MTB injuries...

[Fly Rod]

Road...

I borrowed a friends brothers beach cruiser for a run to the store. On the way back I was racing a guy on a 10 speed. I was standing and really pumping on the bars. The front tire came off! The forks hit the asphault and I hit the air. I instinctively went into a dive position and hit the asphault. I slid on my left side. My hip took the brunt of the ride and the flesh was removed to the hip bone. I had road rash from my finger tips to my toes.Iwas wearing shorts and flip flops....

[Spud]

Originally Posted by Fly Rod

Road...

I borrowed a friends brothers beach cruiser for a run to the store. On the way back I was racing a guy on a 10 speed. I was standing and really pumping on the bars. The front tire came off! The forks hit the asphault and I hit the air. I instinctively went into a dive position and hit the asphault. I slid on my left side. My hip took the brunt of the ride and the flesh was removed to the hip bone. I had road rash from my finger tips to my toes.Iwas wearing shorts and flip flops....

Oh...Man.

OK, you sparked a memory and I am morphing to a skateboard crash...

Was about 10. Summertime in Cali. Shirtless, on a skateboard at the top of a hill, laid down on it with the board under my abdomen. Proceed down the hill. Bottom of the hill, road turned abrupty from asphalt to dirt. Board stops...I kept going.

Spent the rest of the summer with a skab that covered my whole chest. Nearly ripped my nipples off.

[e rock]

Oddly enough I've never broke a bone in the dirt, but it seems like I should have several times.

The one that I will always remember was when I was 16 and just getting into racing (1992). A buddy and I were running our usual trails, but keeping a log of times, so every day we were trying to push it a litttle bit further. So, on a trail that I knew like the back of my hand, there was a fairly straight, down-sloped single track section that makes an abrupt transition from bright clearcut to a dense forest. For about half a second, you're basically blind as your eyes adjust.

Just before entering the darkness, there's a "bonus line" on the uphill side that goes around the top side of a tree, instead of the main trail that makes a little swerve to go below the tree. Well, in the interest of maintaining speed to save time, I took the bonus line faster than my skills were prepared to handle. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but the darkness transition obscured the back side of the bonus line that sent me airborn. I was able to keep it pointed in the right direction and landed back on the trail, but the body contortion required to get the tires in the right spot put me in the wrong position and my right foot twisted out of the pedal and I landed hard on the saddle. I was momentarily unable to do anything while the bike and I continued quickly down the trail. The trail then makes a slight jog to the left around another tree, which I was now headed directly toward. I remember turning at the last second to avoid a direct endo into the tree, and just clearing the handlebar, but my shoulder took a direct hit. I don't really remember the next part, but according to my buddy, I log-rolled down the sidehill until I encountered another tree which stopped me from ending up in the creek.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by Mr. Toad

Never got too messed up on the MTB, but have dislocated my shoulder a few times. The pain was so bad I can't let myself think about it. Interestingly, that's not so for everyone.

Anyway, my most serious dislocation (the only one I couldn't get back in and had to go to the ER to re-locate) happened in Dec. 2006 and I'm still not good. I hope Brian's does better.

I dislocate a shoulder a year.... at least. It's like I'm put together with rubber bands. I never do it doing anything remotely atheletic, It will happen while taking a suit off a hanger or something rediculous. The only time it's a lingering problem is when I catch a nerve or other piece of meat when it pops back into socket.

Been happening since 7th grade..

[carboncycles]

I just remembered one as a kid. My next door neighbor back then was a hot blond girl who was just beginning to discover boys; I was probably 7 or 8. Anyway, one afternoon I was riding to a friends house, and on the way, there is a curb that has disintegrated into a perfect little ramp. Well, as I was about to hit the ramp, I look over and the blond had a pistol facing at me that she apparently got from this guy's car. Next thing I know, I was seeing pieces of blue, concrete, blue, concrete until I finally ended up on my back with my bmx bike on top of me and a throbbing pain in my right big toe. Let's say after that incident, that blond no longer looked hot

[yooper]

I hadn't been riding much the last few years, turned to trail running instead to work out. A month ago I sprained my ankle pretty bad and had to stop running for a while so I got the bike out, a 1995 Trek Single Track 930. I had forgotten how much I liked riding. I don't do crazy MTB stuff any more, no jumps, no races, no crazy downhills. My old bike is all worn out. So I decided to get a road bike for working out.

