Andrew,
I still want to do a ride in the Davis Mountains in SW Texas. A ride from Alpine, Texas up to the UT's McDonald Observatory. Sounds like similar distance and elevation to what you have in mind. Last year I bought a 12-30 cassette just for that ride. I am already running a compact double on my road bike so I think that will be perfect. If nothing more it will give me confidence that I have that 30 tooth gear in reserve.
Forums
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Ron,
Interesting. I run a 27 with a standard 53-39 up front. Should be enough, but I have a lot of training to do before I try it.
Interesting. I run a 27 with a standard 53-39 up front. Should be enough, but I have a lot of training to do before I try it.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
My partner and I completed our second race this past weekend. It was the Texas Ultra Spirit and followed a similar format to the Bessie's Creek Race earlier in the month. This one was held on an 18.9 mile course and was much hillier than the flat Bessie's Creek layout, so I left my TT bike at home. There was a thunderstorm that went through at about 6 a.m. that postponed the race start until 8:00 am. They left the finish time the same so our race was cut by 1 1/2 hours to 10.5 hours.
Due to the rain, the number of teams was down. We prevailed in winning our category, covering 166.2 miles in a total of 10 hours and 3 minutes. I had a treatment on Monday before the race and was fighting a bit of a digestive reaction to the treatment as late as Friday. So I was not 100% and struggled a bit, but still was able to complete 4 full laps on the course.
Here is a picture of me reaching the crest of one of the hillier spots. It was short punchy 8% hill. Knowing you have to face it another 3 times can put a little doubt in your mind. It got hot, upper 80s F (low 30s C) by mid afternoon, with high humidity. My bike thermometer read 95 F (35 C) due to the radiation off the pavement.
We have a break from racing for a while. Our next event is not until the end of September. In between times, I will be riding in a few rallies and just doing local club rides.
Due to the rain, the number of teams was down. We prevailed in winning our category, covering 166.2 miles in a total of 10 hours and 3 minutes. I had a treatment on Monday before the race and was fighting a bit of a digestive reaction to the treatment as late as Friday. So I was not 100% and struggled a bit, but still was able to complete 4 full laps on the course.
Here is a picture of me reaching the crest of one of the hillier spots. It was short punchy 8% hill. Knowing you have to face it another 3 times can put a little doubt in your mind. It got hot, upper 80s F (low 30s C) by mid afternoon, with high humidity. My bike thermometer read 95 F (35 C) due to the radiation off the pavement.
We have a break from racing for a while. Our next event is not until the end of September. In between times, I will be riding in a few rallies and just doing local club rides.
- Going up hill at Texas Ultra Spirit
- Texas Ultra Sprit 2016 2.jpg (154.71 KiB) Viewed 1460 times
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Congratulations, Ron, on achieving so much in your bike racing! That is an inspiration to all of us to keep exercising, although for most it would not be at such a competitive level. Hope you enjoy summer riding at a more moderate pace!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Great photo, Ron! That looks like a seriously tough hill. I wouldn't want to run up it!
Congratulations to you and your partner for winning your category. But even more congratulations to you for continuing to be an inspiration for the rest of us.
I have a measly 5K running race next weekend and a 5 mile race the following weekend, both of which pale compared to what you did in this race.
Mike
Congratulations to you and your partner for winning your category. But even more congratulations to you for continuing to be an inspiration for the rest of us.
I have a measly 5K running race next weekend and a 5 mile race the following weekend, both of which pale compared to what you did in this race.
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Mike,
Let us know how you did. I have a bad right knee that does not make it possible for me to run. I do walks and that does not seem to bother it. I wish I could run though, if I could I would try a sprint triathlon. Those are short with a 5k run, 12 mile bike ride and I think it is 500 meter swim. I can do the swimming and biking just not the running.
Let us know how you did. I have a bad right knee that does not make it possible for me to run. I do walks and that does not seem to bother it. I wish I could run though, if I could I would try a sprint triathlon. Those are short with a 5k run, 12 mile bike ride and I think it is 500 meter swim. I can do the swimming and biking just not the running.
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Nice job, Ron! Great photo!
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Tracy J - Name: Tracy Jalbuena
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Some of you may know that I have a plan to hike all the 4,000 foot peaks in Maine. There are fourteen of them, mostly along the Appalachian Trail. In fact, the northern terminus of the AT is Mount Katahdin, the highest point in Maine, and a notoriously difficult peak.
