To MTFU or not to MTFU that is the question!

The Rookie

Cannock yesterday, section 12 about 1/2 way from the Monkey to the road crossing and I misjudged a step up and had a hard fall to the right, grazed elbow, bruise on hip but my LEFT bicep hurt like heck where it had (as far as I could work out) caught the left brake lever (which was twisted round the bars) which had caused what looked like a small cut (my daughter thought it looked deeper)after a few minutes getting my breath back and putting a plaster on it we set off.

I couldn't actually lift my left had up to the bars so had to use my right to put it there each time I set off, it was OK riding but it stung a bit over the rougher bumps....made it back to the car park to find blood running down my arm....cleaned an dressed it but it still bled like heck so got the first aider to put me a big bandage on, he (Ian - thanks for your help) suggested a visit to A&E, so after driving home (with one of the kids changing gear as by now my left arm was U/S) the wife took me to A&E, long story short, I'm now in plaster as the end of the brake lever went into my arm about 20mm and nearly ruptured the muscle that goes up the inside behind the bicep, the cast is to prevent me doing that before I see a specialist on Wednesday........I thought it best not to mention the circa 6Km I'd ridden after the injury!

OK I got away with it, but if that ride had ruptured the muscle I'd be in deep doo doo right now, so word of warning - MTFU may not always be the best idea!

Simon
P.S. Hope the docs don't ban me from bikes for too long!

adrenalinemunki

MTFU is rarely, if ever a good idea

The Rookie

After a crash I think your right, trouble is I was convinced it was just a scratch and couldn't really drag out help when I could ride back to the car park....rollers were great fun still though!

Simon

CharlieH

My self preservation trigger kicks in much lower than it used too, mostly down to me being self employed and the main bread winner for the family. BUT I do have days when I take more risks than I should or others when I go out fully padded up and wearing a full face helmet. Having said that, you need to fall off occasionally to know where the boundaries are and not cross them again later

When I first started my business, I was so concerned about getting hurt that I only went out 3 times that year. Now I'm out as much as i can but take a more "assessed" view to the risks I find on each ride

weeksy59

I've been lucky with MTFU, back when racing motorbikes i broke my hand on a Monday, told the doctor he wasn't allowed to plaster it as i was racing at Donnington the Sat/Sun after. Happily it's healed up nicely.

Another time after ACL rebuild, the doctor advised me 4 weeks later i should start walking more on it... not knowing i'd just completed my first 10k run

I've currently got a broken finger from a recent motorbike crash at Cadwell... but again, pointless strapping it up etc.

adrenalinemunki

weeksy59 wrote:

I've been lucky with MTFU, back when racing motorbikes i broke my hand on a Monday, told the doctor he wasn't allowed to plaster it as i was racing at Donnington the Sat/Sun after. Happily it's healed up nicely.

Another time after ACL rebuild, the doctor advised me 4 weeks later i should start walking more on it... not knowing i'd just completed my first 10k run

I've currently got a broken finger from a recent motorbike crash at Cadwell... but again, pointless strapping it up etc.

What a wuss, you need to MTFU mate

Anonymous

MTFU, ride back, then think of the consequences. What else are you going to do, walk?
Then you'd be a rambler with excess wheeled baggage and nobody wants that.

The Real Radioactiveman

I am of the thought that if you are not capable of self rescue you should stay at home baking cakes or another similar safe activity.

If you venture out mountain biking, fell running, rock climbing or whatever sport where risk is present you should be capable of keeping yourself safe, looking after yourself if you get lost or injured and recovering yourself to safety

Obviously emergency services, Mountain rescue are available but phone signal etc is not always available. I appreciate there are circumstances where you are injured beyond self rescue but I would hazard that these are generally few and far between.

If people aren't confident take a first aid course, nav course whatever it may be.

Anonymous

The Real Radioactiveman wrote:

I am of the thought that if you are not capable of self rescue you should stay at home baking cakes or another similar safe activity.

Why?
We all die at some point. May as well be doing something we love.

The Rookie

LOL......

Well back on my subject, I've seen the specoialist, damage not quite as bad as I thought, 2 weeks rest and then see how it goes, so should be back on the commuter in 2 weeks and the MTB about a week after that, the arm is a lovely shade of yellows though!

Simon

The Real Radioactiveman

yeehaamcgee wrote:

The Real Radioactiveman wrote:

I am of the thought that if you are not capable of self rescue you should stay at home baking cakes or another similar safe activity.

Why?
We all die at some point. May as well be doing something we love.

Agreed but dont ask for help just curl up and die quietly out of sight

Kaise

arnica and lots of it, just the bruising out of the way!

hope it heals quickly man,

homers_double

I crashed at Cragg quarry back in the days of sunshine (yep, that long ago...) and my right shoulder still hurts in some positions, I'm still considering going to see the doc.

bjj.andy.w

Thought I " just sprained " my ankle at bjj training once. Two weeks of hobbling around at work I decided to go to the docs. They sent me to hospital for a x-ray who told me it was broken. A&E couldn't believe I'd been walking on it for two weeks and said that I may of needed an op to bolt it together. Thankfully decided not to. Three hours Later I came out with my ankle in plaster then it suddenly dawned on me that I'd driven there. :roll:

paulbox

The Real Radioactiveman wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

The Real Radioactiveman wrote:

I am of the thought that if you are not capable of self rescue you should stay at home baking cakes or another similar safe activity.

Why?
We all die at some point. May as well be doing something we love.

Agreed but dont ask for help just curl up and die quietly out of sight

Definitely not in the middle of the track...

gilesjuk

There's no point continuing to ride on in pain only to be off the bike for longer or for good.

The Rookie

Typically conflicting suggestions then! If its not too bad, get on with it, you can't expect to be bailed out for everything, if its bad, stop and don't make it worse, in my case it felt like a bad bruise and looked like a small cut, so I got on with it, with hindsight it risked making it worse, but I stand by the fact that at the time I made the right call.....never get it right all the time of course!

Simon

CharlieH

The problem is adrenaline often masks the extent of the injury. A couple of years ago I had an off and hit my chest into the back of the saddle. I thought I was just winded and carried on for another two hours. Once I got home, the pain increased and I ended up in A&E that night. It turned out I'd cracked two ribs and pulled all the intercostal muscles!!! I probably made it worse by carrying on but at the time I just felt it wasn't that bad

The Rookie

I do agree adrenalin kicks in, but short of calling out an air ambulance every time you fall off, you can only make the best trailside assessment you can!

Simon

timpop

I'm impressed you rode out despite not being able to lift your arm.
I always seem to MTFU, I don't know why. My best story is hucking a 35 foot cliff and landing on waterfall ice uncovered by my friend. It really hurt my back. I skied out 4000 feet to the valley. Turns out I'd broken it. Ouch. That was in the early 90's.
This spring I crashed on my bike half way on a ride and slammed my heel into the ground before rolling over. That hurt. I finished the ride without a hitch but the next day I could only limp around. However, a few days later I was riding again.
So yeah, MTFU pussies. :P

LaAndy

I'm currently nursing a wrist injury after going OTB's last Friday.

Can't lift/push/pull anything with my left hand, its agony. If its no better by Monday i'll be off to A&E.


I'm hoping I will be ok tomorrow for another 30mile off road adventure though we shall see.

Andy