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Spinal cord Armageddon!

Nov. 26, 2024, 11:49 a.m.
Posts: 1048
Joined: Jan. 2, 2018

I do hope they keep studying the numbers and the circumstances around the crashes/injuries to see if patterns appear related to risk factors, that would be good info for the sport in general. 

Of course there are obvious ones, and some accidents are just outliers that are a result of bad luck sometimes coupled with a momentary lapse of focus (sounds like Stan Yee's case sadly), but with more data I think there could be some interesting findings.

Nov. 26, 2024, 12:20 p.m.
Posts: 2
Joined: Jan. 15, 2020

Just getting over a T1 - T5 spinal fusion after a compression fracture that also broke my sternum. I had a Troy Lee Stage helmet on and no neck brace, though I do own one. I don't know if it would have helped in this situation however, as the break was from the initial straight-on impact on top of the head, not from the rolling action after. I have a lot of thoughts now that it's been about 6 months since the accident.

1) I don't think the full face trail helmets are all they're cracked up to be. Yes, they're better than a half lid for protecting your teeth and orbital bones. But they may give a false sense of confidence to make you ride faster than you should in them, or you may want to grab one on a hot shuttle or bike park day like I did. I believe we should all be reaching for full DH-rated full faces much more often that we think we should. Unless you're really riding a long, gentle, pedal trail, a DH-rated full face should be the move. I think a better helmet may have reduced the compression forces on my neck and lessened the impact, and maybe I may not have needed surgery. I think helmet companies should continue to invest in creating pedalable DH helmets, not trail helmets with a chin bar.

2) I don't know if a neck brace would have saved me from this specific injury, but it may have. It's hard to say. I didn't wear mine that day because it isn't comfortable and seems to interfere with my full face, limiting my range of motion. But guess what? My range of motion is now permanently limited since I had the back surgery. I would rather have a temporary range of motion while riding than a permanent one every day. I'd say if you're on the fence about a neck brace, get one and wear it.

3) We should support companies like Leatt and Atlas so they can further the neck brace research. Atlas just released what I see as a groundbreaking brace, the Vision: https://atlasbrace.com/products/vision?srsltid=AfmBOopk6GnV9Emw1oCzw7TM_p16106v5aEi4MKo1L0ADznC9f3F_aR0 It is minimalistic, only really protecting the extremes in crashes, focused on compression. I bought one as soon as I started riding again, as to me it's a good compromise of range of motion, comfort, and protection. I'll admit, even with my opinion on neck braces, it's still hard to get myself to wear a full one on a trail ride. But this new vision? It's kind of a set and forget from what I've experienced. I'll update as I ride more if that opinion changes.

4) Spine and Chest protectors are great, but they really don't save you from a compression or extension style break from an impact. I still think they should be worn, especially for being saved from puncture wounds from branches and sticks or from breaking ribs when impacting something on the back. But they don't replace a neck brace.

5) If you live in a country without universal healthcare (the US for me) you should get accident insurance. I signed up for mine literally days before my accident, and it has paid me over $5,500 for medical expenses. My out of pocket max was luckily low at $3,500, but the ambulance wasn't covered in that (a WTF conversation for anther day), so it's really helped me and my family stay on top of expenses. It is about $12/month if I remember right. A huge return on investment there for someone who is pretty consistently injuring himself doing this stupid sport we all can't stop doing.

6) I walked out of the woods after my crash, even knowing I had likely broken my back. I really should have called search and rescue, as I could have messed up my spinal cord in that mile (1.609 KM for the Canucks). All the medical professionals I talk to about it now tell me that was a silly move. I didn't want to get the illegal loamer shut down, which is why I walked. And S&R is crazy expensive in the US. But being paralyzed would have been a far worse consequence than a little trail getting shut down and having to pay a big bill down for the next couple years.

Anyway, there's plenty more I could talk about, but I should probably do my actual job for a bit today, ha. Happy to answer any questions or rebuttals though.


