Bicycles

User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 09:16

I had my RP 3 months ago, all good so far. Super grateful for the treatment.

I'm a keen bike rider, and want to get back on my bike a soon as possible - without harming the healing. Can anyone point me in the direction of folk who can advise the best way to proceed pls.

Is it as simple as getting a new saddle and gradually increasing time on my bike? If so, any clues on which saddles work well. I have Brooks saddles on my bikes and they are too firm I think.

For the record I can bike 10k in the gym now, but that is on quite an upright bike, and a saddle like a sofa

User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 10:29

Appreciate it Adrian. And I sympathise with the link posting issue! Me too!

User

Posted 22 Jan 2024 at 10:20

I’d like to offer a positive account about getting back on my bike after a RP, which might give a small lift for those in a similar place. My bike plays a big part in my life, keeping me fit both mentally and physically, and I knew not being able to ride after surgery would leave a big hole in my life.

My surgeon told me to wait at least 3 months, but offered no info on how to begin riding again. The only instruction I had after surgery was to do the pelvic floor exercises. I absolutely accept the importance of the pelvic floor exercises, but after a few weeks I needed to move other parts of my body as well, so I looked at what else I could do.

Important: I am not a health professional, this is only what worked for me, I am not making myself out to be Barry Big Spuds, but there might be ideas below that will help others.

1. Start the pelvic floor exercises at least a month before surgery. Don’t wait till after surgery. I didn’t (I wasn't told to), and I regret not doing this.

2. I found the app Squeezy Men useful.

3. Listen to your body as you start adding other exercises. Go gently, super gently, but I felt really happy as I allowed my body to begin moving again.

4. 10 days after the RP I started walking on flat ground. Modest distances to begin with, 100yards, leaking an issue, but little by little I built up the distances. After a couple of weeks I was able to do a couple of miles. Leaking always an issue.

5. After a month I started yoga using the internet as my teacher. Gentle stretches that never impacted on where my prostate had been.

6. About 6 weeks after the RP I went back to the gym. Huge psychological boost. Again, absolutely no exercises which impacted on my now 'prostate free zone', focusing on my top half.

7. About 10 weeks after the RP, I just sat on a bike in the gym. Big, soft saddle. Upright bike. Gently rotated pedals. Listened to my body. Cautious

8. I started swimming.

9. I did 1km on the gym bike. Very slowly, very conscious of the area where I had had surgery. Left it a day, then rode another km. Then 2kms a few days later

10. I bought a new 'RP friendly’ saddle, especially designed to take pressure off the perineum. Took a while to get used to it.

11. Started riding 200 yards on my own bike, then 1 mile, then 2, then 5 on very flat, pot hole free bike paths

12. 4 months after surgery I rode 38 gentle miles, with a few small hills thrown in. So happy!

13. Everyone has their own route back to full health, but I firmly believe I have got better faster as I have been exercising the whole of my body.

Cheering all of you who have had, or are about to have, any prostate related procedure.

User

Posted 24 Jan 2024 at 23:53

I think it was more like "Peter, do you have a mushroom shoved down your shorts?"

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

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User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 10:27

Hi Nick,

Welcome to the club. There are many keen cyclists on here and several conversations on bikes and saddles. I'll try and attach a couple of links but I'm pretty poor at that sort of thing.

Adrian

User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 10:29

Appreciate it Adrian. And I sympathise with the link posting issue! Me too!

User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 10:34

Right mate. If you go to the search facility on this forum and put cycling into the search conversation. There are tons to chose from.

It's the first time I've successfully managed to use it. 🙂

Edited by member 14 Dec 2023 at 19:17 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 17:52

As it happens I've just got back from my 6 week post-op consultation with the urology surgeon. As I'm a keen cyclist I quizzed him on timescales. He recommended waiting another 6 weeks to minimise the risks from saddle pressure on the internals that are still healing, but to get on with other exercises. I mentioned that I use saddles with cutouts but was greeted with a blank look.

User

Posted 14 Dec 2023 at 20:57

Reef, at 3 months out you should be OK to get on the bike again judging by the advice others have had (don't know whether you thought to ask your doctor about this).

The main thing is to have a saddle which doesn't put pressure in the midline - there is the place where your urethra was joined up again after removing the prostate not that deep from the skin. Brooks saddles are made from moulded leather which is smooth across the top, but there are lots of synthetic saddles that have a groove to prevent any pressure, or in some cases have a complete gap. They include really cheap saddles (from the likes of Halfords or Sport Direct) as well as fancy ones from specialist bike shops.

User

Posted 15 Dec 2023 at 00:52

I did RT+HT, so I can't comment on timings.

I fitted these on my bikes - called noseless saddles, but the point is they have nothing under the perineum or penis - the only support is under your sit bones (pelvis). They do take a few rides to get used to and adjust, but I've stuck with them ever since.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07R61NZ4V/

There used to be lots of these on Amazon ranging from £16-£28, but they've mostly all recently vanished.

User

Posted 22 Jan 2024 at 10:20

Important: I am not a health professional, this is only what worked for me, I am not making myself out to be Barry Big Spuds, but there might be ideas below that will help others.

1. Start the pelvic floor exercises at least a month before surgery. Don’t wait till after surgery. I didn’t (I wasn't told to), and I regret not doing this.

2. I found the app Squeezy Men useful.

3. Listen to your body as you start adding other exercises. Go gently, super gently, but I felt really happy as I allowed my body to begin moving again.

