An Ode To (Not) Being Rachel Atherton

Online Feature

by 6

Hannah recently dislocated her shoulder. Like Rachel Atherton, she didn’t actually crash… but she wasn’t actually riding. Rachel’s shoulder popped out under the force of landing a massive jump at Fort William. Hannah twisted hers out while pushing her bike down a feature she thought looked a bit scary. Hannah is now somewhat ashamed by her feeble approach to work this week… i cant do capital lettersunless I SHOUT or theyre near the lEFt oF…

There's more to this story

But it's a member-only story

Join us to unlock it and more

Singletrack magazine has been in print and and online since 2001 and every issue we’ve ever published is made available to our members as part of their membership. But there’s so much more on offer – check out these features.

From unlimited access to content to discounts and offers on gear and services. All full membership comes with unlimited digital access & ad free website. But we also need your help to survive and be a sustainable media brand. Advertising just doesn't pay the bills anymore but members contributions do. The more of you join us the better we can be so we hope you'll take a look at the options below and if you can, join us and help sustain the future of Singletrack.

Join us

Full Member Benefits

DIGITAL

Access all our digital benefits

  • Access members’ content, digital back issues & new app issues
  • Ad free website ***
  • Merch discounts.
  • Downloads, GPX, PDFs, iBooks
  • Choose your own price*
  • Choose annual (best value) or bi-monthly (flexible)
£29/year

Or

£7.99 every 2 months

PRINT+

Singletrack in gorgeous print + digital

  • Access members’ content, digital back issues & new app issues
  • Ad free website ***
  • Merch discounts.
  • Downloads, GPX, PDFs, iBooks
  • Choose your own price*
  • Choose annual (best value) or bi-monthly (flexible)
£49/year

Or

£8.99 every 2 months

*You can help support Singletrack by adding a little bit extra on your annual renewal.

Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

More posts from Hannah

Home › Forums › An Ode To (Not) Being Rachel Atherton

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • An Ode To (Not) Being Rachel Atherton
  • 3
    voodoo-rich
    Full Member

    Healing vibes to Hannah and Rach… 🙂

    Posted 1 year ago
    reeksy
    Full Member

    Lovely. I especially like the singletrack toilet joke.

    It also reminds me of a bike ride one summer in Dordogne when I was 12. As we rode across a bridge my friend Ben and I spotted a fisher in a boat. Attempting to ask him if he’d caught any fish… but being the summer holidays our French was a little rusty we shouted:

    ”Monsieur combiens de pêches?”

    Posted 1 year ago
    trailrippers
    Free Member

    I can’t imagine the pressure on Rachel, in front of a home crowd, to grit her teeth and keep going. Not easy to be part of the toughest MTB family, I think… Hoping your shoulder is getting better, Hannah (and Rach!). Top tip for taking toilet tissue one-handed: scissor-grab the paper with index and middle finger, hold it whilst pulling what you need off using thumb, ring finger and pinky.

    Posted 1 year ago
    PolisherMan
    Free Member

    Been there, got the t-shirt.

    The pain!!!

    Take it steady H.

    R. Atherton riding the next day!!!

    How??

     

    Posted 1 year ago
    stwhannah
    Full Member

    Rachel messaged me on Instagram after she read this. She said it took her ages to get back on the bike the first time, but now it’s so mangled in there after repeated injuries, nerve damage and surgery that she reckons she can’t feel the pain like she used to.

    Mine is moving loads more now, but stretching involuntarily above my head in the morning gets me every time! And I am quite tired of the constant ache. And I am sad at all the things I can’t do this summer.

    Posted 1 year ago
    1
    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    Mine is moving loads more now, but stretching involuntarily above my head in the morning gets me every time!

    Slowly slowly catchy monkey. You need to move it and keep it moving but it is absolutely possible to over work these things (as my permanently bent little finger attests). Do not over do it.

    With your shoulder take lots of care getting it right.

    Following an initial dislocation* followed by significant “ah it’s fine now, I’ll do much more than the physio says I should” my left shoulder is dodgy as an Arthur Daley deal.

    Mine came out last time turning the page of a book. The time before that was doing the strengthening exercises following on from the previous incident.

    *the dislocation hurt a lot. Being told I’m old now, by a medical professional, at 34, that hurt more.

    Posted 1 year ago
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women