A West Australian man is embarking on a cycling journey few his age would attempt, but it’s all for a good cause.

When Herb Boltong’s son rang to ask him to come riding through Europe, the 80-year-old Baskerville man knew just what to say.

“I said ‘go to buggery,’” Herb says. “But the next day I got another call, then another call, and another call. I finally said yes and only then realised this couch potato would have to get
super fit.”

The 1000km bike ride will take Herb and his son Adrian from the Netherlands to the Mediterranean. The first stage will starting in Amsterdam and conclude in Bruges. From there, the pair will train to Bordeaux in France, from where they will ride to the port of Sète.

As it is, this won’t be Herb’s first epic journey. Six years ago, he raised money for Diabetes WA by riding 14,000km around Australia with his dog Snotty in tow. He’s kept up the riding since, until a recent attempt to scale mountains in Nepal ended in disaster.

“Unfortunately, coming down a mountain at about 3000 metres, the bike and I parted ways and I had to be evacuated out of there by helicopter.”

Many would have taken this near-death experience as a sign that maybe, as he entered his ninth decade, Herb should think about slowing down. Living with type 2 diabetes, as Herb does, can make life challenging enough without having to train for endurance sport.

But Herb says that getting back into training actually made managing his diabetes much easier.

“I feel good, physically and mentally,” Herb says, adding that his blood glucose levels have been much closer to where he wants them since training started.

He goes to the gym three times a week to work with a fitness instructor, rides his bike at least that often and gets out for long walks whenever he can. All that exercise has also encouraged him to make other lifestyle changes around diet and cutting back on alcohol.

“I’ve dropped about 10 kilos from 87 kilos five months ago. The first month of training was really tough, but those good results gave me the motivation to keep going and push
myself even harder.”

Motivation doesn’t seem to be something Herb ever lacks for long.

“I might be going on 81 and I might have diabetes, but I’m convinced that you can still do the things you want to do if you want to do it right.”

He’s hoping his latest adventure will again raise money for Diabetes WA through his website — which will be updated along the way — but he says that, more than money, he’s hoping
to raise awareness of what is possible when you’re living with type 2.

“I have been to some group sessions for people with type 2 diabetes and met people who I think have given up hope. But there’s no reason you can’t do what you want to do, just
because you’ve got diabetes.”

Herb says he’s never let the doubters hold him back.

“I do get a few people who say, come on, you’re eighty and you shouldn’t be doing this, but you’ve got to get past that negativity and just be positive.”

To follow Herb’s journey or sponsor his ride visit herbontour.wordpress.com