Jhb JUMA ends cycling for me ...my rant

[Chris NewbyFraser]

I hope by now your worst aches are over and you have had time to reconsider your decision to stop riding. Like many, I have enjoyed some spectacular accidents, one which kept me off work for 10 weeks when a Mini decided to bulldoze me. My cumulative adventures have brought me one fall away from potential paralysis but I still ride. I just take more care. There are many fabulous events that are safe. Just try the Nissan series. There is a lot of pleasure and fulfillment awaiting you, particularly that of overcoming this bad experience.RIDE CAUTIOUSLY, BE NERVOUS IF ESSENTIAL BUT GET BACK ON YOUR BIKE!

 

Please do not follow my fellow hubbers strong views by taking the nasty route of sueing. The organisers did not want you to be hurt and very possibly they lack the organising experience to have seen the negative potential of going the route(excuse the pun) they did. From what I can gather, a number of experienced riders tested the route prior to launch. Did they raise these concerns? Sueing is not the approach that strong characters take in the event of a problem occuring in a sporting event which they know is eseentially a high risk activity. When we ride on the road, jump out of perfectly sound aeroplanes hoping that a hankie will keep us safe or body surf the heavy waves in Kzn, we know that there are risks yet we still participate. The same with Mtb events. Good or bad, a mountain bike event is inherently dangerous. This is the nature of riding rough conditions and it is these conditions and the wonder of the open fields that probably attracted you to the sport. You just happened to choose a bad event to ride and maybe your skills were not YET up to dealing with the nasty condition you were faced with. Call it karma, fate, a bummer or whatever, these collisions with life's other side will occur everywhere.

 

The organisers cannot directly apologise openly for the issues that arose. There may well be a person who sues and an open ended apology willl be used against organisers.

Think also of the affect on future event sponsors. If Hollard is sued(for sponsoring an event in good faith) this may scare off Absa, Subaru, Fed Health etc etc from sponsoring events. Better we arrange a meeting and then tear the organisers a new hole so that they learn from the experience, but we should not go viral on this. Place reality first.

 

Perhaps we need to ask that Cycling SA require a course inspection and route approval prior to any pulic event proceeding? Surely, this is not what the 'free to air' sport of MTB is about but perhaps we have to bring in some 'big brother' element into our sport. It is attracting too many participants to allow us to continue running as we always have. Chris Newby-Fraser

[MTB0007]

Hi

Been 5 months more or less since I had my accident

Been an emotional and physically tough road to walking which I could do in Nov but very limited now I walk well but running is out and even tried spinning on IDt which was a joke

Cycling has not even crossed my mind as each time I do the pain I felt and the recovery path hits home

Losing a joint through an accident is not a planned op

So those who preach ... I had a hip!replacement etc...

I had to recover from the crushed bone and muscle then learn to walk again so cycling def not on my top to!do list

Most especially when I am told fall again like that and its tickets for your leg....as much as I loved cycling and rode for 38 plus years ...I kinda like my leg and walking a little more.. So it is def tickets to riding in events or out rides for the next months or so ... I hope to one day ride again but I will never be riding 60km plus etc as I used to... The fear and pain memories combined with the threat of never walking ... Makes it hard... I broke many bones riding it was easy to get back cos my body was still whole ... Now I am working weekly with physio and walking is a challenge after 5km on this artificial joint ... So riding is kinda out

I still admire the plenty cyclists out on their bikes

Still support my lady love in her riding

I just don't think I am destined to do the same

[Shebeen]

Hi

Been 5 months more or less since I had my accident

Been an emotional and physically tough road to walking which I could do in Nov but very limited now I walk well but running is out and even tried spinning on IDt which was a joke

Cycling has not even crossed my mind as each time I do the pain I felt and the recovery path hits home

Losing a joint through an accident is not a planned op

So those who preach ... I had a hip!replacement etc...

I had to recover from the crushed bone and muscle then learn to walk again so cycling def not on my top to!do list

Most especially when I am told fall again like that and its tickets for your leg....as much as I loved cycling and rode for 38 plus years ...I kinda like my leg and walking a little more.. So it is def tickets to riding in events or out rides for the next months or so ... I hope to one day ride again but I will never be riding 60km plus etc as I used to... The fear and pain memories combined with the threat of never walking ... Makes it hard... I broke many bones riding it was easy to get back cos my body was still whole ... Now I am working weekly with physio and walking is a challenge after 5km on this artificial joint ... So riding is kinda out

I still admire the plenty cyclists out on their bikes

Still support my lady love in her riding

I just don't think I am destined to do the same

Am sorry to hear how much it has affected your mobility short and long term, BUT it seems like the one thing 100% intact is your attitude.

 

Like some others before I've also got a horror story to keep me grateful, took a big fall and broke pelvis, pubis and some vertebrae. Was on my back for 2 months and physio was a daily struggle with all the atrophy trying to regain such basic skills. I was very lucky, and needed time, not operations to get back to 100%.

 

despite this, it's very hard to put myself in your shoes and imagine the daily hardship it's brought. I salute you, keep it up on the road to recovery.

