Robbie Stewart

Back in 1990 I manage a clean break of the tibia in my right leg. Ortho operates and fixes the broken bone. It takes a couple of months of recovery, but being in my mid-teens I bounce back well enough. Then in 2021 I manage to break that same leg again. Broken tibia on both sides, and according to the specialist, the fibula broke again. I ask him, what do you mean "again", to which he replies that it has been previously broken and left to mend on its own. Seems like the ortho in my teens thought mending a snapped bone wasn't a requirement. So a few days later I get pushed into the ER for the doc to do his magic. I come out with my leg in bandages and strict instructions to keep the weight off the foot. I know the drill is my reply. Follow up scans reveal that again the fibula was left to grow back on its own merit. I ask the specialist what the heck, and his reply was "oh, you don't really need that bone" . . . so today, when I feel around the break area I can distinctly distinguish precisely where the broken fibula is and how bent it is. Some days I can even feel it when I walk.

My ankle surgeon told me physio was a waste of money in 2021 when I broke my ankle in three places. I went once, got the exercises and then I just did them regularly until my foot was better. Once I started riding again, and more specifically hike-a-biking like up the Conties mast, was when my foot rapidly improved.

The ortho at Durbanville told me back in 2016 that mtbers keep him in practice. During one of my visits I shared the waiting room with 3 fellow riders. We shared war stories. In 2021 at my visit to Netcare Blaauwberg I was reliably informed the X-ray machine was named "The Hoogekraal".

I dunno hey, I think you're more likely to be known as the One Armed Bandit from henceforth 😜

That's what a MRI looks like. It's the actual break in 3D yes.

I once fell so hard while water skiing that the wetsuit I was in was completely peeled off me. I surfaced with the suit and ski floating beside me 🤣

I tend to play "on the railway tracks" and not beside them. Have done so all my life, but recent events have made me consider the things that make me happy in life and the associated risks of doing so. I'm at a stage now where I no longer want to play the high risk games. So I stick to what I can do which is jumping for the most part. It's ugly, but I enjoy it. Rocks and tech don't make me warm and fuzzy anymore. I only ride on the road to maintain a moderate level of fitness. It's a necessary evil but not really something I enjoy doing too much.

I don't have any x-rays from any of my crashes (not sure why not, but I've never even seen them). But the list in no particular order: Concussion x 3 (1 really bad one. REALLY bad!) Soft tissue damage to the face because of the crash that caused the bad concussion. Chicks dig scars, or so I'm told. Shoulder x 2 (never had them checked out) Fractured elbow Shattered radius - left arm - Doc wanted to amputate, thankfully he didn't! (plates and screws holding it together for a few months until I had them removed again) Broken scaphoid - right hand Couple of ribs (never checked out) Full roastie of left leg from knee to foot after a wash out - that hurt Broken fibula x 2 - right leg Broken tibia x 2 - right leg (plates and screws holding it together) Fractured metatarsal - 1st, 3rd, 5th - right foot (most recent Nov 24) Left ankle sprain, possible hairline fracture - (Full case of thát Banhoek gap - Dec 24) Oh, and I got bit by a farm dog on my way to Muratie, needing about 13 stitches to the left leg and a fistfuls of rabies shots. It got ripped open to the bone.

Sorry to hear. That really sucks. I must admit that on my ride at Bloemendal yesterday I was very nervous about those loose pebbles all over the berms thinking they are prime candidates for causing washouts. I'm very wary of crashing these days. I pray you make a full recovery.

So just to be clear, you won't be riding this weekend? 😜

I did this one many moons ago. From Philadelphia I crossed the N7 and headed north on Old Mamre then took the Brakkefontein gravel road to the R27 and headed south to Duynefontein where I exited the R27. Check out this route on Strava: https://strava.app.link/GF0VwclGPPb — Sunningdale to Durbanville to Philly to Melkbos to Sunningdale

Can't speak for that trail, but Tokai isn't fun in gale force winds. But then which trail is?

In this case it was a local rider judging by the club board hanging off his bars. Some context, we were riding in a loose bunch side by side heading up from the Dairy Shed and were climbing up the hill past that foreman house on the corner. We were just riding at a relaxed pace having a chat when suddenly this guy appears and just charges straight at us and before we could make way and apologise he just started shouting and swearing at us, almost causing a collision in the process. The trails are not a space for road/trail/roid rage.

To the sterk seun who decided to shout obscenities at 4 riders at Conties on Saturday morning because we were impeding your progress seeing as you were riding down a trail that is actually intended for traffic heading in the opposite direction, I just want to point out the foolishness of your impulsive inclinations. You should note that you were not taking into consideration that the 4 of us were discussing wether we should turn around and teach you some "trail side etiquette", and that in all likelihood you would find that very unpleasant to say the least. Lucky we decided the effort wasn't worth it and rather spent it on the trail. My only bit of advice is next time you decide to shoot your mouth off at people you don't know, count the cost first and determine whether you can afford that ticket to the dance because you might not get away so easily again as you did today. Just saying. Don't be a deus. Be lekker. And mind your own business.

This is why I spent the morning on the beach at Melkbos with the family. Tomorrow sounds like some Jonkershoek is in order.