Back on the Bike: Riding Post-Injury

Well, accidents happen… sometimes it’s just a scratch, and sometimes you get chauffeured to some of the greatest medical facilities in your area. 🚑

I for instance shattered my patella on a rock while slowing down and exiting a trail. My wheel caught something and off the trail I went, into an embankment of rocks.

(My knee that day)

While it does suck, it’s just a risk of the sport. Getting injured is nothing to be ashamed of, it does not mean you’re a bad rider either! Sometimes it’s out of your control, and other times you’re out of control. Either way, it happens.

However, getting back on your bike and picking back up where you left off isn’t always the case after an injury. You might have new mental and/or physical obstacles you need to overcome.

Physical Limitation: The New Starting Line

Depending on your injury you might not have the same strength you once did, or mobility, or stamina. For me, I could no longer pedal standing up as there was too much pressure on my knee, having to ratchet with my left foot forward felt weird, and even dismounting the bike was difficult and that’s something that used to be second nature.

Embrace your current capabilities and celebrate the small victories. Your body’s been through a lot, and it’s doing its best to recover.

Being Timid: It’s Okay to Hit the Brakes

If you find yourself grabbing the brakes a little more than you did before, you’re not the only one. There’s no shame in taking it slow and feeling out the trail you might have done hundreds of times before. It’s all about rebuilding confidence, one cautious pedal at a time.

It’s not like I was getting the KOM before anyway. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The Comparison Game: You vs. You

This was the toughest one for me. It’s hard not to compare your current, post-injury self to the rider you were pre-injury.

But here’s the thing: you can’t go back in time and be that person again. Instead of looking back, focus on the rider you want to come back as. Work on those fundamentals! My track stands and nose pivots improved a bunch as I had the time to focus on them.

Mentally Thinking the Worst: Banish the ‘What Ifs’

Your mind can be your worst enemy, it loves to play the “what if” game, especially when you’re staring down a steep descent, or in my case a large jump. What if I break my knee again? What if catch my bars on a tree? What if an armadillo runs out and bites me? But seriously, replace those doubts with positive affirmations.

Wrap up

It’s almost my one year a-knee-versary and I’m still working on it. I’ve yet to hit the jumps again near where I got injured and still feel pressure in my knee with too much torque. Oh well, I’ll get there, what I can do is ride my bike with my wife and friends.

I’m glad just to be back on the bike riding again and appreciating the wins (no matter how small).

If you happen to share your own injury experience on instagram, tag @dirtscouts, we’d love to hear how your journey back on the bike is going.