What would you do?

Get into saxophone more … like I am at the moment! Damn I get so frustrated (injury has sidelined me from bikes for a while now) with no riding and the bike sitting in the shed. I get bloody depressed actually, without having a ride.

I half-considered selling the WR to get a V-Strom, but don’t have the heart to sell it for such a poor reason. If I get a V-Strom it has to be as-well-as not instead-of the WR!

On the good side, I am making lotsa great music! We’re on a mission from God… we’re getting the band back together!

(Okay, I know, it’s no substitute for riding, but what can you do???? Not gonna neck myself cause I can’t ride!)

Hi

I was in this predicament about 3 ½ years ago when I had a massive crash kiteboarding. I disintegrated my right knee and blew 3 ligaments that required donor bits to rebuild it. The first question to my surgeon was “will I ever be able to run again”. After 25 years of running and competing in marathons/half marathons/tri’s it all came to a halt. It felt like my life wasn’t worth living. Couldn’t do my passions – sailing, kiteboarding and running. I wasn’t suppose to do any exercise for 6 months. Well I went crazy… got very depressed…. Put on weight. But by month 7 I put together a plan that would satisfy my urges.

I learnt that you can go back to doing your passions but do them differently. I now work out in the gym most days on a cross trainer rather than run. I got back to kiteboarding 11months, 29 days after the accident (my goal was to do before 1yr anniversary). Whilst waiting to give it a go I was found hobbling up and down the beach in crutches (hard sand) teaching people how to kiteboard. I think I taught close to 20 people that summer. It kept my juices flowing and the support around me was uplifting. Today my kiteboarding is done with a knee brace and my jumping is not as radical as it was. The anti inflammatory drugs help after a serious session.

It was only 12 months ago I got into riding motorbikes (road & trail) and again the question was asked “will my knee hold up?”. I wasn’t going to allow this to stop me and been having a ball to date. This has opened up another opportunity to have adrenalin hit and meet new friends along the way.

So my views are:
1. Only you can determine when your ready to come back to the sport
2. When you do choose to come back you need to change the approach that will manage your injury plus your passion juices.
3. There is always a way around things. Never take NO for an answer
4. Whilst out of action give something back to the sport (ie teach, support etc)
5. Don’t hesitate to try new sports that addresses your urges
6. Learn to accept all the support around you.

Sorry this is a bit D&M but this subject is very close to my heart.

Katgirl

micknmeld wrote:

Fixed… but then again I could do black or white… .

Crikey TB, that’s a pretty harsh reality for some of us, always thought if I couldn’t ride again it’d be because I’m in a chair or worse. However I’d be like Michael, the kids ride and I enjoy watching them as much as participating myself, so that would have to do.

BC

I only started to ride when I turned fifty, I turn 54 next month and I tell you I will not stop trail riding until I can not physically do it, then I will switch to adventure riding and when I can’t do that just road riding.
My mate who got me into trail riding just turned 69 this year and I still have trouble keeping up with him when he decides to turn his right wrist. So I figure I still have alot more riding years in me and when that sad day comes that I can not do it; who knows I will work it out when I have to.

I would start smoking crack and hiring two dollar hookers!! :laugh:

Seriously though, I could not imagine life without motorcycles. I would have to remain involved in some sort of way. Most people would know of Randall Gregory, I am pretty sure he has done Finke on a quad since he has been in a wheel chair. Clive Baxter is another person that come to mind as well, he had a special seat set up for his quad. So if I could I would get a special quad bike built. If I couldn’t do that, I would remain involved in some sort of admistitive roll. If for some reason I could not even do that, dig a hole and bury me.