Rory, thanks for your comment, and whether it is an e-bike or a normal road bike, it's getting out and turning the pedals that count.
I did want to share a story that you might find interesting, This past Friday I went out for a late afternoon ride and was on a small hill doing about 16 mph (26 km/h), when a young woman went flying around me on what appeared to be a mountain bike. She had her two young children in bike seats behind her and was also dragging a bubble-top bike trailer filled with groceries. She had to be going 25 mph (40 km/h) when she went flying around me. Her husband was drafting off her on a Cannondale Road Bike. I yelled out "impressive" as they went flying by. I thought she must be some professional bike racer using the set up as a training exercise.
When I finally caught up with them at a stop light, it turned out she was on a e-bike with just flat pedals. They apparently do their grocery shopping every Friday afternoon doing the 25 mile round trip as a family on the bikes. Her husband said before they got the e-bike they did it on a mountain bike and it took them 80 minutes one way; now they cut that time in half.
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
Lovely story! In Europe, e-bikes are restricted to 16 mph (26 km/h), so it wouldn’t happen here. I am currently looking for a biking adventure while I am still well enough. Thinking of an organised tour in France or Spain with daily miles within battery range and a truck to carry my luggage. Keep pedalling.
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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,
Sounds like fun! I am planning a 4 day "credit card" ride with a buddy the first week of May.. We will be doing about 280 mile round trip, weather permitting. Carry a small backback with a light change of clothes. Wash the bike kit each night.
A couple of years ago I did RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bide Ride Across Iowa) (related post here in the forum). The Des Moines Register newspaper hosts this annual event. It's a week-long ride across the state of Iowa in the U.S. midwest. You dip your rear wheel into the Missouri River on the west side of the state at the start and your front wheel in the Mississippi River at the finish. Its about 450 miles (725 km) for the total trip. I did it with a group that rented a mobile home, but most do it by using a forging service that sets up your tent and tears it down then moves to the next day's destination each day and provides trucks with portable showers. It becomes a week-long traveling bicycle party with 10,000 of your close cycling friends. You are traveling from one small rural town to another, sampling the food as you go. Was a lot of fun.
Sounds like fun! I am planning a 4 day "credit card" ride with a buddy the first week of May.. We will be doing about 280 mile round trip, weather permitting. Carry a small backback with a light change of clothes. Wash the bike kit each night.
A couple of years ago I did RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bide Ride Across Iowa) (related post here in the forum). The Des Moines Register newspaper hosts this annual event. It's a week-long ride across the state of Iowa in the U.S. midwest. You dip your rear wheel into the Missouri River on the west side of the state at the start and your front wheel in the Mississippi River at the finish. Its about 450 miles (725 km) for the total trip. I did it with a group that rented a mobile home, but most do it by using a forging service that sets up your tent and tears it down then moves to the next day's destination each day and provides trucks with portable showers. It becomes a week-long traveling bicycle party with 10,000 of your close cycling friends. You are traveling from one small rural town to another, sampling the food as you go. Was a lot of 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 had prominent in my goals for this year to do a four-day mini bike tour in North Texas. My biking buddy, David Vriend, and I targeted the first week of May. We both have birthdays on May 15. He will turn 66 and I will be 67. From a planning standpoint, I needed to limit it to 4 days starting on a Saturday and ending on a Tuesday. I have to be back for my Velcade shot on Wednesday. Since I am also on dex and take it on Wednesday as well, I need a couple of days for it to wear off. So Saturday works best as the start.
Next we had to have 4 days of good weather, and that is real iffy this time of year. Early May is perfect from a temperature standpoint, since it does not get hot (highs generally in the mid 70s F, or 24 C), but thunderstorms are frequent. We were fortunate that May 4-7 in North Texas had no rain in the forecast, so we went forward with the mini tour.
This type of touring you pack essentials in a back pack and take your credit card with you, staying at hotels that have laundry facilities. We packed a set of street clothes, extra inter-tubes for our tires, cell phone and chargers, extra food to eat as we ride, extra water bottles, tennis shoes, etc. The back packs without water in the bottles weighed about 10 pounds. Does not sound like much, but riding mile after mile starts to take a toll.
