I’ve never had to consider how suffering from a chronic condition like inflammatory bowel disease affects my cycling as it never really has.  Back in 2020 when I was first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis I was hospitalised for two weeks. When I was discharged on  the Thursday I was back cycling to work on the Monday. Since then I have had a few flare-ups which have stopped me getting on my bike but for no more than a day at a time. In fact when I’m feeling  not so good, cycling helps me forget that I’m not 100%. I look on it as being fit but not healthy.

So this time, just as I’ve got everything booked for a 4/5 day camping trip my IBD flaring up is so unwelcome. It could be stress with it being my first trip this year that has  caused it. Whatever, I’m determined I’m going anyway and fingers crossed 🤞 everything will go well. I tried looking up  touring cycling with IBD but could only find articles written by professional riders and they were mainly about continuing with training schedules.

The main drawback I  can foresee will be wild  camping and the lack of toilet facilities. I may have to stick to campsites and adjust my itinerary to suit. If the worst comes to the worst I can always get a train home. There are 2 or 3 points on my route where that would be feasable.

Maybe I will write about how I get on..