Riding after surgery… advice/ positivity request!
Discussion
Seasons greetings!
Best gift I could have had this year, out of hospital by day 6 post op having separate stomach, bowl and liver tumours removed. NHS amazing, staff awesome: I feel very fortunate. Some future treatments ahead for my liver but I am up for that and want to get fit to do family stuff and ride my pedal bikes and 1200 GS again and get back to work. I don’t do sitting around… but totally understand things take time.
I can understand how my body feels when walking, moving around the house and have a good understanding of how to slowly build my fitness back up to my previous levels, albeit they were nothing exceptional (prior to Op 6 miles a day walking on open hilly ground, mountain and road bike at the weekend ) 4 years ago I dealt with throat cancer and an ebike was instrumental in helping me get fit post radio/ chemo and stay sane- it’s my release time from being ‘ill’.
So the reason for this long winded post is how do those of you who have had stomach surgery know when you have the core strength back to ride again. The GS is big but so stable at speed. Obviously for me it’s the slow speed/ foot down on loose gravel/ bike begins to slip that I am worried about. I am not sure I want to change from the GS but will if I have to. I am 6’3 so can get my foot down flat. The core strength for long rides will come in time. It’s the unexpected ‘slip’ that is my concern?
Wasn’t sure about if this should go in Health Matters’ or elsewhere but it’s bike advice I need.
I have no expectations that it will be in the next month; 70 odd metal staples to remove before then anyway….
If you think the GS may be just ‘too big’ then what bike could I consider instead. The bike is there to make me smile, short runs to work, 150 mile blast every few weeks and hopefully a short euro / extended UK jaunt in the summer- nothing off road.
Apologies for the long post
Stay safe and enjoy your ride, you don’t know what is around the corner!
Best gift I could have had this year, out of hospital by day 6 post op having separate stomach, bowl and liver tumours removed. NHS amazing, staff awesome: I feel very fortunate. Some future treatments ahead for my liver but I am up for that and want to get fit to do family stuff and ride my pedal bikes and 1200 GS again and get back to work. I don’t do sitting around… but totally understand things take time.
I can understand how my body feels when walking, moving around the house and have a good understanding of how to slowly build my fitness back up to my previous levels, albeit they were nothing exceptional (prior to Op 6 miles a day walking on open hilly ground, mountain and road bike at the weekend ) 4 years ago I dealt with throat cancer and an ebike was instrumental in helping me get fit post radio/ chemo and stay sane- it’s my release time from being ‘ill’.
So the reason for this long winded post is how do those of you who have had stomach surgery know when you have the core strength back to ride again. The GS is big but so stable at speed. Obviously for me it’s the slow speed/ foot down on loose gravel/ bike begins to slip that I am worried about. I am not sure I want to change from the GS but will if I have to. I am 6’3 so can get my foot down flat. The core strength for long rides will come in time. It’s the unexpected ‘slip’ that is my concern?
Wasn’t sure about if this should go in Health Matters’ or elsewhere but it’s bike advice I need.
I have no expectations that it will be in the next month; 70 odd metal staples to remove before then anyway….
If you think the GS may be just ‘too big’ then what bike could I consider instead. The bike is there to make me smile, short runs to work, 150 mile blast every few weeks and hopefully a short euro / extended UK jaunt in the summer- nothing off road.
Apologies for the long post
Stay safe and enjoy your ride, you don’t know what is around the corner!
Loving your positivity.
Haven't had the operations so can't be much help. But, are you over thinking it? If you are going to get your core strength back enough to ride then you should be OK when stopped/ foot down. If you can get your foot flat, can you do it with both feet at the same time? No doubt normally when you stop, you use just one foot. At the moment of actually stopping put both feet down for a feeling of security. On level ground even with one foot you are not really taking any of the bike weight, the issue would be gravel / slope /where your foot slips slightly, hence try two feet. As you've got an ebike try that first, when stopped try unbalancing it a bit, can your leg / core recover it before you fall off?
For core strength I use Pilates these days, but you'll need medical advice to check when you can do that after your surgery.
Good luck
Haven't had the operations so can't be much help. But, are you over thinking it? If you are going to get your core strength back enough to ride then you should be OK when stopped/ foot down. If you can get your foot flat, can you do it with both feet at the same time? No doubt normally when you stop, you use just one foot. At the moment of actually stopping put both feet down for a feeling of security. On level ground even with one foot you are not really taking any of the bike weight, the issue would be gravel / slope /where your foot slips slightly, hence try two feet. As you've got an ebike try that first, when stopped try unbalancing it a bit, can your leg / core recover it before you fall off?
For core strength I use Pilates these days, but you'll need medical advice to check when you can do that after your surgery.
