Actor Mark Hadlow (57) looked comfortable wearing Lycra in the Fortune Theatre bar yesterday as he talked of his one-man show Mamil (middle-aged man in Lycra).
Hadlow had a health scare a few years ago and decided to do more road cycling.
He discovered the cyclists talked about real-life issues: marriage issues, relationship problems and men's health, including the uncomfortableness of getting checked for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer needed to be detected as early as possible and men should be regularly tested, he said.
''Early detection, you'll live - as simple as that.''
Cyclists often had to ride two or three abreast for the on-road counselling session.
''If anyone has a problem, it is opened up to the forum - it's a really cheap way of getting some psychological evaluation done.''
He knew cyclists were often disliked by motorists, but motorists needed to share the road and celebrate cyclists, who were getting fit and keeping out of the health system.
Angry motorists were jealous of cyclists' fitness.
''If they got out on a bike, they'd have a much better life.''
Cycling could transform New Zealand from a fat country to a fit country, he said.
He applauded John Key's decision to expand the cycle trails and he and his wife had recently completed the Otago Rail Trail.
''It's the best thing we've ever done - it's fantastic. New Zealand should be full of them. Let's get it done.''
The play was about resilience, rediscovery and the transformation of an unlikable property developer to the man he was when he married his wife.
In the play, he was several characters: a retired concrete sprayer, an Indian dairy owner, an autistic liquidator and his penis. He also played an abusive Italian bike.
''It's funny, it's poignant, it's relevant and it's not just for bike riders.''
People would be moved by the potency of the play, he said.
