My goal last year was to do a century, but by the time I was able to get up to a decent speed (15mph for an hour) I knees started to hurt from the strain. So, with my surgery scheduled for 1/7/13, is it unrealistic to try a century later on this year?

Also, any tips for the lap band and a cyclist?

I was banded 12/28/2010. I used to ride a road bike a bit 20 years ago in college. I decided that I liked it then so I would try again. I bought my TREK 2.1 in March last year. In May I did a metric century for the Diabetes TourDCure. I was a wiped out after but recovered quickly. I ran a half marathon the following weekend.

I bet once you start taking off weight the joint pain will ease up considerably. I know mine sure did. I used to have terrible knees but after going from 255 to 175 I found that the knees were much less of an issues. It then came down to building endurance and getting my lungs in shape.

After lungs I found the greatest challenge in endurance races is nutrition. I haven't figured that out yet myself. If you have the ambition and goals pre-banding I think you are well on your way to better health. A century is a goal that you can definitely obtain with some training.

Two years ago I would walk 1.5 miles for a workout. I am now training for the Timberman Half Marathon in August.

Best of luck with your Century Goal. Keep us updated with your progress.

I bike but I bike mostly paved trails and some pebble based trails. Usually it's a 15-30 mile ride but since my bike is a Gary Fisher Crossover, I get a good workout with all the hills around Denver area.

I've never had joint pain from biking. I can't walk or run anymore due to bone on bone knee pain. I think tennis did my knees in many years ago. Since my knees are so bad, I sometimes get cortizone shots but the best I've found for knee pain is synvisc. It lasted 5 good months and now that I'm at the end of my 6th month, I can really feel that it's wearing off. Going down stairs is a killer. So, I hope to go in later in January for my injections.

tmf

2muchfun, The best thing I ever did was to have my knees replaced, I only wish I had done it sooner rather than deal with the pain and lack of mobility. I let my right knee goes so long that I wore a groove in the top of the bottom bone.

Medicare is only 3 months away and I'm thinking it's time.

Cunner, I am looking forward to it, I have always been fat and active, which is why I have had two knee replacements. One of the wakeup calls for me was last year as I was trying to build up my speed and base miles was that the ligaments in my knees started complaining the strain from pushing 280 pounds up above 15 MPH for multiple hours. That was one of the reasons my surgeon fast tracked me, I wanted to be healed before biking season begins this year.

I really enjoy biking too. I just started back in April of 2012, but found that it was something I enjoyed and didn't get bored with. I managed to get in about 1800 miles last year with 50 miles being my longest nonstop trip. we have a lot of paved trails where i live, plus there are always different groups of folks riding at different times, so its great! I will get a 100 mile trip in during 2013. I plan on doing a 100K by Memorial day. I have put it on a trainer in the den and ride indoors during the bad weather. Love my Trek!