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For decades, Frank Chmielewicz defined himself as a runner. After back issues forced him to stop running, ElliptiGO bikes gave him a way to keep moving. Soon he was riding daily, logging long rides, and racking up over 35,000 lifetime miles. Then, after he was diagnosed with cancer, riding his GO became an affirmation of health for Frank. Today he’s moving forward toward what he calls “Frank 2.0.” Meet our February 2026 Rider of the Month, Frank Chmielewicz.

From Pennsylvania to Postmaster

Frank grew up primarily in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, after losing his mother at a young age. Technically a ward of the state, he lived with his aunt and uncle. At 19, Frank joined the U.S. Coast Guard, serving for several years before returning to college and eventually entering a management program with the U.S. Postal Service. He held several managerial positions in Florida before being appointed as Postmaster for Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Miles That Shaped a Life

Running was a big part of Frank’s life. In 2002, he married Sylvia, a fellow runner, in what was the second marriage for both of them. Their wedding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park reflected exactly who they were as a couple.

“The wedding itself was a running event,” Frank explains. “The roads were closed to cars. Guests and even the pastor had to run, walk, or bike to a spot on the Cades Cove Loop to attend the event.”

The uniquely athletic celebration caught the attention of a Canadian television crew and was featured on the first season of Weird Weddings, in an episode aptly titled “Good Sports.”

“Sylvia and I both loved running and continued to run marathons — Vancouver, Honolulu, Atlantic City, Atlanta, Chickamauga … the list goes on,” says Frank. They also each ran the Boston Marathon; Frank in 1996 and Sylvia in 2002.

Meanwhile, Frank’s postal career continued to advance. They moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when Frank was appointed Postmaster there. When he retired in 2009, he and Sylvia returned to Oak Ridge, ready to build their home and enjoy an active retirement. Frank became a Team in Training coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He and Sylvia also created and directed the Secret City Half Marathon in Oak Ridge — an event that is still going strong today.

Putting Family First

Life shifted dramatically when their three-year-old granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer. Frank and Sylvia did not hesitate to help. “We sold our home and moved to the Orlando, Florida, area to be near her,” Frank says.

They supported their family through their granddaughter’s surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Today, Frank is happy to report, “She is now 15 years old and has no evidence of disease.”

Through it all, Frank and Sylvia had continued running. But at 62, back problems forced Frank to stop running, and soon after, Sylvia had to quit running as well. Losing running wasn’t just a change in their exercise routine; it affected how they saw themselves.

“Since we identified as runners and running was what had brought us together, it was difficult to find a replacement,” Frank says.

They tried swimming, cycling, and walking, but none of those activities delivered the same satisfaction as running had.

Finding a New Stride

Then came a chance encounter on the South Lake Trail in Clermont, Florida. Frank and Sylvia were walking along the trail when they saw a couple ride past on ElliptiGO bikes.

“I’d never seen one of those bikes before and thought it looked a little odd, but fun,” Frank recalls.

The riders were kind enough to stop and chat. After learning about the basics of ElliptiGO bikes, Frank was ready to try one himself. He purchased an 8C.

“The very first ride, I felt it — that glorious, familiar sensation of running again,” he says.

Frank started out riding less than six miles a day. He kept at it, and he gradually built up to riding more than 150 miles a week. He later purchased an 11R and kept GOing.

To avoid the Florida heat, he rode early in the morning, often along Clermont’s extensive paved trail system. His daily rides grew to between 25 and 65 miles. Frank connected with other Florida ElliptiGO riders and joined the Global ElliptiGO Riders Club (GERC).

“Life was good!” Frank says.

Riding Through the Unexpected

But an unpleasant surprise was coming. In October 2024, while Frank and Sylvia were vacationing in Poland, Frank became ill. He spoke with his primary physician, and his doctor recommended that Frank return home as soon as possible. Two days later, Frank and Sylvia came back to Clermont, and Frank was hospitalized.

He was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer.

“Cancer. How can that be?” Frank remembers thinking.

Treatment involved a Whipple procedure, a complex, major surgery.

“Days after surgery, I could hardly walk,” Frank shares. He had lost 25 pounds and felt like a shell of his former self. Still, he was determined to start moving again.

Within four weeks of surgery, he was back on his ElliptiGO. “I could only go for short rides, but I was getting outside,” he says.

And Frank decided that he didn’t just want to get back to his old self … he was determined to be an even better version of himself. That goal sustained him throughout his six months of chemotherapy. Frank rode as often as he could throughout chemo, and he was grateful for support from his family and the ElliptiGO family, especially Dell and Lisa Chapman.

“I refer to myself now as Frank 2.0,” he notes.

Frank 2.0 Today

When asked how he’s doing now, Frank says: “Frank 2.0 is doing great!”

Frank is riding his 11R every other day and hitting the pool and the gym on intervening days to work on regaining his muscle mass. More than mileage, it’s the feeling he gets from his rides that matters most: being outdoors, moving, and staying connected to the activity that helps him feel like the best version of himself.

“My ‘GO’ is where I feel the most comfortable,” Frank says. “As long as I can ride, it’s my affirmation of health.”

Congratulations, Frank, on being our Rider of the Month. We’re cheering you on as you continue feeling your best and being your best!

 

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