Got out of bed at 4a.m. somehow twisted my ankle. There were two loud cracks followed by blinding pain. I now face weeks of recuperation as my body gets used to the titanium that now reinforces my ankle. I stare forlornly at my collection. thoughts of tearing them all down and making one super steed, while my logical side says, to leave well alone.
oooh purgatory!!

Sorry to hear it. As a fellow, it's painful to look around at the glorious monuments to our youth. I've given several away and cried bitterly at every departure.
I earnestly hope you recover from this. Life is suffering, but at least suffering while astride a bicycle is suffering triumphantly and defiantly.
If it's a broken bone, try to exclude coffee and cola, and eat at least a half a fresh (not canned) pineapple every day, and maybe also try to include some bone marrow in your diet (like with ramen or soup).

I hope your ankle heals and that you can still ride. If not your current rides, then there are bicycles/tricycles made for the less abled, even some that are driven by hand power instead of foot power.

I have a couple of sets of TriColor ,600's, personal favorites. Suntour Luxe, ARX, Superbe probably never see a build. Shifters, brakes, beautiful set of Mafac Racers.
Have me feeling like a hoarder. But the I don't want to let them go for pennies, the market just sucks even here in S.F. To me they are art.


















9

Hang in there. I don’t know the particulars of your situation but I can share my experience. About 6 months ago I fell and broke my hip . I am healing with 3 screws that held my femur together until the bone grew back together. I have been back on my bike(s) for a couple of months but it ain’t easy to come back at 69 years old. I had some of the same thoughts as I was healing but I knew I would be back to riding so I just stayed the course . My favorite bike went through some minor changes and I also have another bike that is near completion. I kept a somewhat positive attitude although I had weak moments as I dealt with the physical and emotional pain of a life changing injury ….it ain’t fun. I did my first longer ride about two weeks ago and it felt great, still not where I was , but I can live with it. It will get better , even if it takes longer , I am determined . Stay the course ….. Joe

I'm in the same boat. A full NOS OEM Superbe Pro group I intended to build up on a Look Hinault frame, mostly to piss off the C-Record traditionalists. I gave that frame away, and it looks like the recipient doesn't share my Suntour counter-C-Record enthusiasm. But I got to ride that bike with Dura-Ace 7800 a few thousand miles. It was pretty flexy, but perhaps that was the C23 Dura Ace wheels.

I also have a 1984 Masi Gran Criterium built up with Ultegra 6400 Tricolore too. Too pretty to ride (the font on the frame is Comic-Sans, before any of us knew not to use that font on our resumes.) I nearly weep every time I glance at that bike in my living room. That bike showed me so much of the world. For a time, it was my best and only friend.

Sad to hear this, hope you make a full recovery.

Had a similar experience 3 years ago with a broken foot, surgery and a long recovery. It's hard to not be able to do the things you love.

I was going through the same feelings when I hurt my back a few years ago. I had a nerve pinched that took all the strength from my right quadricep. A chiropractor was able to get the nerve unpinched, but I needed physical therapy to regain the strength. After a couple weeks of PT, I was allowed to use the stationary bike. Then I went to riding a mountain bike on the road for a few miles at a time. After six months, I was back on the road bike. I'm glad I stuck it out, because, while I was recovering, I had tested a recumbent trike and it scared the hell out of me to be eye level with car bumpers.

Healing takes time, and when you are older it takes more time. Follow the advice of the doctors and physical therapists and you will get through it.

Dang I'm so sorry to hear about your ankle man. I've been going through deep thoughts on the (smaller) collection and sometimes I'll think 'Its all gonna go away!' and then I'll watch one of jjhabbs videos and think 'aw, whats the harm in having a few dozen bikes?' lol. So give it a moment to let all your thoughts settle and find a place to land. If you've got some items that appear more 'art' that would be hard to let go, maybe turn them into art - put 'em on a wall or display. I've got a few frames like that - I'll probably never ride them, but great memories. They'll probably go on the garage wall for now.

Heal up, rest up, and you'll be back in the saddle sooner than you think.

Two words from someone who has suffered the same fate:
1. Rehab consistently and with instructions from a PT specialist, hopefully with some sports medicine experience
2. BE PATIENT! A serious injury does not necessarily mean your done with cycling.
Addendum:
1. Consider a home exercise bike. Does not need to be anything fancy. I use a simple one would be OK for less then $200; does not need to have fancy metrics. Listen to your body and cycle when your spirit is at its best.
2. Keep to lower gears when you are back on the road.
Good luck!

for the interested, this is what occured from what I am still trying to figureout! the perfect torque at the perfectaaaaaaaangle !!!!!


