Exercise Bicycle
 

How many miles do you ride inside? At what point ( miles ) do you stop getting any benefit from it? Thanks, Tom

I don't even have a mileage gauge, just an old ten speed that I put on zero resistance or very little. I try to get at least 20 minutes at a good clip. Don't notice anything amazing symptom wise right away, think it helps in general the rest of the day, but it's hard to measure.

Eric

I read you have to get up to 90 rpm for it to do anything.....How many people with pd can maintain that speed?

Have you looked at the Pedaling for Parkinson's thread? There is a trove of information about the effects of high cadence cycling on PD symptoms. Briefly, it doesn't matter how far you ride or what kind of bike you ride. In order to have the benefits of cycling on PD, you ride for 1 hour 3 times per week. 10 minutes warm up, 40 minutes at a cadence of 80-90 rpm and 10 minutes cool down. (Note we are talking cadence here, not speed. Lower resistance until you can keep up the cadence.) You do not need a tandem. I use a road bike and have done that since early 2009. In the winter I put the bike on a trainer in the basement. I typically ride 4-6 days each week and ride the full hour at the higher cadence.. closer to 80 rpm than 90. Following this protocol I have been able to ride across Iowa five times, climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, climb to Annapurna BaseCamp in Nepal and climb the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu among other things. I'm currently at Whistler in British Columbia, skiing, not as good as I used to, but still having fun. My doctor is astonished that I am still at Level I on the UPDRS. So am I. I'm 70 years old, BTW and was diagnosed in 2008.

Hi Nan,

Always enjoy reading your post, great encouragement. I had been riding my excercycle. 1932 version with motor assist pedals, seat, and handlebars. 45 minute full ride (exert for 30 seconds, coast of 30). Five minute warm up and five minute cool down. Great fun.
http://www.exercycle.com/

I've been also working out 3x a week with Rock Steady Boxing. I enjoy the social aspect of our workout group, and coach that makes it fun. Even on sore stiff days I enjoy going.

I'm sidelined for a few weeks after lung surgery (Adenocarcinoma, so part of the lung is removed to help prevent the spread of the cancer). So I'll stick to just stretching for a few weeks. Other that that, all is good.

I have long held the understanding that the cycling protocols made all the difference in our reactions to the forced exercise. I still don't mean to minimize that, but it is increasingly apparent to me that PD is a three legged stool and movement disorders are just one of the legs. Emotional and cognitive changes (challenges) are the other two legs. Each must be in balance for the person to be fully functional. If any one of the three is out of whack, it strongly affects the other two. So, if you're doing cycling and boxing and dance or tai chi or whatever, you are experiencing social interaction along with a variety of interactive movements, which reinforce your emotional and cognitive "legs".

Just one more example of how interdependent our whole mind/body systems are.

Early on I realized that I am so very fortunate to have PD Lite as we jokingly call it. I also realized that having PD doesn't give me a pass card on any other physical or mental maladies, aptly illustrated by the double whammy of PD and Cancer that you're meeting with an open mind and grace, Tom. My thoughts are with you.

Motored cycling study results