Sean Glachan

10/10

Tuesday 29th Oct

There it is. Nedds Uncomfortable Challenge complete. Over 160kms of riding in 10 days. Approximately 10 hours of the Gucci Handbag getting pounded in the saddle. And while I would have loved to sip on champagne and wear the yellow jersey like the last leg of Le Tour de France, I decided to try and go out and empty the tank. Leave it all out there. So, I just finished the 16km over 15 minutes quicker than Day 1! In completing this today, I also completed something that I set out to do - no excuses, no if’s, no buts, just GET. IT. DONE! Something I probably haven’t done for quite some time. And while I am happy with myself for completing this challenge, I think it would be remiss of me to post this last update and it not be about the man who has inspired a nation. A bloke who, in just this challenge alone, has spearheaded fundraising over a whopping $4.5M for the homeless. A true blue Aussie legend who set out to complete what I just completed in 10 days on a bike, each day around a running track. On his own two feet. Step after step. Pounding the synthetic track. The cause of all this is so much more than anyone’s challenge. Sure, life is tough. Raising 10-month old quads is tough. But I, and they, have a roof over their head. Food on the table. Heck, we even have a table! What this bloke has done for those doing it tough is nothing short of astonishing and I feel blessed to be able to watch it all unfold. Nedd - you’re the absolute man. I can’t thank you enough for being you. You bring energy that is infectious, you bring hope to those that need it and you have impacted me more than you will ever know. Someone get the man a god damn choccy milk. TO THE MOON 🚀

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9/10

Monday 28th Oct

Opted for a challenge inside the challenge today. I have seen this challenge set amongst running circles and thought I would give it a crack on the bike. It is named (not exactly but along the lines of) “Paint the Town”. It’s where you cover every street in your suburb so that your map at the end has your track ‘painting’ every street. It was actually pretty tough. A lot of turning around and slowing/accelerating (especially because my suburb has 6000 cul-de-sacs). Totalled to over 18kms and I missed a couple of little points (damn it) as I was planning as I was riding. Same old in terms of the body - Gucci Handbag is mash potato, Garry Jack was tight and legs felt heavy (probably yesterday’s effort contributing to this too). Had to use the older brothers bike again as mine had to go to the bike dr. The back wheel was rotating as smooth as 40 grit sandpaper. Cooked! Into the last day tomorrow. How good. Can’t wait to knock the door down on another 16km! Fire up!

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7/10 & 8/10

Sunday 27th Oct

At the start of the challenge, I knew yesterday would be tough fitting the ride in with a wedding we were invited to attend. As it turns out, I had to stay at home with the kids and didn’t get to the wedding but this also meant that I couldn’t get the ride in. So, the strategy was going to be either complete double today or up the kms for the remaining days. But, today was a pearler - sun shining, blue skies, warm, little wind. So double it was. Took off feeling absolutely beaut. I think the day out of the saddle did wonders for the Gucci Handbag. Normal days distance complete and then hit the 24km mark and “uh oh” came into the head. Did I bight off more than I can chew. Gucci Handbag was cooked, Garry Jack was tightening with every rotation of the legs and had mad pins and needles in the hands and feet. To top it off, a stiff head wind had popped up (was probably a slight breathe) but it was deep in the trenches. 8kms to go too. As the challenge is designed for, it ain’t meant to be easy so had a conversation to myself to buckle in and get it done. No excuses. 

Have notched up the triple figures in km over the challenge. 128km complete today. A couple left to get - can’t wait. Lessss get it!

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6/10

Friday 25th Oct

Decided to take some more inspiration from Ned (if there is any more to take - hooly dooly what a man) and complete the same(ish) circuit over and over again for today’s 16km. Only a slight difference between Ned and I in the fact that he was running for 20 hours around a track for 160km and I rode around for an hour for 16km. Nonetheless, Day 6 is complete. Felt a bit tight in the Garry Jack today but I think that was due to trying to stick in the saddle as much as possible to preserve the Gucci Handbag. The Gucci Handbag is more like an anko Kmart satchel at this point - might look terrible and be a bit out of shape but it’ll still get the job done. Working week complete and into the weekend for the next bit of the challenge. LETS! GET! IT! Yewww

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5/10

Thursday 24th Oct

HALFWAY BABY

Split the 16km into two today taking the opportunity to ride to work and back. Was a lovely morning for a ride with a blue skies, birds chirping and the bike humming. The trek home was a little different with conditions seemingly the complete opposite. Had windy overcast conditions and copped a sprinkle of rain for the last 5(ish) minutes. To top it off, copped a mad bug to the throat at about the halfway home point so coughed for about 2kms thereafter! Day 5 means the corner is turned. The home stretch is in sight and we love to get to work! Day 6 approaching… And for the seat/Gucci Handbag saga, I need a new one… for both!

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4/10

Wednesday 23rd Oct

Today was the first day I completed the ride after work. Driving home from work, I was super tired and struggling. Had a nice arvo and pumped me up ready for the spin. I think with this challenge so far, it’s been the story of the Gucci Handbag for me and she is in the absolute wars. The trenches. I am going to have to sort the seat situation because it’s not good. But was it ever mean to be? Hell no and that’s why we love it. Bring on the halfway point! TO THE MOON 🚀

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3/10

Tuesday 22nd Oct

Extra 3 for Day 3!

Felt a lot more comfortable on the bike today compared to Day 1 & 2. A little adjustment with my seat went a long way I think. The Gucci Handbag was still cactus and it’s at the point where you start to think it’s going to be that way for the 10. The older brother came along to flick his legs over again and before we started, we picked a turn around point that we wanted to get to which eventuated in the extra 1.5(ish)km each way. A third the way through and keen as a bean for the next two thirds! Ready to eat Day 4!

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2/10

Monday 21st Oct

Whoever said Day 2 is better than Day 1 lied. She was tough again. Got back on my bike this arvo after a trip to the bike drs. today. Big bro Ben came along for the ride which probably hurt the confidence more because I think he did the whole thing in first gear. The Gucci handbag is absolutely cooked and that’s the way it should be. We love it! Onto day 3!

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1/10

Sunday 20th Oct First one in the bank. Started super under prepared. Went and found my bike. Wheels on the rims with tyres dead flat. Front tyre pumped up. Back tyre no good - valve broken. Had to go to go get my brother’s bike. Things went from bad to worse. Seat to high and couldn’t get it down, gears slipping, riding into a massive head wind and the region that rests on the seat really was screaming that it hasn’t touched a bike seat in a while. But, this just shows that this ain’t meant to be easy. 16km complete. Onto tomorrow! Let’s get it! Share