I had quite a bad crash up at Lee Quarry on Monday. I was riding the first two berms on one of the red runs up at the top. I'd ridden them about six times, trying to get it just right, and on my last attempt I obviously got it totally wrong and popped out the top of the berm at some speed! I landed shoulder first, then head. A kind bloke helped me up and walked my bike down to the car park with me. (Huge, huge thanks for that! I didn't get your name but I owe you a beer or two!) I was a bit disorientated from the bump on the head, I've ****ed my shoulder and got some impressive cuts and bruises! Nothing is broken but I can't really move my right arm so i'll be off work for a bit. Apparently i've got some 'rotator cuff' muscle damage. All in all, probably quite lucky.
My mate picked me up and took me to hospital and on the way he said "You're obviously sh*t at mountain biking so you need to give it up." This is the second time I've knackered the same shoulder. I fell off a couple of years ago on a rented bike at Llandegla, although circumstances were totally different. I was going fairly slowly and just fell awkwardly. Unluckily, I bust a ligament and had to have 2 weeks off work!
I've only been riding properly/regularly again since April after 10 years of not owning a bike, although I rode to a reasonable standard in my teens. I know it was 100% my fault for pushing myself too far and to be honest i've scared myself fartless. So, is my mate right? Should I quit while I'm ahead, before I do some lasting damage? Or can I learn to ride within my skill level, give it more respect and continue to ride? If so, how!? Any tips gratefully received!
Andy
NO mate been rideing 5 years and still stack! Think of the pain as payment for the enjoyment!!
I'd book a skills course once your back on the horse so to speak. Will make a huge difference to how you ride and read the trail. If you do a course with Jedi (Uk bike skills) you'll blow your mind with how much you'll improve and how safe you can feel going fast. But dont bin it mate its all lessons learned!
try and wor out where your limits are - ride with others?
You'd be quitting while you were behind now if you've only just crashed!
if you dont crash you are not finding your limits. you wont get any better.
jason mcroy said that.
mind you he is no longer with us so yeah maybe you should give up. 😕
I also had some shoulder issues due to MTB riding ..... firstly having dislocated my left shoulder in an MTB accident, it kept popping out, so later required a stabilisation surgery.
then - 3 years a go I had a motorbike accident and shattered my right shoulder, then 3 operations later I have limited range of movement in my right arm.
Didn't think I would ride a bicycle again, let alone off-road.
Bought a hybrid and rebuilt my confidence to ride 'something' and then decided I was not a roadie and had to give an MTB a try again. Now I ride XC - 3 months now - and am loving it. Shoulder won't support jumps or drop-offs but just XC is FAR more than I thought I would ever achieve, so very GLAD I took it up again. Plus keeping wheels on the ground I am less likely to cause too much damage ......
Simple answer is not to give up - unless it is seriously getting in the way of other parts of your life.
If it's simply a set-back with an injury and still wanting to ride, but having less confidence right now, then you need to keep riding and it will soon come back.
If you are really in need of help in the confidence department which is preventing you from enjoying something you love and still wish to do, then Hypnotherapy ... or my preference, Time Line Therapy - can let go of those old emotions - such as 'fear' and allow you to learn what you need to learn in order to be safer when you ride within your limits.
What a place to crash, really hard rock everywhere,glad your eok,perhaps pop down on Sunday and watch the race,or even offer to marshall.
Glad youre ok though.
perhaps just where pads, i know most on here reckon your a pussy if you pad up on xc trails, but if you have a family to care for job that needs you looking normal then do it.
I don't think pads would have saved his shoulder.
Maybe just slow down a bit!
Oh and learn how to crash, I'm terrible at this i just cling on to the ship, but if you watch the pros especially BMX guys they know when to bail, how to role, etc
You do get better at riding with time but still can stack it any time.
Riding since April? maybe pushed yourself too much too soon and tearing your rotor cuff is not a good thing to do so take your time to build up again when you recover fully.
Ice for 15 mins will help for now.
Too fast slow down. BTW, I have broken my femur twice riding you have no more than a flesh wound LOL Honestly though just slow down a bit. Better to make it down safely than crash and injure yourself and break the bike landing yourself with weeks off the bike and huge repair bill. Oh and of course I never follow my own advice 🙄
Embrace mincing your way through the tech stuff and learn to enjoy the climbs...
Don't give up - I had a similar but not as bad stack last week (Bruised shoulder, mild concussion) - learn what you did wrong and progress. I'd say a skills course is the best way to improve and find out where you are going wrong - I've never thought I couldn't ride a bike but was amazed once I went on a skills course to learn how to reduce the risk of coming off and feel more in control of the bike.
Hope you're back on it soon
+1 with wwaswas. Learn to climb.Really climb. Better than all your mates. That way they will never see you mincing about on the downhills.
Refuse to ride with anyone who weighs less than 75kg
Has got me by over the years.
BB
Yep, slow down a bit, and don't session things too much - it tends to make me cocky and careless. I've learned not to go back for "one last go". I also find that wearing pads for stuff that I consider more dangerous is both good for my confidence and reminds me to ride within my limits. I know if looks a bit daft, but if you've got bills to pay, who cares?
Slow down a bit mate. No need to give up. I'm 42 next month & have slowed down loads, was getting a bit silly down the MachX on Fri night & had to slow a bit. Wife, 2 young boys, have them to think of. Few knobs might scoff at that but they will always come before biking. Always.
Much prefer enjoying the flow nowadays, picking the right line, holding speed rather than barrelling into stuff way too fast. You'll be back out there mate, just slow a bit.
PT
Dont quit buddy. Crashing is part of the sport unfotunately. I had 2 weeks off work the other momth after fracturing my coccyx. I went out for my first ride on sat i was a bit cautious at first but soon found my groove again. Stick at it and the comfidence will come back 🙂
Embrace mincing your way through the tech stuff and learn to enjoy the climbs...
You've seen me ride haven't you!! 😳
Clink - was purely done on the basis of a hard learned personal lesson, I'm afraid - broken hip learnign to jump 😳
ouch!broken hip
I crash on most rides, adds to the amusement personally and ok sometimes it hurts but most times its funny
If you kill all your demons - surely the angels will die too? Dig deep, keep riding, live with the pain, and get back on it son!
I think it's a good idea to practise a section a number of times to improve. I think that maybe you just went one (or two times too many). I'm no great technical rider or profess to be a tutor. However I would say that three runs at any section is enough on any one day or session. IMO anymore than this (especially if you are not with a tutor who can see from a different angle/perspective) is likely to lead to a stack as one is bound to push to the virtual or actual point of stacking. Maybe you are trying to get good too quick?
Slow down when you are alone and if you are determined to improve very quickly then as stated above, get some form of tuition. If you can afford it.
Don't give up!