A new mamil leads the peleton

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I’ve been wondering if I could beat Tony Abbott in a sprint, a hill climb, a mountain descent, a wheelie comp. In some ways, it brings succour to know the new PM is an avid cyclist.   

And though in places it sounds a shade Hitler Youth I broadly agree with his sentiments:

“It’s a great way to start the day. No better way to start the day than this. I find, anyway, you spend a bit of energy you get a bit of energy. It’s like authority: you’ve got to use it to get it.”

I’ve also been wondering about Abbott’s various cycling kits promoting Amgen, or Applied Molecular Genetics, an American biopharmaceutical company known worldwide as the creators of EPO. 

But since reading Amgen is the principal sponsor of Pollie Pedal, a cycling event started in 1998 by a number of federal and state politicians to raise money for various charities, that this year raised close to $548,000, I’ve felt a lot better. 

And the fact EPO, or erythropoietin, is a legitimate and successful drug in the treatment of anemia resulting from chronic kidney disease and myelodysplasia from the treatment of cancer, and not just the juice of choice for former champions, makes me happier still. 

Maybe I could beat Tony Abbott in a sprint, a hill climb, a mountain descent, a wheelie comp. And maybe we’d share a nice cuppa afterwards. 

First published on Everest and Beyond, 2013