How many crashes does it take . . . ?

[PhilipV]

7 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Funny you say that. After the crash I saw it was indeed way too hard. It was at 1.80 bar, but I'm a big boy, so maybe 1.50 rather

I weigh 86 on a good day and I run 1.8bar in front and 2 at the back. 

Assegaai front, Minion SS Back. I ask a lot of the front wheel, because I slide the back a lot. And I lean the bike aggressively. If the pressure is too low, the tyre starts squirming. 

7 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

@PhilipV I'm sorry to hear about your dad. That really sucks man, and I wish you all the best in this difficult road. You make some valid points there about riding within your safe ability and still enjoying it. I can take some lessons from that. Thanks.

@'Dale 

As for skills. I'm self taught. Maybe that is a part of the problem.

I bet that you might have some bad habits/ideas and that an independent eye will be able to ID it and help you with it. Maybe an intermediate skills class or some one on one coaching  won't go amiss. 

 

Thanks man, the mortality of your parents is an inevitable but bitter pill to swallow. At least we have time still. 

[NotSoBigBen]

No idea but at 61 and having had 3 big one's between Aug and Dec last year my wife reckons 'that's enough'!

Won't stop me riding but I'm certainly a lot more 'risk averse' than I've ever ever been 😎

[Nemo's Bike Life]

On 2/25/2023 at 10:32 PM, Robbie Stewart said:

I'm curious to see if I'm alone in my self assessments about crashing.

So, to start, I'm a 27 year old trapped in the body of a 47 year old. The problem with this is that the young man in me wants to do stuff that my middle aged body doesn't want me to do. 

Case in point. This morning on the Hoogekraal Cobra I did the whole smash into rocks and opened a can of whip-ass and hurt for breakfast. All because in my mind "I can", but the costs are starting to add up.

I'm wondering if the time has come to call it quits? I enjoy riding but crashing less so.

In the last month I've now gone down three times. Twice on the Conties Rhinos and today on the Cobra.

And to think I was considering pulling the trigger on a new Status.

What say the mob?

Perhaps look at investing in some skills coaching. We can help identify mistakes in your riding, and help you ride faster while riding safer. Giving up riding is never an option!!!

[The Ouzo]

10 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Yep. I have this too. Breathing deep is fun. So is lying on my side.

Something I never knew was a thing is fracture rib cartlidge.

I only discovered this 30 years ago, showing off my water skiing skills to a bunch of girls on the boat. A manouvre that I had pulled plenty of times before, except this time I went down. And somehow the water was hard.

Since then I've managed to crack that same cartlidge twice more.

Its not fun.

 

But as others have said, as you get older you stop bouncing and start crumbling. As a roadie I like to think that what I lack in confidence, I make up for with experience.

[Robbie Stewart]

2 hours ago, PhilipV said:

Assegaai front, Minion SS Back.

This is my choice of replacement tires. I also found that running lower pressures gives me more grip, but also more squirm causing me to slide more than I'm comfortable with. If I descend the Hammer for example with less than optimal pressure in my tires, I tend to feel the fright railing those berms up top.

2 hours ago, PhilipV said:

Thanks man, the mortality of your parents is an inevitable but bitter pill to swallow. At least we have time still. 

Spend the time wisely and say the things that need saying. That's the most important part. I also have a pair of "adopted parents" (not my own, but we moved in across the street of one another on the same day 10 years ago) here in CT who have both been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. It sucks. 

[Robbie Stewart]

20 minutes ago, The Ouzo said:

I only discovered this 30 years ago, showing off my water skiing skills to a bunch of girls on the boat. A manouvre that I had pulled plenty of times before, except this time I went down. And somehow the water was hard.

I've had a waterski crash that was so severe I ripped my wetsuit completely off my body.

Hands up every guy who's had a rather large 'ooof' moment while impressing the ladies . I've done some stupid things in my day while I was a surfer that caused me grief trying to impress all the tiny bikinis on the beach.