Good luck
Thanks all; wrote the post after thinking/ dreaming about the bike last night- I think the comment about ‘overthinking’ is probably spot on.
For some reason I hadn’t thought through I’ll be building back to walking, walking in the woods, pedal a bike on the road, then off road etc long before I try the motorbike! All of those steps will be building strength, flexibility and confidence.
Regarding other bikes, the thoughts about having to swap are probably rooted in too much access to YouTube in hospital:-) Lots of distraction from all the noise of the ward when you are watching bike reviews!
Thanks for the feedback Gents. Enjoy the next few days! And whatever else follows obviously…
For some reason I hadn’t thought through I’ll be building back to walking, walking in the woods, pedal a bike on the road, then off road etc long before I try the motorbike! All of those steps will be building strength, flexibility and confidence.
Regarding other bikes, the thoughts about having to swap are probably rooted in too much access to YouTube in hospital:-) Lots of distraction from all the noise of the ward when you are watching bike reviews!
Thanks for the feedback Gents. Enjoy the next few days! And whatever else follows obviously…
Skeptisk said:
Great attitude. In your shoes though I would be looking at riding something where I could get both feet flat on the ground. Preferably lightweight too. Something like a KTM Duke 390.
I was about to suggest a Duke 790 or 890 thinking the same, just a bit more pep for the fun factorThe big danger in keeping a big old heavy bike isn’t the everyday riding but if your foot goes into a pothole (as an example) when you stop.
All your instincts will be to keep it upright with a huge amount of strain on your shoulders and to a certain extent your core as well.
You’ll probably hurt yourself before you even know it.
Saying that, im like you and would probably take the risk anyway on the assumption that nothing would go wrong.
nute said:
I don’t have any suggestions but just wanted to say it’s great to see someone who is so positive, even when life has dealt you some s
tty cards. I hope your recovery goes well and enjoy your biking.
Thanks, appreciate that comment. There isn’t, for me at least a viable or preferable option; just got to keep moving forwards and appreciate all the staff, their training and dedication, that have let me get this far. tty cards. I hope your recovery goes well and enjoy your biking.Not everyone’s cancer journey can be like mine, and that must be truly terrifying for them and their friends and family.
Bikes offer something different, something to focus on- both when riding or planning to ride. They work for me as a way to clear away the darker thoughts and embrace something positive.
Krikkit said:
I was about to suggest a Duke 790 or 890 thinking the same, just a bit more pep for the fun factor
I learned on a 125 Husqy, and loved it. The dealer also sold KTMs, although at this point in time, I looked mainly at the 890 Adventures etc the Dukes could be a future possibility. How do taller riders find them; yes I want to get my feet down but equally I don’t want to be too ‘scrunched’ up when riding along?
I had a 7hr op at the end of the year 2000, Crohn's disease, about 5-6ft of insides now AWOL and I had a bag fitted.
I had a st1100 at the time.
I gave it a few months, maybe 5 , can't remember now.
It gives you something to focus on, so you heal quicker, pma and all that
The st11 probably wasn't the Ideal bike as they are made of lead
I noticed I had lost a lot of muscle and tone and the bike helped get some back as it's a mini workout.
I had a st1100 at the time.
I gave it a few months, maybe 5 , can't remember now.
It gives you something to focus on, so you heal quicker, pma and all that
The st11 probably wasn't the Ideal bike as they are made of lead
I noticed I had lost a lot of muscle and tone and the bike helped get some back as it's a mini workout.
In October ‘22 i suffered a serious knee injury, although I didn’t have surgery. I don’t ride in the winter anyway and by the time the beginning of my riding season started (about 6 months later) my knee was fully recovered, although it will never have the same strength & stability as before. I was determined to get riding again, but my confidence was shot as I feared the consequences of my knee giving way when I come to a stop. Kept thinking about damaging my knee again, falling over onto a car at a junction, damaging my bike, etc.
So I bought an older Honda 500cc to get my confidence back. Smaller & lighter than my existing bike, crucially a lower seat height, and not the end of the world if it did get damaged from falling over. After about a month of no incidents, I moved back to my main bike and have been fine since. I haven’t sold that Honda yet but will in the spring and hope to recoup the purchase price.
So that’s my advice, get a temporary smaller/lighter bike of lesser value, and use that to build-up your biking strength and to reassure your brain that you’ll be fine on your main bike.
So I bought an older Honda 500cc to get my confidence back. Smaller & lighter than my existing bike, crucially a lower seat height, and not the end of the world if it did get damaged from falling over. After about a month of no incidents, I moved back to my main bike and have been fine since. I haven’t sold that Honda yet but will in the spring and hope to recoup the purchase price.
So that’s my advice, get a temporary smaller/lighter bike of lesser value, and use that to build-up your biking strength and to reassure your brain that you’ll be fine on your main bike.
