Riding with one lung question

navsnipe

navsnipe

Active Member
I recently had my left lung removed due to cancer. It was only three days ago but I am looking forward to riding again eventually.

Does anybody here have experience or know someone who has experience on recovering and riding with one lung.

I had always been on the fence about e-bikes but now they may make more sense.


Cancer sucks!
 
navsnipe said:
I recently had my left lung removed due to cancer. It was only three days ago but I am looking forward to riding again eventually.

Does anybody here have experience or know someone who has experience on recovering and riding with one lung.

I had always been on the fence about e-bikes but now they may make more sense.


Cancer sucks!
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I’ve run into this before. I would make sure you get a full powered ebike and possibly a range extender. There is hope of many awesome rides ahead here for sure.

Stop by the shop and ride a few when conditions allow. We have a lot of e-bikes on hand.

J
 
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Thank you for the support!!!
I'm hoping to get back on my non powered bikes. I'm 59 and my doctors are very happy with my progress in this very short time. I know it will take a lot of time to recover but I am plugging along. I'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

If you guys know of anybody in a similar situation that can share their success stories I'd really appreciate it.
 
navsnipe said:
Thank you for the support!!!
I'm hoping to get back on my non powered bikes. I'm 59 and my doctors are very happy with my progress in this very short time. I know it will take a lot of time to recover but I am plugging along. I'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

If you guys know of anybody in a similar situation that can share their success stories I'd really appreciate it.
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You’re not even out of the hospital and you’re plotting your next ride?!?! Hell yeah! I’ve gotta feeling you’re gonna be just fine.
 
It goes without saying, but make sure to consult with a pulmonologist. I have ~75% lung capacity on a good day (extensive scaring from childhood asthma/illness). Your body will adjust to reduced capacity, though if you were accustomed to riding with 'normal' racers who are in good health, well, that will change somewhat.
 
Karate Monkey said:
It goes without saying, but make sure to consult with a pulmonologist. I have ~75% lung capacity on a good day (extensive scaring from childhood asthma/illness). Your body will adjust to reduced capacity, though if you were accustomed to riding with 'normal' racers who are in good health, well, that will change somewhat.
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Thank you for the honest feedback. I am no racer these days but I will push myself. It will be a while before I am on a bike again. I'm planning and keeping that goal.

I will find out about my pathology next week which will decide if there is any after treatment like chemo or radiation.

I have a few doctor's on my team and I am definitely consulting with them about everything.
 
navsnipe said:
Thank you for the support!!!
I'm hoping to get back on my non powered bikes. I'm 59 and my doctors are very happy with my progress in this very short time. I know it will take a lot of time to recover but I am plugging along. I'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

If you guys know of anybody in a similar situation that can share their success stories I'd really appreciate it.
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Not one lung, but my last few pulmonary function tests showed 53-57% capacity post chemo, pulmonary embolism, chest tubes…. All the fun stuff. Anyway, I rode like that for about 10 years and pretty much every ride was miserable especially the hilly ones. My doctor’s insistence on just accepting my “new normal” just didn’t resonate with me.

Thankfully e-bikes became a thing. Riding can be fun again.
 
Wishing you a strong recovery. No direct experience, but you're not alone, many riders adapt and keep rolling. E-bikes can be a great tool. You got this mate!
 
Holy cow just came to say wishing you a strong recovery it will be hard to beat that positivity when you’re already planning your rides from your hospital bed.

Oh yeah and f*ck cancer. !
 
I am following up on my post from last July. Lung surgery (left lung pneumonectomy) followed by chemotherapy which finished late November.

My positivity was definitely dampened by reality and chemo but the beautiful weather we had a couple days ago inspired me to get out on my bike. I only rode a couple miles but it felt great. Uphills are an ass kicker with one lung but I didn't give up. I am going to keep working at it and decide if an e-bike is in my future. I am resisting that as much as possible but reality may help make that decision.
 
navsnipe said:
I am following up on my post from last July. Lung surgery (left lung pneumonectomy) followed by chemotherapy which finished late November.

My positivity was definitely dampened by reality and chemo but the beautiful weather we had a couple days ago inspired me to get out on my bike. I only rode a couple miles but it felt great. Uphills are an ass kicker with one lung but I didn't give up. I am going to keep working at it and decide if an e-bike is in my future. I am resisting that as much as possible but reality may help make that decision.
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Glad you got out! that is awesome.

on the eBike stuff, you won't work any less, you'll just go faster/farther - you'll build back just like on analog, and have more fun doing it (ok that is IMHO)

Best of luck either way - catch you out there.
 
I would add that whether or not you may want/need an e-bike will depend some on your riding habits. If you plan to ride with friends, then an e-bike can help you ride with them. If you only ride solo, then it may not mean as much. An e-bike can mean going father and faster with similar effort, but it can also be used to do a ride while limiting the amount of effort required.

Congrats on making awesome progress!!
 
navsnipe said:
I am following up on my post from last July. Lung surgery (left lung pneumonectomy) followed by chemotherapy which finished late November.

My positivity was definitely dampened by reality and chemo but the beautiful weather we had a couple days ago inspired me to get out on my bike. I only rode a couple miles but it felt great. Uphills are an ass kicker with one lung but I didn't give up. I am going to keep working at it and decide if an e-bike is in my future. I am resisting that as much as possible but reality may help make that decision.
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After my year of hell I started training regularly with a a normal bike as e-bikes weren't a thing yet. I made decent progress for the first year or two, but with diminished lung capacity riding was always a struggle. I pushed on, always figuring I would eventually be able to ride like I used to, but it never really happened. Continued on for too many years like that. Riding regularly, but never being able to push hard without blowing up or throwing my heart into SVT's. E-bikes changed all of that. I can ride, have fun, and not feel like I'm dying on every hill or hard effort. For a while I was just as fast as everyone I rode with. It's now 20 years later and they all own e-bikes too, so I need to use Turbo when they're not, but it's still fun.
 
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