[devvydoesdonuts]

@Robbie Stewart I had my last proper fall in 2019, had concussion, a mangled shoulder and a good few scrapes and bruises, but the biggest thing was the mental scars of the crash, took me a good few weeks to heal up physically but mentally it took a lot longer. I rode a few times afterwards but then just decided, nope not for me until 2021, where I got a bike again started off slowly, building myself back up and I am now the fittest and strongest I have ever been two years later. I keep pushing myself to become better and faster but within reason, I will be 32 in May and I can tell you the falls don't get any easier and your body just doesn't bounce back like it did before, so I keep that in mind when pushing through certain sections to remind myself about the crash in 2019 and to just stay in my limits, think about getting home to my wife safely and trying again another day.

Try not to call it quits, just dial it back and try find that balance that will help you to enjoy riding again and wanting to be out on the trails. If you are feeling good on the day, by all means go for it, but if you not feeling the greatest take the B line and just enjoy. 

[tubed]

19 hours ago, betaboy said:

I popped a wheelie on my kids high end racing BMX which of course is a lightweight track specialist machine and I backflipped and couldn’t function as a human for 4 days. My wife continued to remind me about the skateboarding demo I tried to do I few years back. 🫣🙈🤣😂 have to agree, after 45 there is no more bounce, just one big ouch!

Good on you for doing it. Still trying here to learn to wheelie at age 52, determined to be an old dog with a new trick, but its eina when it goes wrong.

 

[Robbie Stewart]

1 hour ago, devvydoesdonuts said:

 I had my last proper fall in 2019, had concussion, a mangled shoulder and a good few scrapes and bruises, but the biggest thing was the mental scars of the crash

I had a BIG crash in 2016 - broken arms, major concussion, holes in my face - the works. After recovering to the point of being able to ride, I was riding down some proper tech within 6 months of being clear to ride.

After snapping my ankle in 2021 I was riding down the Plaisir flow line on my first ride back on the bike. Not quite jumping yet, but still just happy to be there.

So I'm not really the type of person who has mental blocks about taking up a risky sport again, but this time I'm just curious when it's time to dial back the risk because falling comes with the territory whether you ride Enduro, DH, XC, Gravel or Road. If you sit on a bicycle, at some point you're going to fall off the thing. It's just that at 47 years of age, the pain is not something I'm in a mood for anymore, but still, the call of the trail is strong.

I got a mild concussion this time round again, and that is what is freaking me out. Of ALL the injuries I've had in the past, concussion is the one I want to avoid the most. Brain injuries are NO fun.

[nonky]

On 2/25/2023 at 10:32 PM, Robbie Stewart said:

I'm curious to see if I'm alone in my self assessments about crashing.

So, to start, I'm a 27 year old trapped in the body of a 47 year old. The problem with this is that the young man in me wants to do stuff that my middle aged body doesn't want me to do. 

Case in point. This morning on the Hoogekraal Cobra I did the whole smash into rocks and opened a can of whip-ass and hurt for breakfast. All because in my mind "I can", but the costs are starting to add up.

I'm wondering if the time has come to call it quits? I enjoy riding but crashing less so.

In the last month I've now gone down three times. Twice on the Conties Rhinos and today on the Cobra.

And to think I was considering pulling the trigger on a new Status.

What say the mob?

I am +/- your age and came off during a race about a year ago. 

Grazes all healed (as they do) but the shoulder didn't, despite physio/s, chiro, steroid injections, oral anti-inflamms etc.  Next stop is an operation but the prognosis / likelihood of success is mixed (at best).

It's all fun and games until you do permanent damage. 

 

[Headshot]

On 2/25/2023 at 10:32 PM, Robbie Stewart said:

I'm curious to see if I'm alone in my self assessments about crashing.

So, to start, I'm a 27 year old trapped in the body of a 47 year old. The problem with this is that the young man in me wants to do stuff that my middle aged body doesn't want me to do. 

Case in point. This morning on the Hoogekraal Cobra I did the whole smash into rocks and opened a can of whip-ass and hurt for breakfast. All because in my mind "I can", but the costs are starting to add up.

I'm wondering if the time has come to call it quits? I enjoy riding but crashing less so.