 Last edited by: colemaneddie on Nov. 26, 2024, 12:22 p.m., edited 2 times in total.
Nov. 26, 2024, 12:26 p.m.
Posts: 2
Joined: Jan. 15, 2020

Ha one more I forgot about:

7) If you're riding an illegal loamer, consider the difficulty level one higher than it really is. Or at least ride it slower and more cautiously than you would a trail at a bike park. These creations are often built by the mind of a trailbuilder who just thinks about what they'll find fun and amusing, and they'll know it so well (since they built it) that they won't think about really making the trail safe for others_._ My crash was just on a corner, not a jump or drop or anything. But the corner really wasn't a corner, it was more of a slap-turn onto a hiking trail. I just barely missed the entrance to it as I was going too fast, and that caused the whole thing. If it had been a legit bike park trail, the corner would have been much more substantial and I don't think it would have happened. Be more careful on loamers.

Nov. 26, 2024, 6:18 p.m.
Posts: 1800
Joined: Dec. 31, 2006

That's gnarly man! Hope the recovery is going well. Good reminder that things can go sideways quickly, when you least expect it.

Nov. 26, 2024, 8:58 p.m.
Posts: 517
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

The Vancouver Sun article linked above is well worth reading. So is the underlying study :

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neur.2024.0103

What really struck me was this:

In the 14 years between 2008-2022 there were 58 patients in BC with spinal cord injuries related to mountain biking. In the next 2 years there another 21.

Nov. 26, 2024, 9:47 p.m.
Posts: 1048
Joined: Jan. 2, 2018

Posted by: skooks

The Vancouver Sun article linked above is well worth reading. So is the underlying study :

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neur.2024.0103

What really struck me was this:

In the 14 years between 2008-2022 there were 58 patients in BC with spinal cord injuries related to mountain biking. In the next 2 years there another 21.

That's insane.

Nov. 27, 2024, 7:28 a.m.
Posts: 40
Joined: March 30, 2015

Yes, good link. It is hard to get over the accidents.

There are articles in news about "famous" bikers with accidents. I assume that most accidents are not in public news. It would be good to know who are the most cases. Are they bikers that are building their skills over years on "daily" basis (and pushing the envelope); or they are bikers that bike few times a year (or less), but decided with buddies "hey dudes, instead going for hockey match to watch, lets just try out this bike park, we can rent DH bikes".

Nov. 27, 2024, 8:20 a.m.
Posts: 130
Joined: Oct. 7, 2020

One of the authors of the report was on CBC this morning. The most interesting thing I heard, which I don't see broken out in the report, is that these injuries were not just mostly among inexperienced riders. So our idea of these being tourists on a rental bike in whistler may not be accurate. 

Of course the other thing I read this morning is that there are 6 dead cyclist so far this year just in Toronto. So pick your poison I guess.

Nov. 27, 2024, 8:53 a.m.
Posts: 517
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: Squint

One of the authors of the report was on CBC this morning. The most interesting thing I heard, which I don't see broken out in the report, is that these injuries were not just mostly among inexperienced riders. So our idea of these being tourists on a rental bike in whistler may not be accurate.

Of course the other thing I read this morning is that there are 6 dead cyclist so far this year just in Toronto. So pick your poison I guess.

Yeah, interesting that the majority of accidents were experienced riders. Also, the most common mechanism of injury by far was "going over the bars", not attempting big features.

The road fatalities are a whole other conversation.


 Last edited by: skooks on Nov. 27, 2024, 8:54 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Nov. 27, 2024, 9:38 a.m.
Posts: 343
Joined: April 26, 2004

I heard the CBC radio interviews (7:45 this morning) with a doctor/researcher and some Lynn Valley (Fromme) riders regarding the MTB park spinal cord injury study. Gives the impression that all mountain bikers are doing the same sport.  WE ARE NOT ALL DOING THE SAME SPORT. None of the discussion in the general media regarding spinal cord injuries is talking how "park" type riding is a separate branch of evolution from the cross-country and observed trials roots of the sport (Marin Repack downhill was a different root than the high alpine Crested Butte, observed trials Moab and cyclo-cross European type roots).

There has been no or very little discussion about the types of trails most trail networks and trail centres have been building/renovating lately. Smooth flow trails that are easy for inexperienced riders to coast down, but are not challenging (or fun for 10,000 hour type riders) unless they go fast enough to hit the increasingly more common jumps, combined with the construction of elevated wood structures, are part of the cause of increasing numbers of injuries (not to mention the increasing desire to produce 5 second social media edits, which is being talked about). Proportionally, it seems as though experienced riders are just as likely (or more likely) to be the victim of serious injuries than inexperienced riders. 

