From Don Ford 29th September 2016: An account of my visit to the CRIC (Clinical Research and Imagining Centre).
Noticing an advert on the BTOTC website asking for volunteers to take part in a study of blood pressure and the effects of exercise, I was quick to respond. I had suspected that my blood pressure might be high and thought it might be a good opportunity to find out if my suspicions were correct as well as contributing to medical science. An added spur was that a cycling friend had died suddenly last month of a heart attack having had abnormally high blood pressure and not known about it. 25% of the population have high blood pressure and there are no symptoms.
So last Monday I made my way to the University Medical School to meet Ben, the researcher, to undergo a series of tests and activities. For 2 hours he explained the purpose of the study in some detail and then requested a number of signatures on a consent form. The nurse then conducted a number of tests including taking my blood pressure and pulse. She then prepared me for the main activity which was to cycle a static bike. About 10 monitors were attached to my chest, a blood pressure monitor attached to my arm, another wire to my ear and a mask over my face to measure oxygen use. When I was fully wired up and looking like an Olympic athlete under test I was plugged into a computer and began pedalling while Ben looked at the screen for heart, lung and blood pressure readings.
The resistance on the bike was increased gradually and I had to tell the nurse each time how difficult I found pedalling on a scale starting easy and gradually building up to very hard and all the time turning the pedals at more than 60 revs per minute. Cycling with the BTOTC does prepare you for such activities and I was able to keep going for a reasonable time before reaching exhaustion. Ben seemed pleased and sent me home with a blood pressure monitor to switch on next day which would automatically take my blood pressure over a 24 hour period. I don't know if it had been wrongly set but it took a reading every 30 minutes. Each time I had to fill in a diary recording what I was doing, what I was eating and drinking and if I felt stressed or relaxed.
I took the monitor back to him yesterday and he was kind enough to send me an email with 10 pages of results attached. He was pleased to inform me that my blood pressure was normal and that my fitness level was 'fantastic' and 'well above average'. Now 2 years of cycling with the BTOTC has made me know my place, which is well to the rear of the peloton. 'Fantastic' is not a term I would have applied to myself as I struggled up that hill from Dyrham this morning. As so many sped past me it confirmed what I have suspected for a long time, that most of the members of the BTOTC are supermen and women. The only downside of Ben's email was that because none of the 34 people he has tested so far is as fit as me, he can't continue with my second test which was due next Monday. He needs to find someone of comparable fitness before he can continue. He is looking to test 72 people and so if you want to put yourself through this check out the BTOTC website and links to Ben and his information sheet.