Best Bike After Heart Surgery?

[Bob Newman]

I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
traditional road bike with drop down bars. As this puts a
lot of stress on your chest would I be better off to go to a
recumbent? Or will I heal-up in the long run to continue
with what I have?

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

 

[Arne]

Bob, do I have this right? You are coming here for
heart/health advice? I'd suggest that you get a pass from
your doc first, then go to a health equipment store and sit
on a recumbent exerciser and see how it feels...

On the positive side, I gave up bicycling for good about 10
years ago because of pains everywhere (neck, wrists, butt,
mostly) then discovered recumbents about 5 years ago and
have loved it ever since (except for my knees, when I get
stupid and push too hard).

Arne, USA (I would take up golf, but I don't have the time)
. . "Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
> traditional road bike with drop down bars. As this puts a
> lot of stress on your chest
would
> I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up in
> the long run
to
> continue with what I have?
>
> --
> Thanks in advance... Bob

 

[Michael Plog]

After I had my open heart surgery, my daughter (an MD) gave
me a diamond frame bike for exercise. (My doctors had sent
me to the rehab center and told me to continue getting
exercise.) I rode the upright but it was not fun. Everything
hurt on the upright. After about 6 or so miles my butt
caused me to stop riding for the day. I finally bought an
EZ1 and rode it 18 miles the first day. I had to stop
because it got dark. I now own a Tour Easy and my wife has
changed from her upright to a Tour Easy. I'm not an MD, so I
can't answer your question about stress on the chest. I will
say, however, that were it not for the Easy Rider series, I
would not be getting my cardiac exercise on a bicycle.

Good luck. My surgery was in 1998 and my health is much
better now than before the surgery. I'm sure the same will
be true for you.

"Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
traditional road
> bike with drop down bars. As this puts a lot of
> stress on your
chest would
> I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up in
> the long
run to
> continue with what I have?
>
> --
> Thanks in advance... Bob

 

[Bob Newman]

I have talked to the doctor, he says the drops would be okay
after time, MUCH time. I am coming here, to the "real world"
for cycling advice. I'm there are plenty of people here with
experience in this matter.

Bob

"Arne" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:bcpnc.9383$Lm3.5638@lakeread04...
> Bob, do I have this right? You are coming here for
> heart/health advice?
I'd
> suggest that you get a pass from your doc first, then go
> to a health equipment store and sit on a recumbent
> exerciser and see how it feels...
>
> On the positive side, I gave up bicycling for good about
> 10 years ago because of pains everywhere (neck, wrists,
> butt, mostly) then discovered recumbents about 5 years ago
> and have loved it ever since (except for my knees, when I
> get stupid and push too hard).
>
> Arne, USA (I would take up golf, but I don't have the
> time) . . "Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote
> in message news:C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
> news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding
> > a traditional
road
> > bike with drop down bars. As this puts a lot of stress
> > on your chest
> would
> > I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up
> > in the long run
> to
> > continue with what I have?
> >
> > --
> > Thanks in advance... Bob
> >
>

 

[Just Zis Guy]

On Sun, 09 May 2004 10:50:10 GMT, "Bob Newman"
<[email protected]> wrote in message
<[email protected]>:

>I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
>traditional road bike with drop down bars. As this puts a
>lot of stress on your chest would I be better off to go to
>a recumbent? Or will I heal-up in the long run to continue
>with what I have?

Who can say? If you want exercise, no chance of fallling
off, minimal stress on upper body - well, the Dark Side
is calling you A recumbent trike would be a great way
to get about in comfort without worrying about keeping
speed up for stability. On the other hand, if you are a
dyed-in-the-wool roadie, then determination and good
advice from your doctor will have you back on your drop-
bar wedgie in no time.

This advice is certified free of any special expertise. But
hey, everybody has to try a recumbent trike at least once in
their life - how else will they know what the fuss is about?

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

 

[Perry Templeton]

Best bike after heart surgery.....one that you like to ride. Try all that
you can....It's always the stock answer...but the truth is, there is no one
perfect one shop, one stop, fit all bike. I've had about a half dozen, I'm
currently on a recent Vision. Couldn't be happier. Also, I am the Queen
Princess Stoker Goddess on our Double Vision tandem. (get your honey
interested in riding, too!!)
Perry
"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 09 May 2004 10:50:10 GMT, "Bob Newman"
> <[email protected]> wrote in message <C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
> news.ops.worldnet.att.net>:
>
> >I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
> >traditional
road
> >bike with drop down bars. As this puts a lot of stress on
> >your chest
would
> >I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up
> >in the long run
to
> >continue with what I have?
>
> Who can say? If you want exercise, no chance of fallling
> off, minimal stress on upper body - well, the Dark Side
> is calling you A recumbent trike would be a great way
> to get about in comfort without worrying about keeping
> speed up for stability. On the other hand, if you are a
> dyed-in-the-wool roadie, then determination and good
> advice from your doctor will have you back on your drop-
> bar wedgie in no time.
>
> This advice is certified free of any special expertise.
> But hey, everybody has to try a recumbent trike at least
> once in their life - how else will they know what the fuss
> is about?
>
> Guy
> --
> May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle
> after posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
>
> 88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
> Washington University

 

[Bob Newman]

We got a 2 seater also. She pushes me all over.

