Another weekend is upon us and like hundred and thousands (can you still buy those?) of others I am busy trying to squeeze at least one ride in to a busy schedule of family and work (plus of course the essential activity of sport watching).

Since my cycle Europe challenge and RideLondon I have only been on the bike once and that was a tiny cycle to my local train station and back. This is despite the fact that I still had one final ride to complete for my three part charity challenge.

As most of my lovely followers will know, that ride was supposed to be last weekend, but as you probably wont know I was instead rather nervously awaiting an ultrasound on a lump on my chest……

Now, I am fairly manly (Mrs Rouleur will probably disagree), I am hairy, I spit (exclusively when exercising!), I fart, I can be grumpy, I snore, loudly, (Mrs Rouleur will agree), I shout at the TV whilst watching another inept Liverpool performance, I drink neat whiskey, I have tattoos and I try it on with Mrs Rouleur at least twice a day. So the thought that I might have breast cancer was hard for me to accept or reconcile in my head.

Breast cancer in men is extremely rare, approximately 350 cases per year compared to over 50,000 in women, but it is still possible. So for the last few weeks whilst waiting for this ultrasound I have been slowly getting more and more stressed. Fortunately I was one of the lucky ones and was instead diagnosed with Lipoma number 102 (at least) and so my sense of relief was huge as you would expect.

This was my 2nd cancer scare in the last few years though and now the big C word, the word that strikes fear into us all, had really got me thinking!! Those poor little guinea pigs who turn the creaky wheel in my head have been working overtime. Not only are they trying to power thoughts on my next cycle challenge (more of that later) but they have also been generating suggestions for improving my lifestyle to minimise these and other incidents in the future. I have a wonderful wife and gorgeous little son and have no intention of checking out early.

‘I’m curvy and I like it’ a quote from the great mind of Joey Tribbiani has been my life motto for a while now, but no more. Its now time to ease off the copious amounts of red meat I consume (I might be able to rival a Lion) and to accept that liquid calories do count! Of course, I don’t drink anything like the amount I used to (I once did ‘The Worm’ across the dancefloor on ‘The White Isle’ in my youth) but I can still cut out some hops, apples and grapes from my diet.

So the decision is made; its time to take the fork out of my top pocket and hit the green stuff hard (no not absinthe)! No longer will I need to be embarrassed as I  select the size XXL jersey of my favourite Italian brand. Instead I will make my way slowly to the dizziness of L or even M size clothing (its good to have goals!).

I started out this year at 102kgs and through riding at least once a weekend (who am I kidding) I crept downwards in tiny increments until after two of three challenges were completed I weighted in at 97kgs. BUT during the second challenge and for a week afterwards we had my Mother-in-Rouleur staying with us. Her portions are massive, her penchant for cake is legendary (equalled only by Mrs Rouleur) and her love for an occasional honey whiskey (I can’t possibly let her drink alone!) have meant I am terrified to go near the scales!!

Either way though, I was losing weight before and now with added emphasis and a scare from big C I intend to become the Normal Rouleur (in body at least).

So to challenges………….well as mentioned I missed challenge number 3 with one of my lovely friends (Ms Fundraising Rouleur), so first I need to tick this off. Now rather worryingly I enjoy riding hills so I have come up with a Newlands, Leith, White Downs, Ranmore, Box quintent climbing route as my contribution to challenge number 3. As for the future, well I have enquired about the Tour de Force for next year, entered the ballot for RideLondon 2016 and am considering a proposal from Mr Less Roly to head up to Cumbria and tackle Hardknott pass!!

Until then, I better start looking up how to make Courgette crisps to go with our lovely Salmon that I am preparing for Mrs Rouleur.

On a more serious note, if any of you have worries about lumps or bumps GET THEM CHECKED OUT and SOONER rather than later!!!!! For more information on Male breast cancer check out this page from Cancer Research UK.