Riding With Shiny New Titanium Joints! - Page 3

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, 09:35 AM

GaryT wrote:
> 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 have a friend of mine who got a total hip (left) and got back on his
bike as soon as he could stand it. He reports no specific problems. He's
also swimming. My my limited POV, his activity level increased due to
him feeling better than before. He started on the bike within months of
the total hip. YMMV.

-paul

08-02-2004, 09:35 AM

GaryT wrote:
> 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 have a friend of mine who got a total hip (left) and got back on his
bike as soon as he could stand it. He reports no specific problems. He's
also swimming. My my limited POV, his activity level increased due to
him feeling better than before. He started on the bike within months of
the total hip. YMMV.

-paul

08-02-2004, 09:35 AM

GaryT wrote:
> 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 have a friend of mine who got a total hip (left) and got back on his
bike as soon as he could stand it. He reports no specific problems. He's
also swimming. My my limited POV, his activity level increased due to
him feeling better than before. He started on the bike within months of
the total hip. YMMV.

-paul

08-02-2004, 09:35 AM

GaryT wrote:
> 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 have a friend of mine who got a total hip (left) and got back on his
bike as soon as he could stand it. He reports no specific problems. He's
also swimming. My my limited POV, his activity level increased due to
him feeling better than before. He started on the bike within months of
the total hip. YMMV.

-paul

08-02-2004, 09:35 AM

GaryT wrote:
> 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 have a friend of mine who got a total hip (left) and got back on his
bike as soon as he could stand it. He reports no specific problems. He's
also swimming. My my limited POV, his activity level increased due to
him feeling better than before. He started on the bike within months of
the total hip. YMMV.

-paul

08-02-2004, 03:49 PM

"Dan Daniel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Seems pretty possible to me. Many road bikes are set up with a more
> upright position- usually called' sport' or 'comfort' or some such
> name, a level or two below the full race models. Looking at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> looks like it could be adjusted to fit your needs. With a long steerer
> tube and spacers and various stems, it is possible to raise the bars
> and bring them back to lessen the amount of forward tilt in your
> pelvis. Look at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> and imagine the stem from the 1800 on the 1500. An easy swap to make
> at purchase, and then you can change the stem again as you are able to
> tilt forward more. (if you open the pages in two separate windows and
> click back and forth, you can see the changes pretty clearly- why I
> choose the trek site, but other companies have fine bikes)
>

Those are very nice rides. Thanks for the links. I've been looking at the
Giant OCR-3, the Specialized Sirrus, and the Scattante R550. All of these
have compact geometry. The Scattante seems like it offers good value.

> Sounds like you could use a really good bike shop that knows how to
> fit people and how to go over your position on a bike. And is willing
> to swap parts and make adjustments. Maybe remind them that more and
> more of their market is going to be people with limits just like yours
> as the population ages?

>
>
I've been to a couple - both have "Fit Kit" but I haven't made use of it
just yet. I'm also consulting with a couple of cyclists from the local bike
club. I don't know if the "...limits like yours as the population ages,"
argument will hold much water at the bike shop. I'm only 38 at the moment -
had my hip replaced at 36!! : )

Gary

08-02-2004, 03:49 PM

"Dan Daniel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Seems pretty possible to me. Many road bikes are set up with a more
> upright position- usually called' sport' or 'comfort' or some such
> name, a level or two below the full race models. Looking at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> looks like it could be adjusted to fit your needs. With a long steerer
> tube and spacers and various stems, it is possible to raise the bars
> and bring them back to lessen the amount of forward tilt in your
> pelvis. Look at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> and imagine the stem from the 1800 on the 1500. An easy swap to make
> at purchase, and then you can change the stem again as you are able to
> tilt forward more. (if you open the pages in two separate windows and
> click back and forth, you can see the changes pretty clearly- why I
> choose the trek site, but other companies have fine bikes)
>

Those are very nice rides. Thanks for the links. I've been looking at the
Giant OCR-3, the Specialized Sirrus, and the Scattante R550. All of these
have compact geometry. The Scattante seems like it offers good value.

> Sounds like you could use a really good bike shop that knows how to
> fit people and how to go over your position on a bike. And is willing
> to swap parts and make adjustments. Maybe remind them that more and
> more of their market is going to be people with limits just like yours
> as the population ages?

>
>
I've been to a couple - both have "Fit Kit" but I haven't made use of it
just yet. I'm also consulting with a couple of cyclists from the local bike
club. I don't know if the "...limits like yours as the population ages,"
argument will hold much water at the bike shop. I'm only 38 at the moment -
had my hip replaced at 36!! : )

Gary

08-02-2004, 03:49 PM

"Dan Daniel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Seems pretty possible to me. Many road bikes are set up with a more
> upright position- usually called' sport' or 'comfort' or some such
> name, a level or two below the full race models. Looking at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> looks like it could be adjusted to fit your needs. With a long steerer
> tube and spacers and various stems, it is possible to raise the bars
> and bring them back to lessen the amount of forward tilt in your
> pelvis. Look at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> and imagine the stem from the 1800 on the 1500. An easy swap to make
> at purchase, and then you can change the stem again as you are able to
> tilt forward more. (if you open the pages in two separate windows and
> click back and forth, you can see the changes pretty clearly- why I
> choose the trek site, but other companies have fine bikes)
>

Those are very nice rides. Thanks for the links. I've been looking at the
Giant OCR-3, the Specialized Sirrus, and the Scattante R550. All of these
have compact geometry. The Scattante seems like it offers good value.

> Sounds like you could use a really good bike shop that knows how to
> fit people and how to go over your position on a bike. And is willing
> to swap parts and make adjustments. Maybe remind them that more and
> more of their market is going to be people with limits just like yours
> as the population ages?

>
>
I've been to a couple - both have "Fit Kit" but I haven't made use of it
just yet. I'm also consulting with a couple of cyclists from the local bike
club. I don't know if the "...limits like yours as the population ages,"
argument will hold much water at the bike shop. I'm only 38 at the moment -
had my hip replaced at 36!! : )

Gary

08-02-2004, 03:49 PM

"Dan Daniel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Seems pretty possible to me. Many road bikes are set up with a more
> upright position- usually called' sport' or 'comfort' or some such
> name, a level or two below the full race models. Looking at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> looks like it could be adjusted to fit your needs. With a long steerer
> tube and spacers and various stems, it is possible to raise the bars
> and bring them back to lessen the amount of forward tilt in your
> pelvis. Look at this Trek-
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> and imagine the stem from the 1800 on the 1500. An easy swap to make
> at purchase, and then you can change the stem again as you are able to
> tilt forward more. (if you open the pages in two separate windows and
> click back and forth, you can see the changes pretty clearly- why I
> choose the trek site, but other companies have fine bikes)
>

Those are very nice rides. Thanks for the links. I've been looking at the
Giant OCR-3, the Specialized Sirrus, and the Scattante R550. All of these
have compact geometry. The Scattante seems like it offers good value.

> Sounds like you could use a really good bike shop that knows how to
> fit people and how to go over your position on a bike. And is willing
> to swap parts and make adjustments. Maybe remind them that more and
> more of their market is going to be people with limits just like yours
> as the population ages?

>
>
I've been to a couple - both have "Fit Kit" but I haven't made use of it
just yet. I'm also consulting with a couple of cyclists from the local bike
club. I don't know if the "...limits like yours as the population ages,"
argument will hold much water at the bike shop. I'm only 38 at the moment -
had my hip replaced at 36!! : )

Gary