Pharmacist Iain Buchanan trades prescriptions for pedals for the 17th BDO Tour of Northland

Pharmacist Iain Buchanan is ready for the 17th BDO Tour of Northland Cycle Challenge. He has not missed one since it began in 2001. Photo/John Stone

Pharmacist Iain Buchanan is feeding his addiction by prescribing himself a four-day slog on a racing bike.

The 53-year-old is competing in the 17th BDO Tour of Northland Cycle Challenge. He hasn't missed a start since it began in 2001.

Buchanan, who is the co-owner of Unichem Buchanan's Pharmacy, said he doesn't plan on quitting what has become a yearly fixture any time soon.

"Now it's got to a stage that I just have to do it. It's just my little bit of time away where I can cycle for four days and not worry about anything else," he said.

"Plus, it means I need to stay relatively fit.

"I'll keep going as long as they do it. Hopefully it stays around for a lot longer."

The Tour of Northland is taking on a different route, doing a 180 on what has been the status quo for the last 16 years, giving the 250 riders a different perspective of the North.

Rather than setting off towards Dargaville from Whangarei on the first day, the cyclists will shoot off in the other direction to Russell for the longest leg of the tour at 109km.

From there they ride for 89km to Opononi on the second day before a 83km cycle to Dargaville from there.

The last day brings them back to Whangarei, finishing at the Barge Showgrounds after another 83km, giving the race a grand total of 364km.

Buchanan said the change in direction will mean he gets to avoid the toughest part of the race.

"The hardest bit was the last hill on day two, which goes up into Omapere but now we're going up the other side at the start of the day so it won't be as bad," he said.

"It was pretty tough, I did have to walk up it a couple of times."

It's not just the hills that are tough. Buchanan has suffered his share of injuries on the tour - but not while riding.

He was walking around in between stages when he had a little slip up.

"I didn't get hurt in a bike accident, but I did slip with my riding shoes onto a concrete surface a few years ago," he said.

"I fractured some ribs and vertebrae and things like that but I kept riding as I didn't know what I had done.

"I've never been involved in a crash on the tour but my brother-in-law ended up in a ditch which was pretty horrible to see. But he got up and carried on riding."

On top of that, Buchanan has had two hip replacements, but if anything it has aided his efforts.

"The two hip replacements have made it all so much easier! It's really cool," he said.

"I hadn't realised how bad my hips were until I had the first one replaced and then after the second one got done, riding was so much better."

Buchanan said the four-day tour has changed a little with the numbers, but still has the pulling power due to the scenery.

"It's varied a bit from a numbers standpoint, which is probably due to getting time off and people being able to make the commitment," he said.

"The big thing has been a lot of people come back and do the tour again and again. You always get the fast guys, but the rest of us just cruise a bit.

"The views will be different this year as you'll be looking up the Russell coast rather than down and day three coming down the West Coast will be a bit different.

"The tour is a great way to get to see the North and hopefully it will bring back people for other events."

Buchanan hasn't got hopes of a tour victory, but rather is more focused on the enjoyment and camaraderie.

"Other than just surviving, I just want to have fun," he said.

"It'll be good to catch up with people who have been doing it for a while or finding a new group of riders who are new to the North and showing them a few different things."