We had someone die on one of our trails yesterday

[zoom-zoom]

Zoomzoom- you may have answered/ heard this before....but have you done any physical therapy for your wrist? Mine is arthritic but I have regained most strength and range of motion with PT (though my break was kayaking not biking....pain is the same!)

I have -- and it really made a huge difference in the early months of healing. I know from my experience with a grade 2 ankle sprain 3 years ago that I can expect at least a full year to 2 years before it will likely feel anywhere near pre-injury condition. It's only in the past year that I've contemplated a return to trail running after that injury. Soft tissue/ligament damage stinks!

How long since your injury? How bad is your arthritis? I'm good on the road bike on the hoods or drops, but rotating my hand 90º medial is still uncomfortable...ie the tops on a road bike or mtn. bike handlebars. It's only in the past month that my SRAM road/CX shifters weren't really requiring major effort to operate. I'm about back to shifting without giving it much thought.

[tealtreak]

I have -- and it really made a huge difference in the early months of healing. I know from my experience with a grade 2 ankle sprain 3 years ago that I can expect at least a full year to 2 years before it will likely feel anywhere near pre-injury condition. It's only in the past year that I've contemplated a return to trail running after that injury. Soft tissue/ligament damage stinks!

How long since your injury? How bad is your arthritis? I'm good on the road bike on the hoods or drops, but rotating my hand 90º medial is still uncomfortable...ie the tops on a road bike or mtn. bike handlebars. It's only in the past month that my SRAM road/CX shifters weren't really requiring major effort to operate. I'm about back to shifting without giving it much thought.

My wrist and finger demolition incident was August 2008, so yes....now that you have refreshed my memory...it did take a while to heal....I mentioned the PT because even now I do the wrist strength exercises when I am at the gym and feel it helps..Please don't assume you will have arthritis, mine may be from years of martial arts and other craziness rather than a specific injury (:

As far as biking goes my experience is not super relevant because I didn't start mountain biking until 2010. Interestingly (and in contrast to many comments above) I feel way safer mt biking than on the road. Maybe the drivers here in VA are particularly awful toward cyclists but on the trails its just me, the rocks and the trees (: Any wreck I have had was my fault, not some lunatic going 60 around a narrow curve pulling a horse trailer!

[zoom-zoom]

Ahhh...drivers are generally pretty courteous around these parts. I think in large part because cycling is really popular and growing at a crazy rate in West MI. I do tend to avoid more congested/busy roads, though. We have so many nice, quiet ones that it's not hard to do so.

Yeah, I don't know whether arthritis will end up an issue -- my ortho and PT mentioned the possibility. My ankle generally feels pretty good. Where I do have arthritis is my tailbone after busting it a few times as a kid. My knees used to be semi-arthritic during certain weather conditions, but have been much happier since I started running >7 years ago (use it or lose it).

[SheFly]

So sorry to read about the MTBer. That is truly sad. That said, we don't very often hear of MTB deaths, as thekarens mentioned.

I ride in the woods A LOT. I have fear. I ride technical and non-technical terrain. I ride with groups, I ride with DH and I ride alone. I have never had a serious MTB injury (my most serious cycling injury happened in a CX race, which, amazingly, everyone thinks is safer). Don't let this news deter you - if you love being in the woods - go out and enjoy being in the woods. Want to get better? Find someone locally who can show you how to ride (NOT your SO!). Find a clinic that will teach you skills. Ride WITHIN your comfort zone! There are still LOTS of things I won't ride. Just last weekend, racing as a Cat 1 at MTB Nationals, I walked a good portion of the descent because it scared me.

My point? If you don't love it, I get it. If you do, keep doing it. Do what you love - you could get run over by a mail truck going out your front door...

SheFly

[Wahine]

So sorry to read about the MTBer. That is truly sad. That said, we don't very often hear of MTB deaths, as thekarens mentioned.

I ride in the woods A LOT. I have fear. I ride technical and non-technical terrain. I ride with groups, I ride with DH and I ride alone. I have never had a serious MTB injury (my most serious cycling injury happened in a CX race, which, amazingly, everyone thinks is safer). Don't let this news deter you - if you love being in the woods - go out and enjoy being in the woods. Want to get better? Find someone locally who can show you how to ride (NOT your SO!). Find a clinic that will teach you skills. Ride WITHIN your comfort zone! There are still LOTS of things I won't ride. Just last weekend, racing as a Cat 1 at MTB Nationals, I walked a good portion of the descent because it scared me.

My point? If you don't love it, I get it. If you do, keep doing it. Do what you love - you could get run over by a mail truck going out your front door...

SheFly

Exactly. And let's be realistic, how many deaths do you hear about from mtn biking at an intermediate level do you hear about? Not many. But how many deaths or severe brain injuries occur when roadies get hit by cars? When you're out mtn biking, it's OK to get off and walk stuff. I do it all the time. I get off and walk stuff that I would normally ride on days when I just feel a little off of my A game. But don't let your ego rule your decision making. That's when bad things happen. I'd much rather take my chances with the dirt and the trees where I am in control of what happens to me by making smart choices than rolling the dice with cars on roads.

Just my 2 cents.

[Crankin]

I get what you are saying, Wahine, but I still felt much more comfortable on the road. Sure, I got off and walked... that was the issue. I was walking most of the time, even in places where it was ranked easy. I was just scared all of the time. What Jolt said pretty much echoes how I felt. I think that since mountain biking is so much more technical, it requires constant practice and I wasn't willing to give up the road cycling to do all of that practice. Some of my road riding skills need improvement, but I'm still able to hold my own in the groups I ride with. I'm a lot more comfortable in certain traffic situations than I used to be. Sometimes, I wish I still had a mountain bike, so I could ride fire roads, dirt roads, etc., but I'd have to travel a ways to find this type of terrain. I have to say, I am amazed at some of the things mountain bikers do, but all I could think about was the risk and what could happen if... hence I was extremely cautious.

[Wahine]

Mountain biking isn't for everyone, and it may not be for you Crankin. It just surprises me that it is perceived by so many as being more dangerous than road riding. In the last one year working as a PT I've seen 3 roadies seriously injured, 1 collarbone fracture and minor concussion, 1 collarbone fracture, lumbar fracture and concussion, one serious concussion, neck injury, avulsion fracture of the shoulder and multiple significant contusions. And one friend that ended up in a coma for 3 weeks from being hit from behind by a car. In that same time frame, I've had one mountain biker who was an aggressive rider with a serious hand fracture and grade 3 shoulder separation. I'm just talking serious traumatic injuries here.

[tealtreak]

Crankin, you are wise to pursue what you are comfortable with, after all, having fun with our exercise is the ultimate goal! ...Your last sentence is telling. Caution (or rather hesitation) is the enemy in momentum sports.....In diving and gymnastics the coaches call it the "flinch factor"... that last minute loss of forward momentum will cause you to fail every time.... This is not to say I ride like a lunatic... but it is critical to commit fully (or not) way before the obstacle or technical section.....My heart goes out to the women I meet who do not enjoy mt biking but keep trying because of pressure from SO... (who is often not a patient teacher.....) I wish they had your conviction to just say..."not for me, enjoying the road..."