This past weekend, my husband James and I hiked two of them - Saddleback and Saddleback Horn. Both are along the AT. It was a great hike! We started from Saddleback ski area, and hiked straight up the ski slope. Apparently hikers often find lost money and IDs from long gone skiers, uncovered by snow-melt (we found none). Then the ski trail joins the AT up on the ridge above treeline at Saddleback peak. Then you hike down a little col between Saddleback and the Horn and back up to the Horn itself. Most of this section is above treeline, and on a clear day, you can see Mount Washington in New Hampshire to the west, all the way to Mount Katahdin in the north, over 100 miles a way. Awesome views, in the truest meaning of the word "awesome"!
The entire trip took us 8 hours and 15 minutes. We are slow and take a lot of breaks, so younger healthier people could do it faster, I'm sure. There were many times when James wondered why I couldn't have chosen something like pastry sampling or watching movies as my bucket-list "thing". Nooo, I had to pick hiking UP and then back DOWN again! At times I had to chant to myself in order to keep climbing, "f--- you, myeloma" in time with my racing heart. Myeloma will not keep me off the mountain top, dammit.
But I've figured out why. There's a focus and concentration required to exert oneself like this. It shuts everything else out for a while. There's a timeless "zone" you get into. I've also reached that place running and spelunking. You know that emotional and spiritual pain we all have? When I'm in that zone the pain is alleviated. My grief is lessened. It's more particular than just "hiking makes me feel better". There's a direct, cause-effect relationship, like taking a pain reliever. There's a feeling of lightness and clarity after the pain and grief are relieved that isn't present if you never had the pain in the first place. I blame dopamine. For me, hiking is natural opiate for my soul. That's so cheesy sounding. But no wonder I crave hiking.
This past weekend, my husband James and I hiked two of them - Saddleback and Saddleback Horn. Both are along the AT. It was a great hike! We started from Saddleback ski area, and hiked straight up the ski slope. Apparently hikers often find lost money and IDs from long gone skiers, uncovered by snow-melt (we found none). Then the ski trail joins the AT up on the ridge above treeline at Saddleback peak. Then you hike down a little col between Saddleback and the Horn and back up to the Horn itself. Most of this section is above treeline, and on a clear day, you can see Mount Washington in New Hampshire to the west, all the way to Mount Katahdin in the north, over 100 miles a way. Awesome views, in the truest meaning of the word "awesome"!
The entire trip took us 8 hours and 15 minutes. We are slow and take a lot of breaks, so younger healthier people could do it faster, I'm sure. There were many times when James wondered why I couldn't have chosen something like pastry sampling or watching movies as my bucket-list "thing". Nooo, I had to pick hiking UP and then back DOWN again! At times I had to chant to myself in order to keep climbing, "f--- you, myeloma" in time with my racing heart. Myeloma will not keep me off the mountain top, dammit.
But I've figured out why. There's a focus and concentration required to exert oneself like this. It shuts everything else out for a while. There's a timeless "zone" you get into. I've also reached that place running and spelunking. You know that emotional and spiritual pain we all have? When I'm in that zone the pain is alleviated. My grief is lessened. It's more particular than just "hiking makes me feel better". There's a direct, cause-effect relationship, like taking a pain reliever. There's a feeling of lightness and clarity after the pain and grief are relieved that isn't present if you never had the pain in the first place. I blame dopamine. For me, hiking is natural opiate for my soul. That's so cheesy sounding. But no wonder I crave hiking.
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Tracy J - Name: Tracy Jalbuena
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Tracy,
I love hiking too. Not much of that in North Texas but I used to go out and hike the logging trails when I lived in northwest Pennsylvania back in the early 90s. What you are doing is challenging to say the least. Even the Appalachian mountains add the additional element of higher elevation and lower oxygen so that it will really work your heart rate and test your hemoglobin counts.
I was especially taken by and totally can relate to, the following observation you made:
That is the same kind of feeling I get when I do these bike races and long rallies. Well said!!
Ron
I love hiking too. Not much of that in North Texas but I used to go out and hike the logging trails when I lived in northwest Pennsylvania back in the early 90s. What you are doing is challenging to say the least. Even the Appalachian mountains add the additional element of higher elevation and lower oxygen so that it will really work your heart rate and test your hemoglobin counts.
I was especially taken by and totally can relate to, the following observation you made:
There's a focus and concentration required to exert oneself like this. It shuts everything else out for a while. There's a timeless "zone" you get into.
That is the same kind of feeling I get when I do these bike races and long rallies. Well said!!
Ron
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
What is the percent range of expected fitness that one can expect to get back to after multiple myeloma and a stem cell transplant? A year ago I was doing daily rides of 40-50 miles at 21-22 mph. Now, after 10 months of chemo and a stem cell transplant, I started with 7-8 miles @ 13 mph and have steadily worked back to 20 miles @ 17 mph.
Will I ever get it back or should I just learn to enjoy being a slow-poke?
Will I ever get it back or should I just learn to enjoy being a slow-poke?
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scoob - Name: dave
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53