My doctor....mumble grumble mumble

[ny biker]

In terms of chiropractors, I found that going to one helped my back problems (sacroiliac issues), but a few years later when I started having neck pain, the chiropractor made things worse. (Eventually I figured out that my posture while sitting at work caused most of the neck problems.) My trainer's brother is a chiropractor, and his advice was that they can be helpful, but they can't cure everything, though some of them think they can.

In terms of places to ride off-road, there is a mountain biking club in this area that is a great resource for finding places to ride. They are affiliated with IMBA. Maybe there is a local club in your area. Also look into regular cycling clubs -- one of the clubs I belong to primarily do road rides but they do have a few people who lead mountain bike rides and know all the trails around here.

[Catrin]

I had a good talk with my favorite fitter and one of his wrenches this morning about all of this. There are certainly gravel and paved road options in different part of the states, some of which has dirt roads involved. My bike will need some fit-related modifications to enable this different riding style but it will be far less expensive than buying a new bike - and that full suspension will come in handy! So I've got fall/early winter to take care of this and to start scouting my riding options and to give my neck a chance to further heal. There really aren't any options in state parks, but there are in the Hoosier National Forest, and there are some counties that have a combination of gravel/dirt/asphalt routes that will take me into some pretty scenic areas. I will need to find a riding partner for some of these areas as they are quite remote - but this gives me less technical off-road riding opportunities.

This really does feel like the best approach, and I am excited about it. Sad to be leaving single-track, and it may not be permanent, but it feels like the right choice. There ARE several gravel race/events in southern Indiana that I've been wanting to participate in. My fitter told me that out west you can take fire-roads pretty much wherever you want to go, though that isn't the case in Indiana.

[emily_in_nc]

Glad you found some options, Catrin! Unfortunately, sometimes injuries do require adaptations. I am not sure I'll ever be able to do full centuries or touring again since fracturing my pelvis (though I am game to try both -- training will determine whether my body can handle it). But I've learned to be thankful for what I can do, which is still way more than most folks are even willing to try. Right?!

[Catrin]

Glad you found some options, Catrin! Unfortunately, sometimes injuries do require adaptations. I am not sure I'll ever be able to do full centuries or touring again since fracturing my pelvis (though I am game to try both -- training will determine whether my body can handle it). But I've learned to be thankful for what I can do, which is still way more than most folks are even willing to try. Right?!

I agree entirely. I knew last spring when I got back on the mtb after my injury last October that there was a chance that I would need to do this, but I wanted to try. I tried to break that vicious skill/injury cycle but it didn't improve and the fun isn't worth a possible permanent injury. What's the definition of insanity? Keep doing things the same way and expecting a different outcome. Perhaps in another year I will try it again, we shall see. Now I just need to find a riding buddy for remote gravel road riding

[jessmarimba]

This is going to be an odd and somewhat random suggestion...but perhaps you can spend a day or so with a bike clinician learning "how" to fall? Perhaps in one of those trampoline-gyms, or something? Most people instinctively tense up when they fall (which would exacerbate any whiplash effect), not to mention throw their arms out for protection (BIG no-no!). I remember in college gymnastics, I spent almost as much time on the tumble-track learning how to fall out of failing stunts as I did learning to do them correctly.

Now, with my bike wreck, I was in WAY over my head speed-wise so the training didn't do much good, but with the number of times I've fallen roller-skating, ice-skating, snowboarding, skiing, gymnastics, cycling, etc...never even come close to a broken wrist. The last descending mountain bike clinic I went to, our instructor demonstrated falling a few times (basically just threw himself at the ground) and was completely unhurt. Just a thought.

[Irulan]

my concern is, why falling so much? Once you've been through a skills clinic or two, the incident of falls should be signification reduced. At least, it was for me and many of the gals I ride with. Unless it is a "go big or go home" kind of thing.

[Catrin]

I smell a new bike...

No, no new bike. Some modifications to my mountain bike will be in place by spring however

my concern is, why falling so much? Once you've been through a skills clinic or two, the incident of falls should be signification reduced. At least, it was for me and many of the gals I ride with. Unless it is a "go big or go home" kind of thing.

I know...at least part of it is conditioning by crashing/injuring myself so often - I second guess myself which makes it more likely to fall. It's simply become a vicious cycle that needs to stop before I do serious damage to my cervical or thoracic spine. I did crash far fewer times this year, but in all but one crash (the endo) I wound up off the bike for a month or more due to one injury or another (even though I was able to ride off the trail each time, thankfully). Because of the crashes and recover period I just can't stay on the bike long enough to get better

If/when my neck improves than I may reconsider, but right now this just isn't a good combination with my cervical spine as it is. I may simply just not be a good candidate for single-track at this stage of my life. It really makes really me sad to type that, but I have to consider that.