ORIF, ANKLE
27814 - PR OPEN TREATMENT BIMALLEOLAR ANKLE FRACTURE

Other Implant
PLATE BONE LCP STAINLESS STEEL 1/3 TUBULAR COLLAR 7 HOLE NONSTERILE 85 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Implanted


Other Implant
SCREW BONE CORTEX STAINLESS STEEL SELF TAPPING HEXAGONAL SOCKET 18.0 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Wasted


Other Implant
SCREW BONE CORTEX STAINLESS STEEL SELF TAPPING HEXAGONAL SOCKET 22.0 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Wasted



Other Implant
SCREW BONE CORTEX STAINLESS STEEL SELF TAPPING HEXAGONAL SOCKET 24.0 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Implanted



Other Implant
SCREW BONE CORTEX STAINLESS STEEL SELF TAPPING HEXAGONAL SOCKET 12.0 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Implanted



Other Implant
SCREW BONE CORTEX STAINLESS STEEL SELF TAPPING HEXAGONAL SOCKET 14.0 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Implanted




3.5 CANNULATED FULL THREAD
Implanted




3.5 CANNULATED FULL THREAD
Implanted



Other Implant
SCREW BONE CORTEX STAINLESS STEEL SELF TAPPING HEXAGONAL SOCKET 20.0 X 3.5MM - LOG946494
Implanted

Don't panic. You might not be making the most reasonable choices right now. What you are suggesting seems a bit extreme. How much thought have you given it?

I was just literally reading ankle rehab exercises, the tab is still open on my laptop. I suffered the same fate just before Christmas, surgery took a while to arrange due to the holidays, but I also added to my titanium hardware collection. Now two months in, I just graduated from my walking boot, and will start PT next week.
I have been doing some home exercises while I've been down. Mainly upper body and core, since as a cyclist that sometimes get neglected, and I'm happy to say I notice some improvement. I'm looking forward to start spinning the pedals again though.
You, on the other hand, are going to have to take it easy for now. After your surgery dressing comes off, you may feel like you can start messing around, but I recommend you don't. You can start moving the ankle around a bit, but don't try to ride on it.
I did a ten minute roller ride after getting out of my cast. It felt fine, no pain, but later that day my foot really swelled. So try to be patient, and I wish you a speedy recovery.

WOW! I am a physician and have watched the medical field get increasingly sub-sub-specialized. This is a perfect example why...

please tell me more

My sub-specialty was (retired) neonatology, the care for sick newborn infants. I guess, since most of my research endeavors dealt with lung problems, I was sub-sub-specialized.
My orthopedics group that my wife and I go to has folks who concentrate on spine, shoulder/elbow, knee/hip/ankle, etc. Someone whose area of expertise is this narrow range usually has a greater breadth of knowledge within that area. Does not necessarily mean that he/she is better than a more generalized orthopedist, just more focused...
Hope that helps.

Sorry to here this, hope they get you sorted, I would encourage you to to get the bone density checked.

I am increasingly wary as cycling pulls resources from your body that can diminish bone strength.

Many articles cite lack of strength training can lead to this as we age, many of us have a predisposition or develop one creating a perfect storm, snap, crackle, pop.

Being laid up with a sprained wrist and ankle, I still can't imagine. Like others have said, be patient with yourself, don't make any big decisions right now, and do what your doctors tell you.

Be kind to yourself too; learn something new, work on your upper body strength, re-read a book that you love, and one you'd always meant to but never got around to it. And sleep; get plenty.

(Only took 10 minutes 1-handed! Yay me!)

1 handed, is there another way?

Funny enough, there is. I learned touch typing years ago, so my 1-handed is s l o o o w.

Yep, mine too.

Rats Thats a bad break...!

As for your stable, well I have never had more then a few bikes around the house. Just about 6 or seven. Years ago I set them up for my older abilities to ride. That is to say, my most comfortable dimensions. I did keep one set up like when I raced long ago, a modified PR10. Needles to say I can no longer ride it effectively and it has transitioned into a Wall Hanger.

Considering your injury and future recovery I would say take a painful step back, and hold off a while. You may in fact have a full recovery and laugh about it all in retrospect.

I personally only ride three of my bicycles but the others get ride time when ever the family gets together...

Keep your chin up. You WILL heal, and rehab will help you get back to your bike! If you don’t NEED to sell your fun parts, don’t out of frustration. Just let them sit because they aren’t hurting anything. When more mobile, you can sort and catalog, admire and organize, for when you DO get back to fuller strength.

Keep the faith; great things happening in medicine right now!