Reborn cyclist opts for the hard road
A LATE-blooming Gold Coast cyclist who lost 17kg when he rediscovered the sport is taking on an even bigger challenge next month.
Shane Goldberg could be excused for taking it easy after his hard road to fitness but the 42-year-old will instead saddle up on a 24-hour endurance challenge in Adelaide as part of the Tour Down Under.
In a bid to raise money to fight leukaemia, Goldberg will on January 18 attempt to stay in the saddle for a whole day as part of the Revolve24 non-stop solo ride.
It’s a feat all the more remarkable after former triathlete Goldberg spent recent years sidelined with a debilitating plantar fasciitis injury which led to his weight ballooning from 68kg to 85kg.
Despite an earlier diagnosis to stay off his feet, one last roll of the dice led to another expert suggesting Goldberg stick strictly to the bike.
He’s glad he took that advice.
“I said ‘can I ride my bike?’ and he said ‘absolutely’,” he said. “I was kicking myself for not riding for a year.
“No one had really explained it. I had put on a fair bit of weight and I basically went from training a reasonable amount to nothing.
“It affected me physically but also mentally; it’s hard when you can’t do what you want to do. Mentally I feel so much better with a clearer mind and happier.
“Now I’m always looking for the next challenge.” And so he found it. A tentative foray into the Gold Coast Masters Cycling Club led to a race up the divisions and now his “crazy” 24hour test.
“I did quite well my first couple of rides,” he said. “It just took off from there and the passion for racing kicked in.
“As a kid, getting on the bike was always freedom.
“As I got more adventurous I saw it as a way to explore the world.”
Despite the size of the ask in Adelaide, Goldberg insists it’s all about “having a crack”, especially after losing his grandfather to leukaemia.
“It’s a long time on a bike but I want to do it as a personal challenge,” said Goldberg, who operates a small printing business at Worongary called InkFX Printing..
“I’m hoping to be up at the pointy end if the body holds together well.”