Oh, this is great! I got on the bike and started riding again, this past Saturday. I used to run out of air; this time, I'm out of muscle after a couple of miles. Like I said, great! The problems are gettin on, and especially getting off. I can no longer stomp the left pedal, take a couple of quick stutter steps, and swing my leg over the seat. No more, not for a while, anyway. I lean the bike way over to get a leg over the top tube. Getting off is worse. I fall so often that I just keep riding - at least till there's something about curb high for a little assistance.

So? I had several fractures of the pelvis this past April and this is a big deal. Three weeks spent mostly flat on the back got me a weight loss of 25 pounds, which would have been great if it were the fat going away. It wasn't. The good news is that the weight is staying down, and the fat isn't increasing.

Sounds tough, but I think you're on the right track. My stepson broke his pelvis (and a bunch of other stuff) in a car accident. He tried to use a stationary bike in physical therapy and just couldn't ride it for more than a few minutes, and he sas so sad that he walked out of PT and never went back. But a few weeks later he got on his bicycle and got his strength back by riding. It didn't really take as long as thought it would. I hope things go as well for you as it did for him.

I think it will. The first ride was better than expected, and it only gets better.

It's kind of amazing, the good things that happen when you finally take charge, isn't it? I stayed with therapy (my therapist is a pretty active cyclist) till the insurance ran out, but I make it clear from the outset that a full recovery was possible, and that he and I were going to make it happen. There is a ways to go but we're on track.

I understand about that "bunch of other stuff", Roody. Some things that would be a big deal by themselves become about insignificant when you can't walk or get in and out of bed without help.

Your technique for getting on the bike and taking off sounds quite risky, for someone who has recently had pelvic fractures especially. I've never done as you described (moving off before swinging the leg over the bike) in decades of riding. Is your seat too high? Does your bike have an unusually high bottom bracket? Maybe you need a different style of bike, such as a crank forward design, where you can easily reach the ground with your feet while seated. Can you try lowering your seat, as a temporary measure?

Nermal, I know that Siu Blue Wind would be doing this if she wasn't scampering around in the Sierras, so I'll do it for her:

{{{{{hugs}}}}} all around!

It's great to see that you're back to riding your bike finally.

{{{{{hugs}}}}} from me too!



East Hill

the best cures are time, persistence and of course, a good laugh....
we all struggle after a bad fall... whatever kind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GNB7xT3rNE&mode

r