Cycling

[Xenos]

Just for us folks to have a confirmation - of what we already knew to an extent :

nbcnews.com/nightly-news/vi...

If you happen to like good news, have a look...

[GrandmaM]

Thanks for sharing--this has inspired me to commit to my exercise plan no matter what!

[faridaro]

Very interesting and hope giving.... Is there anyone on this forum who had the same results as in the clinical trial?

[laglag in reply to faridaro]

Just remember, this says to pedal 80-90 rpm's for 45 minutes. That means you need to give it your all plus some.

[Xenos in reply to laglag]

An "RPM" session at a Les Mills club - or the like - should do the trick !

[NanCyclist in reply to laglag]

It is actually not that difficult if you lower the resistance on your bike. You do have to be determined, but the good news is that it works!

[NanCyclist in reply to faridaro]

My results have been better. I've been working with Jay Alberts since 2009. My webpage, nanlittle.com. chronicles my experiences with fast paced cycling. I am also the person who works with YMCAs to set up Pedaling For Parkinson's programs. I'll be happy to help any of you.

[Tryguy in reply to NanCyclist]

I bike 3/4 times per week for 45min. My rpm's are probably not there BUT the hill work is. Is resistance a factor? I am 7 years in on this PD adventure.

[NanCyclist in reply to Tryguy]

Resistance is not a factor. For whatever reason, the magic is in the rpm. Try to up your time to an hour and at least average 80-90 rpm. Hill work is good for your overall fitness, which will help you get to the 80-90 rpm, but in and of itself, it doesn't do the trick. Good question. I am nearly 10 years into it and 71 years old. I'll be on my bike within the hour.

[Hikoi]

Very encouraging, research proof that supports cycling as treatment for pd.

[Motal]

Faridaro. In answer to your question, yes. It works. I've been tandem biking since January 2015, 3x a wk, for an hour at at least 85 rpm - (faster when T. Heads are in our headphones,) at the gym here in Pamlico County, NC where a couple of tandems are set up on trainers. Working from Jay Alberts research (updated in that NBC piece) a physical therapist here set up a tandem program, matching PWP - who ride the back seat - w/ cyclists from a local biking group who set the pace from the front seat.

When I don't do it 3x a wk, my meds don't work as well. I find it great conditioning for other activities. Plus there is the very underrated aspect of the socialization of sharing a bike w someone for an hour. I could on but i've got to get out the door in 5 minutes for a ride. (Riding outside today - catching the sunrise is yet another bennie....)

Cheers. M

[NanCyclist in reply to Motal]

Another piece of good news is that you don't have to be riding a tandem. Very few are used at YMCAs or other facilities that have the program. I find it much easier to ride my own bike, even riding the 450 miles across Iowa (which I have done now 6 times).

[Motal in reply to NanCyclist]

As with so much in PD-world, all of our mileages vary - literally and figuratively. A PWPs ability to ride to on their own outside depends on a number of factors: such as the type of PD they have (and its progression).

If a PWP can confidently ride a road bike without worries about falling, or maneuvering tight spaces (& pedestrians) or dismounting w agility - that is a beautiful thing. As a PWP with gait issues, this eludes me. And so the tandem bike has been great for me as a way to ride 85 rpm for 10+ miles at a time outside.

I'm sorry to hear your report that tandems go unused in many Pedaling 4 Parkinsons programs.

The gym where I ride inside is not part of P4P and virtually everyone who's started with this grassroots program has stayed with it 2+ years on - the PWP and their captains, alike. There are more PWP who want to join. I gather that that ongoing level of participation may not be that common.

One factor that may explain the different participation rates is that the tandem cycling here is not done in a class. The teams ride on their own schedule (organized via Google calendar). Some teams hit the gym and ride at the crack of dawn, others after the captains get out of work.

Just wanted to let folks know that it's doable for more PWP to get the benefit of cycling. And this indoor tandem riding doesn’t have to be in a gym. Recently, a bike shop in a nearby city set up a tandem in their store so that captains and PWP stokers can ride there.

