1st Ride After Breaking My Ankle

[Artista]

Brave! Was it at all scary? (still not brave nor released to ride yet) tokie

It was more determination than bravery for me And yes, it was a little scary at first. I think the key to my successful, first ride was in the preparation. Again, I chose the mtb for stability, used platform pedals, Keen commuter sandles (because my foot is more painful than my ankle at this point), chose a very easy, lightly used trail, and practiced stopping at slow speed before I ever planted my rear end on the saddle.

Mounting and dismounting the bike are the hardest part for me since I broke the ankle that normally stays planted on the ground while I throw my good leg over the saddle. Just like Grits, the pedaling part is fine...actually pedaling is great.

I had an unexpected opportunity to ride a second time yesterday afternoon. My confidence increased considerably between my first and second rides. I even found that I was capable of riding in the neutral position for awhile on this very smooth trail. I won't try anything technical for quite awhile, though.

Good going, Grits! As anyone who has experienced a broken bone in a weight bearing joint knows, this is an all-consuming injury for at least a couple of months. Crutches s*ck! I'd rather do a downhill switchback on my mtb than negotiate stairs with crutches! Doesn't it feel good to get back to a "normal" part of our lives again - like riding?!

Tokie, you're far enough along that I'll bet your surgeon will release you for riding soon. If you broke the ankle on the leg that you normally put down on the bike, you might want to practice mounting and dismounting before you ride outdoors. Also, see if you can plan your first rides on a lightly used, paved trail to avoid traffic, stop signs, children, and loose dogs if possible. I think that the more conditions you can control on your first few rides, the more confident and successful you'll be.