Crashed Hard at Lair O' The Bear today

[rogerfromco]

I was just about done with an 18.75 mile ride (added a few miles up to Mt. Falcon) and had maybe a mile and a 1/4 back to the car when I got sloppy setting up for a turn. I got too wide, braked hard and the front tire went off the trail, which caused me to go up and over the bars. I came down hard on a boulder on my helmet, elbow and hip.





I laid on the ground for 4-5 minutes before trying to get up as I was wondering if I had broken my hip based on the pain I was feeling. When I did finally get up with some help from my friend I nearly blacked out and had to lay back down for another 5 minutes or so. I was able to pedal out but the rest of the trail was downhill or flat.

A couple folks stopped by and checked in on me and if any of them were you, thank you! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to ride out or not and it great to know that we had help if we needed it.

Been icing on and off the whole afternoon and taking some Advil, which should help but I expect to be sore for quite a while.

Sent from my Android - because Carrier Pigeons are slow!

[28fiend]

Yikes! Glad to hear your alright. Lair is pretty rocky in some sections, which area did you crash?

[rogerfromco]

Yikes! Glad to hear your alright. Lair is pretty rocky in some sections, which area did you crash?

About a quarter mile after you leave the creek trail and start climbing (about 3 switchbacks up).

Sent from my Android - because Carrier Pigeons are slow!

[Ntmboy]

Wow, looks awful, hope that tree is ok

[xcguy]

Happens quick doesn't it?

[JSD303]

Ouch. Glad you made it through the crash without too much damage. Heal up quick.

[Dr Sloth]

Ouch. Look at the bright side...at least you get to go shopping for a new helmet.

[smilinsteve]

I saw a guy get carried out on a stretcher one time right around the same spot.

[zrm]

Are you getting too "old for this $hit " yet?

You might want to get checked out by a doc.

[rmac]

Sounds like a bad one - maybe just a fortunate step short of a concussion. Bruising's gonna suck too. Back on the bike in no time.

[Vhom]

You should go get checked out by a doctor. You usually don't feel the effects of a concussion for a few days sometimes. I had a pretty bad crash a few years ago, and black out at while eating dinner two days later. Doctor said I was okay and it didn't look like there was any swelling around the brain.

[SkaredShtles]

Heal fast, man.

[jaycastlerock]

OUch. I feel for you. You'll remember the sound of your helmet cracking for quite some time. Get to feeling better soon.

[SkaredShtles]

For the record: I would *strongly* advise against crashing on a mt bike after the age of 35.

[rogerfromco]

Thanks guys. For the record, I'm 50 years old and a clyde at 225 lbs. So yeah, I am getting beyond the point of pushing it on the technical stuff without walking the lines first and looking for bail out points.

The ice machine and Advil have helped a lot and are continuing today - luckily I work from home primarily.

I'm going to inspect the bike and helmet shortly and will likely replace the latter no matter what. The bike rode just fine on the way back to the truck so I'm hoping there's no real damage other than a few new scratches, but I will give it a good look in good light, especially the carbon wheels. The bike hung in the tree and never fell until I pulled it down, so I'm hoping it's all good.

As for the concussion concern, I went to WebMD after reading these posts as I wanted to know what to look for and found this...

There are some common physical, mental, and emotional symptoms a person may display following a concussion. Any of these could be a sign of traumatic brain injury:

confusion or feeling dazed
clumsiness
slurred speech
nausea or vomiting
headache
balance problems or dizziness
blurred vision
sensitivity to light
sensitivity to noise
sluggishness
ringing in ears
behavior or personality changes
concentration difficulties
memory loss

Concussions are graded as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3), depending on such factors as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and loss of equilibrium.

In a grade 1 concussion, symptoms last for less than 15 minutes. There is no loss of consciousness.

With a grade 2 concussion, there is no loss of consciousness but symptoms last longer than 15 minutes.

In a grade 3 concussion, the person loses consciousness, sometimes just for a few seconds.

I'm thinking if anything, it'd be grade 1 for me, but I may still call my primary and see if I can get in to get evaluated.

