As a person with MS and a cyclist with a thankfully great set up road bike: This is great! I have much better balance on my bike than when I walk and I rather ride 50 km than walk 2, so it would be great if people attempt to ride this thing. Please take it out for people to try and post videos of them riding it!
+JanDeluxe78 I have MS which include symptoms which have prevented me from purchasing a bicycle which I've wanted for at least the last decade. Your post gives me hope that it might actual be possible. I have extreme fatigue, poor balance, right leg weakness, right hand numbness and pain and periodic dizziness. Have have your symptoms affected your riding and how did you compensate on the cycle?
Balance is no problem for me. I normally have balance problems, but not on my bike - weird. It seems to be easier for me to maintain balance on a bike. I have a road/cyclocross bike which forces me into the stretched racing position - to not get problems in my shoulder and neck I do pushups to strengthen that area. I would suggest to not ride without a partner at first, and not on roads, but on farmer lanes or dedicated bike paths. Practice, know the road rules and be rather more cautious and not careless. When you buy a bike, do that in a bike shop, talk to them about your symptoms and what could be an issue. They can help you to find the right bike and they can take measurements to find the right riding position. Have fun riding!
+Leslie Brown Hey Leslie (my sister's name!), I have MS (diagnosed two years ago, but symptomatic for 18 years before that), graduated from Relapse Remit to Secondary Progressive. I have dizziness, right leg and hand weakness and fairly bad foot drop, but like JanDeluxe78, I feel much better on my bike (Cannondale hybrid). I sort of prefer having someone around when I ride in case I have problems (and always a cellphone) but honestly as a former run who couldn't run a step anymore, riding my bike is one of the most blissful and spiritual things there is.
+MK Write At this point, with so much positive feedback from you and others, I should probably revisit looking into one. Thanks for responding... gives me hope.
+Leslie Brown Sure thing. FWIW, I've found that it takes time to piece all of this together (and then when you do your health changes or symptoms get weird, etc.). Also, because I have foot drop I struggle to keep my right foot on the pedal. I bought strapless toe clips (that allow the users to just get his/her toe in the clip, like the letter U on its side) and those have made a huge difference. Lemme know how I can help...
hi iam a 33 year old man married with 3 young children.when I watched this bike today at work I tried too see same thing that people can ride the bike but feel what it's like for us. iam a boilermaker I work with heavy machinery all day it would be good for a video too show how it's like too work in the metal or construct industry cheers guys and keep doing awesome video of awareness
After riding my bike to work today, I came across your video of this bike that has been tweaked in a variety of ways to mimic/reflect some of the more prominent MS symptoms. On my ride, I rode quickly and smoothly. I enjoyed the feel of the cool wind on my face and the subtle spray of mist on my face. I have MS and that was my experience on my bike. The video portrays quite a different story. While I appreciate the quality of the video itself and the effort to literalize the experience of having MS for those without the disease, there is no one "MS experience." This is mentioned in the video -- that is, the fact that the disease hits people differently -- and yet the wonky bike represents the disease with a bounded set of characteristics. Some with MS can't do anything even close to riding a bike. Others of us ride with ease (at least for now). This MS-altered bike is somewhere in the middle of that continuum of experience, and while I understand the impulse to make the bike and the video, the project certainly flattens the experience of having MS.
Hi +thebikerack - this is just the beginning of the campaign! We will be sharing more MS Bike content soon (including something you'd really want to see!). Stay tuned! :)
+Grey Australia Have you posted more videos? I'd like to share video of someone on the bike in a post that I'm writing for my blog: themswire.wordpress.com.
+Ed Tobias Hi Ed, how did you go with the footage? If you share your email we are also happy to send you more footage if you are looking for further content. Thanks!