So what is the relationship between the bike industry, Big Media and social media pushing the image that mountain biking is an "Extreme" sport and the increasing numbers of injuries?  As well, neck braces and armour are only going to reduce the level of injuries and not prevent them when more riders are doing 20+m jumps and riding down rock faces that typical sport climbers rope up for.

Nov. 27, 2024, 10:48 a.m.
Posts: 4
Joined: May 12, 2022

I had a big crash this summer and ended up with a compression fracture in T1 and T2. Very scary and shitty. 

As going very fast on a popular flow trail and got airborne off a rise in the trail. Ended up off trail when I landed, went OTB and lawn darted onto the top of my head. If the ground hadn’t been so soft I probably would have had a much worse injury. 

I’ve been riding the local mountains in BC for 15 years and had recently moved to a smaller bike because I felt like my big trail bike was encouraging me to go faster than I could handle. Should have been riding my hardtail lol.

Nov. 27, 2024, 1:59 p.m.
Posts: 758
Joined: Aug. 14, 2003

Most interesting is that is the CBC and Vancouver Sun writing about this.

It is very telling that nobody within the industry has been writing about it, and that nothing has come across Pink Bike news feeds. Yeah, we get the notifications for fund raisers, but none of these bike magazines dare run a story or conduct a truly thoughtful inquiry into the sport they profit from. Heaven forbid we stop to think if the risks we promote should be looked at more closely. Last thing we want to do is cut into the sales of our favorite energy drink or radical new components. We need need need to sell sell sell, and sell faster radder and sending bigger. Break those parts and buy new ones, and sell lots of advertising on the broken bones and backs of riders who want their picture in our magazine.

This is what we buy, this is what we get.

Just trying to be a voice of caution in this sport only attracts scorn. Don't bring me down. Go ride like a granny if you want to. I'm a big boy, I'll take my own risks. Everyone trying to bubble wrap society so nobody gets hurt. Energy drinks and rad clothing companies just keep counting their money money money. Don't talk about the risks. Go mountain biking, it is awesome, and you can get radical and live for today. No need to make safety a core part of the sport....not unless that helps us sell more pad and helmets. This is what we buy, this is what we get.


 Last edited by: cerealkilla_ on Nov. 28, 2024, 7:28 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Nov. 27, 2024, 2:52 p.m.
Posts: 517
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

So is there a realistic way to mitigate risk for the type of riding most of us do?  I'm not particularly fast, and do not feel the need to wear a neck brace.  I do wear a full-face helmet for most rides, as do most of my friends.  I think I have a pretty good idea where the limits of my skills are.  None of this is going to help with the random OTB or fall off a ladder bridge etc.  I don't have an answer but I would love to hear people's thoughts.

Nov. 27, 2024, 3:14 p.m.
Posts: 970
Joined: June 17, 2016

I just try to apply common sense and a healthy dose of caution. You can't take all risk away, you can slip in the bathroom or trip on the sidewalk too. But slowing down a bit and avoiding high consequence features go a long way.

I've found that a lot of trails are actually more fun when you go a little slower and try to keep momentum with minimal pedalling and find the flow that way. And skipping a big drop or jump or some elevated woodwork doesn't really change my life in any way, but riding it and crashing and breaking my neck will change my life for sure. Not worth it.

Nov. 27, 2024, 4:38 p.m.
Posts: 630
Joined: April 15, 2017

Posted by: skooks

So is there a realistic way to mitigate risk for the type of riding most of us do?  I'm not particularly fast, and do not feel the need to wear a neck brace.  I do wear a full-face helmet for most rides, as do most of my friends.  I think I have a pretty good idea where the limits of my skills are.  None of this is going to help with the random OTB or fall off a ladder bridge etc.  I don't have an answer but I would love to hear people's thoughts.

For helmets, there's always the Virginia Tech testing results : v tech testing which is broken down by pinkbike : digested by pinkbike
These are for concussive and minor forces, not much in on the MIPS front and of course, nothing to cover compression injuries. There's some damning results in there.
(Seems like if you want the best DH helmet you're best getting a football helmet)

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