[kosayno]

Sh!t! If I had known that I never would've pulled a spectacular endo on Porcupine Rim weeks ago.

BTW OP, hope you heal soon and get back on the saddle. If it makes you feel better I've crushed three helmets on rocks. I still see many Darwinians out there with fancy bikes and yet can't afford head protection.

[rogerfromco]

Bike and wheels look no worse for wear, but the helmet is getting replaced. That puncture on the top could have been nasty stuff!





Sent from my Android - because Carrier Pigeons are slow!

[Dr Sloth]

Yup, helmets are generally one and done. Make sure and completely destroy it so no one gets tempted to use it.

[Funrover]

OUCH!!! Heal up! Hope it ends up not being serious.

[SkaredShtles]

After inspecting your pictures I see your problem - no dropper post.

[jaycastlerock]

confusion or feeling dazed
clumsiness
slurred speech
nausea or vomiting
headache
balance problems or dizziness
blurred vision
sensitivity to light
sensitivity to noise
sluggishness
ringing in ears
behavior or personality changes
concentration difficulties
memory loss

Describes 90% of the people on here.

[brokefork]

After inspecting your pictures I see your problem - no dropper post.

the truth

[smilinsteve]

Describes 90% of the people on here.

Bwaaaahhaaaahaha!!

[zrm]

Yup, helmets are generally one and done. Make sure and completely destroy it so no one gets tempted to use it.

Yep, they're designed that way. Better your helmet than your noggin'

[gearwhine]

Whenever a helmet even get's a scratch on it, it freaks me out. Please take all necessary actions!

I'm "only" 29 and already realize the extra heal time involved. Good luck with your recovery. Glad it wasn't worse.

After inspecting your pictures I see your problem - no dropper post.

No sh!t. I just rode a dropper seat post for the first time ever this past weekend (and first FS trail bike in 3+ years)....it was f'ing awesome! Not that I can't just lower a seat post with a minute or two....but the dropper was like...I don't know...amazing. I've been missing out.

[Ithnu]

Man that is a scary crash. I think you need a better fitting helmet or different brand. I did this at the Telluride DH last year. 7 feet down and maybe 20 feet out, I tumbled through the grass and my head hit a rock. I was up immediately and remembered everything. The course medic was amazed I was OK.

A good helmet is worth every fu#king penny.

[TX_Shifter]

Ouch man!!! But I feel your pain!!!
@ the age of 37, busting / cracking 3 helmets and crashing on trails that the lines that are not to be expected to wreck; I learned that I just need to slow my ARSE down and ride for health and not to try and be the bad ass I "wish" I was once .

My last crash took me out of work for 8 days and therapy on my right shoulder, lol!! These are things I don't want to happen ever again as I got to put food down on the table for my family since I am head of household.

Either way heal quickly and get back out there!!! Just remember when you hit this trail on your next venture out that way, make sure you slow it down on that section as its possessed and has your name written over it (probably on that tree too!!) !!

[honkinunit]

As for your hip, I started wearing some Rockgardn CYA shorts a few years ago after getting a massive hematoma on my hip. I could barely walk for a week. They are basically lycra shorts with removable pads on the hip, thigh and tailbone. Under baggies you don't even know you are wearing them.

Unfortunately Rockgardn couldn't leave well enough alone, and they redesigned them and are much more bulky. I guess I'll have to hunt around when mine wear out.

I'm over 50, too, and having injured almost every part of my body in crashes at one point or another, I'm all for pads. There are nice, lightweight knee, elbow and pad shirts now that you hardly know you have on, but they sure help.

I shattered a fiberglass full face helmet (and my wrist) in my last big crash. Luckily it was at Winter Park and I had full gear on, including a neck brace, which I always wear when downhilling.

I couldn't ride mountain bikes without good health insurance. Good luck with your recovery.

[rogerfromco]

Ouch man!!! But I feel your pain!!!
@ the age of 37, busting / cracking 3 helmets and crashing on trails that the lines that are not to be expected to wreck; I learned that I just need to slow my ARSE down and ride for health and not to try and be the bad ass I "wish" I was once .

