Cycling Mitigates Symptoms

[NanCyclist]

More grist for the Exercise mill.

bicycling.com/culture/healt...

[Bazillion]

Absolutely love it NanCyclist ! We have to get the message across and this is brilliant.

Cycling is so empowering and it's when I feel at my best,NOTHING makes me feel as good and I will continue to ride for as long as I am able.Maybe just not quite so far but still at a good pace.

[NanCyclist in reply to Bazillion]

Thanks. I feel the same.

[Ratzkywatzky]

I'm a bit confused about this "forced" pace. I thought it only worked when an external force set the speed and you had to keep up( ie tandem or motorised exercise bike) but this sounds like you can force yourself by going at a set cadence of 80-90 rpm and get the same benefits?

[NanCyclist in reply to Ratzkywatzky]

There does not need to be an external force setting the pace. I have been doing it on my own since 2009. I believe the benefits are better doing it yourself. On a tandem or motorized cycle you provide 25% of the power and the partner provides 75%. By yourself, you provide 100%. Go for it!

[Ratzkywatzky in reply to NanCyclist]

Ah! I have an exercise bike bought with that in mind (and a real one) so shall endeavour to be a bit more conscientious with my routine in future as I'm more convinced of potential benefit now. Many thanks for link to article and reply.

[S70AWD]

I try just as hard as I can, but can only maintain 68 to 75 rpms. Not the recommended 80 to 90 rpms. Is there still any benefit to my ride?

[NanCyclist]

The 80-90 is not written in the heavens in holy script! Do the best you can and you will derive benefits. (I don't always ride 80-90 if the truth be told. That's my goal, which I often meet.)

[Hidden]

My husband is my PWP and we're discussing purchasing a Theracycle stationary bike that will provide forced exercise for him. He's kind of dragging his feet on making a decision so I wanted to reach out to this group for opinions and experience. The cycle is fairly costly, and we (he particularly) are looking for real world experiences (he's skeptical of even YouTubes he's seen) and benefits before making the investment. I really don't want a $4K clothes rack in my living room, which is what it will be if it doesn't help him. OTOH, I think we should take the plunge from what I've read elsewhere and seen on different TV items about this, but many refer to using a tandem bike. We're thinking of a single person stationary cycle.

[NanCyclist]

In this case it's not "you get what you pay for". The payment has to be in your energy that you expend. Your goal, whether in a group class setting, tandem cycle, inside bike on a trainer, outside solo or tandem, is to try to keep a cadence of 80-90 rpm, no matter what the resistance. If you can't keep that cadence, do the best that you can. I would not take a Theracycle if they offered one for free. It would become the proverbial clothes rack. In a typical tandem situation, the captain (on front) provides 75% of the power and the stoker (PwP) provides 25%. A motorized cycle can be set to require 0% stoker power; it just turns your legs around.

BTW, I don't know everything about cycling. I know what works for me and has worked for hundreds, probably thousands, of us. Cycling is not a cure but it's very much worth your time and energy. I'm 72 and 10 years into PD, planning on hiking around Mont Blanc this summer.

[Kia17]

I have been doing indoor group cycling with Non PD people from last September for 3-4 times a week each session 45 minutes.

It’s a miracle I would say. I love group cycling. It has helped me a lot interms of controlling my symptoms. I think any exercise that raises my heart rate would be a kind of help.