Sometimes the littlest gains mean the most
08-19-18, 12:17 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Huntington, West Virginia, USA
Posts: 110
Bikes: 2001 Waterford RST-22, 2002 Gunnar Sport, 1999 Trek 520 gravel grinder
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
Sometimes the littlest gains mean the most
Today I did something I hadn't done in more than 16 years: I completed a ride of more than 20 miles. Twenty-point-eight-five, to be exact, in 1 hour, 33 minutes and 58 seconds (13.4 mph average).
I know 20-mile rides are nothing to most of you folks; heck, they used to be nothing to me, too. I was putting in 3,000 miles a year. My average ride was 25 to 30 miles. Then my back blew up. Riding became so uncomfortable I simply couldn't do it any more. After five years of scans and tests, doctors finally found the problem -- a herniated L2-L3 disc. Fusion surgery followed, but even after I was cleared to resume exercise, it still hurt to ride.
Then, four years ago, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemo cleared it up. Eight months later, it came back. High-dose chemo and a stem-cell transplant cleared it up again. It took 18 months before I started feeling well enough to begin any kind of exercise. By then I had ballooned up to almost 300 pounds. Last September 21, I started walking, swimming and lifting weights, focusing on core strength. The months passed, and my weight came down. Thirty pounds. Forty. Fifty. Sixty. As my core got stronger, I discovered that riding the LifeCycle at the gym didn't hurt my back at all. I dusted off my road bikes and, after tweaking them to ride in a more upright position, started turning the pedals.
I started with 10-mile rides, then 12, then 13 to 14. Then I started stretching it out a bit. Fifteen. Sixteen. Eighteen. And today, at long last, I broke through with a 20-miler -- a 20-miler that included three decent-sized hills. I'm sitting here typing this with a grin on my face, because I know more riding means more weight lost, and more weight lost means more energy to do even longer rides.
Thank you...all of you on this forum and others...for providing a constant source of inspiration to get out there and JUST DO IT. And thanks for allowing me to share this tiny triumph with you.
All the best,
John
I know 20-mile rides are nothing to most of you folks; heck, they used to be nothing to me, too. I was putting in 3,000 miles a year. My average ride was 25 to 30 miles. Then my back blew up. Riding became so uncomfortable I simply couldn't do it any more. After five years of scans and tests, doctors finally found the problem -- a herniated L2-L3 disc. Fusion surgery followed, but even after I was cleared to resume exercise, it still hurt to ride.
Then, four years ago, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemo cleared it up. Eight months later, it came back. High-dose chemo and a stem-cell transplant cleared it up again. It took 18 months before I started feeling well enough to begin any kind of exercise. By then I had ballooned up to almost 300 pounds. Last September 21, I started walking, swimming and lifting weights, focusing on core strength. The months passed, and my weight came down. Thirty pounds. Forty. Fifty. Sixty. As my core got stronger, I discovered that riding the LifeCycle at the gym didn't hurt my back at all. I dusted off my road bikes and, after tweaking them to ride in a more upright position, started turning the pedals.
I started with 10-mile rides, then 12, then 13 to 14. Then I started stretching it out a bit. Fifteen. Sixteen. Eighteen. And today, at long last, I broke through with a 20-miler -- a 20-miler that included three decent-sized hills. I'm sitting here typing this with a grin on my face, because I know more riding means more weight lost, and more weight lost means more energy to do even longer rides.
Thank you...all of you on this forum and others...for providing a constant source of inspiration to get out there and JUST DO IT. And thanks for allowing me to share this tiny triumph with you.
All the best,
John
Last edited by PhoenixBiker; 08-19-18 at 12:19 PM. Reason: left off some info
08-19-18, 01:32 PM
#2
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,832 Times
in
2,229 Posts
Ride on !!!
08-19-18, 02:32 PM
#3
Chuggin' Along
Phoenix, you are a great inspiration, and that is no "tiny triumph" at all!
__________________
Note to self:
If a road has the word "Hill" included in it's name, it might not be a good idea to try it.