A week ago I rode to the bike shop and after some discussion we picked three bikes for me to test ride. Riding the first bike I was really impressed and was riding it pretty hard, really too fast, putting it through its paces, and all of a sudden took a wrong turn and had a very tall curb in front of me. I chose to stop rather than bump it and maybe damage the shop bike. I squeezed the brakes HARD like I'm used to on my old bike, and the front wheel locked instantly and threw me over and down. My old bike can't do that. It surprised me and happened so quickly that I didn't have time to think and I put my hand down reflexively and broke my wrist. Had surgery the next day. Got my cast off today, 7 days after surgery, and have a removable splint. Started the pretty painful range of motion exercises today.

I was back to work this Monday and I'll be performing surgery again in 2-3 weeks from now.

Some pics:

[cary]

Man, I am comparatively fortunate. In 30 or so years of riding bikes I have never broken anything. I have some scars, and as I get older they don't seem to go away. Currently I am sporting a nice scare on the back of my left leg from bailing at Northstar and getting an SPD in the calf. I thought it would go right away but has been there for nearly a year. I also have a scar on the right calf in the shape of a chainring.

[e rock]

Originally Posted by cary

I also have a scar on the right calf in the shape of a chainring.

I imagine those are pretty common. I've still got one (well, 8 really) that I've had for 15 years. Amongst my riding buddies, I held the throne for 'coolest scar' for a long time with that one. It's mostly faded and covered with ink now, but I can still feel the little lumps in a perfect line.

[stinkyfj60]

Originally Posted by cary

Man, I am comparatively fortunate. In 30 or so years of riding bikes I have never broken anything. I have some scars, and as I get older they don't seem to go away. Currently I am sporting a nice scare on the back of my left leg from bailing at Northstar and getting an SPD in the calf. I thought it would go right away but has been there for nearly a year. I also have a scar on the right calf in the shape of a chainring.

You havent broke anything that you know of... I have fractures in my right wrist from wrecking on both BMXs and MTBs. I had no idea they were there until they took an X-Ray when I tore a tendon awhile back...

[tcb]

Originally Posted by stinkyfj60

You havent broke anything that you know of... I have fractures in my right wrist from wrecking on both BMXs and MTBs. I had no idea they were there until they took an X-Ray when I tore a tendon awhile back...

Yuup.... my broken wrist that I talked about above was broken for about 3 weeks before seeing a doctor. I'd probably have never gone if it wasn't for the bruise on my palm that wasn't healing. I just thought it was a bad sprain..... but then I'm kind of an idiot like that.

[e rock]

Originally Posted by tcb

Yuup.... my broken wrist that I talked about above was broken for about 3 weeks before seeing a doctor. I'd probably have never gone if it wasn't for the bruise on my palm that wasn't healing. I just thought it was a bad sprain..... but then I'm kind of an idiot like that.

And this kind of makes me wonder about the bone spur on the back of my heel (right at the upper attachment point of the achilles tendon). According to the doc, judging by the size, it's likely 5-10 years old - resulting from a mild tendon separation at some point.

At least my physical therapist is hawt.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by e rock

And this kind of makes me wonder about the bone spur on the back of my heel (right at the upper attachment point of the achilles tendon). According to the doc, judging by the size, it's likely 5-10 years old - resulting from a mild tendon separation at some point.

At least my physical therapist is hawt.

ouch... I've got Haglunds and a bone spur on my right heel too. I'm in flip flops for 3 weeks when it flairs up. The surgical solutions don't sound very fun either... so I keep the ice on it and the tenny's close by.

[rsbcruiser]

Ok, first off, SPUD, when you wipe the glass off of your tire, much better to jam your hand into the front fork. That way you can do a face plant, much more enjoyable, ask me how I know. IdahoDoug, YEP, came to the same conclusion. Better to keep the wheels on the ground. On a downhill with my wife watching, I decided to jump a stump. Timed it badly, catching my chainring on the stump. face plant. Almost ripped my lower lip off. I had chunks of cedar leaf imbedded so far up there that they were still coming out a year later. False advertising I tell you. I was riding a Stump Jumper! Big fat LIARS!

