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Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
This is a picture of Andy and me. This was taken on the patio of steak house on the Iowa River after the event on our way home.
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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
Great story and very inspiring. Congratulations Ron.
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Mark Pouley - Name: Mark
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Update
I completed the Hotter' N Hell (HHH) 100-mile bike rally this past Saturday in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The HHH is one of the largest single day bike rallies in the U.S., with over 10,000 biking enthusiasts participating. They offer several different routes of 25, 50 60, and 100 miles. The century has become a right of passage for many cyclist. The route is generally flat, but due to the weather conditions in North Central Texas, it presents its own unique challenges, Temperature combined with wind, chip seal, and lack of cover make this ride difficult. I have done this several times and each time it is unique due to the weather.
This year the temps were moderate as the high on Aug 27 was only in the mid 90s F (about 35 C) as opposed to over 100 F (38 C). The wind was also light out of the southeast. However, unlike most years when it is hot and dry, this year the humidity level was up, presenting a different challenge.
I was trying to break my personal best time of 5:46 for the 100 mile ride which I set last year. I came up a little short by 5 minutes, logging in at 5 hours and 51 minutes. That is a total time. I only had one rest stop at mile mark 52. I carried 2 full bottles which I replenished and then the last 45 miles I was able to grab two more bottles without stopping using a rolling pass. At the 52 mile mark I drank about 8 oz of pickle juice (to ward of cramps), ate some food, and used the porta johns. I left after about 10 minutes. I carried about 6 hammer gels and some cliff bars with me, eating something every hour or so.
At about mile mark 94 I started to get cramps in my inner thighs which I had to fight through. I switched to the little ring on my crank to try and spin faster to ease the strain on my inner thigh muscles. I fought those for a couple of miles but they finally loosened up and I was able to finish.
All in all, I was pleased with my effort, even though I came up 5 minutes short of my own personal best.
My average speed for the ride (saddle time 5:41) was 17.82 mph (28.68 km/h). Total time (including stop) showed me with a 17.3 mph average. My maximum heart rate was 165 and my average for the ride was 145. The total distance was 101.4 miles.
I had an average speed at the 52 mile rest stop of 19.5 mph, so as you can see I lost speed the second half of the rally, which is typical.
I came in 47 out of 192 males participating in my age bracket (60-64) that did the 100 miles.
I completed the Hotter' N Hell (HHH) 100-mile bike rally this past Saturday in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The HHH is one of the largest single day bike rallies in the U.S., with over 10,000 biking enthusiasts participating. They offer several different routes of 25, 50 60, and 100 miles. The century has become a right of passage for many cyclist. The route is generally flat, but due to the weather conditions in North Central Texas, it presents its own unique challenges, Temperature combined with wind, chip seal, and lack of cover make this ride difficult. I have done this several times and each time it is unique due to the weather.
This year the temps were moderate as the high on Aug 27 was only in the mid 90s F (about 35 C) as opposed to over 100 F (38 C). The wind was also light out of the southeast. However, unlike most years when it is hot and dry, this year the humidity level was up, presenting a different challenge.
I was trying to break my personal best time of 5:46 for the 100 mile ride which I set last year. I came up a little short by 5 minutes, logging in at 5 hours and 51 minutes. That is a total time. I only had one rest stop at mile mark 52. I carried 2 full bottles which I replenished and then the last 45 miles I was able to grab two more bottles without stopping using a rolling pass. At the 52 mile mark I drank about 8 oz of pickle juice (to ward of cramps), ate some food, and used the porta johns. I left after about 10 minutes. I carried about 6 hammer gels and some cliff bars with me, eating something every hour or so.
At about mile mark 94 I started to get cramps in my inner thighs which I had to fight through. I switched to the little ring on my crank to try and spin faster to ease the strain on my inner thigh muscles. I fought those for a couple of miles but they finally loosened up and I was able to finish.
All in all, I was pleased with my effort, even though I came up 5 minutes short of my own personal best.
My average speed for the ride (saddle time 5:41) was 17.82 mph (28.68 km/h). Total time (including stop) showed me with a 17.3 mph average. My maximum heart rate was 165 and my average for the ride was 145. The total distance was 101.4 miles.
I had an average speed at the 52 mile rest stop of 19.5 mph, so as you can see I lost speed the second half of the rally, which is typical.
I came in 47 out of 192 males participating in my age bracket (60-64) that did the 100 miles.
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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
Way to go, Ron!
That's a very impressive time, especially considering the heat and humidity. Even in my much younger and pre-myeloma years, I never quite broke the 6 hour barrier for a century.
Keep on trucking!
Mike
That's a very impressive time, especially considering the heat and humidity. Even in my much younger and pre-myeloma years, I never quite broke the 6 hour barrier for a century.
Keep on trucking!
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
Thank you very much for the posting, Ron.
My wife and I are actually getting into biking. We need to keep on going awhile, however, to get to the level that you are talking about. Maybe we will never reach your level, but it is something we can dream about. Thanks for the posting.
My wife and I are actually getting into biking. We need to keep on going awhile, however, to get to the level that you are talking about. Maybe we will never reach your level, but it is something we can dream about. Thanks for the posting.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Nice job, Ron. Inspiring as always!
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Andrew,
Need to get you to come out to Texas and do this ride. We could ride together. Just a thought.
Ron
Need to get you to come out to Texas and do this ride. We could ride together. Just a thought.
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
I might try that but no way I could maintain that pace these days unless you pulled me along!
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Andrew,
I am not really fast. When I ride by myself in the local countryside, I usually have a 16-17 mph average for a typical 50-mile ride.
In the HHH, it is a flat course, and you get in with a group drafting so that hitting and holding 19-20 mpg is not as hard as you would think. I went with a group from my bike club and there were 6 of us all about of equal skill targeting 6 hours. We worked together and got in much bigger pace lines to conserve strength. The first 1/2 of the ride it was easy to maintain that speed, but as the day wore on and you tire then the speed falls off. Our group kind of broke up at about mile mark 80 and a couple fell way back. That is usually the point of truth in a century.
I am not really fast. When I ride by myself in the local countryside, I usually have a 16-17 mph average for a typical 50-mile ride.
In the HHH, it is a flat course, and you get in with a group drafting so that hitting and holding 19-20 mpg is not as hard as you would think. I went with a group from my bike club and there were 6 of us all about of equal skill targeting 6 hours. We worked together and got in much bigger pace lines to conserve strength. The first 1/2 of the ride it was easy to maintain that speed, but as the day wore on and you tire then the speed falls off. Our group kind of broke up at about mile mark 80 and a couple fell way back. That is usually the point of truth in a century.
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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
Aha ... that's a horse of a different color. I thought that you were riding alone. I will put that on my wishlist for next year.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60