Note to self:
If a road has the word "Hill" included in it's name, it might not be a good idea to try it.
08-19-18, 04:02 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,488
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,834 Posts
I am going to go right out and get cancer ... oh, wait, that;'s not the message.
Good for you for all you have been through and all you have done, and even more so for being able to appreciate the little accomplishments which wouldn't have even registered a while back.
Good for you for all you have been through and all you have done, and even more so for being able to appreciate the little accomplishments which wouldn't have even registered a while back.
08-19-18, 10:08 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Rolesville NC
Posts: 816
Bikes: Had an old Columbia in the 80's, here a used Schwinn hybrid, now a Cannondale Quick 3 and a Topstone 105..
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 249 Post(s)
Liked 306 Times
in
139 Posts
Twenty miles is no little accomplishment. I just got back on a bike this year and have yet to do 20 in one ride. With all you have been through and you have the guts to get back up and take the next step? Do not minimize your accomplishment. Congratulations and I look forward to your next milestone.
Frank.
Frank.
08-19-18, 10:41 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Southeast US
Posts: 921
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 318 Post(s)
Liked 149 Times
in
104 Posts
Look at all the ground you've covered, in your treatment, with your body, on your bike. Way to go! That's really an achievement.
08-20-18, 12:05 AM
#8
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
That's a heckuva great accomplishment, considering what you had to come back from. Well done.
08-20-18, 04:15 AM
#9
Full Member
Today I did something I hadn't done in more than 16 years: I completed a ride of more than 20 miles. Twenty-point-eight-five, to be exact, in 1 hour, 33 minutes and 58 seconds (13.4 mph average).
I know 20-mile rides are nothing to most of you folks; heck, they used to be nothing to me, too. I was putting in 3,000 miles a year. My average ride was 25 to 30 miles.
John
I know 20-mile rides are nothing to most of you folks; heck, they used to be nothing to me, too. I was putting in 3,000 miles a year. My average ride was 25 to 30 miles.
John
08-20-18, 04:39 AM
#10
Senior Member
keep pressing!
08-20-18, 05:23 AM
#11
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
You’ve been through one heck of a lot and just pushed through everything. Your perseverance is very admirable. With all that going for You, You have a lot of great things ahead of. Keep pedaling!!!
Note: the next long one might seem harder so prepare yourself for it, but keep pushing!
Note: the next long one might seem harder so prepare yourself for it, but keep pushing!
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
08-20-18, 07:57 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 837
Bikes: Casati Laser, Colnago Tecnos, Ciöcc Exige, Black Mountain Cycles Road
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 177 Times
in
78 Posts
Having watched a loved one go through chemo and a stem cell transplant I can appreciate what an accomplishment yours is.
Fantastic! Good work, and keep it up.
Fantastic! Good work, and keep it up.
08-20-18, 11:15 AM
#16
Seat Sniffer
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,630
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 945 Post(s)
Liked 1,985 Times
in
569 Posts
Congratulations and welcome back!
If Nietzsche was right and whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, you're flippin Hercules.
By endurance we conquer. Yea, baby.
If Nietzsche was right and whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, you're flippin Hercules.
By endurance we conquer. Yea, baby.
__________________
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
08-21-18, 06:19 AM
#18
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,002
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4338 Post(s)
Liked 2,980 Times
in
1,617 Posts
John, you're right, 20 miles isn't that big of a deal. Overcoming lymphoma, working through a herniated disc, and losing 60 pounds ABSOLUTELY IS. 20 miles on your bike is the reward... enjoy it like you're living a beer commercial.
08-21-18, 06:06 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,737
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 642 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times
in
551 Posts
Great story and congratulations. It's only been a couple of years since I revisited cycling and also remember my first 20 mile ride. It was a pretty big deal to me at the time and I didn't have anything like the health issues that you've overcome. You've every right to feel proud of the accomplishment.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Chitown_Mike
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
10
09-17-14 12:18 PM
CraigB
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
10
05-19-12 07:23 AM
