I'm back!

Pete Biggs said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

Well done. I hope the improvement continues.

Quoted message said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

At least you've been out during the dark hours. Better weather to
come, you'll be that much better by then too.

Just out of curiosity, put on any weight over the last three months?

Garry

Quoted message said:

An X-Ray last week confirmed that the bone is in good condition and I was
given "permission" to put full weight on the leg.

Today I managed 2 miles when I wasn't even sure I could do 100 yards. In
fact, it was the cold and an unusual burst of common sense that made me
come home rather than discomfort. Could have done quite a bit more.

I was expecting the leg muscles to be too stiff but thankfully the physio
stretching exercises have worked. Hip was disturbingly painful at first
(thought I had no chance) but lowering the saddle fixed that. (I'm using
flat pedals for the time being).

Then: only the odd twinge of slight pain and a general sense of fragility,
but basically, I was reasonably ok!! Not chronically nervous of the roads
either. I started on the pavement before remembering that it's actually
safer on the road.

Some worries remain about the actual hip joint (mainly because it was a
bit dodgy /before/ the accident) but I'm feeling optimistic right now.
And I hope my experience encourages anyone else with hip problems. You
can make a very good recovery after a hip operation, be that having it
screwed back together (like me) or replacement.

What a good form of transport cycling is. I can't even walk properly but
*can* ride a bike :-)

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

What a good form of transport cycling is. I can't even walk properly
but *can* ride a bike :-)

Well done Pete; you'll be off in no time. Not literally.

Pete Biggs said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

An X-Ray last week confirmed that the bone is in good condition and I was
given "permission" to put full weight on the leg.

Today I managed 2 miles when I wasn't even sure I could do 100 yards. In
fact, it was the cold and an unusual burst of common sense that made me
come home rather than discomfort. Could have done quite a bit more.

I was expecting the leg muscles to be too stiff but thankfully the physio
stretching exercises have worked. Hip was disturbingly painful at first
(thought I had no chance) but lowering the saddle fixed that. (I'm using
flat pedals for the time being).

Then: only the odd twinge of slight pain and a general sense of fragility,
but basically, I was reasonably ok!! Not chronically nervous of the roads
either. I started on the pavement before remembering that it's actually
safer on the road.

Some worries remain about the actual hip joint (mainly because it was a
bit dodgy /before/ the accident) but I'm feeling optimistic right now.
And I hope my experience encourages anyone else with hip problems. You
can make a very good recovery after a hip operation, be that having it
screwed back together (like me) or replacement.

What a good form of transport cycling is. I can't even walk properly but
*can* ride a bike :-)

Congrats on your return to the saddle. I suspect that your full recovery
will be slower than mine as legs are more critical for cycling than are
arms. However, I was very pleased at how rapidly I picked it up again
and how my technique[1] adapted to my limitations.

[1] My signalling left remains comical.

Response to Pete Biggs:

That's really good to hear! And you'll keep on improving...

--
Mark, UK.

"Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able
to find my way across the room."

garryb59 said:

Just out of curiosity, put on any weight over the last three months?

Don't think so. I'm one of those annoying people who can eat anything he
likes without putting an ounce on. Fortunatley the belly tends to feel
full before I can stuff too much in there. Cycling gives me an appetite,
though.

~PB

Not Responding said:

Congrats on your return to the saddle. I suspect that your full
recovery will be slower than mine as legs are more critical for
cycling than are arms. However, I was very pleased at how rapidly I
picked it up again
and how my technique[1] adapted to my limitations.

[1] My signalling left remains comical.

Do you do the motorist's signal then? ;-)

cheers
~PB

Pete Biggs said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

An X-Ray last week confirmed that the bone is in good condition and I was
given "permission" to put full weight on the leg.

Today I managed 2 miles when I wasn't even sure I could do 100 yards. In
fact, it was the cold and an unusual burst of common sense that made me
come home rather than discomfort. Could have done quite a bit more.

I was expecting the leg muscles to be too stiff but thankfully the physio
stretching exercises have worked. Hip was disturbingly painful at first
(thought I had no chance) but lowering the saddle fixed that. (I'm using
flat pedals for the time being).

Then: only the odd twinge of slight pain and a general sense of fragility,
but basically, I was reasonably ok!! Not chronically nervous of the roads
either. I started on the pavement before remembering that it's actually
safer on the road.

Some worries remain about the actual hip joint (mainly because it was a
bit dodgy /before/ the accident) but I'm feeling optimistic right now.
And I hope my experience encourages anyone else with hip problems. You
can make a very good recovery after a hip operation, be that having it
screwed back together (like me) or replacement.

