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Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Good for you, Ron! Glad that the event was manageable and raised money for a very good cause too. It's true that if one has been fortunate enough to live a full life, such as I have also, one can look back on many good memories. I hope now to reach at least age 70 and to see our four grandchildren start school. The pre-school years are very special and I feel fortunate to have these young children in my life! Happy Hallowe'en!
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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
Well done on your ride Ron. I keep the pedals turning most days, although I have noticed that muscle fatigue comes on a bit quicker six months into my Revlimid, Ninlaro, and dex regimen. Most of the time I feel really good apart from tiredness on non-dex days, but I am guessing there is some kind of cumulative effect happening. My oncologist has promised to drop the doses when my M-spike gets close to zero and stabilises. Haemoglobin is still depressed, around 115.
Hopefully the lower doses might help, but in the interim I have bought an e-road bike so I can keep up with my friends on the climbs. I was a bit doubtful, vanity and all that stuff, but it works very well and you can’t even see the battery! Recommended.
Hopefully the lower doses might help, but in the interim I have bought an e-road bike so I can keep up with my friends on the climbs. I was a bit doubtful, vanity and all that stuff, but it works very well and you can’t even see the battery! Recommended.
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Rory - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Amen to that, Ron. The Cancer Center at UC Davis just happens to be right across from the St. Jude Children's Hospital. There are times when I've felt pretty discouraged while on my way to the Cancer Center, but passing the Children's Hospital and seeing the kids going in on wheelchairs and gurneys never fails to change my attitude. What those kids and their parents go through makes my issues, at this point in my life, pale in comparison. That stuff just tears your heart out.
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Mike F - Name: Mike F
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 18, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
This was the final bike rally for the season, the Turkey Roll starting in Denton, Texas. The weather this time of the year gets very iffy. However, this day it was about as good as it gets. The rally was 73 miles (117 km) and started at 9:00 am. The temp was 50 F (10 C) at the start and warmed into the mid 60s F (17-19 C) when we finished around 2:00 pm. There was a brisk wind out of the south 12-16 mph (19-26 km/h) but nothing like last year when it was near 30 mph (48 km/h) out of the north.
Here is a picture at the 38 mile rest stop where they served Texas BBQ sandwiches! I am on the left and my riding buddies Corwin in the center and Andre on the right. The day after the rally the high was 41 F (5 C) and the wind was 20 mph (32 km/h) out of the north! I am spoiled living in Texas and generally will avoid riding when the temps get below 40 F.
Here is a picture at the 38 mile rest stop where they served Texas BBQ sandwiches! I am on the left and my riding buddies Corwin in the center and Andre on the right. The day after the rally the high was 41 F (5 C) and the wind was 20 mph (32 km/h) out of the north! I am spoiled living in Texas and generally will avoid riding when the temps get below 40 F.
- Turkey Roll 2018 v2.jpg (89.42 KiB) Viewed 412 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
Time to report on the past year accomplishments vs. goals and what my 2019 biking goals are.
This past year I had set a goal to do 6,000 miles. I came close but fell a little short, logging in 5,879 miles. The weather in North Texas became surprisingly wet in September and early October. I had intended to do the Texas Time Trials as a solo, competing in the 12-hour slot. Unfortunately I got rained out, otherwise that race would have allowed me have met two goals: Doing the race solo at the time level (I had done it several times before as part of a team), and breaking the 6,000 mile barrier. I believe that I would have done at least 120 miles and probably more during that race.
The effects of the more intensive multiple myeloma treatment protocol have had a negative impact on my speed. That plus my age (now 66) have conspired together, causing me to lose a good 1 mph (1.6 km/h) off my average ride speed since 2016. Not complaining too much though, as I still seem to have decent endurance to do 60 to 80-mile rides and still follow it up with 30 mile ride the next day. So, this coming year I am going to focus on something different: touring rides. I have mentioned this before, credit card multi day rides.
I plan on doing at least one 4-day ride with an average of 70 miles per day and if possible, add in a couple of 2-day out and back rides. These are likely going to be solo efforts, so talking with my wife and family about it from a safety standpoint will be critical. Since I am on Revlimid, I will have to carry the meds with me or try and schedule the ride during the 7-day treatment holiday. I get weekly Velcade injections and take 20 mg of dex on those same days. I need 2 days to recover from the dex, thus my excursions will have to be kept to 4 days or less so I can get back in time for the next treatment. Since I still work (contemplating retiring when I turn 68), I havet to work in those needs as well. Therefore, there is a lot of logistics to deal with. My other goal is to get over the 6,000 mile hurdle that evaded me this past year. The planning of the routes, what to bring,, where to stay the night, etc.,is actually part of the fun. Some of you might think otherwise.
Let’s hear about your goals, be they biking or otherwise!
