Nancy,
It is always good to hear from you and your walking hiking adventures. Just be careful on the ice and snow. We get very little of that in North Texas, but as a Canadian I know that is in your blood. The 2100 mile on the fitness tracker is good goal and I hope you can achieve it.
Taff,
If you accomplish your goal please post a video of it for us.
After I broke my neck in a biking accident back on Christmas eve in 2016, one of my biking buddies came over to my house for a visit. He had just recently taken up guitar in his retirement, and I am an old (out of practice) blues harmonica player. So we tried to play a little together. I had taken up guitar to accompany myself but gave it up some 30 years ago. His visit inspired me and since then I have decided to dust off the guitar and take it back up. I am concentrating primarily on finger picking blues using a two finger style (thumb and index finger). However, I am trying to broaden my repertoire learning an old Beatles song "I'll follow the Sun", finger style. My sons bought a Gretsch Resonator guitar for me last Christmas that I have been working with. I have always enjoyed music and sing with the bass section in our church choir, where we did some Mozart and Handel pieces this past Christmas.
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
Time to report 2018 results. Due to several not serious but lingering injuries unrelated to myeloma, this was my worst mileage year since my transplant year (2014). I was able log only 5603 miles due to the injury-related time off the bike. I am trying to be a bit more intelligent about rest this year and hopefully can beat this year's total.
Best wishes to all the fitness freaks who populate this thread for a healthy year doing whatever makes you happy.
Best wishes to all the fitness freaks who populate this thread for a healthy year doing whatever makes you happy.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Hi Ron and Mike F,
Video of the tune would be the 'world first'. There are a few banjo players who do it but use the plectrum style of playing. I've got a differently picked version done in a major scale, but the actual piece is half done in minor and half in major, with a specific guitar technique. My world first will be an Internet version of it banjoed in the guitar style, with maybe the variations that I already use as practise.
I think I'm probably an intermediate beginner and transposing is being a bit of a struggle at present. It'll click in the next day or two and once I get it once, things will quickly flow.
Myeloma and the medications for it have left me cognitively impaired, such that I have little access to memory. I've forgotten what songs I like and when I do remember one, I've forgotten the words.
So my banjoing, apart from about half a dozen practise pieces, is all made up as I go along, different each time. Fluency comes from familiarity with the neck and repetition of patterns, chord inversions and various licks / techniques, as I go along.
I reckon I'll have everything sorted within 2 months, maybe sooner. And once I've done it, I expect a lot of others to come along and play it better. But I'll have done it first online.
Thanks for the interest
Taff
Video of the tune would be the 'world first'. There are a few banjo players who do it but use the plectrum style of playing. I've got a differently picked version done in a major scale, but the actual piece is half done in minor and half in major, with a specific guitar technique. My world first will be an Internet version of it banjoed in the guitar style, with maybe the variations that I already use as practise.
I think I'm probably an intermediate beginner and transposing is being a bit of a struggle at present. It'll click in the next day or two and once I get it once, things will quickly flow.
Myeloma and the medications for it have left me cognitively impaired, such that I have little access to memory. I've forgotten what songs I like and when I do remember one, I've forgotten the words.
So my banjoing, apart from about half a dozen practise pieces, is all made up as I go along, different each time. Fluency comes from familiarity with the neck and repetition of patterns, chord inversions and various licks / techniques, as I go along.
I reckon I'll have everything sorted within 2 months, maybe sooner. And once I've done it, I expect a lot of others to come along and play it better. But I'll have done it first online.
Thanks for the interest
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
Hello all.
I have tracked my running for many years prior to my diagnosis (November 2016). On average I ran about 2,000 km (1243 miles) per year over the last 16 years. In 2018, I started to run again with more consistency but have encountered a few muscle injuries along the way. My 2018 tally was 886 km (550 miles). I am hoping to improve that in 2019. I also went on several bike rides last year but haven't tracked my mileage. I am sure it is well shy of 1,000 km. I recently bought a new road bike and am anxious to ride my legs off this coming year.
I am currently on a vacation from Revlimid due to an allergic reaction and my blood markers are holding steady. It is a good place to be for now and I look forward to getting more exercise.
Happy 2019 to you all.
I have tracked my running for many years prior to my diagnosis (November 2016). On average I ran about 2,000 km (1243 miles) per year over the last 16 years. In 2018, I started to run again with more consistency but have encountered a few muscle injuries along the way. My 2018 tally was 886 km (550 miles). I am hoping to improve that in 2019. I also went on several bike rides last year but haven't tracked my mileage. I am sure it is well shy of 1,000 km. I recently bought a new road bike and am anxious to ride my legs off this coming year.
I am currently on a vacation from Revlimid due to an allergic reaction and my blood markers are holding steady. It is a good place to be for now and I look forward to getting more exercise.
Happy 2019 to you all.
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Colin - Name: Colin Rice
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Andrew,
Hope you were able to ride on your new bike. How are the electric shifters? I still use mechanical ones. Although you "only" did 5,600 miles and for you probably it was disappointing, that would have been in my top 5 all time. So you have to put it into perspective. I have found that 4 days a week with 3 days worth of doing non bike related exercise works best for me. I walk, do light weight and band resistance training, and swim when the weather is warm (have an in ground pool). I can't run due to 2 knee surgeries caused by old sports-related injuries when I was much younger. Cycling is much easier on the joints, and walking / hiking is not an issue.
Colin,
Great that you are back to being active and have a new bike. See how it goes then set some goals like a rally or two. Maybe a 100k that is relatively flat then try one later that is more hilly after you build up some endurance.