Totally understand how you feel. I had a big surgery 5 months ago followed by another smaller one a month back, both cancer related like yours. I have a huge amount of stitches & docs advice to be very careful for a year with physical activity involving lifting.
I’m working up the confidence to get back on the bike this wk, but what I have done is bought a Helite airbag vest to try & protect everything if there is an issue… I’m also being very careful when moving the bike about as don’t want the weight dropping the wrong way.
Best of luck with everything op
I’m working up the confidence to get back on the bike this wk, but what I have done is bought a Helite airbag vest to try & protect everything if there is an issue… I’m also being very careful when moving the bike about as don’t want the weight dropping the wrong way.
Best of luck with everything op
Impressive dedication after some pretty big ops. I hope you make a speedy recovery.
As to the bike - please don’t take this the wrong way, GS owners - but I really don’t “get” them at all. They’re just huge, heavy cruisers. They’re not an off road weapon unless in the hands of someone very skilled. What does one of them weigh when kitted up with all the Charlie and Ewan gear - boxes, bars, piaa lights etc - weigh? 350kg?
As Drawweight pointed out - it’s the pothole, dip where you can’t touch down etc that will be your undoing.
Do you carry a pillion? If not then why do you need a barge like a GS? What about something lighter like the GS 800, KTM790, Tenere 700, Tiger. All great bikes but much more manageable and putting less strain on you to manoeuvre.
As to the bike - please don’t take this the wrong way, GS owners - but I really don’t “get” them at all. They’re just huge, heavy cruisers. They’re not an off road weapon unless in the hands of someone very skilled. What does one of them weigh when kitted up with all the Charlie and Ewan gear - boxes, bars, piaa lights etc - weigh? 350kg?
As Drawweight pointed out - it’s the pothole, dip where you can’t touch down etc that will be your undoing.
Do you carry a pillion? If not then why do you need a barge like a GS? What about something lighter like the GS 800, KTM790, Tenere 700, Tiger. All great bikes but much more manageable and putting less strain on you to manoeuvre.
ssray said:
I had a 7hr op at the end of the year 2000, Crohn's disease, about 5-6ft of insides now AWOL and I had a bag fitted.
I had a st1100 at the time.
I gave it a few months, maybe 5 , can't remember now.
It gives you something to focus on, so you heal quicker, pma and all that
The st11 probably wasn't the Ideal bike as they are made of lead
I noticed I had lost a lot of muscle and tone and the bike helped get some back as it's a mini workout.
Love the description of some of your insides being ‘AWOL’ ; I think I’ll be stealing that line…really made me chuckle. Great to learn you got back on, and the bike is helping you to keep fit I had a st1100 at the time.
I gave it a few months, maybe 5 , can't remember now.
It gives you something to focus on, so you heal quicker, pma and all that
The st11 probably wasn't the Ideal bike as they are made of lead
I noticed I had lost a lot of muscle and tone and the bike helped get some back as it's a mini workout.
Dog Star said:
Impressive dedication after some pretty big ops. I hope you make a speedy recovery.
As to the bike - please don’t take this the wrong way, GS owners - but I really don’t “get” them at all. They’re just huge, heavy cruisers. They’re not an off road weapon unless in the hands of someone very skilled. What does one of them weigh when kitted up with all the Charlie and Ewan gear - boxes, bars, piaa lights etc - weigh? 350kg?
As Drawweight pointed out - it’s the pothole, dip where you can’t touch down etc that will be your undoing.
Do you carry a pillion? If not then why do you need a barge like a GS? What about something lighter like the GS 800, KTM790, Tenere 700, Tiger. All great bikes but much more manageable and putting less strain on you to manoeuvre.
Don’t worry, won’t take the GS comment the wrong way. Probably fair to say the Charlie and Ewan factor played a part. I am tall, 6’3 and liked the space it gave, the ability to easily take Mrs GingerBiker as pillion and the ease with which it would let me tour. Went to Germany last summer. Bike was awesome. Zero intention of going off road on it though! I’d always wanted an GS and after the throat cancer (and selling my trials bikes) when I got fitter I just thought, ‘why not?’. As to the bike - please don’t take this the wrong way, GS owners - but I really don’t “get” them at all. They’re just huge, heavy cruisers. They’re not an off road weapon unless in the hands of someone very skilled. What does one of them weigh when kitted up with all the Charlie and Ewan gear - boxes, bars, piaa lights etc - weigh? 350kg?
As Drawweight pointed out - it’s the pothole, dip where you can’t touch down etc that will be your undoing.
Do you carry a pillion? If not then why do you need a barge like a GS? What about something lighter like the GS 800, KTM790, Tenere 700, Tiger. All great bikes but much more manageable and putting less strain on you to manoeuvre.
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