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Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Congratulations on your team win for ultra marathon cycling, Ron! I think that this is very inspiring in terms of encouraging us myeloma patients to get out and exercise, at whatever level we can. Right now, am walking using the fitness tracker since that fits into my week! I only compete against myself, and can have fitness friends too, so that is an interesting use of technology.
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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
Attached is the profile of the TTT course. 477 meters of climb in 26.4 miles or about 1,550 feet. I did 3.25 laps or about 5,000 ft. of climb in 86 miles. This shows the short punchy nature of the hills in north Texas. Not the long 6 to 7 mile climbs, but the kind that are steep but short, just relentless.
- TTTCourse.png (83.81 KiB) Viewed 1635 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
That's a crazy profile Ron. Steep is much tougher than long as far as I am concerned. Nice job.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
The start of the new year.
Normally at this time I would report on the past year achievements with respect to my earlier goals and set a new goals for the upcoming year.
This year it will be a little different. I did accomplish most of my 2016 goals.
First, doing over 6,000 miles (I did 6,138).
Second, competing in and perhaps winning the Ultra Cup. (My biking friend Ron Singleton and I won the best of 3 out of 6 Texas Ultra Races for the 12 hour 2 man competition despite a loss in the Texas Time Trials due to a racing technicality.)
Finally. I wanted to do 2 to 3 days of climbing in the Davis Mountains in Southwest Texas. This final goal was substituted with RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). We completed 490 miles in 7 days, starting on the west side of the state, where you dip your rear wheel into the Missouri river, and finish by dipping your front wheel into the Mississippi. In between these I did 6 organized rallies of 100 kilometers or more, including the 100 mile Hotter n Hell 100, in which I completed in less than 6 hours stopping only once to refill my 2 water bottles.
Unfortunately, on Christmas Eve doing a 44 mile ride with two buddies to a coffee shop in Denton, Texas I was involved in a serious accident. The weather was relatively warm (about 55 F, 13 C), but it was foggy and the roads were damp. We decided to take it slow (14 mph / 22 kph average.) and avoid some of the more dangerous roads with sweeping downhill where you normally would get up to 40 mph (60 kph).
Despite our caution, we did have to cross a couple of railroad tracks. On one of those, my friend Victor, who is from Italy and an accomplished cyclist, had his back wheel slide out and he went down. I was right behind him and could not avoid hitting him. As I did, the momentum launched me over the handlebars and I landed on my helmet about 5 feet in front on the road.
The impact left my paralyzed on my left side. I had broken 4 vertebrae in my neck, including a severe traumatic break of C2, often referred to as the hangman's neck break. I had 8 pins put in with C1 through C4 fused. C6 was also cracked, but they said it would heal on its own.
Good news is all my feeling on the left side returned. I will lose 50% lateral motion, but my up and down motion with therapy should be near normal. I have to wear a hard plastic neck brace for the next 6 weeks. So no bike riding, even on a trainer, for a while. Based on that, I have postponed goal setting until I know more about my expected capabilities.
In addition, I am beginning a relapse of my multiple myeloma. My latest bone marrow biopsy shows 40% myeloma cells, but a skeletal scan discovered no new lesions and the old ones had healed. The bone survey was done before the accident and revealed no cracks or issues with my vertebrae, so the break was totally from the traumatic fall. I will go back in to see my oncologist the first week of February and decided how to change my protocol.
Any outdoor athletic activity carries risk with it. I knew that when I started riding some 9 years ago. I do not intend this injury to stop me from doing what I love. However, I will assess risk and if it looks like rain or is foggy or damp, I will ride my trainer or do a spin class.
Keep pedaling!
Ron
Normally at this time I would report on the past year achievements with respect to my earlier goals and set a new goals for the upcoming year.
This year it will be a little different. I did accomplish most of my 2016 goals.
First, doing over 6,000 miles (I did 6,138).
Second, competing in and perhaps winning the Ultra Cup. (My biking friend Ron Singleton and I won the best of 3 out of 6 Texas Ultra Races for the 12 hour 2 man competition despite a loss in the Texas Time Trials due to a racing technicality.)
Finally. I wanted to do 2 to 3 days of climbing in the Davis Mountains in Southwest Texas. This final goal was substituted with RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). We completed 490 miles in 7 days, starting on the west side of the state, where you dip your rear wheel into the Missouri river, and finish by dipping your front wheel into the Mississippi. In between these I did 6 organized rallies of 100 kilometers or more, including the 100 mile Hotter n Hell 100, in which I completed in less than 6 hours stopping only once to refill my 2 water bottles.
Unfortunately, on Christmas Eve doing a 44 mile ride with two buddies to a coffee shop in Denton, Texas I was involved in a serious accident. The weather was relatively warm (about 55 F, 13 C), but it was foggy and the roads were damp. We decided to take it slow (14 mph / 22 kph average.) and avoid some of the more dangerous roads with sweeping downhill where you normally would get up to 40 mph (60 kph).
Despite our caution, we did have to cross a couple of railroad tracks. On one of those, my friend Victor, who is from Italy and an accomplished cyclist, had his back wheel slide out and he went down. I was right behind him and could not avoid hitting him. As I did, the momentum launched me over the handlebars and I landed on my helmet about 5 feet in front on the road.
The impact left my paralyzed on my left side. I had broken 4 vertebrae in my neck, including a severe traumatic break of C2, often referred to as the hangman's neck break. I had 8 pins put in with C1 through C4 fused. C6 was also cracked, but they said it would heal on its own.
