I fractured my scaphoid in a crash this morning (unfortunately you can see the break on the xray already) and am currently in a heavy plaster cast for a week til my next set of xrays, then I'll get a lighter cast. I'm not wild about spending 2 months off the bike and I was wondering if anyone has tried to ride with a hand in a fibreglass cast? Is it doable - or is it possible to convince the medics to immobilise my hand in a position that will mean I can grip the handlebars but the fracture will still heal. Would appreciate anyone else's experiences - fingers (on the undamaged hand) crossed!

Ouch poor you,
veteran of wrist fractures here (11 of them) and a really bad patient, so I have ridden with them in casts(not that i am suggesting you do this too!) The fiberglass cast will be lighter although your thumb should be immobilised too making things very awkward. Look after it, it is a difficult bone to heal due to it's poor blood supply... take your time, long summer ahead....
Jane x

Try ergon grips for when you come out of plaster. They are ace for people post scaphoid fracture.

Have a friend who did the same thing 2 weeks ago. He is already back on the bike trying to ride on tri-bars. Personally think he's a bit mental, but hey!

tri bars... hmm, the opportunity for new bike kit AND back on the bike. Ace!
Thanks for the pointers folks, am entering negotiations with the ortho people on Wednesday, so will see what they have to say.

I broke my hamate a couple of years ago. It took 3 weeks to diagnose the fracture(!) so they didn't bother putting it in a cast at all, I just had a splint. I went on holiday to the Alps 4 weeks after the accident with loads of pain killers and padding! I remember the doc saying "lucky it's not your scaphoid, that's much slower to heal" - just like insanejane mentioned....

Go spinning if you can't ride outdoors - not quite the same when the sun is out but better than nothing. Or rig up a turbo trainer in the garden...! :-)

Hi Sazzle - poor you :-( My hubbie broke his thumb in March and rode his bike one week after with cast on. He had to 'modify' it slightly and he had interesting gear changes but bless him it didn't keep him off the bike. All off road and singletracking etc. He also broke 2 bones in his foot but managed to persuade them his cycling shoes were stiff enough so he didn't need a plaster on it !!! The medics laughed their heads off when we asked if he was OK to ride, they didn't realise we were serious lol! Obviously you take the risk of falling off & doing more damage, he did fall off, right onto his thumb 2 days before plaster removal but luckily all had healed so OK, but he was worried though. Maybe a bit off light off road and road cycling would be OK for you, depends how much of a risk taker you are and how much you can hold handlebars. Good luck & get well soon...

Hi Sazzle, as Jane has already mentioned the scaphoid can take a long time to heal due to its poor blood supply. Trying to ride your bike too early could delay the healing process. What's a couple of months off the bike if it means that it will fully heal with no further problems?

Look after yourself.