It's sure been along time since the last post...and it seems to be very little about MTB'ing...it appears it will be that way for the rest of the summer too (unless a healing miracle takes place).
You see from some of my earlier post you'll have read that I am getting into DH riding...yes it is an absolute blast, the best riding on a bike I've ever had...unfortunately it can also be somewhat painful when you crash (as some of my recent reports have displayed so graphically). Well, I've gone and done it again...signed up for my first downhill race, the 8th/9th of May in Massanutten Va. I also signed up for a DH clinic to help learn some of the specific skills needed since I have literally been just flying by the seat of my pants. Well on our first practice run I was just 100 yards into it and in the boulder garden went down...reflex, I put my hands out and shattered my right wrist pretty good. A very nice "little old lady" (literally) saw it and help me drag my bike out of the woods onto the fire road and she walked it down to the chairlift for me. The first aid guy was waiting at the bottom for me, they splinted me up and found a ride to the nearest town hospital...got the most painful xrays done, and half cast, some killer pain pills called my GP and then got ahold of a buddy that was on his way to race also...he came and gave me a ride back up to the mountain, where I had to wait for Jennifer to drive 4-5 hours from Baltimore with Mike so they could drive my "stick shift" GTI home. Was Jennifer mad...nope...she just laughed, said it wasn't a case of when but what was I going to break that weekend, so she knew it all along...on Monday went into my GP who referred me to a ortho surgeon, who met me at the hospital, where he was already in surgery, he looked at my xray and said I REALLY needed a specialist, said I really scrambled it up pretty good.
Saw the specialist late that afternoon, who then scheduled surgery for the following week...surgery went off beautifully on the 19th, plates, screws, cut out tendons, some fusing, and half cast...follow-up June 1st....but any biking plans are on hold for awhile...SUCKS!!!!!
So it will be many hours at the gym working abs and legs...the summer schedule starts tonight...500 abs and 1-2 hours stationary...work up from there, mix in leg workouts (ie, lunges, squats, presses, etc)...then as soon as possible back on the "horse"...gotta hit the DH parks before they close this next winter...
I'll be seeing alot of you at races taking pics and cheering you on...went to the US Open of DHing in Vernon New Jersey this past weekend, it was incredible, what a place to ride...WOW!!!
Everyone warned me this would happen, but hey, just made me stronger, wiser, and more experienced...did in both collar bones so far too, and learned how to avoid them but also strengthen up the shoulders too...it's been killing me being so in-active...and yes I really only enjoy adventurous challenges, so please don't suggest golf...sorry not knocking it just not my cup of tea..
Check out my flickr site for pictures of the US Open and the progress of everything else.
