English text ...in progress ... not finished ...
Now it's make or break time!
Come on!
No, I don't think this will work
This here, I'm going to deal with it.
When Tore Henriksen closes his blind eyes, he sees himself riding at full gallop at Øvrevoll racetrack.
But he can't ride any more. Now he's ready for a whole new challenge, possibly the greatest one in his life.
I see absolutely nothing. 100% blind.
How long have you been blind?
17 years.
(Then we start...now I'm cycling)
Tore will do something that everyone says is impossible. He's going to ride the Birkebeiner bicycle race.
Only one person in the world thinks he can do it - himself.
The day I realized that I was going to go completely blind, I went and looked at myself in the mirror.
I remember that it was in the morning, and I said to myself, "This here, I'm going to deal with it."
When Tore could see, he had everything. He worked as a trainer to the country's best race horses.
He was a jockey, he had a wife, a dog and a station wagon. Tore lived a carefree life,
but after a while, he noticed that his sight was becoming increasingly worse.
When he was four years old, Tore had developed Type 1 diabetes; a disease that often effects sight.
Tore's illness was ruthless. By the year he turned 33, he was completely blind.
His life turned upside down. He lost everything.
In the course of a year and a half, I got divorced, I lost my job, my house and, not least of all, my sight.
It was a tough period.
It's no small thing to be told that you will never be able to see again.
The lights go out and that's how it will stay the rest of your life. Completely dark.
85% of people who go blind drink themselves to death, at last that's what i heard at the time.
I've heard of people who went blind and stayed shut up in the same room for 9 years, never daring to go outside.
Sighted people can close their eyes and everything goes dark.
But then, think, this is how it will be for the rest of your life. This will give you something to think about.
For Tore, locking himself inside was never an option.
And instead of going to the liquor store, he signed up for the Birkebeiner cycling race.
Together with his friend and guide Gudbrand, Tore gets started.
He will be the first person to ride the Birkie blind on a normal bicycle.
91 kilometers from Rena to Lillehammer.
Tore and Gudbrand must ride alone, apart from the other racers.
I can't ride among the others. It wouldn't work, in such big crowd, I'd crash.
So Tore and Gudbrand ride at night. When you can't see, you have to use other senses.
Tore uses his hearing. With music playing from a stereo set up on the back of Gudbrand's bike,
Tore find the way to Lillehammer.
If the music go to the right, Tore goes right. If the music goes straight forward, Tore follows.
The time is now 7AM. Tore still isn't halfway yet, it's going too slowly.
Past Kvarstad, something happened the wasn't supposed to happened. Tore gets passed.
(F**... )
No, this isn't working. To say it straight out.
These boys here aren't being vary careful?
No, no, no, no, they're not.
He has to quit. The dream is dead. For now, anyway.
We have to pull out. Especially because when we rode down the hills towards Kvarstadsætera i couldn't hear the music at all, due to the wind.
Then when we got all these racers passing us, 40 or 50 in clusters shouting right past us, it just doesn't work.
There's a limit.
Now Tore must decide if he will try again next year.
There, that should be good.
Right before Tore went blind, he met Eldbjørg.
A year later, the got married and bought a condo in Tranby, north of Drammen.
Today Tore lives on disability insurance. He calls himself a house husband.
And every Friday, he cleans the house.
Ah, there you are
There, well, now I'm done with the mopping.
Nice smell...
(Eldbjørg reads the subtitles to Tore...)
I've never really thought of Tore as a person who has a big disability, because he's never acted like he had a problem, in a way.
He wants to break barriers, try what can be done, and test things out and take care of himself.
So I've never thought that way.
What's the difference between living with someone who can see and someone who can't.
The biggest challenge is probably the practical tasks outside the house. Here at home, he functions pretty much like he was sighted,
but when we get outside of the house's four walls and when we are away, then I notice it.
Tore was able to see Eldbjørg before his sight failed. But he has never seen his children.
I've never seen my kids - I haven't.
How does that make you feel?
Well, of course I would have rather seen them! But it is the way it is. But of course I would have rather seen them!
It's now November 15th, Tore and Gudbrand shall do some training.
I hope that Gudbrand will arrive soon.
... to the rollerski training
It's been 2.5 months since Tore was passed at Kvarstad, and had to quit. But now he's started some hard training.
Tore has decided to try Birkebeiner bike race again. He'll try one more time.
Now i have really thought about it and I'm working hard. I want to get over that mountain.
We're using the same music now, on an MP3 player.
Let's go Gudbrand!
I have started...
There it was someone was honking at us. I assume they know who we are.
Not one of these training sessions go by without me thinking: if only I had my sight back once!
