Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Leah on September 3, 2008 at 2:11am

Yeah, I wonder if any Chicago area clinics/hospitals are doing this. Seems like a good volunteer opportunity... I would definitely do it.

DEADhex said:

I saw that today. I hope they find that riding single and not just tandem has the same benefits.

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Permalink Reply by Leah on September 4, 2008 at 9:21am

Yeah, there's definitely the smoother, controlled motion aspect. I think there's also the aspect of, the patients don't have the strength pedal at a cadence that's high enough, so that's where the tandem partner comes in.

I'd actually really love to get into this if it takes off as a treatment.


elle said:

I've never ridden tandem, but wonder if it works out like that because there's some sort of 'follow me' synchronization going on. Instead of just pushing peddles on your own, you're following the subtle push and pull of someone else on the same chain and maybe that helps guide a person into training their nervous system to follow smoother, more controlled motion. Interesting.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 1, 2009 at 2:27am

This is really cool. My dad rode solo until his balance got too bad to reliably stay upright on the bike. After that, he still walked.

I agree with Leah that this would be a cool volunteer opportunity. It would be nice to able to help someone this way.

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Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on February 1, 2009 at 7:48am

My wife told me that the problem with parkinson's is getting the patient to start an exercise (not unwillingness, but because of the tremors), so the tandem is a great way for a therapist to initiate the movements. I would hope that riding solo, if the patient can do it, would have the same benefit.
This is a great discovery.

DEADhex said:

I saw that today. I hope they find that riding single and not just tandem has the same benefits.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 3, 2010 at 1:57am

Click here for the video.

Marne Provost said:

There was a video posted of a guy with end stage Parkinson's that rode a bicycle alone, but could barely walk. Does anyone have a link to the video? Martin said it may have been on the CCM or BCHI listserv.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 3, 2010 at 10:23am

Glad I could help. It was amazing to watch this again.

Anne Alt said:

Click here for the video.

Marne Provost said:

There was a video posted of a guy with end stage Parkinson's that rode a bicycle alone, but could barely walk. Does anyone have a link to the video? Martin said it may have been on the CCM or BCHI listserv.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 5, 2010 at 1:09pm

I met two people today who ride tandem in Arlington Heights, one of them was blind.

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Permalink Reply by Jerome Hughes on November 4, 2010 at 3:28am

a bit later in the year... I'm one of those two people, the other was Mike Delaney, here we are on Mike's Santana tandem, about to lead a group back to Elmhurst from Arlington Heights that day...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#549...

together Mike & I lead our weekly "Early Fast Busse" ride for the Elmhurst Bicycle Club, it goes off Saturdays at 6a from Elmhurst to, around and back from Busse Woods

also, my photos from the Governor Quinn Bike Bill signing can be seen here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jromeh/sets/72157625068385070/

and others (thanks to Petra) are here...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#

if you seek tandems and captains, my friend John Loesch organizes "Blind Stoker" rides with NEDSRA out here in DuPage County... John is very well connected with plenty of CATS (Chicago Area Tandem Society) members and can probably rustle up some volunteers for whatever you'd like to organize

best,

--Jerome

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 4, 2010 at 5:15am

I did one of these "Blind Stoker" rides last year and one this year. They're great, John Loesch is great, and John is the guy to talk to.


Jerome Hughes said:

a bit later in the year... I'm one of those two people, the other was Mike Delaney, here we are on Mike's Santana tandem, about to lead a group back to Elmhurst from Arlington Heights that day...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#549...

together Mike & I lead our weekly "Early Fast Busse" ride for the Elmhurst Bicycle Club, it goes off Saturdays at 6a from Elmhurst to, around and back from Busse Woods

also, my photos from the Governor Quinn Bike Bill signing can be seen here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jromeh/sets/72157625068385070/

and others (thanks to Petra) are here...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#

if you seek tandems and captains, my friend John Loesch organizes "Blind Stoker" rides with NEDSRA out here in DuPage County... John is very well connected with plenty of CATS (Chicago Area Tandem Society) members and can probably rustle up some volunteers for whatever you'd like to organize

best,

--Jerome

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on November 2, 2011 at 9:23am

Here's a related article from the New York Times.

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