Can't ride for 8 weeks - any tips how to keep legs strong?

Small Fish

Just when I was beginning to enjoy clipless riding i've had "my fall"... 0 mph... right outside my house... distracted for a second... unclipped the wrong foot and bang - i'm in plaster for 6-8 weeks with a broken scalphoid bone in my left wrist...

Pretty sore, but at least it's my left wrist - sympathy is wecome - but what i'd really like is any tips on what i can do to stop my legs turning to jelly while i'm off the bike.

jibi

One word

Turbo

george

knedlicky

Keep the legs, heart and lungs, and spirit, active, irrespective how.

I broke my arm just in front of the wrist (left in ’99, right in ’06) and on both occasions needed full messy operations. In the weeks immediately afterwards I just hiked, but 4 times a week over hill and dale, each time 3+ hours. Then, after 4 weeks, I changed to one hour of turbo twice a week and running, 45 mins four times per week. I began riding outdoors again after 8 weeks, gradually increasing the distance per week from 40 to 70 miles. Twelve weeks after each accident, I successfully took part in a high-tempo cyclosportive, 125 km, 3000 m climbing.

I imagine I could have gone at it quicker, but no longer having a licence (sensibly) takes some of the (over-zealous) haste away.

spasypaddy

if you are able to go to the gym try and do some leg work there or use a stationary bike in the gym

JustRidecp

Spin classes? Also, most gyms have recumbent exercise bikes you could use. This might be better for your wrist than using an upright bike.

ut_och_cykla

Comiserations - hope it heals quickly

Brisk walks as knedlicky suggests especially UP hills give the legs a good going over together with heart & lungs.Not cycling specific but probably doable until pain has subsided

cycle if or when you can on a gym bike/turbo/ - whatever you won't fall off

add some weight training but not at cost of walking/cycling.

purplemad

I dislocated my shoulder twice last year, and then had an op on it this year, all three times I took to the turbo trainer, bike at the gym(found normal bike just fine), walking and cross trainer(without using arms, just held on to the centre with good arm)

Hope it heals quickly

Small Fish

Thanks - i should have mentioned that i was hoping for suggestions which didn't involve spending money or breaking sweat!!

That being said, turbo is not out of the question - certainly preferable to joining a gym - do they make much noise? If it could be heard in other rooms in the house that could be a problem.