One day, I want to try and rollerski alone, cycling in forest, or to try skiing. Some day. I think a lot about that.
Damn!
Roger: I think we meet the king, the groomer Anders....
Tore: Then we can rest some minutes.
Anders: You can't be normal.
Tore: Yes that what people says.
Anders Haverstad: To train ski and scrub you face in snow is peanuts, but to bike the Bikie alone, you'd have to be crazy. It's not normal.
Ok, I get the clear message...
Anders: God trip. Tore: Bye Anders
(Tore Henriksen, our son in law, to think that you're 50.You're as spry as you ever ware, and you still have your hair!)
In March, Tore turned 50. It's now been 18 years since he went blind.
( ...if the fountain of youth exists, you must have found it!)
Even though it's been a long time since he lost his sight, Tore can still see.
Because when Tore dreams, his sight comes back. And the dreams are always about the same thing.
Every single dream I have is about horses. Being back at work and back with horses.
Because when I dream, I don't dream about my life now, because I haven't seen it.
But I go back in time and there 's a lot about horses I dream about.
It can be different things. Sometimes they attack me ... and bite me.
So, horses were a big part of my life. I miss it a lot.
The excitement!
I get a little bit of that excitement back when I bike and so forth,
but it's not the same.
Come on!
F****
Tore is visiting the farm where he once worked. For 12 years he cared and trained race horses.
To lose your job, something you love to do, that's one of the toughest part. I have to say it.
You don't miss driving a car or things like that, that hasn't bothered me at all.
You feel like you're not useful, almost, useful like you were before. It's hard!!!
Spring has come to Tranby. There are just 4 months until the Birkebeiner bike race, and it's time to get the bike out.
I have to send my bike in to get service today, because afterwards, we're going biking for the first time.
Tore is a VIP customer at the local bike store.
If it wasn't for the people who work here, Tore never would have started cycling.
A blind man need a little extra service, and here they do everything they can to make Tore happy.
Tore need a little more help but it's always fun, because even when there's extra work to do, and you are tired,
when Tore calls you get a second wind. It's fun.
It's busy here the whole summer, but when Tore calls, we find a way to help him. We always do.
Because Tore doesn't have time to wait! He haven't.
Since Tore can't see, he can hear better. And when he hears that we have a little bit of a break here,
he gets on the phone right away
The gear here, it needs to come in a little. Can be done.
Would it be a big problem for you to reset the computer, Bjørn?
Bjørn: No
Bjørn: The wheel is strait, you have not falled off?
Tore: The front wheel? No. Never falled off.
That's better.
Here at Lyngåsbanen race track Tore took his first ride on a one-man bicycle after 15 years of riding tandem.
Even though today's ride goes slowly, Tore is satisfied with the first ride of the year.
I think I got back into it pretty fast. A little shaky the first 500 meters, almost as I thought the bike wasn't quite working right,
but suddenly it was over. And then I felt like I was back at same level I was when I left off last year.
But just like at last year's Birkie. Tore has a hard time hearing what Gudbrand is saying.
It's a bit of a problem actually, I can't hear it good enough. I can hear the music just fine, but when he speaks I can't hear him.
About 50% of what he says, I can't hear.
The Birkebeiner is a week away, A journalist from Drammens Tidene newspaper calls and asks how Tore is doing.
A bit better now? Yea, I'd say so. I'we gotten better at everything. You could say I started on this last year.
No, if I can't do it this year, I won't try again. No, this will be the last time.
Yeah, Tore, here I've got the wonderful new speaker case.
During the Birkie last year, Tore had problems hearing the music from Gudbrand's bike.
Now Gudbrand has made a more powerful sound system so that Tore can hear the music better.
So now I've connected the headset I'll be wearing to the music on the mp3-player.
So, when you talk and the music is playing, it will come out of the same speakers?
Yes, it comes out of the same speakers.
And you can just chat into the microphone there and I'll hear it as clear as the day. It's better then last year.
Yeah, that should help!
Okey, let's get started.
Yep, start!
Well, that's the last training ride.
Yeah, now it's just make or break time. All we can do is cross our fingers and hope for good weather.
Are you guys going to do it?
Yes, I really hope so.
I can't guarantee anything, I can't, but, I sincerely hope so since I think we have really earned it.
The day has come. It's Friday evening, and Tore is in place at Rena.
He is about to set out on what will come to be his longest and most important ride forever.
Good luck!
He has set goals that he wants to achieve, just like all of us.
And especially with the position which he is in, he's set a goal which he will accomplish
and prove to the world that he can do. It means a lot.
Do you think he will be disappointed if he doesn't do it?
