In 1992, at the age of 41, I got an inguinal hernia repair about 5 weeks before I was scheduled to start my first big tour - from Seattle to San Luis Obispo. I was nervous, but after about 3 weeks I got on the bike and started riding, after 4 weeks I took a fairly strenuous mountain bike ride, and after 5 weeks I started the tour. I had no trouble, and 20 years later I still haven't had any trouble (other than needing my other side done about 8 years ago!)