Good news is all my feeling on the left side returned. I will lose 50% lateral motion, but my up and down motion with therapy should be near normal. I have to wear a hard plastic neck brace for the next 6 weeks. So no bike riding, even on a trainer, for a while. Based on that, I have postponed goal setting until I know more about my expected capabilities.
In addition, I am beginning a relapse of my multiple myeloma. My latest bone marrow biopsy shows 40% myeloma cells, but a skeletal scan discovered no new lesions and the old ones had healed. The bone survey was done before the accident and revealed no cracks or issues with my vertebrae, so the break was totally from the traumatic fall. I will go back in to see my oncologist the first week of February and decided how to change my protocol.
Any outdoor athletic activity carries risk with it. I knew that when I started riding some 9 years ago. I do not intend this injury to stop me from doing what I love. However, I will assess risk and if it looks like rain or is foggy or damp, I will ride my trainer or do a spin class.
Keep pedaling!
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'm so sorry to hear about your accident and injuries Ron, and the multiple myeloma progression. Here's hoping that all of your recoveries are swift and full and you're back on the road soon.
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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
Ron,
Thanks for the update. I have been meaning to check in with you on how your are doing, so the update was good to read. It is certainly prudent to concentrate on safety going forward.
I set a few goals for myself this past year. One was to do more climbing. Although I didn't do any of my epic climbing routes, in toto I did manage to do some of the more difficult climbs on shorter routes. Then in September I went with a group of friends to Skyline Drive in Virginia for a day of climbing. The day was perfect – 78 degrees F (25.5 F), not a cloud in the sky, and light traffic. For the day we did 85 miles (137 km) with 11,000 feet (3350 m) of climbing. A number of the climbs were between 4 and 6 miles each (6.5 and 10 km). It was a great day.
My other goal was to exceed 2015's mileage of 10,427 miles (16,781 km). Happily, I remained relatively healthy and was able to clock in at 12,370 miles (19,908 km).
I am thinking for this year I will have to develop a new set of goals – I doubt that I can exceed that mileage.
Still, it is worth remembering it is most important to do what you can. All movement is good.
Thanks for the update. I have been meaning to check in with you on how your are doing, so the update was good to read. It is certainly prudent to concentrate on safety going forward.
I set a few goals for myself this past year. One was to do more climbing. Although I didn't do any of my epic climbing routes, in toto I did manage to do some of the more difficult climbs on shorter routes. Then in September I went with a group of friends to Skyline Drive in Virginia for a day of climbing. The day was perfect – 78 degrees F (25.5 F), not a cloud in the sky, and light traffic. For the day we did 85 miles (137 km) with 11,000 feet (3350 m) of climbing. A number of the climbs were between 4 and 6 miles each (6.5 and 10 km). It was a great day.
My other goal was to exceed 2015's mileage of 10,427 miles (16,781 km). Happily, I remained relatively healthy and was able to clock in at 12,370 miles (19,908 km).
I am thinking for this year I will have to develop a new set of goals – I doubt that I can exceed that mileage.
Still, it is worth remembering it is most important to do what you can. All movement is good.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Over 12,000 miles – that is truly amazing, especially coming from central Pennsylvania! Until I retire that is not realistic for me. Thank goddess for good insurance. This little adventure was very costly!
Glad that you and your son could catch up with me and my son for some drinks in Deep Ellum. Too bad my Cowboys beat your Eagles, but I note you got even this past weekend.
Glad that you and your son could catch up with me and my son for some drinks in Deep Ellum. Too bad my Cowboys beat your Eagles, but I note you got even this past weekend.
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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,
My husband Dilip and I are very sorry to hear of your road accident and are wishing you a speedy recovery from that. I hope you can readjust your exercising to something that works for you now. The indoor spin bike sounds safer. That's what Dilip does here, since it is too cold, snowy, and icy for him to ride outdoors right now. He used to use a mountain bike to ride over snowy, icy pathways, but not anymore. He just rides for recreation, and he has a nice bike for spring / summer / fall riding.
Sorry to hear about the relapsing too, and the high level of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Please let us all know what you decide to do next for treatments!
My husband Dilip and I are very sorry to hear of your road accident and are wishing you a speedy recovery from that. I hope you can readjust your exercising to something that works for you now. The indoor spin bike sounds safer. That's what Dilip does here, since it is too cold, snowy, and icy for him to ride outdoors right now. He used to use a mountain bike to ride over snowy, icy pathways, but not anymore. He just rides for recreation, and he has a nice bike for spring / summer / fall riding.
Sorry to hear about the relapsing too, and the high level of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Please let us all know what you decide to do next for treatments!
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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
Ron,
Ouch! Sorry you had such a bad spill. Best wishes on a speedy recovery and fighting down the myeloma too!
Erica
Ouch! Sorry you had such a bad spill. Best wishes on a speedy recovery and fighting down the myeloma too!
Erica
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EF11 - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Ron,
I'm so sorry to hear about your Christmas Eve accident. It sounds very scary. I'm glad you've gotten feeling back on your left side, and I hope that your recovery continues to go well.
I'm also sorry to hear that it's looking like your multiple myeloma is starting to relapse. What a yucky one-two punch to end last year / begin this year.
But, you have the attitude and grit that's needed to beat back both of these challenges, and I'm sure you will.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
Mike
I'm so sorry to hear about your Christmas Eve accident. It sounds very scary. I'm glad you've gotten feeling back on your left side, and I hope that your recovery continues to go well.
I'm also sorry to hear that it's looking like your multiple myeloma is starting to relapse. What a yucky one-two punch to end last year / begin this year.
But, you have the attitude and grit that's needed to beat back both of these challenges, and I'm sure you will.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
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