Artificial joints on tour

[darclabed]

The cycling world is a buzz with the news of Yellow Jersey contender Floyd Landis needing hip replacement surgery next year. This got me to thinking about a friend and fellow cyclist who is in need of a knee replacement. He is concerned about his future on the road. Does anyone know of someone who has had an knee or hip replacement and has gone on to do a cross country tour? My friend could use some encouragement.

[tofubicycle]

Several years ago I worked with a guy who had his left knee replaced two years prior to Doing Seattle to San Diego. His tour was fully loaded, self-supported, and camp-out. He said his knee treated him better after it was replaced and fully healed than it had for years and years before hand. That was about 5 years ago and though we are no longer in touch, my understanding is that he still cyclotours.

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i'd rather be biking.

[FredHiltz]

I rode a ten-day tour in 2000 through the Rockies from Kalispell to Jasper with a young lady in her seventies who had two plastic knees. That was a van-supported trip of 50 - 80 miles per day, every one of which she cycled happily.

There is a small risk of diminished function, probably much smaller than the likelihood of diminished function without the repair. One of my cycling buddies had to install a shorter crank arm because he could not comfortably flex the knee enough to ride his regular crank.

Fred

[BicycleCharley]

  I didn't go with the replacement idea the doctors sugjested, but after I went through three surguries to repair my broken right petella (knee cap), they said I'd never walk right again, and that I'd have-ta wear this knee brace fer ever.
  I got my schwinn 18 speed and a burley trailer, loaded er down and twisted off! After a couple-a weeks in the saddle, my knee-brace didn't fit any more. It's on the side a the road somewere in Colorado. After 3800 miles I had the doctors check my knee out and they said; "Whatever you have done, yer knee is 98% corrected." Also, along the way, when asked; "What's the deal, where ya going, on a bicycle? etc." I would explain my knee issue's and get major thumps up in responce!
  I hope yer friend the best, the road out there has changed my life and helped more than I can put into words! Good luck in yer travels!

Strangers are Friends
I haven't met yet,
Friends are Strangers
I haven't left yet!