Took the Litespeed out for my last ride for about a month. My prostate surgery left my abdominal muscles weak and I have developed a hernia, just to left of my navel. It looks like I swallowed a large grapefruit - whole. I'm having the surgery May 12. The surgeon said it will be outpatient so I'll be home early afternoon. Then I get to look at the bikes hanging in the garage for at least 3 weeks. He said we'll discuss riding at my followup visit on May 31. Got my fingers crossed.
This would happen just when I finally got all the parts to repair my worn out 9-speed drivetrain. I won't be able to lift anything heavier than 10# so my wife will have to get the Litespeed off the bike holder so I can replace the chainrings, cassette and chain. Or maybe I'll wait until the doc says I can get back to "normal" activities. And my new wheels for the Cannondale from PSIMet.com (Bike Forums member [MENTION=46002]Psimet2001[/MENTION]) should be here in another week to 10 days. They too will have to sit in the garage waiting for that first ride.

I have 5 small scars from the prostate surgery. The surgeon said he will make 3 or maybe 4 small incisions to do the repair. My wife said she's going to play "connect the dots" on my abdomen after I heal up and with 8 or 9 "dots" she'll have lots of fun.


Just when I was beginning to come back "strong" from the prostate surgery I get to sit on the sidelines again.

I'm feeling your pain! Had emergency appendectomy at age 45 (huge scar), and a total prostatectomy at 52. If I tried to do sit-ups, the abdominal muscles would go berserk! I had to have another surgery to remove the scar tissue from those two prior surgeries.... Have been taking it easy (cycling-related) ever since. Of course, since I have been off the bike(s), I've packed on the pounds. Other heather-related matters come as a result. Now I've got to lose a bunch. My goal for this Summer (by the end of September) is to lose 30 pounds, and then another 30 in the following year just to get myself to where I was before that first surgery...

^^^
Good luck with the weight loss.

The good news is you will be riding again!

Sorry to hear that the EVO will be sitting on the sidelines ... but glad to hear that it's only temporary. Best wishes.

Have a speedy recovery. Let the bike stuff wait, there's no sense rushing that. The anticipation will make you enjoy wrenching a bit more, I bet.

Heck Ron - It must drive you nuts to be laid up just when you're getting fit again and the weather is nice. Here's hoping it heals quickly!

Maybe you can number them in a sequence so that when connected, they draw something interesting, like a bicycle.

I would grab a pen and add a few more dots that lead to somewhere more interesting. I wish you a speedy recovery!

So sorry to read about your health troubles--hope you get back on the bike quickly!
Health is everything and becomes so much more important as we age!
Good luck!

True words for you..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgPePk3kGZk.....and so you will!!!

getting old is not for weaklings.

I like it.


I'm not old yet. I'm only 71.

I'm slowly back riding after hernia repair surgery, though mine was an inguinal hernia so recovery rates may be very different. In fact, I suspect (and hope) you'll get back to "normal" much quicker than it's taking me!

In my case, my surgeon warned me to not try riding for 2 to 3 months post surgery

I admit, I thought that was kind of a ridiculously long time to wait, but I did wait three months and tried a very gentle ride. It didn't go very well - well, actually, I thought it was fine while I was riding, but in the middle of that night I had some pretty serious pain around my surgery area. So I waited for that to go down, then after several days when I felt ready I tried riding again, this time into work which is a mere 4 km. Halfway through that I realized that I wasn't ready for this. I got myself into work, then had to phone my wife to pick me (and my bike) up after work.

Slowly, I was able to get back to gentle riding. And I mean gentle! No Cat 6 racing, no cranking up hills, no pursuing a rider who's passed me, nothing but slowly riding my ride and resting whenever it seemed like a good idea. I literally rode like that for almost two months. Funny thing though: I found myself loving it, not being in any sort of hurry, just gently getting around on my bike at my pace and not caring at all about what anybody else was doing.

I'm getting close to my third month of riding, and now I'm feeling pretty good and I'm able to increase my distance and intensity gradually without causing problems. I'm still quite a long way from my "normal", but I'm able to do most things on a bike that I like to do and I'm incredibly thankful for that.

From what little I know, I think you'll probably get back much quicker from your surgery simply because of where your hernia is located. And I certainly hope you do!

Edit: just read your post again, and it seems pretty clear to me that you're going to have laparoscopic hernia repair (which wasn't a good option for mine) That just about guarantees you'll have a quicker recovery than me.

Darn Ron! Sorry to hear that. Hope the surgery goes well and you're on the back on the bike sooner than expected.

You're certain you didn't actually swallow a whole grapefruit??? Of course, a grapefruitectomy would keep you off the bike for a while, too............................................

Had the surgery yesterday. Got home about 3:30PM. I have a wide (~18") compression band wrapped around my waist. The doc said no showering until Sunday morning so a sponge bath will have to do.
Tried getting in the bed last night but it was too painful so "slept" in the chair. Maybe tonight I'll be able to get in the recliner.
Getting old is not for sissies.

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery!

Maybe sleeping on a bike would be better. Just no riding till approved.

At the age of 68 (in June) and having been a Type 1 diabetic for 52 years the wear and tear is starting to negatively impact my bicycling. But, only temporarly

A couple of months ago I chaffed my right foot (while walking 20K steps a day in a month-long team event) and developed a pressure ulcer that is still taking it's time to heal - another week or 2 and it will finally close. It was complicated by getting infected and after several swabs and different anti-biotics that issue ended. Now healing normally with Manuka honey, high tech dressings and simply off loading weight with crutches. Back on the bike by June, I thought...

Then 3 weeks ago was diagnosed with a blood clot/hemorrhage (macular degeneration)in my left eye and a cataract as well. Emergency operation here in Doha and a 7 day hospital stay to make sure there were no complications. Amazing recovery but I notice some degeneration in the left center of the vision field. Back to work this coming week.

No matter, going travelling in July and August with my lovely. She and I will be taking 2 Bromptons for short jaunts in Eastern Canada, the UK and maybe France.

Life is good. Excellent fact , as I just heard an old friend from HS days died of stomach cancer. Moral of the story is: pedal as often as your body allows you to do so - and listen to your body so it will treat you well Reciprocity is rewarding.