Last Updated on 19 August 2026:
Cycling After Heart Surgery
Terry Saltzman, 58, already had plenty of experience riding in the mountains before we started working together. His previous trips included two weeks climbing in Andorra, an eight-day Trans-Pyrenees ride from San Sebastian to Barcelona, and ten days riding around the Giro and Dolomites. After heart surgery, his next goal was to get back to the kind of riding he loved, making cycling after heart surgery an important part of his return to endurance sport.
Terry also had a demanding work schedule of more than 60 hours a week, trained almost entirely outdoors and had to deal with the relentless Southern California summer heat. His target was a two-week cycling trip to the Italian Alps, so the coaching needed to rebuild the endurance and climbing fitness required for long days in the mountains while still fitting around the realities of his working life.
The coaching took a broad approach rather than focusing only on individual workouts. Terry particularly valued the science-based approach, the fact that it was applied specifically to him and the mental support that came alongside the physical training. Over time, the coaching relationship also developed into a close friendship.
After recovering from his surgery and returning to training, Terry was able to get back to the mountains. In 2021 he completed his trip to the Italian Alps, including a double ascent of the Stelvio — a pretty significant return to high-mountain cycling.
For Terry, cycling after heart surgery was not about trying to rush back to where he had been before. It was about rebuilding fitness progressively, working within his individual circumstances and ultimately getting back to the challenging mountain rides that were a big part of why he enjoyed cycling in the first place.
Returning to cycling after a major interruption, or preparing for a challenging mountain trip? I can help you build a personalised training plan around your current fitness, goals and the time you realistically have available.