5. After a month I started yoga using the internet as my teacher. Gentle stretches that never impacted on where my prostate had been.

6. About 6 weeks after the RP I went back to the gym. Huge psychological boost. Again, absolutely no exercises which impacted on my now 'prostate free zone', focusing on my top half.

7. About 10 weeks after the RP, I just sat on a bike in the gym. Big, soft saddle. Upright bike. Gently rotated pedals. Listened to my body. Cautious

8. I started swimming.

9. I did 1km on the gym bike. Very slowly, very conscious of the area where I had had surgery. Left it a day, then rode another km. Then 2kms a few days later

10. I bought a new 'RP friendly’ saddle, especially designed to take pressure off the perineum. Took a while to get used to it.

11. Started riding 200 yards on my own bike, then 1 mile, then 2, then 5 on very flat, pot hole free bike paths

12. 4 months after surgery I rode 38 gentle miles, with a few small hills thrown in. So happy!

13. Everyone has their own route back to full health, but I firmly believe I have got better faster as I have been exercising the whole of my body.

Cheering all of you who have had, or are about to have, any prostate related procedure.

User

Posted 22 Jan 2024 at 10:45

Great to hear about your progress Nick. Like you my bike brings me so much pleasure and helps mental and physical health. It’s one of the things that I enjoy doing on my own too, just me, my bike and my thoughts☺️🤔

I now ride an ebike simply because it allows me to go further and faster without feeling absolutely knackered at the end of it. It’s very good for my aching and puffy knees as well.

Good luck with your continuing progress.

Derek

User

Posted 22 Jan 2024 at 10:45

Thanks for the feedback Nick. I'm about to recommence cyclibg, initially on my indoor Tacx set-up. Which RP friendly saddle did you get?

User

Posted 22 Jan 2024 at 12:08

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I’d like to offer a positive account about getting back on my bike after a RP, which might give a small lift for those in a similar place.

Hi Nick,

What a brilliant and helpful post. Unfortunately other health issues have hindered my fitness regime.

Just reading your activities tired me out.😁

Adrian

Edited by member 22 Jan 2024 at 12:28 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 23 Jan 2024 at 01:33

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Have you recovered natural erections?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 23 Jan 2024 at 08:30

It's a Selle Italia model. I tried to find the model but Condor (in London, great bike shop) didn't email me the receipt. I'll ring them

The science is basically this - post RP we need a saddle which takes pressure off the perineum. So you sit on your sit bones as much as poss. Good bike shops have a piece of kit that allows you to measure the width between your sit bones. You need this info as saddles come in two widths.

I reckon I made a mistake and got one without gel. Mine is hard, and whilst I'm getting used to it I think I should have got one with some gel.

I also planned to get padded shorts, but never did

User

Posted 23 Jan 2024 at 08:36

Nope! Have lost this ability!

The surgeon warned me pre surgery that it was likely he was going to need to cut connections in this area, with probable loss of erections.

The surgeon explained in the event I couldn't get erections post surgery I could inject myself 30 mins before a romantic interlude.

"That'd take the edge off the romance" I offered

"Better than being dead tho isn't it?" he shot back. Made me laugh. And absolutely true. Life is very precious to me

User

Posted 23 Jan 2024 at 08:38

I wish you well my friend, and hope things are progressing well

User

Posted 23 Jan 2024 at 08:40

The e bike awaits all of us Derek! What is important is we still go out and ride

User

Posted 23 Jan 2024 at 09:14

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

The e bike awaits all of us Derek! What is important is we still go out and ride

They are just so much fun and you still get the exercise. When you come to a hill, crank it up a bit, pedal like hell and the motor just kicks in and helps speed you to the top, where you feel totally exhilarated! It’s the closest thing to skiing that I’ve found😊

User

Posted 24 Jan 2024 at 01:27

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Nope! Have lost this ability! The surgeon warned me pre surgery that it was likely he was going to need to cut connections in this area, with probable loss of erections. The surgeon explained in the event I couldn't get erections post surgery I could inject myself 30 mins before a romantic interlude.

I wouldn't worry too much about cycling or prostate friendly saddles - the only concern about cycling post-RP is that it can impede erectile recovery. Having said that, you must be a man of steel if you can cycle on a hard saddle without gel-shorts!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 24 Jan 2024 at 06:43

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Nope! Have lost this ability!

The surgeon warned me pre surgery that it was likely he was going to need to cut connections in this area, with probable loss of erections.

The surgeon explained in the event I couldn't get erections post surgery I could inject myself 30 mins before a romantic interlude.

"That'd take the edge off the romance" I offered

"Better than being dead tho isn't it?" he shot back. Made me laugh. And absolutely true. Life is very precious to me

😁

As for ED, let's be honest, the last thing you want is a stiffy in lycra, plus it increases wind resistance.

As for cock injections, they are difficult to introduce into love making. I usually wink at the wife and say, "I'm up for injecting tonight. Are you?" Who says romance is dead.

User

Posted 24 Jan 2024 at 12:07

I once had to speak to a member of staff about appropriate dress in the workplace. he had taken up cycling to / from work but was staying in his lycra all day- the female staff didn't like him 'bobbing around' the office

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 24 Jan 2024 at 12:17

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

🤣

What did you say to him, "Funny place, to keep your pump."

User

Posted 24 Jan 2024 at 23:53

I think it was more like "Peter, do you have a mushroom shoved down your shorts?"

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

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