Good luck
Hope you were able to ride on your new bike. How are the electric shifters? I still use mechanical ones. Although you "only" did 5,600 miles and for you probably it was disappointing, that would have been in my top 5 all time. So you have to put it into perspective. I have found that 4 days a week with 3 days worth of doing non bike related exercise works best for me. I walk, do light weight and band resistance training, and swim when the weather is warm (have an in ground pool). I can't run due to 2 knee surgeries caused by old sports-related injuries when I was much younger. Cycling is much easier on the joints, and walking / hiking is not an issue.
Colin,
Great that you are back to being active and have a new bike. See how it goes then set some goals like a rally or two. Maybe a 100k that is relatively flat then try one later that is more hilly after you build up some endurance.
Good luck
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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
My results for 2018 are not quite as impressive as others as I logged approximately 2000 miles on the bike this past year. I'm a fair weather rider (55 deg F or above), so living in Michigan I only ride for 6-7 months. During the winter, I spin once or twice a week, but don't know what this amounts to since I only do it to keep the legs in biking shape and don't keep track of it.
This is a bit of a decline from past years, I think primarily due to the clinical study I was on this past year. I found it caused a lot more fatigue and I generally didn't have the energy that I had in previous years.
I also took up backpacking again this past year. Only managed one 4 day hike with my daughter in September, but did a lot of day hikes leading up to it.
For 2019, I'll probably set my biking goal around 2000 miles again, but plan to also do several 4-5 day backpacking excursions as well. A lot will depend on what treatment I start later this month since I stopped responding to the drug combination in the clinical study I was on.
This is a bit of a decline from past years, I think primarily due to the clinical study I was on this past year. I found it caused a lot more fatigue and I generally didn't have the energy that I had in previous years.
I also took up backpacking again this past year. Only managed one 4 day hike with my daughter in September, but did a lot of day hikes leading up to it.
For 2019, I'll probably set my biking goal around 2000 miles again, but plan to also do several 4-5 day backpacking excursions as well. A lot will depend on what treatment I start later this month since I stopped responding to the drug combination in the clinical study I was on.
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Kevin J - Name: Kevin J
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Kevin,
I hope your new protocol is successful. I may be changing mine this year as well.
A 4 or 5 day back packing adventure sounds like fun.
I hope your new protocol is successful. I may be changing mine this year as well.
A 4 or 5 day back packing adventure sounds like fun.
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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 managed just over 4,000 miles biking for 2018 despite my (failed) stem cell transplant in September 2017, meaning a slow start. But the need for honesty compels me to admit that 1,000 of those miles were on my Giant e-bike, which nicely compensates for low haemoglobin and allows me to keep up with my friends.
I had the usual battle with myself wondering if it was a slippery slope to never being a’proper’ cyclist again, but I decided that being on a bike in a group of friends with cafe and lunch stops was really important. Plus when I go out on my own, I still use a normal bike. It is really good to see that a few of us are keeping the pedals turning!
Godspeed everyone.
I had the usual battle with myself wondering if it was a slippery slope to never being a’proper’ cyclist again, but I decided that being on a bike in a group of friends with cafe and lunch stops was really important. Plus when I go out on my own, I still use a normal bike. It is really good to see that a few of us are keeping the pedals turning!
Godspeed everyone.
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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
Rory,
I see an E bike in my future. An Italian biking friend of mine used one in the Alps in northern Italy, and he is 10 years younger without cancer. For my "flat" rides in North Texas my Ridley works just fine, but if I was to try and do any real climbing, well, why not?
I see an E bike in my future. An Italian biking friend of mine used one in the Alps in northern Italy, and he is 10 years younger without cancer. For my "flat" rides in North Texas my Ridley works just fine, but if I was to try and do any real climbing, well, why not?
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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
Thank you for an uplifting forum topic.
My husband, Randy, has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and begins his therapy (Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone) next Monday. We have been cyclists for many years and it was a spinal fracture that became apparent during a mountain bike ride that set us on this path. He was averaging 100+ miles a week on the bike up until this time. I spent the summer in treatment for breast cancer and know the importance of keeping active even when you don'f feel like it. Riding a bike to the cancer center for your treatments sort of impresses the staff.
We have a bike trip planned in June where we will drive our son up to Banff, Alberta, where he is riding in the Great Divide Mountain Bike Race. After the race begins, we plan to ride with our daughter and her husband on the trail down to the Montana border, trading off driving the support vehicle.
The oncologist knows that she needs to schedule treatments around our biking since she has been my oncologist. During Randy's first visit to her, she commented, "i know you aren't normal people, you ride crazy long distances." She is not treating Randy like a normal 75 year old. She will consider a stem cell transplant for him, but the final decision will be up to his myeloma specialists.
We have much to learn about this disease that will be with us for the foreseeable future. It will be an interesting journey.
My husband, Randy, has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and begins his therapy (Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone) next Monday. We have been cyclists for many years and it was a spinal fracture that became apparent during a mountain bike ride that set us on this path. He was averaging 100+ miles a week on the bike up until this time. I spent the summer in treatment for breast cancer and know the importance of keeping active even when you don'f feel like it. Riding a bike to the cancer center for your treatments sort of impresses the staff.
We have a bike trip planned in June where we will drive our son up to Banff, Alberta, where he is riding in the Great Divide Mountain Bike Race. After the race begins, we plan to ride with our daughter and her husband on the trail down to the Montana border, trading off driving the support vehicle.
The oncologist knows that she needs to schedule treatments around our biking since she has been my oncologist. During Randy's first visit to her, she commented, "i know you aren't normal people, you ride crazy long distances." She is not treating Randy like a normal 75 year old. She will consider a stem cell transplant for him, but the final decision will be up to his myeloma specialists.
We have much to learn about this disease that will be with us for the foreseeable future. It will be an interesting journey.
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Aheckman - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Febtuary, 2019
- Age at diagnosis: 75