This past year I had set a goal to do 6,000 miles. I came close but fell a little short, logging in 5,879 miles. The weather in North Texas became surprisingly wet in September and early October. I had intended to do the Texas Time Trials as a solo, competing in the 12-hour slot. Unfortunately I got rained out, otherwise that race would have allowed me have met two goals: Doing the race solo at the time level (I had done it several times before as part of a team), and breaking the 6,000 mile barrier. I believe that I would have done at least 120 miles and probably more during that race.
The effects of the more intensive multiple myeloma treatment protocol have had a negative impact on my speed. That plus my age (now 66) have conspired together, causing me to lose a good 1 mph (1.6 km/h) off my average ride speed since 2016. Not complaining too much though, as I still seem to have decent endurance to do 60 to 80-mile rides and still follow it up with 30 mile ride the next day. So, this coming year I am going to focus on something different: touring rides. I have mentioned this before, credit card multi day rides.
I plan on doing at least one 4-day ride with an average of 70 miles per day and if possible, add in a couple of 2-day out and back rides. These are likely going to be solo efforts, so talking with my wife and family about it from a safety standpoint will be critical. Since I am on Revlimid, I will have to carry the meds with me or try and schedule the ride during the 7-day treatment holiday. I get weekly Velcade injections and take 20 mg of dex on those same days. I need 2 days to recover from the dex, thus my excursions will have to be kept to 4 days or less so I can get back in time for the next treatment. Since I still work (contemplating retiring when I turn 68), I havet to work in those needs as well. Therefore, there is a lot of logistics to deal with. My other goal is to get over the 6,000 mile hurdle that evaded me this past year. The planning of the routes, what to bring,, where to stay the night, etc.,is actually part of the fun. Some of you might think otherwise.
Let’s hear about your goals, be they biking or otherwise!
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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
2020 is the obvious first goal. I'm assuming 2019 will be the year of my first relapse.
The main goal for 2019 though, is to play a particular classical guitar piece on my banjo but using the technique involved in playing it on a guitar.
I'm hoping to manage this within the next 2 months and if I post it on the net, it'll be a world first.
Not that it's a particularly difficult piece, but banjoists tend to play it a certain 'banjo' way.
Not quite the cycling exploits that continue to amaze me, but it'll do for me.
Ent ded yet
Taff
The main goal for 2019 though, is to play a particular classical guitar piece on my banjo but using the technique involved in playing it on a guitar.
I'm hoping to manage this within the next 2 months and if I post it on the net, it'll be a world first.
Not that it's a particularly difficult piece, but banjoists tend to play it a certain 'banjo' way.
Not quite the cycling exploits that continue to amaze me, but it'll do for me.
Ent ded yet
Taff
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Taff - Name: Taff
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Thanks for sharing your biking accomplishments, Ron! To most of us, they would be unattainable, but it is good to read about them. Hope you can meet your New Year's resolution too, with the help of your family, travelling around to different cycling locations.
I am just a garden variety walker, mostly, and use a fitness tracker. In 2016, I walked 1700 km (1020 miles), in 2017 1950 km (1170 miles) so of course I wanted to increase that for 2018. However, last year I tracked 1953 km, the same as the year before! I thought that was quite a coincidence actually. I think that what happened was that I had a busy year, and also started back on treatments, so I didn't do more walking, as I planned.
So am back to New Year's resolution, and walking outdoors, sometimes with a walking stick if it is snowy and icy, and also do go to a gym. There I use the treadmill, the elliptical machine, lift light weights and stretch. I hope to put about 2100 km on my fitness tracker this year.
I was pleased to learn from my fitness tracker's website that I had walked the entire length of the Nile River, 6650 km (3990 miles), since i started this in March 2015. Talk about armchair travelling!
I am just a garden variety walker, mostly, and use a fitness tracker. In 2016, I walked 1700 km (1020 miles), in 2017 1950 km (1170 miles) so of course I wanted to increase that for 2018. However, last year I tracked 1953 km, the same as the year before! I thought that was quite a coincidence actually. I think that what happened was that I had a busy year, and also started back on treatments, so I didn't do more walking, as I planned.
So am back to New Year's resolution, and walking outdoors, sometimes with a walking stick if it is snowy and icy, and also do go to a gym. There I use the treadmill, the elliptical machine, lift light weights and stretch. I hope to put about 2100 km on my fitness tracker this year.
I was pleased to learn from my fitness tracker's website that I had walked the entire length of the Nile River, 6650 km (3990 miles), since i started this in March 2015. Talk about armchair travelling!
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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
Taff,
Sounds like a cool thing to do on the banjo! Please let us know how it goes.
Sounds like a cool thing to do on the banjo! Please let us know how it goes.
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Mike F - Name: Mike F
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 18, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 53