. Our riders in South America and Europe both felt the pressure of having to meet people and it weighed heavy on their minds. Not remembering, of course, that the cyclists were there to congratulate them on their achievements and show support for the home stretch.

"I was stressed about meeting people. All but 10km of the last day were up hill so when we did meet the bunch, I was struggling and hungry. I just wanted to finish. But to have my friend Abi with us all day have everyone clap as we rode back into Girona was pretty moving."

– Jojo Harper.

EUROPE - DAY FIVE.

Saint Cyprien – Girona 181km / 2856m

It should come as no surprise that our Colombian Soloists, Ben and support man Carlos, met their large group of chaperones halfway up a 30km climb. "They attacked us," said Ben with the largest grin he could muster after 1000km on the road. "We had a full-on race uphill. But magically, although our legs hurt, they were pretty strong from all the ks. We held our own and even managed to drop everyone!" Thanks for coming, Colombia.

south america – day five.

San Juan De Río Seco – Bogotá 92km / 2424m

It was a more sedate finale for Liam and Jake who stopped off that Liam's Gran's in East Grinstead having already intersected with a horde of riders who had left Sigma Sports early in the morning. "It was a real highlight," said Jake Armstrong, Liam's support man and photographer. "It's not far from where Liam trains and he stops in every week to chat about what he’s been up to and stocks up on snacks. She was so lovely and welcoming. It was great to see the relationship that he had with her, how proud she was of him (and also her telling him he wasn’t looking very skinny!). Seeing that warmth was exactly what I needed to get me through the final 50 kilometres."

UK - day five.

Andover – London 188km / 2199m

There were no tea and biscuits for our American Soloist Andy Stockman. Nor was there the hope of holding someone else's wheel on the home straight. Having endured the worst of the world's weather all week, including, wind, rain and snow, Andy and super soigneur Natalie Starr would finish a long way after dark and in torrential rain. Absolute horrendous conditions to close out a tough five days. Timezones and a shorter day for the Colombians meant that Andy was literally the only one left on the road and we all remained glued to our phones waiting for news that Andy had packed it in. But what mettle he showed to finish in Golden - with some pot at the end of the rainbow!

united states – day five.

Hot Sulphur Springs – Golden 195km / 2285m

australia - day five.

Marysville - Melbourne 143km / 2362m

"My feelings are asking me to stop an define if what I am doing is truly what I need."

– Mick Brown.

Back in Australia, a tired and emotional Mick and Faz were met by our Black Sheep Baum team and a crew from Berwick Cycles in Melbourne. Mick had clearly had the opportunity to reflect, pondering: 'the need for greater substance and purpose in his life.' "My feelings are asking me to stop an define if what I am doing is truly what I need."

Thoughts echoed by Black Sheep Managing Director, John Polson, six and a half hours into a 200km stint on Zwift. While he sprayed expletives and sweat all over our HQ, the rest of our Brisbane community enjoyed a blue ribband day out amongst some of Brisbane's most beautiful rolling terrain. Two-hundred local cyclists and supporters turned up to lend their voice to this initiative. And then it was back to Green Beacon to lubricate the larynx and share stories – yours, or those you had opened yourself to hearing from the person riding next to you in the bunch.

To have that same experience in Brisbane mirrored around the world is humbling. To have our community embrace this noble cause gives us goosebumps and encourages us to continue tackling the issue of Men's Mental Health the only way we know – by appropriating the metaphor of the bike and having a conversation with those near and far.