Cheers, M

[NanCyclist in reply to Motal]

Motal, your response verifies just how many ways there are to approach the target of 80-90 rpm. Tandems, classes, solo rides, all work. One of my friends wants to ride outside but has balance issues so he bought a tricycle. It's not that the tandems are unused at YMCAs. The point I was trying to make is that it isn't necessary to spend the money for the new bikes when solo bikes work just as well. I like the flexibility of the program you describe and will suggest it. Thanks.

[faridaro in reply to Motal]

Thank you so much! Will try to find a local group to do pedaling even though I never liked bikes - always had problems with balance, beside growing up in cold climate with 9 months of winter which was not conducive to biking anyway, but now by the grace of God live in florida - I guess it's time to learn something new!

[faridaro in reply to Motal]

Thank you Motal for sharing another piece of healing puzzle - the advices on this site have been priceless!

[Motal in reply to faridaro]

You are most welcome. Good luck. ( if you need more details, drop me a line.)

[Ameister]

I currently do 30 miles every other day on a road bike. Works better than my azilect.

Speed is 15mph avg. plus or minus depending on wind. Couple hours

[NanCyclist in reply to Ameister]

Excellent!

[hopedope]

It has been working for me. When I was diagnosed 2 years ago I learned from the internet that cycling was working for PWPs, then I googled the Pedaling for Parkinsons program that was mentioned in the article about the cycling. It was being offered at our local Y so I signed up. I actually started in July (6mos after being diagnosed in February because of bunion surgery). At the time there was only one other woman and a man in the class. There were only 2 classes a week at the time. Soon after I also bought a bike to use at home (it is a Keiser Mp3 and has a monitor).

I think the cycling has helped me like the man in the NBC story. I have no tremors and no rigidity although I have had a sore foot lately which may or may not be connected. I now just ride at home and easily do 1 hour every other day. My bike is in the room over the garage and there are 2 overhead light fixtures that are also fans. I have a TV and usually don't have to watch any commercials because I can flip between Fox and CNN or the food channel and the home and garden channel. I easily do 85-90 rpm. Afterward I stretch.

I like doing the cycling at home because I can do it earlier in the morning then take a shower and have the rest of the day for a meeting etc. My bike has a monitor which is important so I can keep track of the rpms and minutes etc. It also has a large seat which I ordered from Amazon.

[S70AWD in reply to hopedope]

I have a bike at home, but it only shows mph, not rpm's. How many mph equal 85 - 90 rpm.s?

[hopedope in reply to S70AWD]

My husband said if you can give him the diameter of your bike's wheel he thinks he will be able to answer your question :-).

[PDConscience in reply to S70AWD]

To get a precise conversion you'll first need to convert your target mph into feet per hour, then inches p/hr, then inches p/min. Then multiply the diameter of your bike's wheel by pi (π) to get it's circumference. Finally you need to divide your inches p/min. number by your bike-wheel's circumference to get the elusive rpm.

The example in below link uses 10mph: 10 x 5,280' x 12" = 633,600"/60sec = 10,560"p/min.

It also uses a 25" (diameter) bike wheel: 25" x 3.1416 = 78.54"

10,560"p/min./78.54" = 134.45 rpm (it may be easier to buy a new rpm gauge

healthyliving.azcentral.com...

[NanCyclist in reply to S70AWD]

It all depends on the resistance. You can easily get an inexpensive bike computer.

[Xenos in reply to S70AWD]

You can easily fit a cycling RPM meter on your bike.

It costs like 8 $

[NanCyclist in reply to hopedope]

Great report. Where do you live? How old are you? I also like riding solo, only I'm outside whenever possible. I ride an hour inside and 1.5-2 hrs. outside, at the high cadence. And I'm 71.

[hopedope in reply to NanCyclist]

Hi Nan. I will be 76 in July and in Signal Mountain, TN about 20 minutes from Chattanooga :-).

[PDConscience]

RE-confirmation - esp. with brain scans and figures - is always great to boost motivation, thx for posting

[S70AWD in reply to PDConscience]

Thanks, but my husband said to contact the bike's maker and see what they say, since I don' know what my target mph is, that's what I'm looking for. My target rpm is 85 to 90 rpm's. Thanks for answering, anyway.

[Prairie80]

Anyone using Thearacycle? How often? How long? Results?