My last crash took me out of work for 8 days and therapy on my right shoulder, lol!! These are things I don't want to happen ever again as I got to put food down on the table for my family since I am head of household.

Either way heal quickly and get back out there!!! Just remember when you hit this trail on your next venture out that way, make sure you slow it down on that section as its possessed and has your name written over it (probably on that tree too!!) !!

My wife is only 5'2" and 125, so there is no way she could do much if I became incapacitated. She's done her ACL and rotator cuff in the last 3 years and we've said multiple times as I was caring for her, that I can't get hurt like that because she won't be able to care for me like I have for her.

This crash was purely getting lazy toward the end of a long ride - well for me anyway (17 miles at that point with 3500' of climbing).

[mtblucas]

Luckily it was at Winter Park and I had full gear on, including a neck brace, which I always wear when downhilling.

Over 50 and still downhilling?! Awesome! I hope to be like you one day!

[Oman]

Yikes. That must have hurt. Hope you heal fast.

Not trying to be a dick here, but I wanted to get something off my chest. Some people ride way too fast at LOTB. The vast majority of riders are fun and careful, but every time I've ridden there in the past year (only about a half-dozen times) I've witnessed or heard about either a collision or near-collision with hikers. The last time I was there, two weeks ago, I saw an elderly couple have to jump out of the way of a fast rider banking around a corner.

Lair O The Bear ain't a downhill course! Bikers aren't the only trail users out there. Slow down or we'll all get banned.

[rogerfromco]

Yikes. That must have hurt. Hope you heal fast.

Not trying to be a dick here, but I wanted to get something off my chest. Some people ride way too fast at LOTB. The vast majority of riders are fun and careful, but every time I've ridden there in the past year (only about a half-dozen times) I've witnessed or heard about either a collision or near-collision with hikers. The last time I was there, two weeks ago, I saw an elderly couple have to jump out of the way of a fast rider banking around a corner.

Lair O The Bear ain't a downhill course! Bikers aren't the only trail users out there. Slow down or we'll all get banned.

Agreed! We generally ride with bright colored shirts because of all the trees. We started doing that last year when we noticed other riders coming who were wearing them - makes a huge difference in a forested area.


My accident was more about fatigue than speed. I was not thinking about my line because I was just about down and talking to my friend ahead of me. I reacted late and wrong - as you can tell from the skid mark heading into the trees!

Also, when we're in climbing mode, I can't tell you how many times the downhill riders just ride on past and take the smoother line to boot. It's really frustrating.

As for the hiker/biker interaction, we try to be very vocal with the hikers and thank them for letting us pass. Trail courtesy seems to me a lost art these day.

[honkinunit]

Over 50 and still downhilling?! Awesome! I hope to be like you one day!

I love DH. No need to quit until I hurt something so badly I can't ride any more. Unfortunately, it takes forever to heal when you are over 50. It also takes forever to get in shape, and only about a week to lose your conditioning.

I started riding a bike when I was five, and seriously cycling at age 14, and I'll never quit voluntarily. I do *always* wear full pads when I downhill: shin/knee/hip/thigh/tailbone/kidneys/chest/back/shoulders/elbows/neck brace/full face. Unfortunately, the majority of crashes happen on "normal" trails when you lose your focus for a moment, just like what happened to rogerfromco. I had one of my worst injuries at Mathews Winters when I fell at low speed and landed on the end of my handlebar, lacerating my liver. I don't recommend that experience to anyone!

[rogerfromco]

Well, the body is healing and I should probably be back on the bike this weekend, which is faster than I had hoped.

Positive #2 - I got a screaming deal on a 2012 Lazer Oasiz helmet from Full Service Bicycles here in Lakewood. Those guys are top notch. They have a small shop, BUT they have had the things I've needed nearly every time I've gone in. I think the owner's name is Dave and Devon is one of their mechanics - both are super friendly and helpful with advice rather than that used cars sales attitude you find in some shops. It's great to find a new LBS with good staff and selection, so I thought I'd pass it on.