If you didn’t know any better, you might expect that when surgeons and anesthesiologists take time off, they fly to hot destinations, put their feet up and chill.

But for Dr. Gary Redekop, Head of VCH-Vancouver’s Department of Surgery, and five colleagues, “down time” conjures up memories of intense headwinds on the unbelievably steep inclines of the French Alps.

It’s just another “vacation day” on their bikes in a gruelling, seven-day Cyclosportive.

A different spin on work-life balance

Dr. Gary Redekop cycling through the French Alps.

Hosted by the organization Haute Route, these races are described as “the highest, toughest and most prestigious amateur cycling events in the world.” Dr. Redekop and his colleagues, however, are no amateurs.

Their successful completion in September of the 800-km race from Nice to Geneva through the French Alps caps off a trio of races Dr. Redekop has completed in the past four years. His colleagues and teammates also completed the Haute Route-Pyrenees in 2014, a challenge of stamina, distance and timing.

Cycling lessons for the operating room

Yes, that’s right, our surgeons and anesthesiologists cycled this!

A neurosurgeon who more often than not rides his bike to work, Dr. Redekop highlights the differences between teamwork and the six mass start days and one time trial up the Col du Galibier, a mountain pass, often the highest point in the Tour de France.

“That event is a drag race to the top, every man for himself,” he says. In contrast, “when riding in a group, you can go farther and faster while expending much less energy. Each person takes turns leading and doing his share of the work.”

That’s how he envisions the Department of Surgery. “I like to see our department function like a peloton [the main group or pack of riders], not like a group of individuals racing, every man for himself as in a time trial.”

Dr. Redekop was joined by colleagues and fellow cycling enthusiasts Drs. David Taylor, VGH vascular surgeon; Terry Waters and Bevan Hughes, VGH anesthesiologists; Clayton Reichert, BC Children’s Hospital anesthesiologist, as well as Jeff Scott, the husband of VGH anesthesiologist Dr. Juliet Atherstone.

Still in recovery mode, you can bet it won’t be long before they’ll be scheming their next mental and physical cycling challenge on that next scheduled “down time”.

The team’s grateful for the support of VCH colleagues who cheered them on via Haute Route’s Facebook page.

Bike to Work Week is October 24 – 30, 2016. Read VCH News to get the latest.