Hey guys I just wanted to see who else here has been torn up and is getting back on their machine, I was in a pretty nasty motorcycle accident almost 2 years ago, damn near lost my left leg, had 2 ER surgeons agree it should come off, but a specialist decided he could put the puzzle back together, 9 surgeries later I am back on my bike, not too fast as of yet but getting better all the time, still have another surgery to go, at least 1 more that is and then I plan on getting back into the 41+ cruiser class, and who knows maybe even back on my 20" here is a link to the pics that my good wife posted, and I will warn ya there are a few pics on there that are kinda nasty.. http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/drag...cident/?start=0 so check them out and if anyone out there is in the same boat we should get together and have a few beers after a few laps at the track!! LOL

can't look at the pics here at work (not sure i want to since i am eating anyway...) but glad you made it out of that. i am sure it took a lot of determination in your pt to get you where you are now. good for you. take it slow and easy and have fun out there. ride on man!

Dude, you are already my hero for even thinking about racing after that. I had a bad leg break about ten years ago, but it was just a scratch compared to what you have been through. I had two surgeries and was off work for almost six months. The minds a funny thing, after being on my [please review the site FAQs] for that long, something just clicked in my head and said "Get up and get moving!". I think it is a survival trigger in our noggins` that has been embedded there since the cavemen walked around.
It killed me to put weight on it, but I just kept pushing and pushing until it just did`nt hurt as bad. I limped for about a year, but now I never even notice it anymore.

I don`t know how strong you are now, but just take it slow and build yourself back up to be the best you can be. Only you are going to know when it`s time to get back on a BMX bike, but my hats off to you.... I wish you the best of luck


Up the Irons Mates

Thanks for the good words, I am already back on my bike and practicing a little, I even raced the race for life a month ago and took a 2nd(total points) as soon as I could get out of bed and get on crutches I went to our indoor track with my wife and 2 daughters, then and there I told my wife I would be back out on the track, I have never been a good couch potatoe..lol anyhow she told me I was crazy and it wasnt gonna happen, I said...ok, then get me my wheelchair, wheel me in front of the tv and keep the meals coming.. she thought about it and said wow, when you put it that way... go for it!! LOL she is a great woman and I wouldnt be anywhere near this far without her.. in april I should be getting my new LCL and getting my ACL tightened up so I can get around the house without the brace on my knee.. I have been training as hard as I can up to this point and I am in better shape now I think than when I was at my peak racing.. if all goes well with my next surgery look out 41-45 cruiser at the grands next year, I am gonna tear it up!!!!!!

i looked at those pics. man. that was some mega gnarly stichwork you had on you. with an awesome support team and your determination, look out sounds about right. ride on dexter!

I learned a great lesson in Patience years ago. I was out on my road bike and got taken out by a truck flipping a U turn in a blind turn. Broken back, 5 breaks in my pelvis, cracked ribs, n lots of road rash. One month in the hospital n they let me go home. My head told me I was in far better shape then my body actually was. Probably all the pain killers. My orthopedic doctor told me to let pain be my guide. Did I listen? Not really. I pushed really hard and a year later I road my bike From SF to LA on AidsLifecycle 4. It took it's toll and I really hurt for around 6 months afterwards. I now attempt to approach things with a little easier going attitude. I give my self alot more time to prepare, I figure any accomplishment I make is good, and try to keep my expectations conservative. In general I find I exceed my expectations, I'm more relaxed in my approach, and don't feel rushed or behind where I think should be. I've also found value in finishing rather than just winning. Riding in general has become alot of fun. I try and do low impact training, Road, Cross country dirt riding, and try to avoid crashing because it really hurts and I'm just not bullet proof anymore.
So did I just get all this right from the start? Nope. I had to learn it the hard way, through pain and discomfort.
I also used to ride motorcycles a lot and really paid the price. From that I learned the best way to avoid a bad situation is to not be there. I just stick to bicycles now.
Hope this helps in someway.

Wow Dex! Really sorry to see that happen! Glad you are doing good now though. If anybody can make a comeback, it's you! Janice is right, you are just crazy enough! LOL anything I can do to help, just let me know. tell the wife and kids HI for me. We'll have to get together again real soon! Best of luck on the recovery!

Anyone out there have an excellent knee surgeon? In april I should be all set to get this left knee worked on but if you have looked at the pics of it my knee will be a bit of a challenge, I need an LCL, still missing since the accident, and my ACL is stretched to the point it makes the knee joint very loose and unstable, and also my kneecap is pretty much just floating still... so not a huge ordeal! LOL, but I do need to get back to full speed again, watching from the sidelines is just killing me. So if you have a great Doc, prefferably in the Indiana or Chicagoland area I would like to know... see ya at the track!!

