Cycling UK Forum

In about 4 weeks im due to have an operation to fuse a joint in the thumb and more than likely i will be in a cast for a while , i was keen to explore the idea of turbo trainer set up with aero bars to keep pressure off the joint .
After reading about sweat etc i am not so sure and wonder if anyone has any insight into it ? i am liable to be sidelined for a month and moving forward has anyone else had a similar operation and hwo did you find riding after the joint had healed ?

Have you explored this directly with the orthopaedic team and told them how you'd like to exercise?

I recommend writing down questions and taking them to the consultation so that you don't forget any. And asking if you can stay in touch with them by eg email.

...

Aero bars on the trainer sound sensible. What are your positions on other HPVs... including where they place your thumb?

Jonatha

yes i intend to talk to the team , i was just wondering if anyone had advice here too as from my experience they can be over cautious , rightly so sometimes.
I dont have access or the means to explore other forms of bike and the cycle path i have to use for work commute is so narrow in places i am literally brushing past sections that are not even wide enough for drop bars .

Jonathan (Jdsk) has given you great advice. I would anticipate the orthopaedic consultant would be supportive of moderate exercise during your recovery period. Glad you're planning to do that on a stable static bike. Do ask your surgeon and follow their recommendation.

I suffered a broken thumb in a meeting with a car as a teenager. I was put in a cast from hand to elbow leaving just my fingers free. As an irresponsible teenager I took a rasp to the cast and filed a nice smooth round section between thumb and finger. This fitted nicely in the hooks on drop bars so by shifting the single brake lever on a fixed wheel bike I could carry on riding.

If it’s sweat you’re worried about can you not just use the turbo with a bit less effort?
I rarely get out of zone 2 virtual cycling.

I had a CMC joint replacement a couple of years ago. Had a full cast then a braces decreasing down from full imobilation over 6 weeks. Could not cycle for 4 weeks in case increased HR put healing site under pressure. Even when I could cycle it was impossible to hold bars. Went to gym instead.