[Barry Stuart]

Hi

Been 5 months more or less since I had my accident

Been an emotional and physically tough road to walking which I could do in Nov but very limited now I walk well but running is out and even tried spinning on IDt which was a joke

Cycling has not even crossed my mind as each time I do the pain I felt and the recovery path hits home

Losing a joint through an accident is not a planned op

So those who preach ... I had a hip!replacement etc...

I had to recover from the crushed bone and muscle then learn to walk again so cycling def not on my top to!do list

Most especially when I am told fall again like that and its tickets for your leg....as much as I loved cycling and rode for 38 plus years ...I kinda like my leg and walking a little more.. So it is def tickets to riding in events or out rides for the next months or so ... I hope to one day ride again but I will never be riding 60km plus etc as I used to... The fear and pain memories combined with the threat of never walking ... Makes it hard... I broke many bones riding it was easy to get back cos my body was still whole ... Now I am working weekly with physio and walking is a challenge after 5km on this artificial joint ... So riding is kinda out

I still admire the plenty cyclists out on their bikes

Still support my lady love in her riding

I just don't think I am destined to do the same

Sterkte! That's a tough one. You should get hold of Sepia on here who I think suffered quite a tough time with a similar injury, also with a lot of risk to the leg, but is bravely riding again. He might have some encouragement or advice for you. If you're looking for someone to take an easy walk/jog/walk with then drop me a PM and we can hook up. I'm also recovering a bit so I'm properly slow and unfit again.

[Wyatt Earp]

Hi

Been 5 months more or less since I had my accident

Been an emotional and physically tough road to walking which I could do in Nov but very limited now I walk well but running is out and even tried spinning on IDt which was a joke

Cycling has not even crossed my mind as each time I do the pain I felt and the recovery path hits home

Losing a joint through an accident is not a planned op

So those who preach ... I had a hip!replacement etc...

I had to recover from the crushed bone and muscle then learn to walk again so cycling def not on my top to!do list

Most especially when I am told fall again like that and its tickets for your leg....as much as I loved cycling and rode for 38 plus years ...I kinda like my leg and walking a little more.. So it is def tickets to riding in events or out rides for the next months or so ... I hope to one day ride again but I will never be riding 60km plus etc as I used to... The fear and pain memories combined with the threat of never walking ... Makes it hard... I broke many bones riding it was easy to get back cos my body was still whole ... Now I am working weekly with physio and walking is a challenge after 5km on this artificial joint ... So riding is kinda out

I still admire the plenty cyclists out on their bikes

Still support my lady love in her riding

I just don't think I am destined to do the same

Not a real fun story to read so early, I really feel sympathy towards you having to let go of something you loved and enjoyed so dearly.

Strength to you and hope to see you on a bike soon .

[Cycling Addict]

Anyone know if they will be running this event again?

[Cois]

Good luck @MTB0007.  Recover can be tough. And the struggle with your mind...  Hope that one day you will be back on the bike again.  And get well soon.  Set yourself a goal and work towards that.

 

My dad had a double hip replacement, and riding his bike and the tandem with my mom was on top of the list.  Today, he can ride his bike.  Maybe not on the level they once did, but at least they can get on the bikes again.

[MTB0007]

Cheers

The one thing I miss most is riding with my wife..

This could be the one thing I aim for... Just being able to

Ride with her again ...

[MTB-BFK]

Hi

Been 5 months more or less since I had my accident

Been an emotional and physically tough road to walking which I could do in Nov but very limited now I walk well but running is out and even tried spinning on IDt which was a joke

Cycling has not even crossed my mind as each time I do the pain I felt and the recovery path hits home

Losing a joint through an accident is not a planned op

So those who preach ... I had a hip!replacement etc...

I had to recover from the crushed bone and muscle then learn to walk again so cycling def not on my top to!do list

Most especially when I am told fall again like that and its tickets for your leg....as much as I loved cycling and rode for 38 plus years ...I kinda like my leg and walking a little more.. So it is def tickets to riding in events or out rides for the next months or so ... I hope to one day ride again but I will never be riding 60km plus etc as I used to... The fear and pain memories combined with the threat of never walking ... Makes it hard... I broke many bones riding it was easy to get back cos my body was still whole ... Now I am working weekly with physio and walking is a challenge after 5km on this artificial joint ... So riding is kinda out

I still admire the plenty cyclists out on their bikes

Still support my lady love in her riding

I just don't think I am destined to do the same

Did the organisers offer any assistance of any sort?  Your medical bill alone must have been horrendous.  My view is that there was widespread negligence, and that many of the serious accidents, and the further harm caused by a lack of responsiveness  were avoidable, and probably foreseeable by an organiser focussed on something other than packing thousands into a moneyspinner.  This is a disgrace, and I am very sorry for you

[New Landy new life]

Sorry to hear your recovery did not go well. I thankfully was back on my MTB after 6 months but more to proove to my surgeon that I will! be able to ride a mountain bike again despite his advice. 4 years on and all good except a limp when tired and the foot pointing at 2'o clock instead of 12

[MTB0007]

Long time since I checked my posts.. A little update..