Bob

"Perry Templeton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> Best bike after heart surgery.....one that you like to
> ride. Try all that you can....It's always the stock
> answer...but the truth is, there is no
one
> perfect one shop, one stop, fit all bike. I've had about a
> half dozen,
I'm
> currently on a recent Vision. Couldn't be happier. Also, I
> am the Queen Princess Stoker Goddess on our Double Vision
> tandem. (get your honey interested in riding, too!!) Perry
> "Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email protected]>
> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > On Sun, 09 May 2004 10:50:10 GMT, "Bob Newman"
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message <C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
> > news.ops.worldnet.att.net>:
> >
> > >I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding
> > >a traditional
> road
> > >bike with drop down bars. As this puts a lot of stress
> > >on your chest
> would
> > >I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up
> > >in the long
run
> to
> > >continue with what I have?
> >
> > Who can say? If you want exercise, no chance of fallling
> > off, minimal stress on upper body - well, the Dark Side
> > is calling you A recumbent trike would be a great
> > way to get about in comfort without worrying about
> > keeping speed up for stability. On the other hand, if
> > you are a dyed-in-the-wool roadie, then determination
> > and good advice from your doctor will have you back on
> > your drop-bar wedgie in no time.
> >
> > This advice is certified free of any special expertise.
> > But hey, everybody has to try a recumbent trike at least
> > once in their life - how else will they know what the
> > fuss is about?
> >
> > Guy
> > --
> > May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle
> > after posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
> >
> > 88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
> > Washington
University

 

[Robert Haston]

I'm a rescue pilot who works with flight surgeons who work
for NASA. One thing I have confirmed is a recumbent puts
less stress on your vascular system. When you are upright,
your heart has to pump blood back up from your legs and up
to your head. In a recumbent position, your heart pumps
blood more horizontally. The effect is your heart pumps at a
lower pressure and greater volume per stroke, resulting in a
lower heart rate.

As to chest pain, I know I've had back pain, neck pain, and
wrist pain on a upright, but only some minor knee pain on my
shockproof.

Maybe you can get your insurance company to pitch in?

"Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
> traditional road bike with drop down bars. As this puts a
> lot of stress on your chest
would
> I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up in
> the long run
to
> continue with what I have?
>
> --
> Thanks in advance... Bob

 

[Mark Leuck]

"Robert Haston" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm a rescue pilot who works with flight surgeons who
> work for NASA. One thing I have confirmed is a recumbent
> puts less stress on your vascular system. When you are
> upright, your heart has to pump blood back up from your
> legs and up to your head. In a recumbent position, your
> heart pumps blood more horizontally. The effect is your
> heart pumps at a lower
pressure
> and greater volume per stroke, resulting in a lower
> heart rate.

Sounds like he needs a low racer then

 

[Jack Davis]

Bob,

My wife had both knees replaced and I had heart surgery. We
hung the DFs in the garage and got 'bents which we love.

Good luck and have fun.....

Jack

"Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:C1onc.63668$Xj6.1069779@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
> traditional road bike with drop down bars. As this puts a
> lot of stress on your chest
would
> I be better off to go to a recumbent? Or will I heal-up in
> the long run
to
> continue with what I have?
>
> --
> Thanks in advance... Bob

 

[Art Murphy]

I gave my Trek 7700 to my next door neighbor after his triple bypass.
It has mountain bike type handle bars and front susspension. In less
than 6 months after the surgery he is up to 20 miles per ride at
14mph. He is 55 and was a 40 year two pack a day smoker. Now he is a
wild man on the bike. He only complains about his legs, where they
took his veins out for the bypass.
He likes my canondale recumbent with the dual suspension and I think
he'll get one soon.
cycle on to good health, Bob.
Grins,
Art
"Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I have just had open heart surgery and have been riding a
> traditional road bike with drop down bars. As this puts a
> lot of stress on your chest would I be better off to go to
> a recumbent? Or will I heal-up in the long run to continue
> with what I have?