In the last month I've now gone down three times. Twice on the Counties Rhinos and today on the Cobra.

And to think I was considering pulling the trigger on a new Status.

What say the mob?

I'm also 27 but trapped in a 56 year old body. It took me until 51 to break my collar bone and I still do dumb stuff on my bike regularly and some of it results in hard crashes.

What bike are you on? If its more trail than enduro that could account for some crashes if you're exceeding its capabilities. That said a Status might be a move in the right direction. The other thing is to upskill, be it by watching tutorials or coaching. 

Never stop riding!

Edited February 27, 2023 by Headshot

[devvydoesdonuts]

12 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I had a BIG crash in 2016 - broken arms, major concussion, holes in my face - the works. After recovering to the point of being able to ride, I was riding down some proper tech within 6 months of being clear to ride.

After snapping my ankle in 2021 I was riding down the Plaisir flow line on my first ride back on the bike. Not quite jumping yet, but still just happy to be there.

So I'm not really the type of person who has mental blocks about taking up a risky sport again, but this time I'm just curious when it's time to dial back the risk because falling comes with the territory whether you ride Enduro, DH, XC, Gravel or Road. If you sit on a bicycle, at some point you're going to fall off the thing. It's just that at 47 years of age, the pain is not something I'm in a mood for anymore, but still, the call of the trail is strong.

I got a mild concussion this time round again, and that is what is freaking me out. Of ALL the injuries I've had in the past, concussion is the one I want to avoid the most. Brain injuries are NO fun.

Sounds like you have been in the wars. I've fortunately only ever broken my wrist, still rode my bike with my cast on a few days later, the joys of being built like rubber when you are younger. Other than that its just sprained bones and more just scrapes, bruises and of course ligament and muscle damage that have been caused by falling off the bike. 

I hear you when you say you are not in the mood for the pain, I am only happy with the pain of my legs and lungs screaming at me going up climbs but not when your body comes to a sudden stop on the floor. 

Really hope that you can get over the concussion sooner, rather than later. Before anything I spend a lot of money on protecting my head especially after the effects I felt from concussion.

[dasilvarsa]

13 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Funny you say that. After the crash I saw it was indeed way too hard. It was at 1.80 bar, but I'm a big boy, so maybe 1.50 rather

Also try to avoid Using Front Brakes On Technical bits and Corners.

1.3Bar is my lower limit for riding at Benoni Country Club (Lots of Switchbacks but Generally a Slow Track).

[Trashy]

What I took from this thread is that I must crash as much as I can now before reaching 40 in a few years.

Got it.

[Headshot]

6 minutes ago, dasilvarsa said:

Also try to avoid Using Front Brakes On Technical bits and Corners.

1.3Bar is my lower limit for riding at Benoni Country Club (Lots of Switchbacks but Generally a Slow Track).

You need to learn brake modulation and then you can use your front brake on tech descents. Its where the best braking is in a 70/30 ration to the rear. That said i like my rear brake too.

[Robbie Stewart]

34 minutes ago, nonky said:

It's all fun and games until you do permanent damage. 

Lets just say that I've rearranged both shoulders already. I opted to forego medical assistance and let them self heal. They're prone to making clicking sounds now. 
 

18 minutes ago, devvydoesdonuts said:

Sounds like you have been in the wars.

I have. You're still young. Don't do as I did. Avoid serious injury. I even have old surfing injuries that haunt me decades later.

 

14 minutes ago, dasilvarsa said:

Also try to avoid Using Front Brakes On Technical bits and Corners.

1.3Bar is my lower limit for riding at Benoni Country Club (Lots of Switchbacks but Generally a Slow Track).

I ride some super steep stuff that will guarantee you a trip over the front wheel if you go anywhere close to your front brakes. I learnt very early on that pulling that lever only works when the rear wheel is on the same level plane as the front wheel, or even better if it is lower than the front wheel. If the rear axle even pretends to being higher, I leave that lever well enough alone. Also, the rocks around the trails I frequent require some more pressure to save you from destroying your rims.