Riding With Shiny New Titanium Joints! - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-01-2004, 09:25 PM

"Dan Daniel" wrote: (clip)I appreciate any information and/or help with my
question.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I had my right hip replaced last September, and I was urged to ride a
stationary bike as part of the recovery therapy. As you know, there are a
number of restrictions on your hip during recovery--the 90 degree angle is
one of them. I was given to understand that this limit is relaxed as your
hip heals and the muscles become strong again. It has nothing in particular
to do with bicycles--it applies to tying your shoes, bending over to pick
things up, and your movements in general. It seems to me that by now, after
two years, you should be able to do just about anything you want. Of
course, your case may be different than mine, so you should go by what your
surgeon says.

But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
be able to use your feet in an emergency.

If you are required to observe the 90 degree limit, be sure your seat is not
too low, and your crank arms are not too long.

Ain't it wonderful to be back on a bike? And no more pain!

08-02-2004, 02:48 AM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote
>
> But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
> take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
> originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
> For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
> be able to use your feet in an emergency.

I don't know about this. I think clipless pedals are mostly a safety feature.

Two of my friends have had hip replacement, and another has had a knee done.
They all are ultra-cyclists. One of the guys completed a
Boston-Montreal-Boston (1200K/750 mi in < 90 hr) 8 months after surgery.

08-02-2004, 02:48 AM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote
>
> But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
> take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
> originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
> For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
> be able to use your feet in an emergency.

I don't know about this. I think clipless pedals are mostly a safety feature.

Two of my friends have had hip replacement, and another has had a knee done.
They all are ultra-cyclists. One of the guys completed a
Boston-Montreal-Boston (1200K/750 mi in < 90 hr) 8 months after surgery.

08-02-2004, 02:48 AM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote
>
> But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
> take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
> originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
> For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
> be able to use your feet in an emergency.

I don't know about this. I think clipless pedals are mostly a safety feature.

Two of my friends have had hip replacement, and another has had a knee done.
They all are ultra-cyclists. One of the guys completed a
Boston-Montreal-Boston (1200K/750 mi in < 90 hr) 8 months after surgery.

08-02-2004, 02:48 AM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote
>
> But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
> take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
> originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
> For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
> be able to use your feet in an emergency.

I don't know about this. I think clipless pedals are mostly a safety feature.

Two of my friends have had hip replacement, and another has had a knee done.
They all are ultra-cyclists. One of the guys completed a
Boston-Montreal-Boston (1200K/750 mi in < 90 hr) 8 months after surgery.

08-02-2004, 02:48 AM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote
>
> But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
> take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
> originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
> For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
> be able to use your feet in an emergency.

I don't know about this. I think clipless pedals are mostly a safety feature.

Two of my friends have had hip replacement, and another has had a knee done.
They all are ultra-cyclists. One of the guys completed a
Boston-Montreal-Boston (1200K/750 mi in < 90 hr) 8 months after surgery.

08-02-2004, 04:34 AM

"GaryT" <garyleslee@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news

FiPc.7069$ni7.1715@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> Hi,
> I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long
ago.
> I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of
exercise
> in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years
ago.
>
> I've been advised that riding and swimming will be kindest to the
prosthesis
> as far as maintaining long-term viability. So, I'm (attempting to) ride.
I
> have a way to go in the endurance department.
>
> To the bicycle question. Because of the prosthesis, I was advised to
> purchase a hybrid/comfort style bike in order to stay within the parameter
> of keeping at least a ninety-degree angle between my torso and thigh while
> riding. I did and have been as true to this restriction as possible.
After
> a great two-year checkup, I've been told I could lower the angle to around
> 80 degrees and above.
>
> Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
> bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
> extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
> lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
> increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.
>
> I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.
>
> Thanks,
> Gary

Congrats on being back on the bike.

I think you need to get to a different doctor/surgeon for some more
opinions. I think yours is a weenie. There are those who know about
exercise and those who don't. I had my upper femoral lobe nearly severed
when I was hit by a car while riding just under 2 years ago. Apparently, it
was a tough decision for my doc between replacement and repair. She went
the repair route. The downside, she said, was a much longer rehabilitation
than a new hip would have required. But even with that longer rehab (and
several other severe injuries, too), I was riding my racing bike on a
trainer in six weeks. In five months, I rode my first century ... in VERY
hilly terrain ... in under 5 hours. I was 47 at the time.

I know my circumstances are somewhat different, but I know some doctors are
overly-cautious weenies when it comes to stuff like this. You're never
going to know your limits until you test them. Two years of babying your
hip seems quite excessive to me.

I know at least one guy I ride with sometimes who has an artificial hip. He
rides mostly in the mountains 'cuz that's where he lives. He rides a racing
bike. He's about 50. I haven't heard of him having any problems.

