Quitting because of a fall

Witty

Sorry if this isn't relevant, I wasn't sure where to post this but I need some advise.

I've been road racing for a year or two now, and it's brought me nothing but joy. However, recently I suffered a very nasty fall and it's left a big scar on my knee. This scar makes me not want to go back out and race again, and I'm not sure what to do.

Any advise is appreciated, thank you.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

As the saying goes, the quicker you "get back on that horse," the less negativity will alter your perspective.

Witty

NitrousOxide wrote:

As the saying goes, the quicker you "get back on that horse," the less negativity will alter your perspective.

Thanks, I think you might be right

milemuncher1

Get back on it as soon as your recovery allows. The longer you leave it, the worse the doubts get.

cougie

Chicks dig scars.

Unless you're a chick but then you'll just have to find another chick to dig it.

Matthewfalle

Mate

You want to see my knees - scar a go-go. The two seven inch ones on each side of the right patella are quite nice, the five or six two inch ones all over the left patella occasionally split open. The one on my hip hurts, my elbow is scalded, the 4 inch one down the side of my neck hurts when it's cold or I yawn.

It's a mark on your knee - just get back on the bike,

cooldad

I used to race motorcycles and ride them on the road. I used to crash a bit because I wasn't very good. It hurts and things break.

Now I ride mountain bikes. I'm still rubbish and fall off, but it doesn't hurt as much.

Be positive.

Witty

Thanks everyone, I'm sorry for the pretty stupid question. I guess I just needed some encouragement

faster97

Like an earlier poster, I used to race motorcycles. At the last race I ever competed in, I left the track in a helicopter with a nasty compound spiral fracture to my tib and fib, which was fixed in the most gruesome way with an external fixator.

I was unable to wear trousers for 8 months and spent every evening cleaning the bits of steel sticking out of the open wounds in my shin with a toothbrush to try and keep infection at bay. Grim to say the least.

That was around 8 years ago, and I eventually made a full recovery - enough to have run a few ultra marathons since.

I've never ridden a motorbike since and despite all the pain I went through, I think about racing every day and regret not going back. Once you've been off the scene for a while, it's extremely difficult to get back into it. Other things take over, but I always feel like I've settled for second best somehow.

If it really has brought you nothing but joy. I think you should go back - road racing is almost certainly safer than mixing it with traffic anyway, and I'm guessing you weren't going to jack it in completely were you?

Witty

faster97 wrote:

Like an earlier poster, I used to race motorcycles. At the last race I ever competed in, I left the track in a helicopter with a nasty compound spiral fracture to my tib and fib, which was fixed in the most gruesome way with an external fixator.

I was unable to wear trousers for 8 months and spent every evening cleaning the bits of steel sticking out of the open wounds in my shin with a toothbrush to try and keep infection at bay. Grim to say the least.

That was around 8 years ago, and I eventually made a full recovery - enough to have run a few ultra marathons since.

I've never ridden a motorbike since and despite all the pain I went through, I think about racing every day and regret not going back. Once you've been off the scene for a while, it's extremely difficult to get back into it. Other things take over, but I always feel like I've settled for second best somehow.

If it really has brought you nothing but joy. I think you should go back - road racing is almost certainly safer than mixing it with traffic anyway, and I'm guessing you weren't going to jack it in completely were you?

I'm sorry to hear that, really. I hope you feel better about the entire thing soon or find some closure. I'm sorry mine seems so silly in comparison. I wasn't going to completely give it up no, but I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Thanks for sharing but your story with me.

cougie

Was the fall in a race or just out on the bike ?

Witty

cougie wrote:

Was the fall in a race or just out on the bike ?

I was just out, not in a race, was trying to improve my sprint time

Silly Old Hector

Scars are just a ticket to a story...

thegreatdivide

Best fake account troll post in ages! Well done that man/woman/gender neutral.

Anonymous

man up !!

the_cyclist_of_catan

Ha. MY first proper left me with a 16" scar from knee to hip, and at least 2' of titanium in my knee, thigh and hip. I'm recovered, but will never be 100% again. Yet as I was lying in A&E, even before they started pumping me full of painkillers, I was thinking "I can't wait to be out on my bike again". Which took ten long months.

Falls happen. Injuries happen. But riding and taking the small risk that those things will happenis so much more fun than not riding and staying 100% safe.

Bumo_b

I find cycling an escape from the rest of lifes traumas. Having come off a few times, including a shoulder separated AC joint which never quite healed properly, and then last year on a Sportive, where my son was in front, swerved a little up a hill and took my front wheel out taking me down (I should of been looking I know, Dumb and Dumber springs to mind) and busting the other AC joint, I just get back on, albeit gingerly and riding one handed out of others harm
The fact I was 20 miles from the end in no mans land and didn't want the shame of waiting for the assistance, or the embarrassment of the younger seeing me give up helped, but just get back on, the worry and fear soon disappears.
I have no doubt I will come off again, and again whether on my racer or on my folding like today in the snow, but as long as I can stand, I can ride!
Add me to the pathologically stupid line!