+Grey Australia Hi. Yes, it was just what I needed. I've linked to two of the videos in a post that was published last night on my new blog: www.themswire.com. Thanks for your help. Ed
My 15 year old nephew was diagnosed with MS this year. He is struggling understanding the WHY behind this condition choosing him. Are there any teen group supports I can contact to see if there are meetings held daily, weekly or monthly where I can take him. I want him to continue living a normal life. Please let me know if you are familiar with any MS teen group support near the LA area. Thank you!
Please, keep riding your bike. I have MS and I used to run 25 miles a week but all of that changed after I had a brain surgery. I stayed inactive for few months and that's when MS took over. Stay active no matter what.
It's a good idea, but so many of the people I know haven't been on a bike in so long that they would probably have that experience on a regular bike. I would be afraid for them to try a messed up bike.
I've got MS and I CAN'T ride a bike because of my poor balance And dizziness. Previous to getting MS, I was an avid motorcyclist and rode across the US. All these MS bike-oriented fundraisers are well-intentioned but make me feel excluded as it is the very thing I CAN'T do. How about someone invent a gyro stabilized bike or motorcycle someone with MS could actually ride safely?
Is there any video of 'normal' people trying this bike? I have MS and find it is SO hard to explain what it's like... if I could show footage to friends/family of people riding it, it might help.
+quixotic7 I have MS so watching the reactions and realizations from people without MS or people who have loved ones with MS would have been, I think, an eye-opener for them. Explaining MS symptoms to non-suffers falls flat at best. A "real" experience for them to tie MS symptoms to would have be pivotal.
Friggin' BRILLIANT. Love it and thank you for shedding some much needed light on MS for all of us.
Wow. As someone who was recently diagnosed this brought me to tears. Thanks for the great initiative!
I really love this vid.
I have ms and I'd love to see someone ride this bike. Thanks for making ms a little more visible
Hi +daisydijkable - this is just the beginning of the campaign! Stay tuned as we'll be sharing more about the Bike with MS soon! Thanks.
As a person with MS and a cyclist with a thankfully great set up road bike: This is great! I have much better balance on my bike than when I walk and I rather ride 50 km than walk 2, so it would be great if people attempt to ride this thing. Please take it out for people to try and post videos of them riding it!
+JanDeluxe78 I have MS which include symptoms which have prevented me from purchasing a bicycle which I've wanted for at least the last decade. Your post gives me hope that it might actual be possible. I have extreme fatigue, poor balance, right leg weakness, right hand numbness and pain and periodic dizziness. Have have your symptoms affected your riding and how did you compensate on the cycle?
Balance is no problem for me. I normally have balance problems, but not on my bike - weird. It seems to be easier for me to maintain balance on a bike. I have a road/cyclocross bike which forces me into the stretched racing position - to not get problems in my shoulder and neck I do pushups to strengthen that area. I would suggest to not ride without a partner at first, and not on roads, but on farmer lanes or dedicated bike paths. Practice, know the road rules and be rather more cautious and not careless. When you buy a bike, do that in a bike shop, talk to them about your symptoms and what could be an issue. They can help you to find the right bike and they can take measurements to find the right riding position.
Have fun riding!
+Leslie Brown Hey Leslie (my sister's name!), I have MS (diagnosed two years ago, but symptomatic for 18 years before that), graduated from Relapse Remit to Secondary Progressive. I have dizziness, right leg and hand weakness and fairly bad foot drop, but like JanDeluxe78, I feel much better on my bike (Cannondale hybrid). I sort of prefer having someone around when I ride in case I have problems (and always a cellphone) but honestly as a former run who couldn't run a step anymore, riding my bike is one of the most blissful and spiritual things there is.
+MK Write At this point, with so much positive feedback from you and others, I should probably revisit looking into one. Thanks for responding... gives me hope.