08-02-2004, 04:34 AM

"GaryT" <garyleslee@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news

FiPc.7069$ni7.1715@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> Hi,
> I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long
ago.
> I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of
exercise
> in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years
ago.
>
> I've been advised that riding and swimming will be kindest to the
prosthesis
> as far as maintaining long-term viability. So, I'm (attempting to) ride.
I
> have a way to go in the endurance department.
>
> To the bicycle question. Because of the prosthesis, I was advised to
> purchase a hybrid/comfort style bike in order to stay within the parameter
> of keeping at least a ninety-degree angle between my torso and thigh while
> riding. I did and have been as true to this restriction as possible.
After
> a great two-year checkup, I've been told I could lower the angle to around
> 80 degrees and above.
>
> Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
> bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
> extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
> lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
> increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.
>
> I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.
>
> Thanks,
> Gary

Congrats on being back on the bike.

I think you need to get to a different doctor/surgeon for some more
opinions. I think yours is a weenie. There are those who know about
exercise and those who don't. I had my upper femoral lobe nearly severed
when I was hit by a car while riding just under 2 years ago. Apparently, it
was a tough decision for my doc between replacement and repair. She went
the repair route. The downside, she said, was a much longer rehabilitation
than a new hip would have required. But even with that longer rehab (and
several other severe injuries, too), I was riding my racing bike on a
trainer in six weeks. In five months, I rode my first century ... in VERY
hilly terrain ... in under 5 hours. I was 47 at the time.

I know my circumstances are somewhat different, but I know some doctors are
overly-cautious weenies when it comes to stuff like this. You're never
going to know your limits until you test them. Two years of babying your
hip seems quite excessive to me.

I know at least one guy I ride with sometimes who has an artificial hip. He
rides mostly in the mountains 'cuz that's where he lives. He rides a racing
bike. He's about 50. I haven't heard of him having any problems.

08-02-2004, 04:34 AM

"GaryT" <garyleslee@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news

FiPc.7069$ni7.1715@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> Hi,
> I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long
ago.
> I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of
exercise
> in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years
ago.
>
> I've been advised that riding and swimming will be kindest to the
prosthesis
> as far as maintaining long-term viability. So, I'm (attempting to) ride.
I
> have a way to go in the endurance department.
>
> To the bicycle question. Because of the prosthesis, I was advised to
> purchase a hybrid/comfort style bike in order to stay within the parameter
> of keeping at least a ninety-degree angle between my torso and thigh while
> riding. I did and have been as true to this restriction as possible.
After
> a great two-year checkup, I've been told I could lower the angle to around
> 80 degrees and above.
>
> Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
> bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
> extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
> lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
> increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.
>
> I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.
>
> Thanks,
> Gary

Congrats on being back on the bike.

I think you need to get to a different doctor/surgeon for some more
opinions. I think yours is a weenie. There are those who know about
exercise and those who don't. I had my upper femoral lobe nearly severed
when I was hit by a car while riding just under 2 years ago. Apparently, it
was a tough decision for my doc between replacement and repair. She went
the repair route. The downside, she said, was a much longer rehabilitation
than a new hip would have required. But even with that longer rehab (and
several other severe injuries, too), I was riding my racing bike on a
trainer in six weeks. In five months, I rode my first century ... in VERY
hilly terrain ... in under 5 hours. I was 47 at the time.

I know my circumstances are somewhat different, but I know some doctors are
overly-cautious weenies when it comes to stuff like this. You're never
going to know your limits until you test them. Two years of babying your
hip seems quite excessive to me.

I know at least one guy I ride with sometimes who has an artificial hip. He
rides mostly in the mountains 'cuz that's where he lives. He rides a racing
bike. He's about 50. I haven't heard of him having any problems.

08-02-2004, 04:34 AM

"GaryT" <garyleslee@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news

FiPc.7069$ni7.1715@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> Hi,
> I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long
ago.
> I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of
exercise
> in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years
ago.
>
> I've been advised that riding and swimming will be kindest to the
prosthesis
> as far as maintaining long-term viability. So, I'm (attempting to) ride.
I
> have a way to go in the endurance department.
>
> To the bicycle question. Because of the prosthesis, I was advised to
> purchase a hybrid/comfort style bike in order to stay within the parameter
> of keeping at least a ninety-degree angle between my torso and thigh while
> riding. I did and have been as true to this restriction as possible.
After
> a great two-year checkup, I've been told I could lower the angle to around
> 80 degrees and above.
>
> Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
> bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
> extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
> lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
> increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.
>
> I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.
>
> Thanks,
> Gary

Congrats on being back on the bike.

I think you need to get to a different doctor/surgeon for some more
opinions. I think yours is a weenie. There are those who know about
exercise and those who don't. I had my upper femoral lobe nearly severed
when I was hit by a car while riding just under 2 years ago. Apparently, it
was a tough decision for my doc between replacement and repair. She went
the repair route. The downside, she said, was a much longer rehabilitation
than a new hip would have required. But even with that longer rehab (and
several other severe injuries, too), I was riding my racing bike on a
trainer in six weeks. In five months, I rode my first century ... in VERY
hilly terrain ... in under 5 hours. I was 47 at the time.

I know my circumstances are somewhat different, but I know some doctors are
overly-cautious weenies when it comes to stuff like this. You're never
going to know your limits until you test them. Two years of babying your
hip seems quite excessive to me.

I know at least one guy I ride with sometimes who has an artificial hip. He
rides mostly in the mountains 'cuz that's where he lives. He rides a racing
bike. He's about 50. I haven't heard of him having any problems.