[rsbcruiser]

Man Oh man Yoops, I cringe every time I see those shots. The new shots with the screws, looks like they wired through the wrist. Is that what those dark images are opposite the fixing plate and screws?

[Mr. Toad]

Originally Posted by tcb

I dislocate a shoulder a year.... at least. It's like I'm put together with rubber bands. I never do it doing anything remotely atheletic, It will happen while taking a suit off a hanger or something rediculous. The only time it's a lingering problem is when I catch a nerve or other piece of meat when it pops back into socket.

Been happening since 7th grade..

When mine dislocated in December '06, I was reaching for the snooze bar on the alarm clock. I'm cringing and holding the shoulder as I type.

A week or so after the dislocation, I did a backcountry hike at Big Bend N.P. After the hike, I went to the gift shop to buy some trinkets to take home to the kids. The clerk was a tall skinny cowboy type. Gray hair, moustache, boots, the whole deal. As he reached up to get the items off a shelf behind the counter, he pulled his arm back down and quickly used the other one instead.

I told him I recognized that move because I'd been doing it for the past week after dislocating my shoulder. He said that he had dislocated his too. Turns out that both injuries happened on the same day. I asked him how it happened. He told me that he was alone out on his ranch many miles from his house when his horse got spooked and he was thrown off. His shoulder dislocated when he hit the ground. Then he told me how he walked a few hundred yards leading his horse by the reign to the place a where huge rock stuck out of the ground. There, he pounded his shoulder back into place on the rock.

So when he asked me how mine happened, I debated telling him that it popped out while reaching for the snooze bar on the alarm clock as I lazed in bed. I debated telling him that my kids stood there looking at me all freaked out because I was freaked out. I debated telling him that it was too painful for me to sit up (I was laying on my stomach) and that the paramedics had to pick me up so I could hunch over in the Dwayne Wade position and move about. I debated telling him that my wife then drove me to the ER where I chose the amnesia drug so I wouldn't remember the pain of re-locating it. But I decided instead to excuse myself by saying something like, "It's a long story, and I've got a long trip ahead," and saved myself the embarrassment.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by Mr. Toad

When mine dislocated in December '06, I was reaching for the snooze bar on the alarm clock. I'm cringing and holding the shoulder as I type.

A week or so after the dislocation, I did a backcountry hike at Big Bend N.P. After the hike, I went to the gift shop to buy some trinkets to take home to the kids. The clerk was a tall skinny cowboy type. Gray hair, moustache, boots, the whole deal. As he reached up to get the items off a shelf behind the counter, he pulled his arm back down and quickly used the other one instead.

I told him I recognized that move because I'd been doing it for the past week after dislocating my shoulder. He said that he had dislocated his too. Turns out that both injuries happened on the same day. I asked him how it happened. He told me that he was alone out on his ranch many miles from his house when his horse got spooked and he was thrown off. His shoulder dislocated when he hit the ground. Then he told me how he walked a few hundred yards leading his horse by the reign to the place a where huge rock stuck out of the ground. There, he pounded his shoulder back into place on the rock.

So when he asked me how mine happened, I debated telling him that it popped out while reaching for the snooze bar on the alarm clock as I lazed in bed. I debated telling him that my kids stood there looking at me all freaked out because I was freaked out. I debated telling him that it was too painful for me to sit up (I was laying on my stomach) and that the paramedics had to pick me up so I could hunch over in the Dwayne Wade position and move about. I debated telling him that my wife then drove me to the ER where I chose the amnesia drug so I wouldn't remember the pain of re-locating it. But I decided instead to excuse myself by saying something like, "It's a long story, and I've got a long trip ahead," and saved myself the embarrassment.

My first one was caused by a pulling guard putting a helmet on it in 7th grade.... and it hasn't been the same since. I bet the clerk just had a better imagination than you do.

[Lugboot]

Wow. At least I'm not the only one.

Currently off the bike due to a bulged disk between L5/S1. Overuse. Kinda boring I know. But I also have to stare at a brand new, freshly built Kona Hei Hei 2-9 full suspension 29er while I can't ride.