Yes, he'll be disappointed. So we're all pulling for him.
Hopes he makes it!
What do you think, Håvard? Do you think your dad can do it?
Mm-hmm! It will go fine.
Hi! How's it going?
Hi! Going well. It's a little dark out here, but otherwise fine.
The leader of the Birkebeiner bicycle race has come to start Tore. Now it counts.
Now this is for real. There are also many people who know about this, so there's a little pressure,
but that's got to be a good thing.
What do you want to show people by doing this?
I want to show people that we who are disabled can also archive great things
that they maybe thought we never could.
That's what I'm going to prove!
What is this, Russian roulette?
Oh! We can start now!
This is no Sunday ride that Tore is undertaking. The Birkebeiner bike race is the world's biggest mountain bike ride.
91 kilometers from Rena to Lillehammer, over three mountains.
Even for those who can see, it's a tough ride. Many never finish...
other just make it...
This ride wasn't made for blind riders. The blind don't bike. Except for Tore.
But after just a couple of kilometers, they have to stop. Tore can't hear what Gudbrand is saying.
I have to change the battery in the receiver. It's worn out.
This year Tore is starting 5 hours earlier than last year. Last year they started at 2 in the morning,
but the head start was too short, and Tore was overtaken by the other riders.
Tore must make it to Lillehammer by 10. Because by then the first of the other riders will be coming in.
Tore has 13 hours.
By the time Tore reaches Skramstadsætera it's dark out. Eldbjørg was supported to be here with a change of clothes ready,
but the time passes and Eldbjørg doesn't come.
Yeah, when you come up over that and get to the flag where it says "Spurtpris" you take to the left there.
Yes, come right away! Fast as you can!
We're spending too much time here Eldbjørg, this is taking too long!
Tore gets ready for a long cold night. In addition to warmer clothes he also has to put on protective gear.
Because now comes the most rocky section for the ride,
that part where Tore is in the greatest danger of hurting himself.
Everyone should try this...
The big fear is that Tore will break his leg. It's happened before.
It's hard going here. I don't remember that it was so freaking long here last year.
The route is tough, even for Gudbrand. He gets tired and for a moment he forgets Tore.
Oh, damn! No, it's okey.
Just give me a call if you fall too far behind!
Ride on, Gudbrand, ride on!
Tore fights his way up the tough hills. Now he's come halfway.
But now that Tore and Gudbrand have reached Kvarstad, a problem arises.
Gudbrand has a flat tire.
Yeah, I have a flat tire, I'm losing air.
On top of that, Gudbrand has to change the battery. That will take at least half an hour.
While Gudbrand works, Tore has time to relax in a nearby cabin.
But Tore has a hard time waiting, and can't sit still.
What time has it gotten to now?
It's already 3:40.
Agh, we've got to get out of here quick, you know. We can't stay here any longer!
If we can just, get out and get moving towards the finish. Even if I have to walk all next week!
I will finish, Gudbrand, even if I have to crawl all the way there!
The time is now 5 o'clock, and it's starting to get light out again. In 2 hours, the first riders start in Rena.
Tore knows this!
If we're just lucky enough we'll get to the finish before the others come.
I'm thinking a little bit too much about that maybe.
We've got to hustle a little Gudbrand, don't have to go too fast, but just so we keep out pace up the whole time.
The time is now 7 and Tore has reached Storåsen, the highest point of elevation on the ride.
At the same time, the other riders are starting at Rena.
The thought that he might finish make the adrenaline flow.
Now I'm fired up! Let them come and catch me! Let them! We'll show everyone.
I'm fired up and lucky.
Speed up to 60km downhill and I'm going to pop a wheelie.
The greatest danger now is that Tore gets too carried away.
He's starting to get tired, and on second of carelessness could bring the ride to an abrupt end.
But he must keep going. The other riders are getting closer and they're coming fast.
It they catch him, the ride will be over yet again for Tore.
It's like...I can't...when we go downhill you know, I can't catch my breath like you can.
You can just relax when you going downhill.
Tore has come to the Balletbakken, the most feared hill on the route.
The lead group of riders is only half an hour behind him. Tore doesn't have time to think about it.
He closes his eyes and goes for it.
And then, Tore falls.
Agh! I stayed up the whole ride until now!
But he gets back on the bike. Regardless of how tired he is, he refuses to give up.
It's been over 12 hours since Tore started from Rena. But now he has finally come to Lillehammer.
He has done what no one thought was possible - ride 91km blind.
This year, no one managed to catch him.
Tore makes it, he has shown that anything is possible. As long as you believe in yourself.
What would you say to people who said this was crazy and you'd never make it?
I would just give'em a wink!
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