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General Category >> rbent Lobby >> First Post-Surgery Ride
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Message started by Patti on Mar 22^nd, 2015, 8:10pm

Title: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Patti on Mar 22^nd, 2015, 8:10pm

Almost didn't happen. Have had big plans all week to get out riding after abdominal surgery on Monday. The doctor didn't restrict any activities except weight lifting but the weather had other plans. Finally, it got sunny and nice so we pulled out the trikes to take a ride around the hood. My husband was distracted by a mirror problem and didn't notice my rear tire was flat. I was puzzled because it has a brand new tube, installed just before the HOT and, while I didn't make the rally, my trike did. It wasn't ever ridden that weekend and has been sitting in our garage since it returned to Austin. When I went to inflate it, nothing happened. We have a new pump and I thought it might be the problem but a closer look at the tire revealed a blow out in the sidewall of the tire. I was completely mystified as to what would make an unridden tire explode while sitting in a garage but there it was. I know I have a spare tire in the garage but was unable to locate the correct box so it was off to the bike shop. Dallas Bike Works told me they didn't have a tire in the correct size. I was unconvinced but didn't quibble. It is a 26x1.5 - not exactly a rarity. Next stop was White Rock RBM. They didn't have anything good - the young man wanted to sell me a Serfas tire because it was puncture resistant but it was a 65 psi tire and looked like it would have the performance of a sloth. I mentioned the psi and he was genuinely surprised that I might want a higher pressure tire. I settled for a Vittoria Street Runner, at 75psi, just because I still wanted to ride today and didn't want to haggle about tires anymore. I expect it to have the durability of a slug in a salt mine but if it just holds up until I can get tires shipped (or find the missing one in the garage) I'll be happy. Anyway, after wasting most of my ride time on tires, I finally got out for an easy ride around the neighborhood. While I don't think I will want to do any climbing for another week or so, riding around here was really nice and not too painful. We only did about 4 miles but that felt like enough for starters. While it certainly isn't the very best ride I've ever had, it was probably the one I appreciate the most. It certainly feels good to be back in the sling mesh.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Bud_Bent on Mar 23^rd, 2015, 7:07pm

Good job. I did lots of short, easy pace rides after my lung surgery, and they really seemed to help me heal. Easy is the key word for a while.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Rawhide on Mar 24^th, 2015, 5:12am

Same deal for me after cancer surgery. I had three large drainage tubes running down from my upper back, each had a receptacle (bulb) the size of a small potato to catch fluid which I had to measure every day. What to do, I had to get out and ride. Ahhh, fanny pack! Strapped that on and stuffed the bulbs in it and did a lap around the neighborhood. That is the moment the real healing started, I was functional to ride!

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Patti on Mar 24^th, 2015, 9:05am

Thanks for the support. I so agree: getting back out and riding was the best thing I've done all week and gave me a real energy boost. I have a followup with my doctor tomorrow and if everything looks good, I'll begin working back up to regular mileage.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Monkeywrangler22 on Mar 25^th, 2015, 5:46am

Yay! [smiley=pepper.gif]

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Action Lad on Mar 25^th, 2015, 8:06am

Patti wrote:

They didn't have anything good - the young man wanted to sell me a Serfas tire because it was puncture resistant but it was a 65 psi tire and looked like it would have the performance of a sloth. I mentioned the psi and he was genuinely surprised that I might want a higher pressure tire.

Gee, there are plenty of high-horsepower women around, why would he be surprised? Argh!!

So glad things are progressing well, Patti!
It seems riding improves what ails you, from a cold, (my remedy), to recovery from surgery. A ride a day helps keep the doctor away. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by MrWizard on Mar 25^th, 2015, 11:37am

Good luck Patti, I had to quit riding a long time because of medical issues, those recovery rids are so sweet Keep it up!

I really get frustrated with RBM (and others) for never stocking what we need. I keep thinking to open a 'bent shop just because of that.

Action Lad wrote:

[quote author=Patti link=1427073036/0#0 date=1427073036]They didn't have anything good - the young man wanted to sell me a Serfas tire because it was puncture resistant but it was a 65 psi tire and looked like it would have the performance of a sloth. I mentioned the psi and he was genuinely surprised that I might want a higher pressure tire.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by aikigreg on Mar 25^th, 2015, 12:23pm

Good on ya!