Last July fourth, I was about 3 hours into a ride on the 29er SS when I wasn't paying attention on an off-camber downhill switchback and ended up highsiding off onto my face. Missed a stump by about 3 inches but had to finish the ride with a hole in my face and go to the ER to get stitches in my lower lip. Luckily a neighbor is one of the trauma surgeons there, and she was home, so she took me in, we went straight in the ambulance doors, she stitched me up and we left. Total time spent was about 45 minutes. Best ER visit ever.

When I first started using clipless pedals, I guess about 10 years ago, it made total sense to get used to them in a rockgarden. Of course, I stalled out, couldn't clip out, fell straight over to my right and bounced my head off a rock. It deflected off the edge of my helmet and then into my forehead. Yay, blood. Trip to the ER (that one was 4 hours) and 11 stitches.

Was screaming down a fireroad at about 30-ish mph and got on the off-camber outside part of a left-hand switchback. Couldn't make the turn, drifted into the ditch and my right fork leg caught a rock in the roadbank, instantly sending me over the bars and into the forest. I landed upside down on my shoulders with my legs flipped back over me. There was a tunnel of destruction through the brush I made with my flightpath. Somehow I came out of that one with some bruises and a pretty scraped up forearm and that's it.

Couple years ago at a 24 hour race, I was on my last lap and was chasing some other guys down a hardpack section in excess of 20 mph with a tight turn at the bottom. I was trying to downshift and brake at the same time when my left hand twitched the wrong way, instantly locking up my front wheel and sending me down, fast. Couldn't move my arm. Had to get up and ride one-handed backwards on the course to the transition tent and bag my lap at the medical tent. Turned out I had partially torn some of the ligaments in my shoulder.

Somehow I haven't broken a bone that I've known of, yet...

[eventhough]

Originally Posted by yooper

Some pics:

The first three don't look bad...the next three do!

I used to race cross-country and then did downhill for a bit. Going over your handlebars mid-jump @ ~ 49 mph hurts. Ended up being carried off the mountain on a backboard. Final tally was a broken leg and enough skinned flesh to last a life time. Shin guards (a carry over from bike trials) saved the day though - they were shredded.

[yooper]

Originally Posted by rsbcruiser

Man Oh man Yoops, I cringe every time I see those shots. The new shots with the screws, looks like they wired through the wrist. Is that what those dark images are opposite the fixing plate and screws?

There is a curved plate fixed by four screws and a wire and there is a fancy shaped wire held in by two screws on square washers stabilizing the head of the radius.

The little wire things you see are staples holding the incision open during surgery. Those are intraoperative xrays.

[mot]

I haven't broken any bones, but I've fallen/crashed several times, both by myself and with another cyclist(s).

I once was following someone too close coming down a gravel hill through a mountain and clipped another rider's rear end and we both crashed.

We both laughed because we were trying to go down as fast as we could, trying to out-do each other.

Good memories!

And of course, the same bike I was on then got trashed when I got hit by a car a couple of months ago.

Bad memories!

[carboncycles]

Remember guys, metal, carbon and such will not heal, unlike tissue and blood...so the moral, save the bike at all costs; everything else eventually heals!

[mustardfj40]

I got two major crashes that resulted in some lost skins...And somehow I always fawked up when training hard...Last year, I trained hard for a big ride for months and got into great shape, I thought I was in the best shape of my life (for a 44 years old man at the time), one day, I just passed out because exhaustion and dehyradation...And I had to cancel last year 2007 Rubithon . This year I got rejected from the Death Ride lottery registration so I signed up for Rubithon 2008 and got a great time

I need to learn how to train properly to avoid injuries.

[SLOonTheGo]

So far I haven't had anything major from the mtb. Worst one was a weekend at the local state park I was descending a ridge on my hardtail with a bit too much speed. I got on the brakes in order to make the turn at the end of the ridge that drops me back into the valley and the rear end glanced a rock and hopped to the side putting me at nearly 90 degrees from my bars. I tumbled and slid and came to a rest in a bush about 2 feet from a serious slope to the valley floor. Bruised and cut but nothing to