Buddy of mine and a member of vintage(Headsnap) is getting his knee repaired in a couple of weeks. Send him a message for more info. Here is the link to docs office, www.aclmd.com I think he used to or maybe still does work for the Indianapolis Colts football team.

that is exactly why i will NEVER ride a motorcyle!

I will ride my motorcycle again, Ive seen guys eat it hard and get spinal injuries on a BMX bike, but I am still riding mine, everyone who rides a horse has a horror story or two of people they know... all I say is when the big guy pulls my number its time.. but untill then, Im still gonna ride, with or without a motor, heck I cant wait to go skydive again!! LOL

good for you. as long as you aren't being stupid reckless, life is meant to be lived.

Thanks BMXMom the only reason I am still here is that I do not ride recklessly, I am always in my full face helmet, boots and a jacket with body armor.. I actually got into an argument with one of the docs in the ER after my crash, he said there was no way my leg could be this tore up and the rest of me still be in as good of shape as I was if I was riding a motorcycle.. He now is a believer in body armor..lol

ride on

way to pull through mate! i had 1 major crash on my bike as well, my pedals tore 6 6inch long, 1inch deep groves on the back of my legs, no choice in it, I had to lay on my chest for a week....but I came back, raced some more, then watched my buddies front wheel come off after a huge air...he and his bike went one way, his front the other....when he landed he impaled himself on his handlebars, a couple weeks later and we're both racing again, then he slips his bars on another huge air, and bites his handlebars, breaks his jaw in 3 places, 1 week later we're racing again, the man is an animal... ;-)

wow glad to see you made it . about 10 years ago i took a crash on the track and had spinal injuries i broke the t4 t5 and the c6 in my neck lost some vision and most all the hearing on my one side,it took me a while to get back on a bike but i know it can be done. good luck with getting back on the bike and doing good

Hi all, wish me luck today.. am heading for Lakeshore Bone and Joint to get my right (good) knee looked at, been putting alot of pressure on it the past two years since my accident and it was feeling pretty beat up, got the MRI and it looks like I have some torn cartillage and some other stuff floating around... If they can tune my right knee back in very well I will give them the shot at dialing the left back in in april.. Ill keep ya posted!

Went to the Doc, am scheduled to get my knee scoped on the 17th, and in spring he wants to start in on my other knee.. hopefully he can get me put back together for Grands in 09!

good luck with your procedure! you'll be back out there before you know it.

You're like the rest of us my man: All you can do is play the hand of cards you're dealt.

Just got back from getting scoped, surgery went well and the Doc says I should be back up on my good leg in a matter of days..

Just another update for all of you ( well the one or two) that are interested..lol, the scoped knee is doin pretty good, havent been back on the track yet but am thinking I will be soon, just cruising a bit, still not ready to pop out of the gate till I get the left knee redone..Been doing my physical therapy 3 times a week, is it just me or do all those girls at PT have a secret closet with all the leather and chains and such? LOL They love to see me being tortured... but the look on their faces when my left knee "POPS" is classic!.. am back in the pool and workin hard... when I am finally all done with the surgeons knife I think I will be a beast! .. take it easy all...Ill keep ya posted!

thats cool dexter maybe one two or three of us care thanks for an update and thanks again for lacen my arayas up for me havent rode on em much but that bike isnt going to see much riding

Hi all, I got back on the track friday night, and for the first time in years I could ride without any pain in my right leg.. (can you say SWEET!) got just a couple laps in but I have to say it felt good, I am hoping to ride in the race for life the end of feb, then in april its back under the knife to get this left leg working like a normal humans again... if all goes well I just may see you all at Grands this year!! later!

Congrats and good luck you are a good dude and deserve to be out there.

Look for my Gimpy butt in the RFL tomorrow!! gonna take a few laps tonite to make sure I still know how and line it up tomorrow.. still not sure if I am riding 20" or cruiser yet.. depends on if I have a chance at the main in either..lol see ya up there!

give em hell dexter

Back to the Doc oct 27th.. gonna see if we can get this knee working , gotta be able to put down the power again!!

I came back after suffering a concussion, two broken ribs, three compressed vertibrae and four broken fingers all in the same crash. That was the worst I'd had on a bicycle. It took me months of healing and I still have my doubts when I hit certain sized jumps at speed. The fear a repeat is slowly going away with each race though. It's always in the back of my mind though, which is probably a good thing as it keeps me from pushing too hard or attempting things outside of my skill level.

My worst crash on a BMX machine was at Walworth, 2 broken ribs, 1 torn acl and meniscus(sp?), 1 seperated shoulder, 1 minor fracture of the right ankle, and peeled a good bit of skin off my left arm.. But I managed to get on my bike and roll to the finish, was back at it less than 9 months later.. took a 5th at worlds in ohio in 01, had someone come up to me at the moto boards and ask if that was me in that crash, when I said yes he said "Dude, that was the worst crash Ive ever seen in my life!" LOL, the minivan did quite a number on my leg though, but I am determined to get back at it... I will be back on the gate and competitive once again...

