Cracked ribs - can I ride?

Hi all,
I came off my bike on Sunday and my bike landed on top of me, cracking a rib in the process. I've broken ribs twice before (playing football), but neither time was I riding regularly. I want to be off a bike for as short a time as possible (obviously), so can people who've experienced the same thing, or have specific knowledge, let me know when I can potter around on the bike again? I'm only a commuter/leisure rider, so training/racing isn't an issue, but I don't want to lose all my fitness if I can avoid it.
I do have a turbo, but god it sucks and I'd much rather ride in the fresh air
Thanks!
I came off my bike on Sunday and my bike landed on top of me, cracking a rib in the process. I've broken ribs twice before (playing football), but neither time was I riding regularly. I want to be off a bike for as short a time as possible (obviously), so can people who've experienced the same thing, or have specific knowledge, let me know when I can potter around on the bike again? I'm only a commuter/leisure rider, so training/racing isn't an issue, but I don't want to lose all my fitness if I can avoid it.
I do have a turbo, but god it sucks and I'd much rather ride in the fresh air

Thanks!
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Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg
Also, as far as I can tell it's a very simple fracture - no lung damage, no external bruising, just continual discomfort
Blog (incl. bikes)
Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg
Town - FCN8
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I think it must depend on the break - where and how bad it is.
Have you considered speaking to a sports physio for more advice?
Then again, if you should happen to come a cropper a second time you might set yourself back even further.
Depends on how lucky you feel I suppose.
It took 6 weeks to heal up.
However, 2 things have been obvious:
i) the pain has dissuaded me from too much activity - can't breathe in fully and cannot put all my weight on my arms, so the weekday turbo is out. At weekends I have been unable to get out on the road (altho' I did get out the day after it happened, just as a sort of f--- you statement).
ii) you need to keep on top of it - my GP said take deep breaths, do exercise etc but within sensible limits, otherwise it may prove more difficult to regain prior fitness, abilities.
I am worried about long-term accumulation of such damage at my age (which may not apply to you...).
I was told ~2 weeks for bruising and 6 weeks for broken/fractured/cracked ribs.
I am out tomorrow (day off work) so I am doing the usual route which will involve deep breathing... :shock:
Good luck with it.
Singlespeeds in town rule.
Titanium Bertoletti
I probably would have been back on sooner, if it wasn't for having the worst bout of hayfever in years. Lots of sneezing = v. painful :shock:
Whether it hurts too much is another matter, and up to you.
IANAD
Sitting on the sofa, lying in bed (especially that!) all really hurt, whereas sitting on my bike, pedalling I was completely pain free.
There's not a lot you can do about a cracked rib, I re-cracked mine a couple of times in bed, (very frustrating!), but cycling was fine.
My only concern would be falling off, especially as that's how you did it in the first place. But if that's not too much of a concern for you, i'd go on a small ride and see if hurts.
http://physiotherapy-matters.co.uk/