Back on a bike after 8 weeks

[iwf]

I'm pleased to anounce that after 8 weeks convalescing I've sort of got back on a bike.

Though it's only 8 since I broke my hip avoiding a ped in Whitehall my new Condor finally arrived and I got it set up on the Tacx training frame. Under the very watchful eye of Mrs IWF I carefully clambered on and spent 3 minutes free wheeling, before being told to get off.

The surgeon expects me to be fully weight bearing in another 4 weeks, then I can start walking without having to have two crutches. Who knows I might be able to commute again in a couple of months. Intensive physio to follow though in fairness I am quite mobile even now.

I've had to watch the mornings get lighter and the rest of the commuting world throw away the thermals and reach for the shorts. Damned annoying to have to sit in a taxi to be able to get virtually anywhere.

Still the Tacx look an exciting toy/ recovery tool. The real life video look really interesting. Mont Ventoux here I come, as long as the wife's not watching.

 

[benborp]

First of all congratulations on what must be an uplifting moment in your recovery and secondly the shiny new toys sound like a halfway decent compensation for missing the start of the good weather.

p.s. I think the wife will be able to tell if you attempt Ventoux even if she doesn't actually see it.

 

[Dayvo]

Glad to hear you're back on your pedals again!

Try not to rush things - easier said than done, but I'm sure you'll make a full recovery and be able to do the actual Ventoux!

 

[iwf]

Thanks

You can run the Tacx videos through media player, so I've just realised. Bloody Hell, that look one hell of a climb!!!

When I got the kit I also got a copy of the Amstel Gold. That video was filmed just before the race actually started, so you get crowds lining the road. Can't hear them shouting any encouragement, all the same.

Would really like to get out a real road, all the same. I wonder if she'd notice.........

 

[buggi]

i'm not sure it is a bad thing to be on the trainer to be honest. I have a bit of a theory, and it is only a theory after i broke my collar bone. everyone i know who got plastered (as in put in plaster not drunk!) have had problems with stiffness. altho i was in agony because you can't plaster a collar bone, i now have full movement back and no problems. also, when i had mended i had a rather large lump where the break was. more than one person told me to keep moving my arm round in circles as the body eats away excess bone that gets in the way, and reshapes it. seems to be true because its almost unnoticeable now.

so if you can do it gently for a few minutes a day i'd go for it. (but bear in mind i have no medical background so i could be talking complete bollox)

 

[fossyant]

Progress...take it easy....

 

[iwf]

I've a date with a sports physio on Thursday and my own physios tomorrow ( one advantage of working in a teaching hospital.)

I'm actually amazed at how well I'm feeling. Virtually no pain from the leg, and lots of mobility. Quite how well the bone has mended is another thing though.

Need to repeat to myself constantly. "take it easy".

The Condor is fantastic all the same. Can't wait to get it out on a real road. I wonder if i could get a pair of stablisers

 

[Bollo]

Congrats on the recovery iwf. Perhaps you could hack the Tacx trainer to have "take it easy" rendered on the road at regular intervals up Mt Ventoux.

 

[buggi]

it took me a week to mentally get back on the bike. there is an island at the bottom of my road which i have to turn right. i broke my right collar bone. i was terrified of slipping out knowing i would go down on that side if i did, and put it off for a week. i had to do it in the end because i had to ride to Paris the week after and i hadn't been on the bike for 9 weeks!

Weird thing was, after only 4 weeks i could get on the turbo, rest my hands on the handlebars with no pain. i think it was the way it broke, leaning on the handlebars pushed it back in place i think so i wasn't in pain. it was the only thing that didn't cause me pain. i couldn't actually lift it at all until about 7 weeks.

 

[summerdays]

You have to get back both mobility and strength. Much more minor for me- just an elbow, but although the mobility is back almost to normal, the strength is no where near back to normal. And I also found that I had some days when I felt I could do more followed by a tired day.

So make sure that you include some days when you rest it in between going on the trainer. (I'm not medical at all - just how I have found my recovery).

 

[iwf]

Bollo

there's actually a control in the software to lessen the effects of hills, in effect making them all flat, while still riding the route. The intention being to allow you take to work up to the full hill.

whatever, the leg hurts today. hopefully it's just the muscles.

much take things easy. must take things easy must take......