What a good form of transport cycling is. I can't even walk properly but
*can* ride a bike :-)

~PB

Thats great news Pete. Stick at it mate.

Welcome back Pete!

I went out today after five weeks lay off through work and illness. I wish
it was only my hip that hurt, I suffered like a dog today for fifty miles of
hanging off the back, there are bits of me that hurt I didn't even know I
had!

But I must concur, it is GREAT to be back and out on the bike.

Dave

Ouch, that sounds like a horrendous injury, I'm super glad you're
recovering though. And able to cycle! It's truely wonderful to gain
back some mobility and freedom from personal experience.

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

Great news. Have fun.

T

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 17:36:01 -0000, "Pete Biggs"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

Hey, great news. Chin up, lad, we're all cheering for you.

Guy
--
"then came ye chavves, theyre cartes girded wyth candels
blue, and theyre beastes wyth straynge horn-lyke thyngs
onn theyre arses that theyre fartes be herde from myles
around." Chaucer, the Sheppey Tales

Pete Biggs said:

Not Responding said:

Congrats on your return to the saddle. I suspect that your full
recovery will be slower than mine as legs are more critical for
cycling than are arms. However, I was very pleased at how rapidly I
picked it up again
and how my technique[1] adapted to my limitations.

[1] My signalling left remains comical.

Do you do the motorist's signal then? ;-)

cheers
~PB

More to the point why do you actually signal left? I thought
cyclecraft recommended not to do it, and unfortunately I learnt this
lesson a little more strongly courtesy of an old biddy.

LSMike said:

More to the point why do you actually signal left? I thought
cyclecraft recommended not to do it, and unfortunately I learnt this
lesson a little more strongly courtesy of an old biddy.

It's true you don't often need to do it, more of a courtesy thing, but
what about when you're on the outside lane of a dual carriageway after
having overtaken an old biddy? ;-)

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

LSMike said:

More to the point why do you actually signal left? I thought
cyclecraft recommended not to do it, and unfortunately I learnt

this

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lesson a little more strongly courtesy of an old biddy.

It's true you don't often need to do it, more of a courtesy thing,

but

Quoted message said:

what about when you're on the outside lane of a dual carriageway

after

Quoted message said:

having overtaken an old biddy? ;-)

~PB

Yes, but do you generally signal left, and do other people here?
Although I'd prefer to be courteous, I'd much rather avoid being run
over by a [censored] of a cager.

LSMike said:

Yes, but do you generally signal left, and do other people here?
Although I'd prefer to be courteous, I'd much rather avoid being run
over by a [censored] of a cager.

I'll often give a quick left hand-signal but only when I'm very sure
that's it's safe to do so. Except in extreme circumstances, I don't
bother riding along for ages with my left arm fully extended or anything
like that. Rarely do with the right, actually.

~PB

LSMike said:

Pete Biggs said:

LSMike said:

More to the point why do you actually signal left? I thought
cyclecraft recommended not to do it, and unfortunately I learnt

this

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lesson a little more strongly courtesy of an old biddy.

It's true you don't often need to do it, more of a courtesy thing,

but

Quoted message said:

what about when you're on the outside lane of a dual carriageway

after

Quoted message said:

having overtaken an old biddy? ;-)

~PB

Yes, but do you generally signal left, and do other people here?
Although I'd prefer to be courteous, I'd much rather avoid being run
over by a [censored] of a cager.

I used to always signal left. The only danger (oh, go on then tell me
there are others) in doing so being that someone, knowing your going
left, tries to overtake you on the corner. I've always hoped that my
road positioning would put paid to that sort of nonsense.

Nowadays I don't signal left 'cos I can't. I rely almost entirely on
road positioning to protect my space. When I *have* to signal left (ie
multi lanes) it's a bit pathetic; I lift my arm all of 10 degrees from
vertical and point.

LSMike wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Yes, but do you generally signal left, and do other people here?
Although I'd prefer to be courteous, I'd much rather avoid being run
over by a [censored] of a cager.

I tend to signal left when the only other traffic is coming from the road
I'm turning onto. They probably won't run you down. Hopefully. If there's
just traffic behind me I sometimes signal at the last moment when there's
no time for them to come round the outside and attempt to kill me. :-/

--
Chris

Pete Biggs said:

Back on the bike, that is, three months after breaking my hip and three
frustrating months of no cycling whatsoever.

Glad to hear you're on the mend. How long before you attempt the LEJOG?

:-)

--
Chris