My Godsend

[Mejulie69]

Finally something positive to report.

Having concluded that exercise is not helping my AF, I decided to take the plunge and purchase an electric conversion kit for my mountain bike. Since fitting it on Wednesday, I have done 80 miles on it. On Thursday and Friday I went solo in Scotland and rode 2 of the "7 Stanes" mountain bike trails, and today I joined my cycling friends in Northumberland and rode out to watch the National Hill Climb competition.

Whilst I was watching the race today, one guy asked about my bike, and within a minute I discovered he had AF too. Small world!

Of course, I'd much prefer to be riding without a motor, but given my situation, my new eBike is a godsend. I have so missed being on 2 wheels and it feels so good to be back

[Hidden]

Long may it continue a positive post too

[Luludean]

So glad to read a happy achieving post! Sounds brilliant!

[akenclark]

Thanks for cheering ME with your upbeat post.

[Mike11]

I think you'll find more cyclists than you would expect will develop AF in future. Google "AF cyclists" and you'll see what I mean. I think this is an area where more research is needed but it could be that certain types of exercise taken to extreme, as many cyclists tend to do, does unfortunately lead to AF in later life.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Mike11]

This is already well documented MIke re endurance athletes, iron man, triathon etc. and as I have often said , fast jet pilots. In other words people who do things which over work the heart.

[Mike11 in reply to BobD]

Yes what I meant is that the mechanisms that trigger AF in later life for top athletes needs to be researched far more, so if it can be avoided then steps can be taken to do so.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Mike11]

If you exceed the design parameters of anything it will fail. Surely that is obvious? Some of us it is our joints which fail from constant over load, others it may be eye sight from working in poor light or in fine detail. Athletes choose their way of life unlike some poor individuals who have no choice. Maybe just better warnings of the risks.

[Mike11 in reply to BobD]

Agreed, but by monitoring the heart on an even more regular basis such as for example F1 drivers are, it may be possible to spot and pre-empt the problems by changing the training regime. Cyclists are particularly renowned for having very low resting heart rates, even by the standards of other professional athletes. Pro cyclists do wear a two lead ECG so the data from that could be a starting point.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Mike11]

I'm not really sure that would help much. The mechanics of creating AF seems to be that the over work resulting from the over exercise causes the atrium to enlarge in an effort to "catch up " with demand. This in turn can allow the natural pathways to become stretched and breakdown allowing new ones to form. Slow heart rate is just another bow the AF's armour. An ECG would only show things had already gone wrong.

As I said. this applies to not just athletes but also fighter pilots who also have a far higher incidence of AF than "normal " people.

In most industries H and S ensures that damage is limited by for example noise attenuation devices for people using loud tools or machinery along with things such as eye protection. Since it is the activity which is the problem here, to take this to extremes would need a device to limit heart rate and thereby negate the very activity. .

Other people may get AF due to a genetic pre-disposition or some as I believe in my own case, excess exposure over long periods to adrenaline stress. (Fifty years in motor sport with far too many all nighters .)

For sure it is a very interesting and complex subject and I hope that one day there will be a solution not just for athletes but for everybody.

[Mike11 in reply to BobD]

I think we can classify fighter pilots as athletes - they have to keep hyper fit to handle the G forces.

But for all athletes, competition only forms a small percentage of the time they have to work at peak level with probably ten times the number of hours spent in gym, practice court or whatever. Changes to the peak demand here might allow the heart to grow capacity without actually being damaged. For example F1 drivers have to grow strong neck muscles without putting on upper body weight elsewhere - Mark Webber did a programme on this a couple of years ago. And an ECG can show damage being done, not just after the event. Using an all-torso monitor rather than just 12 lead allows a complete 3D map of the electrical activity in the heart to be seen and new pathway formation could be monitored.

[Mejulie69 in reply to BobD]

Bob, what were you doing in motorsport?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Mejulie69]

Race engineer. Various formula (Not F1) last ten years before I retired in BTCC running Alfa 1978-88. Since then had two sons, one drifts a Skyline the other rallies a Fiesta. I still build engines for historics and my boys and their mates. If you PM me I will point you to their facebook page and you can see lots of video and stills of the cars.

[Izzle]

You never know perhaps one day they'll develop an eBike that can do a cardioversion from the battery pack while we pedal to A&E!!!

Well done Julie. Pleased you're getting so much pleasure from your bike. I've did a conversion on my bike over a year ago and just love how it has opened up my world.

Alan

[secondtry]

Exactly right, to stall AF your world changes but keep an open mind and you may be surprised at the outcome....I certainly was.

[FrancR]

Nice comment. Happy for you. What electric conversion kit did you decide to implement?

[Mejulie69 in reply to FrancR]

I went for a Dillenger Bafang HD 1000W - top of the range, whoops! I can't recommend it enough. Brilliant thing.

[AFCyclist]

I have also been thinking about an e-bike. The key issue is when to take the plunge.

[Mejulie69 in reply to AFCyclist]

Trust me, it will be the best money you ever spend and you will wish you had done it earlier. I went for the Dillenger Bafang HD 1000W - got sucked into buying the top of the range (£1300) but I am so pleased. It is amazing. You can buy much cheaper kits, but you get what you pay for.

[Barb1]

I bought an e bike because of osteoarthritis but it has double function with the AF. People seem to think that you can just sit back on it and do no work. Whereas you can put a lot of effort in. The bonus is that the effort is more effective!

[irene75359]

On Saturday we drove to the top (almost) of Sierra Nevada where normally skiers would gather and instead there were lots of cyclists. I explained to my husband that quite a few cyclists develop AFib and find it so hard giving cycling up. He totally got that, his thing is adventure motorcycling and he has made so many friends. If he had to stop it would be the loss of the social aspect too as well as the actual riding.

So you have had to compromise, but what a lovely positive post - well done!

[Fastbeat]

Whatever works for you is good,and QOL is maintained=RESULT.

[Thomps95]

I have one too!

[jeanjeannie50]

Ooh what a good idea. Would love one for my bike, but probably need a new one. Something to think about.

[souljacs4]

So pleased for you enjoy.

[Finvola]

Marvellous - lovely to be able to pursue your sport and its company again.

[Sunshine89]

MeJulie69 Congratulations on finding a tonic works!! Here is a piece of an article from a newspaper that I recently read online: Researchers found "clear and compelling evidence" that happiness paves the way to better health and longer lifespans. Best wishes PadD

[ilovecoffee123]

Such a lovely post!

[dr1813]

I’ve had AF for several years and am now on my third electric bike. I started with a kit bike and am now on a posh crank drive bike. It’s a godsend which keeps me riding and a great way to keep fit.

[RexH]

Thankyou, great positive post. I also converted my bike, and regularly ride mine to the gym, I don't regularly check the posts as can mess with my confidence. Have been af free for one year and 4 months since ablation.

[JamesP]

As a 78yr old long term long distance cyclist with decreasing stamina and long term permanent AF I have added an electric motor to my Brompton. This has opened up my cycling forays again. We travelled by train to Germany in July with the bikes and it was a great success. The bike is heavier than it was and I carry two batteries for security but still folds completely. I am booked on an Xmas/NY cruise to Madeira and am allowed to take my Brompton in the cabin with me so that I can explore. I am an ardent fan of Ienga yoga, the gym and meditation.

In spite of single bypass and aortic valve replacement heart surgery in 2015 I believe one has to think laterally for other options and not waste any time. If you don't you are inviting in loneliness and depression.

Good luck!

[Mejulie69 in reply to JamesP]

Brilliant, James! What range do you get out of your eBromptom?