Tandem Cycling - Trip in jeopardy

We have been planning our first unsupported credit card tour which is scheduled for the weekend of September 26th. I figured the weekend of the 12th would be our last weekend of hard riding before the trip with a couple of easy rides next weekend in the 40-50 mile range.

Things were going to plan until Saturday morning when the stoker rolled her ankle resulting in a pretty severe strain. Ankle has been iced and bandaged all weekend (after we completed 45 miles of the planned 70 mile ride) and is looking pretty good but I am not sure how it will effect on the bike performance.

The planned ride is 1 way from San Jose to Cambria via Big Sur, with stops in Monterey and Lucia. The nature of the Big Sur coast is "all or nothing" so if the ankle gives her problems halfway down the coast we will be in a bit of a jam.

Anyone have any input regarding ankle sprains and recovery time in regards to bike riding

Anyone have any input regarding ankle sprains and recovery time in regards to bike riding

There are sprains and there are sprains. Some result in no lack of mobility after a few minutes or hours, others - weeks.

About 25 years ago I sustained a grade III sprain. Also known as torn ligaments. I was unable to walk without crutches for 6-8 weeks, unable to walk without a serious limp except with the help of prescription painkillers for longer than that. However, I was back on the bike in about three weeks, as I recall, and did a pair of 45 mile rides at 5 weeks. I used toe clips at the time, and emphasized the good leg. Trick was careful dismounting. Because it's an ankle, I don't like the thought of unclipping with clipless pedals - sounds painful.

Bottom line - toe clips are probably better than clipless for the bad foot; expect to be able to ride, possibly favouring the bad foot, in perhaps half the time it takes to heal to the point of walking normally. How long that takes depends on age (we heal slower as we age) and severity of sprain.

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Bottom line - toe clips are probably better than clipless for the bad foot; expect to be able to ride, possibly favouring the bad foot, in perhaps half the time it takes to heal to the point of walking normally. How long that takes depends on age (we heal slower as we age) and severity of sprain.[/QUOTE]

Toe clip on sprained side makes somes sense ankle was not giving much trouble on ride until stoker had to get off the bike a couple of times. Other option is to take foot out of shoe and then remove shoe from pedal

Toe clip on sprained side makes somes sense ankle was not giving much trouble on ride until stoker had to get off the bike a couple of times. Other option is to take foot out of shoe and then remove shoe from pedal

If crutches or a cane are needed for walking, they can be strapped to the frame for easy access. Hiking poles, if you have them, are nice and compact when collapsed, and light weight. I rode the 45 miles each way (to my then girlfriend's house) with crutches tied to the top tube of my single.

If the ankle wasn't giving much trouble except when unclipping (and subsequently walking), a toe clip on that side may be all you need, plus possibly something to lighten the load on that ankle when walking off-bike.

Sprained ankles heal best if used - as in regularly put through their normal range of motion - but not stressed by putting undue load on them.

Tape it up if need be. Do the toeclip thing. Heck, even mount a 4.5HP Briggs & Stratton engine to the stoker's crank. But in any case ... GO!!!!

Cycling is ideal therapy for ankle sprains. She'll in all probability be A-OK. Big Sur is not that hard. And you still have about 2 weeks.

Andy

I sprained my ankle the day before the 2008 Southern Tandem Rally. It hurt a little to walk even after a pretty serious tape job. It had no affect on the bike other than the tape being very uncomfortable.

Frank

Recovery seems to be going well as the patient is getting excellent treatment from our daughter who is in year 4 of a kinesiology degree on her way to becoming a physical therapist. We will do 25 miles Thursday night if that goes well we will do 100 miles over Saturday and Sunday this weekend and 25 miles next Tuesday night. If things don't go well I may be looking for a stoker :)

Stokers ankle healed to a point where it was no longer an issue. We left Friday morning for our first credit card tour. We rode from San Jose to Cambria in 3 days total of 209 miles and 12,000 feet of climbing. We stayed on Cannery row in Monterey on Friday night and Lucia on Saturday night. This is a great ride if your thinking about it.....do it, if your not thinking about ....start thinking about it. I'm thinking our next ride should be up around Mendocino, anybody have any ideas on when the weather starts to turn rainy up there?