How it all started
I can remember the very first time I stepped over a bike and began to pedal. Something immediately clicked—my world changed forever.
Adventure, freedom, the joy of biking had been ignited in me. I could go places I hadn’t gone before. I didn’t need a ride from my parents. I could just go—and I did.
I biked everywhere: to school, to my friends’ houses, to the pool, the store. Any excuse to ride my bike was a good one!
Growing up in the 80s, bike culture was everywhere in movies—E.T., Goonies, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Breaking Away, American Flyers. I loved all of it. It fueled my enthusiasm to ride.
I loved riding bikes then, and I love riding them now. Maybe even more than ever—because in many ways, riding a bike is the reason I’m still alive.
A journey of healing, resilience, and rediscovery on two wheels
After facing multiple cancers, I found my way back to strength and freedom through cycling.
Exercise is good medicine! Did riding a bike cure my cancers? No. But it did improve my odds of avoiding a recurrence. Many studies show strong evidence that exercise can help prevent and survive many types of cancer. For me, that meant running and cycling.
In 2009, after my first cancer diagnosis (colon, stage 3B), I ran all the way through my tenth round of chemo (out of 12). Running helped me recover faster, gave me hope, and lifted my spirits. I went on to complete several half marathons and two full marathons—including the NYC Marathon.
Later, after some running injuries, I shifted my focus to cycling. In addition to mountain biking, I began road cycling and completed my first century ride, Elephant Rock.
In 2019, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer—my second cancer. Genetic testing revealed I had Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), which puts me at high risk for many cancers. It was devastating news, but it explained why I kept getting sick.
From 2019–2024, I was diagnosed with five cancers: testicular (2019), left lung (2020), thyroid (2020), kidney (2022), and right lung (2024). Because of LFS, I now get an annual full-body MRI. Thankfully, this has helped me catch cancers early, when they’re most treatable.
Why Bikes Heal
Having faced so much cancer, I needed something to keep me going—and it always came back to the bike. Every ride reminded me that healing isn’t just about the body. It’s about reclaiming joy, movement, and confidence.
Bikes Heal was born from that experience: a mission to help cancer survivors reclaim their lives through cycling.
Let’s ride!
Brian Novak
Executive Director,
Bikes Heal
