RAGBRAI 2003 Ride Summary
Just about the time Lance Armstrong was wrapping up his fifth
consecutive Tour de France title, the Pedaling for Parkinson’s Team was
completing their trek across Iowa as part of RAGBRAI. Cathy Frazier, a 48 year-old Parkinson’s disease patient,
and six other cyclists celebrated their 464-mile accomplishment with the
traditional dipping their front bike tires in the Mississippi River in Ft.
Madison, Iowa.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder
that results in slower uncoordinated movements and produces balance impairments.
With these motor difficulties one has to wonder why an individual with PD
would ride 464 miles across Iowa. For
Cathy this ride was about battling the motor symptoms of PD, overcoming her
fears of falling, raising awareness for PD and showing others that maintaining
an active lifestyle is critical in fighting PD.
Cathy, who has difficulty balancing her own bike around other cyclists
and cars, decided it would be safer to ride a tandem bicycle with Dr. Jay L.
Alberts, a PD researcher from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Dr. Alberts took the role of captain while Cathy was the stoker.
On most mornings, Cathy and the rest of the Pedaling for
Parkinson’s team left their overnight hosts around 6:30 AM to beat the late
July heat and humidity and afternoon winds.
When Cathy announced to her Atlanta friends that she was going to ride a
bicycle more than 450 miles across Iowa, they were surprised and offered
encouragement; a common response was, “At least it will be flat.”
After climbing more than 16,000 feet that week in the rolling hills of
Southern Iowa, Cathy concluded, “Iowa is definitely not flat.”
As anyone who has attempted a long distance ride knows, saddle sores and
muscle soreness are part of the experience.
Despite the wind, hills and soreness Cathy battled through the pain and
completed every official mile. Cathy
is no stranger to long distance rides as her husband Ralph, who coaches cyclists
and triathletes, was an accomplished ultra distance bicycle racer in the
1980’s. During the ride, Ralph
helped to set a consistent pace for Cathy and Dr. Alberts.
Pedaling for Parkinson’s was started by Dr. Alberts, an avid cyclist and member of the Frazier Cycling Partners, who saw a connection between his two passions, PD research and cycling as a way to help Cathy continue her personal battle with her affliction and motivate other Parkinson’s patients to get active. Alberts felt that RAGBRAI would be an opportunity to raise awareness as it is the oldest and largest organized ride in the world.
While the week of cycling was taxing, Cathy said, “For
that week I felt like I didn’t have Parkinson’s disease, I did not notice my
usual symptoms. Of course, I had a
lot of aches and pains elsewhere.” Cathy
adds, “Prior to my diagnosis, I would not have considered doing this ride, but
it was chance to prove that I could do something unthinkable for me and overcome
my fears.”
By all accounts this ride was a success as more than $6400
was raised for PD research and numerous people were inspired by Cathy’s
efforts. Cathy plans to continue
exercising and riding the tandem in organized rides where she will continue to
spread the message that, “staying active as a Parkinson’s patient is
critical in my fight against this disease that wants to rob me of my
movement.” Daily reports from
Cathy during the ride can be found by following the links at:
www.fraziercycling.com.
The Pedaling for Parkinson’s team plans to expand their
efforts this next year by getting more Parkinson’s disease patients
participating in cycling and possibly other cross-state tours.
Dr. Alberts would like to bring additional PD patients on cross-state
tours. A number of PD patients have
expressed an interest in participating in these tours, however additional tandem
bicycles are needed. The Pedaling for Parkinson’s team is in need of a sponsor
or benefactor to acquire additional tandems.
For more information on future events individuals may contact Cathy
Frazier or Dr. Jay L. Alberts.
The Numbers:
Total miles: 464
Daily mileage range: 44-81
Ave. daily speed: 17-20
mph
No crashes
Three flat tires
Pedaling for Parkinson’s Team Members:
Cathy Frazier, Atlanta
Ralph Frazier, Atlanta
Dr. Jay Alberts, Atlanta
Janelle Alberts, Atlanta
Gary McCarthy, Atlanta
Joel Alberts, Minneapolis
Brenda Alberts, Minneapolis
Darrin Rothe, Milwaukee (support team)