Cycling and its Silver Lining

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Riding a bike brings the same joy as an adult that it did when you were a kid. It also provides time for reflection, which I needed a lot during the pandemic. Riding my bike allowed me to escape the news, enjoy the fresh air, and soak up the sun. It was a Godsend, but it happened in a roundabout way.

My first attempt at exercising in my 50s was running. I was decent in my younger years, having run track and cross country in high school and for a year in college. With no excuse not to get in shape, I thought I would get back into it in April 2020. I did, but before I knew it, I was pushing too hard, eventually injuring myself and developing a painful case of plantar fasciitis (if you know, you know).

Still eager to exercise, I decided to hop on my old Wal-Mart mountain bike. It got me going, and it didn't hurt my foot, so I kept at it. Eventually, I found my way to some nearby greenway trails. Soon, I literally pedaled a pedal off that bike and "wiped out" on a corkscrew curve while going a little too fast.

I ditched that bike and got a "road bike" with drop-down handlebars. It took a little getting used to, but it was smoother, and I could go further. That bike was later replaced with a lighter model (Trek Pilot 5.0). Now, I had to learn how to "clip in" to cycling pedals, which led to about a dozen mild crashes. But I got the hang of it.

By the fall of 2020, I was completing rides of 60, 70, and 80 miles. I decided to attempt a "century ride" of 100 miles in one day. It seemed a little crazy, but you don't learn things about yourself unless you try something new. I read up on how much food I would need to consume to avoid "bonking" and mixed up more than a gallon of homemade Gatorade.

I found a 33-mile route that I could do three times, allowing me to return to the start to refresh my snacks and drinks before tackling the next segment. It also gave me some comfort knowing I could call it off if something came up. That initial century ride took me six hours and twenty-two minutes of riding time to complete. Mission accomplished! I had pushed both my mental and physical boundaries to new lengths.

I was feeling pretty good about things, but in the back of my mind, I thought maybe I should get a physical to ensure my heart could handle all the stress of riding. What I learned from that doctor's visit would change me forever.

[Read "Staying Healthy for the Family"]

I began cycling in 2020. The pandemic gave me a break from touring the country as a comedian and speaker. Instead, I toured the neighborhood and countryside on two wheels. Before I knew it, I was hooked. I lost weight, felt great, and had more energy than I had in twenty years.

In the fall of 2021, I decided to get a check-up. I felt fine, but a friend of mine had major heart surgery, and he was in terrific shape. I thought it would be best to get my heart checked out before I cranked up too many miles. The good news? My heart is fine.

The bad news? Blood tests revealed an extremely elevated PSA level (63). PSA is the marker used to check the potential for prostate cancer in men, and you really don't want a number over 5. I was shocked. A biopsy confirmed the high presence of cancer cells. The next few months were filled with scans and tests. I met with radiologists and surgeons, and I had to choose how to address this invader before it got any worse. My wonderful wife, Lisa, was right by my side throughout it all. I am certain she asked more questions than I did.

After weighing all the options, I chose a radical prostatectomy. God blessed me with terrific surgeons who operated on me using a wildly sophisticated four-armed Da Vinci robot. Say what you want about A.I., but this fella was a big help. The surgery was successful in removing nearly all of the cancer. In the summer of 2024, I underwent 38 radiation sessions to eradicate the cancer cells that escaped the prostate. I have since had follow-up exams, and as of now, the cancer is... GONE!

None of this is easy. But compared to many people who have heard the scary phrase "you've got cancer," my journey has been less traumatic. My heart goes out to those who have gone through a battle like this or who have lost someone in a battle with cancer.

Men, starting at age 45, ask your primary care doctor about getting a simple PSA test. All they do is draw a little blood and send it off to the lab. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, about 1 in 456 men under age 50 will be diagnosed, but the rate shoots up to 1 in 54 for ages 50 to 59, 1 in 19 for ages 60 to 69, and 1 in 11 for men 70 and older. Nearly 60% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65.

The survival rate is greater the earlier it is detected. Don't put it off. Feel free to call me if you need someone to talk to or have any questions at all: 1-888-895-8549.