I was at a conference in Sarasota where the person from the Cleveland Clinic that did the study gave his presentation. I recently bought a spin bike and ride it daily at 20 mph. This is as close as I can get to forced exercise since you must continuously pedal. I set the resistance to wear I am at 75% target heart rate at the peak of my workout. So far seems to help, either placebo or not I am off less. Go figure??>>

Jim, You're doing great! If you can ride for an hour 3 times per week, 10 min warmup, 40 min at 80-90 rpm, 10 min cooldown and keeping your heart rate within 60-85% for the 40 min part, you'll have all the pieces in place. Like you, I like going every day, or nearly every day.

As I [not a neuroscientist but a PWP] read the study, there was not anything shown that would say that the critical factor was the forcing of the pace or the high cadence itself.

As they say in Detroit, your mileage may vary.

I have had Parkinson’s symptoms since 2007 and was diagnosed in 2010 with Parkinson’s disease at stage 2. But in July of 2011 my UPDRS rating was 3 out of 160, an excellent rating. Since diagnosis I have biked daily on a stationary bike for nearly an hour and, except for warm up and cool down (beginning and ending 5 minutes), bike at a cadence of between 90 and 110 RPM (depending on how I feel on the bike). I feel good.

As to cramps, after a frustrating round of unanswered questions about mineral deficiencies with medical doctors, I turned to a dietitian (they are regulated in my state, whereas nutritionists are not). She advised supplements and quantities. In addition to calcium and magnesium supplements I added bananas to my diet to provide potassium. You might also want to read works by Dr. Arnie Baker MD who writes on medical issues pertaining to cyclists.

Using bike shorts I avoid burns from friction.

To avoid boredom I do two things. I read from an android tablet and am enjoying old books. I also listen to jigs, reels, and other fast dance music of my ethnicity--there must be some music that is right for you.
Unexpectedly, I found after doing daily biking for a while that my hands would feel pins and needles. Well, I recalled that carpel tunnel syndrome can be aggravated by vibrating machinery. A stationary bike is a piece of vibrating machinery. A pair of anti-vibration gloves solves the problem!

Overall, after two years since initial diagnosis and taking only selegine and CoQ10 [has all the study data been unlocked?] for PD I am better off than before diagnosis, though still showing symptoms.

The conclusion of the CoQ10 study was that it is not neuroprotective. This or next week it should be published whether isradipine is neuroprotective (clinical phase II though). I myself believe more in Inosine but results from that one will appear next year.

The NIH stopped the study early, but since I had seen earlier results I was reluctant to conclude that.budget issues were not a factor in the NIH decision.

So, have you had botox injections for your foot cramps, I have & it helps. Also had a problem with my toes curling under on my affected side, my podiatrist cut the tendons on the underside of the toes and , boing! they straightened out....I can walk and even pedal more easily...

It is quite possible that you have a magnesium deficiency. Calcium/magnesium can be added as a nutritional supplement as well as a decent form of potassium - but that depends upon your blood pressure.

I have found that tablets (normally prefer capsules for fewer excipients) work faster. You might take them before exercise or when you feel the cramp coming on - although that means minutes of that horrible pain.

While many people prefer those complete vitamin and/or mineral pills, I prefer to buy the individual supplement or synergistic combos because that provides better quality and form control.

I know this is months late but...

I'd like to add to this thread that, magnesium in the form of OXIDE is not appreciably absorbed from the GI tract. It is used today as a laxative for this reason.

So read your labels and choose another form, either Chloride in long acting form or a chelate like glycinate, lactate, malate, etc.

Here is my magnesium thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

On that thread are some suggestions for topical use now.
Some oils are on the market and there is the Kirkman cream that works nicely as well.

This is a different take on cycling and PD. Personally met this chap, he looks amazing, and is doing very well. He tells of people who have difficulty walking but who can do long distance cycling, and is a powerful advocate for exercise, in every way.

http://pedalforparkinsons.co.uk

On another note, while exercise is known to be good for us, and to increase stamina, help with many things PD, and actually I love walking and being active, and especially love gardening, what do you do if fatigue is one of your symptoms. I often have very active days especially in warmer weather but pay a price, a little too much can result in a couple of days that are completely energy free........

A week and a half ago my son and I rode Chilly Hilly, 33 miles of up and down steep hills. This was preceded by a 45 minute wait for the ferry and a half hour ferry ride. I was chilly, then warm, then riding. I just stopped once for about 3 minutes to take off a jacket. At the end I met up with some friends of my son at a restaurant. They had ordered several pitchers of beer and lots of deep fried foods. We sat there for easily two hours until I finally had to stand up and stretch right there in the restaurant and then leave to catch the ferry. We had nearly an hour wait for the ferry, etc. etc. It took nearly a week for me to recover. The biking was fine, waiting and food were not. I had low energy and an upset stomach for the whole week. Lesson learned, remember you have PD and don't go nuts varying your schedule.

I'm back to my hour and a half a day at 80-90 rpm and feeling fine.

I, too, love to garden and find that I can do so for about a half hour, then rest and go at it again. Stop when my body says stop.

You might also read "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain"
~ John J. Ratey.