Simon Cowell appeared in high spirits as he cruised around Malibu on Tuesday, nine months after suffering a devastating injury that left him bedridden for most of 2020.
The music mogul, 61, has recently worked back up the courage to enjoy regular rides around town after undergoing a six-hour spinal surgery to repair multiple breaks in his back caused by a bike accident last August.
While zooming down the street on his electric bicycle, the America’s Got Talent judge wore a padded black jacket, matching helmet and white shorts.
Back on the bike: Simon Cowell appeared in high spirits as he cruised around Malibu on Tuesday, nine months after suffering a devastating injury that left him bedridden for most of last year
He completed his look with a pair of sunglasses, black socks and sneakers as he soaked up the sunny afternoon.
The father-of-one, who shares his six-years-old Eric with longtime girlfriend Lauren Silverman, was grinning from ear-to-ear on his solo ride.
Simon looked completely comfortable back on his electric bike, despite having injured himself last year due to his unfamiliarity with one.
Making up for lost time: Since recovering from his horrific bike accident in August, which required a six-hour spinal surgery, the 61-year-old music mogul has been back to his routine of regular rides around town
The accident happened just steps from his Malibu home when he crashed in the courtyard of the estate.
‘Simon has broken his back in a number of places’ a spokesperson said after the fall.
The former American Idol judge had to undergo surgery to have a rod inserted after the crash.
Serious injury: Simon crashed a new e-bike in his home’s courtyard in August and broke his back, leaving him bedridden for months. He announced the crash on Instagram
MIA: Because of his injuries, the record executive was forced to miss out on the return of his series America’s Got Talent
He was at least doing well enough after the accident to share a short message on his social media accounts.
‘Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time,’ he wrote ominously.
‘I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages. And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever me.’
Simon was with his girlfriend, their little boy and her son from a previous relationship at the time of the accident, according to ABC News.
Because of his injuries, the record executive was forced to miss out on the return of his series America’s Got Talent.
Serious: He took a turn for the worse in October, when The Sun reported he could be bedridden for six months after complications from surgery to fuse two vertebrae; seen April 23 in LA
In October, The Sun reported that Simon had taken a turn for the worse that would delay his recovery significantly.
He suffered complications from surgery to fuse two vertebrae, which required him to mostly stay in bed for six months.
At the time, he was reported to be on heavy painkillers and was too unwell to even record short promos for America’s Got Talent from home.
However, he was still able to walk a bit around his home garden and to do some light physical therapy in a pool.
Sitting it out: At the time, he was reported to be on heavy painkillers and was too unwell to even record short promos for America’s Got Talent from home
But by February of this year, Simon said he was doing considerably better and seemed to be in high spirits.
‘The first four weeks were the hardest,’ he recalled to ET in that month. ‘Because you feel kind of helpless, and it was the first time in my life I’ve ever felt helpless. Then you’re bored and frustrated, and I was in so much pain, if I’m being honest with you.’
As he described it, the pain disappeared miraculously weeks after recovery.
‘Just like the doctor said, you hit this kinda seven, eight-week mark, and it’s like it never happened. I mean, literally like that, so there were a lot of pluses,’ he continued.