I blew out my MCL, PCL, ACL, meniscus, and broke my tib/fib. Was immobile for nearly 3 months and recovery took nearly 2 years. Biggest ride post accident is 346mi.
allsupb on
I’m a physical therapist that works with many cyclists that have undergone TKA, please feel free to ask any questions!
richardsneeze on
I tore my ACL and annihilated my meniscus on the MTB in August 2022. 6 weeks non weight bearing, lost a bunch of muscle mass, lots of PT…. Anywho I worked hard to recover and rode Unbound 200 in 2023.
Unfortunately, I herniated a disc in my lumbar spine right before Unbound, so I had a microdiscectomy and laminectomy at the end of 2023 and went on to ride Unbound XL, as well as a bunch of other 100 and 200 milers in 2024.
Hang in there, you can always come back stronger!
RealActuator2281 on
Blew out my mcl and PCL took years to recover but completed unbound 200 last year and ride at least one long distance gravel race a month. Cycling is great for those of us with crap knees. It will help speed up your recovery for sure as long as you listen to your PT and orthopedist.
heygos on
I had a shredded ACL (held on by less than 20 strands of muscle), a rebuilt meniscus, and a cracked knee cap. I rode 114 miles in my first century. If it’s a knee replacement it won’t be as bad as you fear. My surgeon and a rider in the group I am in a tested to it. He was back in 2 months, it took me 18 months before I was safely able to ride outside for fear of crashing and causing more damage.
Honestly take pleasure in the fact it’s a replacement and not repair. I’m still having pain now after rides.
Puckster123 on
4x here – 2 knees and 2 hips. I ride almost everyday – in the hills of coastal Portugal. The only thing that holds me back are my lungs.
Classic-Bandicoot359 on
Not a knee but my hip is made of titanium.
I ran a marathon, several half-marathons, rode 200k on a gravelbike and lift quite heavy on a regular basis.
Everything works, start slow, increase smart, your body is capable of more than you imagine.
pyeyo1 on
Had TKA a year ago Jan. looking back at my calendar I was riding to physical therapy 2 months later. Hiking and MTB by summer, XC skied this winter and just finished a short bikepacking trip now that winter is passed. I’m 74. To answer your question my longest single day MTB ride was a considered difficult 17.5 miles with 3500′ of climbing. The bikepacking trip was around 48 miles of mixed pavement and gravel.
TKA recovery is a marathon not a sprint but it does get better at a decent pace, I find I do not think about it at all now, the only thing I notice is the first dozen pedal strokes I have a little stiffness.
StingerGinseng on
Blew out my ACL/PCL/MCL and meniscus in Feb 2023 after a bouldering incident and had reconstruction surgery. Took 6 months off the bike.
I clocked the most miles and hours on the bike ever in 2024. Came in 3rd out of 10 in a 24h MTB (110mi, 10000ft, 16hr of riding) race in August 2024, besting my result from 2022 by 25 miles. Top 10 out of 40 in a 12h MTB race in May 2024 (80mi, 10000ft, 11hr of riding). Podiumed many local CX races last Fall whereas I was in the lower half of the pack in 2022. Took my first win and first series win in a local XC series last June.
I am again doing 12h and 24h MTB races this year with a whole calendar of local gravel events and XCM and XCO before trying to get that first CX win in the Fall.
Ride your bike. It’ll build up the quads and the knee strength. You’ll be back, and as long as you are determined, you will be back better!
9 Comments
I blew out my MCL, PCL, ACL, meniscus, and broke my tib/fib. Was immobile for nearly 3 months and recovery took nearly 2 years. Biggest ride post accident is 346mi.
I’m a physical therapist that works with many cyclists that have undergone TKA, please feel free to ask any questions!
I tore my ACL and annihilated my meniscus on the MTB in August 2022. 6 weeks non weight bearing, lost a bunch of muscle mass, lots of PT…. Anywho I worked hard to recover and rode Unbound 200 in 2023.
Unfortunately, I herniated a disc in my lumbar spine right before Unbound, so I had a microdiscectomy and laminectomy at the end of 2023 and went on to ride Unbound XL, as well as a bunch of other 100 and 200 milers in 2024.
Hang in there, you can always come back stronger!
Blew out my mcl and PCL took years to recover but completed unbound 200 last year and ride at least one long distance gravel race a month. Cycling is great for those of us with crap knees. It will help speed up your recovery for sure as long as you listen to your PT and orthopedist.
I had a shredded ACL (held on by less than 20 strands of muscle), a rebuilt meniscus, and a cracked knee cap. I rode 114 miles in my first century. If it’s a knee replacement it won’t be as bad as you fear. My surgeon and a rider in the group I am in a tested to it. He was back in 2 months, it took me 18 months before I was safely able to ride outside for fear of crashing and causing more damage.
Honestly take pleasure in the fact it’s a replacement and not repair. I’m still having pain now after rides.
4x here – 2 knees and 2 hips. I ride almost everyday – in the hills of coastal Portugal. The only thing that holds me back are my lungs.
Not a knee but my hip is made of titanium.
I ran a marathon, several half-marathons, rode 200k on a gravelbike and lift quite heavy on a regular basis.
Everything works, start slow, increase smart, your body is capable of more than you imagine.
Had TKA a year ago Jan. looking back at my calendar I was riding to physical therapy 2 months later. Hiking and MTB by summer, XC skied this winter and just finished a short bikepacking trip now that winter is passed. I’m 74. To answer your question my longest single day MTB ride was a considered difficult 17.5 miles with 3500′ of climbing. The bikepacking trip was around 48 miles of mixed pavement and gravel.
TKA recovery is a marathon not a sprint but it does get better at a decent pace, I find I do not think about it at all now, the only thing I notice is the first dozen pedal strokes I have a little stiffness.
Blew out my ACL/PCL/MCL and meniscus in Feb 2023 after a bouldering incident and had reconstruction surgery. Took 6 months off the bike.
I clocked the most miles and hours on the bike ever in 2024. Came in 3rd out of 10 in a 24h MTB (110mi, 10000ft, 16hr of riding) race in August 2024, besting my result from 2022 by 25 miles. Top 10 out of 40 in a 12h MTB race in May 2024 (80mi, 10000ft, 11hr of riding). Podiumed many local CX races last Fall whereas I was in the lower half of the pack in 2022. Took my first win and first series win in a local XC series last June.
I am again doing 12h and 24h MTB races this year with a whole calendar of local gravel events and XCM and XCO before trying to get that first CX win in the Fall.
Ride your bike. It’ll build up the quads and the knee strength. You’ll be back, and as long as you are determined, you will be back better!