We started in a suburb of Dallas called Flower Mound and road to Bowie Texas the first day, about 80 miles of some steep rolling hills. The second day, we went from Bowie to Wichita Falls, about 67 miles. The third day was the toughest as we covered 97 miles of rolling hills but mostly on teeth shattering chip seal roads into a head wind of 10-15 mph. That day I cramped bad in my thighs and hamstrings around 70 miles into the ride and had to fight my way through it. No SAG wagon to take you in, so you have to suck it up. The final day was short (45 miles, or 72 km) and mostly gentle hills with smooth roads.
Totals for the 4 days: 290.51 miles (467.53 km), average speed 12.72 mph (20.47 km/h), total climb 8,966 feet (2733 meters), total time in the bike saddle 22 hours 50 minutes, and total time with stops 28 hours 24 minutes.
I am sore but felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Next we had to have 4 days of good weather, and that is real iffy this time of year. Early May is perfect from a temperature standpoint, since it does not get hot (highs generally in the mid 70s F, or 24 C), but thunderstorms are frequent. We were fortunate that May 4-7 in North Texas had no rain in the forecast, so we went forward with the mini tour.
This type of touring you pack essentials in a back pack and take your credit card with you, staying at hotels that have laundry facilities. We packed a set of street clothes, extra inter-tubes for our tires, cell phone and chargers, extra food to eat as we ride, extra water bottles, tennis shoes, etc. The back packs without water in the bottles weighed about 10 pounds. Does not sound like much, but riding mile after mile starts to take a toll.
We started in a suburb of Dallas called Flower Mound and road to Bowie Texas the first day, about 80 miles of some steep rolling hills. The second day, we went from Bowie to Wichita Falls, about 67 miles. The third day was the toughest as we covered 97 miles of rolling hills but mostly on teeth shattering chip seal roads into a head wind of 10-15 mph. That day I cramped bad in my thighs and hamstrings around 70 miles into the ride and had to fight my way through it. No SAG wagon to take you in, so you have to suck it up. The final day was short (45 miles, or 72 km) and mostly gentle hills with smooth roads.
Totals for the 4 days: 290.51 miles (467.53 km), average speed 12.72 mph (20.47 km/h), total climb 8,966 feet (2733 meters), total time in the bike saddle 22 hours 50 minutes, and total time with stops 28 hours 24 minutes.
I am sore but felt a great sense of accomplishment.
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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.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
A tip of the hat to you Ron! That is a great accomplishment that deserves to be savored.
Fred
Fred
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Farcical - Name: Fred
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2018
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
What a great post! Thank you. Cycling, music, yoga, art. Whatever was a source of inspiration and stepping outside yourself before myeloma is even more important now! For me it's music. When my darn back comes around and I can pick up a guitar again, let me tell you, I will be ready to go! Love your attitude.
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Thanks Doug,
Music is also a big part of my life. Besides singing bass in my church choir, I too play guitar. Had set it down for 35 years and took it back up a couple years ago following my neck fusion surgery in 2016.
I have always been a fan of country blues and play with a two-finger pick technique. Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotton, Revd. Gary Davis are some of the old artists songs that I try to play. Many years ago I played harmonica in a blues band, so I also accompany myself with that instrument using a harmonica rack.
Music is also a big part of my life. Besides singing bass in my church choir, I too play guitar. Had set it down for 35 years and took it back up a couple years ago following my neck fusion surgery in 2016.
I have always been a fan of country blues and play with a two-finger pick technique. Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotton, Revd. Gary Davis are some of the old artists songs that I try to play. Many years ago I played harmonica in a blues band, so I also accompany myself with that instrument using a harmonica rack.
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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 achievement Ron, well done! Last week a small group of us (including two school friends who, like me are 68) set off for four days of biking in my local area but returning home each night. We did around 225 miles (360 km) and a fair amount of climbing. I was grateful for the battery assistance from my ebike at times! I am doing really well now following further reductions to my dex dose, now just 4 mg weekly, and Revlimid down to 15 mg. Haemoglobin stuck at 115, but a lot of my fatigue has gone for now. Heading to France with our RV soon for a three week vacation and plan to bike most days. Keep pedalling if you can and stay strong 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,
Sounds like your are doing much better. Fill us in on your trip to France.
Ron
Sounds like your are doing much better. Fill us in on your trip to France.
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