Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums

i have a non-displaced fracture of the eighth rib on my left side.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/jmkohn/JOSHrib2small.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/jmkohn/JOSHribsmall.jpg)

the xrays were taken tuesday, almost 2 1/2 weeks after me going over the bars, so i'm already on the road to recovery, though it makes me wonder what it looked like when i first did it.  i'm supposed to stay off my bike for a couple more weeks.  we'll see if i can do that because i'm itching to ride...

anyway, this is the fourth time i've hurt my ribs, but the first on my left side.  my doctor has recommended wearing some extra protection when i ride, which is probably good advice.  i'm not looking for a vader suit or full on body armor.  i just want something lightweight.  i found this (http://www.mcdavidusa.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=183&DEPARTMENT_ID=707)  and was wondering if anyone's heard good or bad about it.  it's pretty much exactly what i'm looking for.  if anyone has any other suggestions, i'd be interested in checking them out.

maybe i'll submit the xrays into the photo contest.  :D

My advice to you: start drinking heavily...

I  think you're best bet is not going OTB. You may want to get a higher stem and high rise bars. Or get a Gravity Dropper (http://www.gravitydropper.com/), Mavick Speed Ball (http://www.maverickbike.com/main/do/products/productID/44), or All Mountain Post (http://precisioncyclingcomponents.com/) which will allow you to drop the seat when you go down hill or over sketchy terrain. (They are expensive though).

I once injured my ribs where they meet the sternum; like messed up the cartilage or something. It sucked and I couldn't swim or turn or do anything that twisted. Just getting up in the morning sucked. But, funnily enough, I could ride just fine.

Those pads look pretty good but if you hitting hard enough to injure yourself I'm not sure a 1/4" soft pad will make much difference. I reckon they're better than nothing though.

Broken ribs suck. Not much you can do but try to take it easy. If you must ride, which we all do, try to take the easy lines and go slow till you're better.

Crashing is a skill just like anything else. Don't be afraid to master it.

i'm not really worried about crashing, it's part of riding.  it certainly isn't going to keep me away from riding again.  the first time i went OTB a few years ago, my confidence was shattered and it took me a long time to get back on the trails.  i'm at the point where all i want to do is get back on and conquer the section of trail that did this to me.

i've actually just put a longer stem on my bike,  but i haven't ridden since i went over.
i keep my seat pretty low all the time because i like it that way, so i don't think the adjustable posts are my thing.

and i already drink pretty heavily, though i've cut back a bit since i've been loading up on advil.

the part that sucks the most is that it's been three weeks of perfect riding weather.

Yea I hear that. The weather today was perfect. ;D

longer stem is definitely not the answer...

mebbe a 29" front wheel? they are really good for stability up front!

what are you doing that is causing you to flip over anyway?

I agree with max, longer stem will make things only worse. I remeber I went from 110 to 130 stem once, on the first ride i went OTB 4-5 times in places where i would never do so otherwise!

dz

yup. longer stem will shift you weight forward which isn't good going up hill - less weight on the rear wheel - and really isn't good going downhill - more weight on the front wheel.

So how is the rib? Heeling ok?

When it comes to stems the shortest you can go without being cramped or wandering on the climbs the better. Sometimes it takes some experimenting to find your ideal length. If you know anyone with extra stems, ask if you can borrow some different sizes to see what feels better.

I like 75mm with a 5 degree rise on my Large Nomad. I'm 6'2"

The chest armor for riding dirt bikes (motorized) is light, reasonably comfortable, and presumably offers some protection cause all the dirt riders I know wear it. The stuff I have used slips over your head and protects chest, shoulders, upper arms, and back. You could reduce it to just ribs I think. Light weight plastic. Chris Hunter or another experienced dirt biker rider could shed more light on this.

David

I have a Fox Chest Protector of this nature in my storage shed.  It is a lovely Kawasaki green (similar to the new ibis and santa cruz greens) I would be willing to part with on the cheap.  I only used it a few times at the Bensalem BMX track and looks brand new. 

kennrymdeko at yahoo.com