Hi Cyclists. Must have missed this thread when it started. Add another surfacehippy cyclist. I sent my "hip story" (under Dr. Ball patients). But the summary is that in pre-resurface life, I was active as both a hockey player and cyclist. I never raced, although I did participate in timed Tour de Tucson, MS 150s, Ragbrai, etc. In pre-resurf state, I had to quit hockey and so got more serious about cycling. Had my surgeries approx 10 months ago, and I'm now thinking of participating in a few sanctioned events this year.
Post surgery, I was able to get on my training stand fairly soon - between 1 and 2 weeks post op. I started with no resistance. My Dr's protocol suggested easy bicycle spinning as soon as possible/comfortable. As I recall, the biggest challenge was getting on the bike.
I had good fortune to have acquaintance w/ a Phys Therapist MD who is also a 2008 US National cycling champion - is that cool or what - and good insurance that allowed for a few months of Phys Therapy. So I had good rehab, that worked on not just the surgery related area, but also keeping the entire musculature structure ready for cycling.
Without asking (because I didn't want to get a no answer), I started riding outside at approx 3 months. I think the Dr. would have been OK with this, but the problem with a cycling-aware therapist is that she would have wanted all musculature healed enough to provide proper balance and to avoid the *&% happens" possibility. But I started easy and stuck to very lightly trafficed routes. It was around 4-5 months that I started really training outdoors - started with 30 or 35 for a long ride and then tried to add 5 miles every week. No problems at all with this gradual approach.
It's a joy to ride again w/out arthritic problems. Pre-surgery, I'd always look at my knees to see if it was going to be a ride-able day or not. Some days, the step over ROM would be problematic such that I'd have to move my knee out to get over the top of the pedal stroke. Then other muscles would start hurting, and I'd have to limp home practicing one-legged pedaling to give each hip/leg short breaks. Sometimes now I'll get a smile during a ride to look down and see those knees keeping a nice straight line.
Spencer, it'd be good to meet you some time, given our proximity. Based on my therapist's recommendation, I rode the shorter (80 mile) Tour de Tucson (I think she was more concerned about the demolition derby nature of the ride), so now I'm looking for a good century or maybe one of those Picacho TTs - or both.
Below is my last Tour de Tucson (2007 edition) on my God-given hips:
Keep lookin up,
-Dirk