Well looks like I won't make a TdF 2018 team either! Just had my 3rd back surgery since '04 and neck surgery in 93. All a gift from my mother. This one was easy but the MRI revealed I have collapsed disc at L2-3 and severe stenosis (stenosis isn't a big deal just hurts badly when the spinal nerve gets irritated). I assume this means fusion again ( previously at L-4-5) or disc replacement. There is a point to the whining. I am thinking of buying a tadpole recumbent trike- a sporty type but with full suspension. I ride on chipped seal roads that that can be rough in places due to poor road maintenance. I was thinking if I get one with sufficient seat angle this should support my back better than a tradition bike. I don't plan on stopping ridding my road bikes but i think I could do much of my base, endurance miles on the trike. I'm looking at the Catrike Dumont and ICE Sprint 26 X FS. Anyone with any experience? I will also post this in the recumbent forum but wanted to post here among us "more senior riders". I will be 72 shortly and have no intention of "going gently into the night".