bicycle as exercise post surgery

Does anybody have any thoughts or experiences with bicycle riding as exercise post surgery (5 weeks). My knee replacement surgery was cancelled so I could deal with my PC, and extended walking is painful and difficult. I had been riding my bike regularly as it doesn't bother my knee, I'm talking about putting around my acreage at about twice walking speed, gradual inclines, on a comfort bike (almost vertical posture with a wide comfortable seat) for about a half hour, 4 times a week. Don't want to take a chance on damaging anything. Thanks for the responses on my previous post (newly incontinent ?), very helpful. Other than typical incontinence issues and osteoarthritis I feel pretty good, I've worked as a carpenter all my life and have pretty good muscle tone, especially in abdominal area. What do you think?

5 weeks is too soon for bike riding, using any kind of seat, according to my Doc when I asked the same question.  He said not to do it for at least 3 months, 6 months would be even better.  Heck, he wouldn't let me lift a gallon of milk (5 plus lbs) for 2 omnths.  Lots of things have been cut out, rearranged and shifted around inside you, and you don't need any more additional pressures, stresses and such while healing.  If it were me, I'd skip the bike for at least 4 months, and keep up a really aggressive program of walking, increasing daily and weekly, adding hills and stairs when available.  Now is the time to let your body heal and that will take a minimum of 3 months internally to complete. 

Same here. I would avoid bike riding if I were you, There's a lot of internal healing going on and one lousy "bump in the road" could set you back, in my opinion. In my case, just sitting upright in a chair was uncorfortable for a few weeks after surgery.
I say go lighter with your walking, but continue it; do the Kegels and then get on the bike at about eight weeks out of your surgery.
My two cents.
Best to ya,
Tom

I think anything that puts pressure on the healing areas too soon should be avoided for the (more lengthy) time suggested by others above too - I don't usually use the word "should", but you have had major surgery even if the recovery is unremarkable (good). My hubby has some injuries which prevented prolonged walking so understand the frustration, but this alternative of bike-riding may not be the best choice. My hubby did what he could and the healing has been good.

I am a pretty "pushy wife"when it comes to rehabilitation matters, and if he'd had a pushbike and there was any hint of him riding it prior to 3-4 months I would have actually hidden the bike! This is just a rather flippant (however true) opinion (only!) from a wife (also an RN who can't help herself at times!). So, take it easy Bill, and when you do get back to riding, I do hope it is great ... still get a new seat if that eases the pressure for when you do get back on, as suggested above.

It is great that you are keeping so fit, so keep searching for alternatives. One suggestion - There may be other ways of maintaining your cardio/abdominal strength without riding or walking. Would swimming or walking in a pool take the pressure off your knees while you are waiting it out to ride again? Do you have a swimming facility nearby? All the best. Lana

Thanks everybody for the input. Going to order one of these seats, and wait awhile. Check out this website, there's a lot of good info about bike seats causing damage, citing medical articles, testimonials, etc. Good info for any bike rider regardless of medical issues.

http://www.bycycleinc.com/