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Patti on Mar 25^th, 2015, 5:02pm

Well, I was planning to take the trike to the doctor's office this morning. The rear tire was dead flat again. Wow. I knew it wasn't a great tire but seriously a flat in less than 4 miles? Fortunately it wasn't another blow out, just a hole. I got it patched and then found a clearance sale on some Marathon Racers online. Ordered those and looked at a Durano but just cannot bring myself to order one of those monsters for my back wheel. Its a great tire but I've never experienced anything so difficult to change. I had to buy new tire tools (all metal) today to replace a Quick Stik and set of Spin Doctor tire tools that broke when trying to change a Durano. :o

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by bob wand on Mar 25^th, 2015, 10:54pm

Patti wrote:

That's been my experience as well with both the Marathon Racers and Duranos with wire bead. When I started using the folders with kevlar bead it solved the problem of removing or mounting the tires. Kevlar beaded tires tend to stretch with mileage.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by jayg on Mar 26^th, 2015, 11:09am

Patti wrote:

Its a great tire but I've never experienced anything so difficult to change. I had to buy new tire tools (all metal) today to replace a Quick Stik and set of Spin Doctor tire tools that broke when trying to change a Durano.

Patti, are the Spin Doctor levers you broke this steel core product: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1168344_-1___000000. I use these levers for removing and installing slightly undersized, pain-in-the-neck tires. Never have broken one. The tough exterior plastic on the levers protects the rims. I've damaged rims when I've used bare steel levers and had to apply a lot force to remove or install a tire.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Patti on Mar 26^th, 2015, 11:25am

Yes, Jay. I've had them for several years but the business ends of all three cracked badly under the strain of trying to change the Duranos. The metal inside doesn't go all the way out to the tips. The Quick Stik actually snapped. I found a set of Summit tools yesterday that are all metal. I really liked the Spin Doctors as they were easy to hold and I liked the way they snap together for storage. These new ones may be a little harder to hold but I don't think they will break.

Bob, that is interesting. I have not had nearly the problem with my Marathon Racer as the Duranos. The Marathon I can get off by myself. The Durano takes me, my husband and an act of Congress. Fortunately, the Duranos have been very dependable and I've only had to change them when they wore out. If I had to do it right now, I'd bust all of my stitches.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by jrob_bent on Mar 26^th, 2015, 12:45pm

I love Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, but they don't make them in 20" tires. So I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus, and this guy from the UK on youtube made it easy for me to put them on and take them off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4 . It works on any beaded tire. Congrats on your post surgery ride. The doctor had me up and walking 2 miles 12 hours after kidney cancer surgery, and within a few days I was out riding again. It helps the mind and body!

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Patti on Mar 26^th, 2015, 5:11pm

Nice video. I've seen a couple of very similar ones but the use of the straps is new to me. I'll have to give that a try. Getting them on is actually easier than getting them off because I finally bought a Kool Stop Tire Jack. I only wish it could take the tires off as well as it assists in getting them on.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by MrWizard on Mar 27^th, 2015, 9:38am

http://amzn.com/B001BIZARI

Fastest way to get a tire on or off that I've found

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by jrob_bent on Mar 27^th, 2015, 7:46pm

You have to use the straps to take them off also. You have to keep the bead low so the tire can be pulled over the rim. I can do it without using tire levers...most times! Just make sure to squeeze the air out of the tire 1st. It is harder to get them off sometimes, but if you work the bead down just like putting them on and using the straps, you should be able to use the tire lever to get it started off the rim. Good luck.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by rmillay on Mar 30^th, 2015, 7:58pm

Good to hear you are able to get out so quickly, Patti.

Title: Re: First Post-Surgery Ride
Post by Patti on Mar 31^st, 2015, 1:25pm

Recovery has been really easy. Did a ride with some Easy Street folks on Saturday in Austin on the Walnut Creek Trail. Very nice ride with a couple of hills. We only did a short route, about 8 miles but it showed me that I was ready to go back to some climbing. No problems.

BTW, used that velcro strap trick when putting on my new Marathon Racer. Worked exceedingly well and I got the tire ( folder, not wire bead ) on without a tool. Amazing! Looking forward to trying that on one of my Duranos, although my next set of those will be folders too.