How in god's name did you do that at Walworth? That track is so small and cramped I didn't think you could even go fast enough to break skin.

I was first into the first turn with a full rack of 28+ on my 20", got t-boned and ended up on the bottom of a pile of 8 guys. not my best day.

Ok all, latest update, My local knee man took a look at my leg and told me I need a team not just a knee surgeon. (Meaning Plastic, Orthapedic, and a Vascular surgeon) due to the muscle and skin grafts over my knee, he did say that a knee replacement is probably the best if not only way to go.. and now thanks to a really good man in the BMX world (Dan, you ROCK!) my case is being reviewed by some of the best docs around and I should have a better idea of where I am goin next soon...I will keep the updates coming, and yes, I still plan on getting back on the gate and tearin it up once again..!!!

Wow, those pictures are crazy.

That's a reason I'm scared of motorcycles for sure.

Another update.... My man Dan has hooked me up with a surgeon from the U of IL, who thinks he can handle the task of getting a new knee installed in this leg of mine, the doc didnt freak when I told him I race BMX, road, and mountain bikes and had to get back on it... after Tulsa I am going to get in there and let him see what he can do for me.. there is a light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.. and maybe even a space at the 2010 Grands on the gate for me... keepin my fingers crossed and my hopes up...!!!!

Just another update, I go for my initial consultation january 7th.. looks like a new knee joint may be on the way.. wish me luck all...

Good luck on the new knee

yes keep us posted. hope all comes oout ok!

Dexter Wow gnarly pics. Best of luck w/ the new knee.

Brandon, Walworth is by far the most dangerous track I've ridden. I raced expert and pro their for years and had way too many huge crashes. I completly knocked myself out for like 5 min. and when I woke up I couldnt remember where my car was. Crazy feeling.

Good luck man. I just read the whole thread. You're optimistic attitude is great! Keep your head up!

I used to race there BITD and I remember there being a lot of crashes, but that's the same at Steel Wheels. I guess that's what happens when you cram 8 riders on a tight, small, indoor track. Thankfully I never got hurt at either, The Hill in Elgin was my doomsday track. Concussion, broken ribs and fingers and knocked out cold for 11 minutes, woke up to smelling salts in an ambulance.



At least Dexter didn't lose the use of his hands. Where would we get wheels built, laced and trued?

Darn snowstorm... had to reschedule my appointment for next thursday...guess I will work on wheels and stuff for the old school ride and show for now... stay warm!

Hopefully I'll be up at Steel Wheels dropping off some Hubs for you to lace up next weekend. That's if we can make it out.

Ok, latest update... no new knee for me as of yet, the Doc says I have way too much soft tissue damage around the knee to go forward with a knee replacement at this point in time, so that kind of bummed me, but he sent me to his trauma/sports injury knee specialist and he says with a good scope job to clean out the arthritis and the scar tissue that is making my knee sound so godawful when it bends and ratchety as hell, I should be in pretty decent shape, so Feb 19th I am scheduled to get scoped and shortly after fit with a custom knee brace. I will let ya know how it goes...

That's awesome news Dexter. I'm starting physical therapy next week myself. Who needs to race on the track, let's race back to the track!!!

Hey Dexter, great news you're getting back to shape. I've just read the thread and it's inspiring for sure. I had a bad accident in 04, spent a week in hospital and 4 surgeries to save the use of my right hand. Nothing compared to what you went through, but if I could humbly offer advice/comment - "nothing can beat the will to ride", if you want to that bad you'll get on a bike again even if the Doc isn't happy , and as so many others have said, 'baby steps' is the way to go. I had a 6 pack at my local track, my first goal was just to manual one at a time, took me about three weeks, after about 3 or 4 months I manualled the whole thing, probably the biggest accomplishment in my riding career, once I had reached that goal I knew I could ride again to the best of my ability. There were some ups and downs for sure, but once I'd figured out that mentally i could do it again, the rest was just willing the body through it..

I went the custom hand brace by the way, so worth it, if for no other reason than confidence alone when i first got back on the bike.

Good luck with the recovery.

Cheers, Hoppy

Went in and got my pre-op tests done today, getting ready for surgery the 19th.. and tonite I took my freshly built Kuwahara pro xxl out for its first ride.. felt pretty good. bike is great.. knee is still pretty much junk but hopefully this next sugery will do alot to help that out.. but.... I am gonna get in the gate for the RFL next weekend!! cmon out to Steel Wheels saturday the 6th and lets line em up!!

You're a beast!

Maybe, but at the moment a slow beast..lol hopefully by next year at this time I am back up to speed.

Hopefully I will be there as a witness this weekend. What class do you race again Dexter?

Also, check your dragon wheels email. I'm ready to pull the trigger on new wheels and definitely want to go through you to get em.