+Leslie Brown Sure thing. FWIW, I've found that it takes time to piece all of this together (and then when you do your health changes or symptoms get weird, etc.). Also, because I have foot drop I struggle to keep my right foot on the pedal. I bought strapless toe clips (that allow the users to just get his/her toe in the clip, like the letter U on its side) and those have made a huge difference. Lemme know how I can help...
hi iam a 33 year old man married with 3 young children.when I watched this bike today at work I tried too see same thing that people can ride the bike but feel what it's like for us. iam a boilermaker I work with heavy machinery all day it would be good for a video too show how it's like too work in the metal or construct industry cheers guys and keep doing awesome video of awareness
After riding my bike to work today, I came across your video of this bike that has been tweaked in a variety of ways to mimic/reflect some of the more prominent MS symptoms. On my ride, I rode quickly and smoothly. I enjoyed the feel of the cool wind on my face and the subtle spray of mist on my face. I have MS and that was my experience on my bike. The video portrays quite a different story. While I appreciate the quality of the video itself and the effort to literalize the experience of having MS for those without the disease, there is no one "MS experience." This is mentioned in the video -- that is, the fact that the disease hits people differently -- and yet the wonky bike represents the disease with a bounded set of characteristics.
Some with MS can't do anything even close to riding a bike. Others of us ride with ease (at least for now). This MS-altered bike is somewhere in the middle of that continuum of experience, and while I understand the impulse to make the bike and the video, the project certainly flattens the experience of having MS.
This Bike and I have MS… but do not think we still can’t roll...
I *REALLY* wanted to see someone riding this bike.
Hi +thebikerack - this is just the beginning of the campaign! We will be sharing more MS Bike content soon (including something you'd really want to see!). Stay tuned! :)
+Grey Australia Have you posted more videos? I'd like to share video of someone on the bike in a post that I'm writing for my blog: themswire.wordpress.com.
Hi Ed Tobias - you can find all of our videos on our RUclips page playlist - ruclips.net/p/PL2mGz28uZDmiYx7hEPu-RzpwM8-6aG9xb - Enjoy!
+Ed Tobias Hi Ed, how did you go with the footage? If you share your email we are also happy to send you more footage if you are looking for further content. Thanks!
+Grey Australia Hi. Yes, it was just what I needed. I've linked to two of the videos in a post that was published last night on my new blog: www.themswire.com. Thanks for your help. Ed
My 15 year old nephew was diagnosed with MS this year. He is struggling understanding the WHY behind this condition choosing him. Are there any teen group supports I can contact to see if there are meetings held daily, weekly or monthly where I can take him. I want him to continue living a normal life. Please let me know if you are familiar with any MS teen group support near the LA area. Thank you!
This is genius!
Well done!
I have MS and ride my bike without any trouble. But watching such things about MS scares all the crap out of me.
Please, keep riding your bike. I have MS and I used to run 25 miles a week but all of that changed after I had a brain surgery. I stayed inactive for few months and that's when MS took over. Stay active no matter what.
It's a good idea, but so many of the people I know haven't been on a bike in so long that they would probably have that experience on a regular bike. I would be afraid for them to try a messed up bike.
I've got MS and I CAN'T ride a bike because of my poor balance And dizziness. Previous to getting MS, I was an avid motorcyclist and rode across the US. All these MS bike-oriented fundraisers are well-intentioned but make me feel excluded as it is the very thing I CAN'T do. How about someone invent a gyro stabilized bike or motorcycle someone with MS could actually ride safely?
Is there any video of 'normal' people trying this bike? I have MS and find it is SO hard to explain what it's like... if I could show footage to friends/family of people riding it, it might help.
Will the team do a follow up video(s) of actual people trying to ride it to gain the perspective of what MS "feels" like???
+Leslie Brown You have very sharply realised what this concept lacks in execution. People riding the bike would have made this far more engaging.
+quixotic7 I have MS so watching the reactions and realizations from people without MS or people who have loved ones with MS would have been, I think, an eye-opener for them. Explaining MS symptoms to non-suffers falls flat at best. A "real" experience for them to tie MS symptoms to would have be pivotal.
+Leslie Brown Yes. I have MS and was involved in the project. The intention is that this is the first in a series.
+djwinter01 Thank you for the reply. I look forward to continued videos. Great work to you and the team!