One Knee Later

One knee year later. Last May I had a knee operation.  Originally I went for that option because I had done a short ride in May and could barely walk afterwards.  Thinking I was going to take a bike trip in mid-August, I rushed the decision. 

Turns out my estimate of the time for recovery was way off.  I do sort of think the doctor was not as helpful in this area as he could have been.  Although I did get on my bike after a month, I had to start with 5 mile rides and I only felt I could do a couple a week. 

So the end result was I cut down on my bicycling for most of the summer.  I barely managed to eke out a 1,000 miles for the year. 

So it is now a little over a year since the operation.  Where do I stand? 

A lot better.  For the longest time I wondered whether I should have gone for therapy and worked on this on my own. 

Well I'll never know the answer to the above, but things are looking up.  I still get a stiff leg if I stand for more than an hour or so but the riding seems OK. 

I have done a couple 20s and one 50 miler so far without any problems.  I've now ridden 18 out of the last 20 days.  No great mileage.  They have ranged from a low of 8 miles to a high of 17 miles.  Sometimes I can feel some stiffness, but for the most part, I get off the bike in great shape.

Bottom line?  I guess I went the right way after all.