I am spinning (alone not in a class) @ healing is at 90%..

A few more months and I should be sa strong as before,

I don't think going against a surgeons advice is good..

I don't limp unless tired , my legs straight ... no issues..

what the surgeons caution against is another fall on the same hip..

bones grow.. that's why I cycled after the 6 or more other breaks I've had over the last 20 or so years .. but a metal / ceramic hip won't if I fall and break the artificial hip...I could do worse ...damage and loose a leg..

I am going to find a recumbent tadpole trike and cycle casually on it

maybe do a few "rides" but racing and mountain biking are off the cards.

 

As for the Juma organisers, I didn't contact them..nor did they contact me , not even a .. How you doing after the accident ...

I suppose they were worried about legal action cos I believe the many casualties in last year's race were a direct Result of the shoddy medical care combined with the poorly planned and organised 2014 Juma. . But it's behind me and we must leave it there...

yes the medical bills were massive, and physio continues..

But so does life and I will do recumbent cycling to keep the pedals rolling, and the spirit alive

[BarHugger]

Long time since I checked my posts.. A little update..

I am spinning (alone not in a class) @ healing is at 90%..

A few more months and I should be sa strong as before,

I don't think going against a surgeons advice is good..

I don't limp unless tired , my legs straight ... no issues..

what the surgeons caution against is another fall on the same hip..

bones grow.. that's why I cycled after the 6 or more other breaks I've had over the last 20 or so years .. but a metal / ceramic hip won't if I fall and break the artificial hip...I could do worse ...damage and loose a leg..

I am going to find a recumbent tadpole trike and cycle casually on it

maybe do a few "rides" but racing and mountain biking are off the cards.

 

As for the Juma organisers, I didn't contact them..nor did they contact me , not even a .. How you doing after the accident ...

I suppose they were worried about legal action cos I believe the many casualties in last year's race were a direct Result of the shoddy medical care combined with the poorly planned and organised 2014 Juma. . But it's behind me and we must leave it there...

yes the medical bills were massive, and physio continues..

But so does life and I will do recumbent cycling to keep the pedals rolling, and the spirit alive

Big respect for your tenacity and perseverance.

 

You can always tackle the virtual training scene......give the okes a ride.for.their money.

 

All the best to you.

[Sepia]

Good to hear mate. Glad you are "back". Do the fun rides and start at the back. Use DH knobblies and ride to finish. It worked for me and kept me on my bike.

 

Well done on the recovery.

[Sven137]

I've been in Hospital since last week Sunday ...

Its been a pain filled morphine and other drug whirlwind ..

I've been reading all the rants re JUMA..

I had been in training to do a good 94.7... Sadly I won't.. Ever race again..

 

I take full responsibility for my choices I ride at least one race every 30 days with my wife. We chose MTB for the safety and ability to do different tracks ..rides etc.. She loves cycling almost as much as I did...

My biggest problem with JUMA..is not that it was technical or different but ... It was a good mountain bikers challenge... And herein lies the problem

Why on this green earth would any event allow a person who just purchased a bike to ride the same route seasoned cyclists struggle with but enjoy as it challenges their skills..

Its exactly this simple little detail that caused bottle necks and the chaos

Here in this Hospital 19 serious casualties 3 like me broke hips 2 broken elbows ..the list is scary.. Patients were sent to other hospitals Sunday as casualties here was put under presssue from a bike ride???????

My ride ended as I passed a lady who decided to stop dead while doing the storm water drain section ... She was obviously nervous and I had 2 choices hit her or Vere into the green stream

My choice ended cycling for good for me... I hit a hidden hole went skywards

Downwards and crack...end of left hip... I was unable to move as the ball had snapped off and lodged between the hip socket and now seperated femur..

I cooked there for 4 hours under the sun while other cyclists were guided past me, to avoid them hitting the same hole ..by my wife and a marshal...before getting to hospital, the medical team were brilliant but overloaded, far too few for the carnage they were managing...

OK ..

I can't ride again as one to many fall is just that....

I believe MTB race organizing has become a money spinner with little care for safety... There should have been 3 courses at least and qualification would be required and seeding to get starting blocks .. Our seeding was questionabike this would be a single track of flowwing pathways at best no technical stuff....

One for people who think mountain biking means owning a sort of off road bike

Two for mountain bikers who have done at least 5 25km races the course would offer single track etc.. Basically the 25km of Sundays without the heavier technical stuff.....

Third the proper one ..as it was...

 

In my humble opinion too many people were on a course at once causing the congestion as fear stopped those less technical riders passing an obstacle

Forcing people of track into bad lines and danger and stopping the flow ..

It was a numbers game in my opinion ..more people meant more entries .

No time was spent pondering how Joe Soap on his Hypermarket MTB would be able to ride... The proof is in the number of accidents we saw from this one fun event

I end my last ever cycling rant as a ex cyclist lying in hospital pissd that I'm not out in the tracks now …....

 

 

My question is .. why in a crowded area did you not just stop behind the other rider that had stopped in front of you..   why did you feel the need to either crash into her or take to the slime ?

 

S.F.D.....

[Skubarra]