I had my knee scoped a few years ago. The surgery went really well, and I started on PT right away - going twice a week for the first month or so. One of the first things the therapist had me do was to get on the stationary bike, pedaling backwards at first until I had the strength to push forwards.

I had a setback, though not in my knee, but in my quad muscle. It "fell asleep" and we had to use electric stimulant on it to remind it that it needed to wake up (which was much much more painful than the surgery ever could have been!). In that time, because my muscle wasn't working, I developed tendonitis right below my kneecap b/c the kneecap was rubbing that tendon b/c my quad wasn't pulling it up. So therefore, I was in PT much longer than I should have been! But, I was back running by December, even with the quad issues, and did a half IM that next May.

So my advice would be to get the surgery done soon! And, find a PT that understands where he wants to be by January - one that works with athletes and can get him to that point. I think he can do it, especially if he's done an IM before (has he?) - or at least has a good training base before the surgery.

Good luck to him!