Lee,
I just read a bit out of your shoulder chronicles, and as it turns out I find myself in exactly the same position, almost. I didn’t break any bones but I have torn all the ligaments that connect my clavicle and scapula. I can ride but only feel about 75 percent right now, but I am still competitive (I took forth in DS at Chalk Creek last weekend in Expert 19-30) which deepens my mental strife.

I am looking full on at throwing away everything I have worked toward this year if I have surgery now, not to mention work and such, or I can limp through the season, risk the possibility of further injury and get cut up in the fall.

I have been talking to a lot of people trying to figure this out, and just wanted to know what your decision was and why. My goal for the season is to be in semi-pro by next year, and even with my injury it looks like it might be possible so I am having a really, really hard time trying to figure out what to do. Your two cents would be greatly appreciated.

Dan

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I’m in Marin gathering user feedback at the annual Backshop user conference and rocking improvements to the enterprise commercial loan origination software.

Sitting in an office sucks even more than I remember, but on Monday I got in a nice ride with a client.

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I just started working with a new rider, and this one is important for a few reasons.

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Three weeks ago, I was feeling healthy and strong. I was training hard and looking forward to a great season of coaching and racing. Then I learned the clavicle I broke four years ago never healed. It turns out my right arm is being held on not by bone and ligament as God intended, but by muscle only. I need surgery. And my thinking has started to change.

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The world recently lost a champion of cycling and a real character.
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Dude, we are having some crazy times around here. These two orthopedic tales require some backstory, but they come together nicely (if tragically).

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Up here in the Boulder foothills, we rocked our first Blended Family Christmas Extravaganza. Highlights:

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Dude: I really love mountain biking. Every once in a while Life pushes me toward a worse place, but all it takes is some nice singletrack, and I’m stoked.

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If you’re pinning it the way you should, you don’t have time to be introspective. At today’s Berthoud, CO hare scramble, I was not pinning it the way I should. Thoughts:

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I had a checkup yesterday, and all is healing well. Here’s a recap of my first week with Thread in My Mouth.

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I got some rockin’ gum surgery this past Thursday, and so far so good. I took a Percocet a few hours ago, so forgive the syntax. Of note:

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Do you remember Timmy the Tooth? He said, if you brush and floss every day, you’ll keep your teeth forever. Well, it turns out there’s more to that story.

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As you might know, my wife Arlette (aka @b) had her left ACL repaired six weeks ago. That process really sucked! Her pain meds didn’t work, she got a severe infection, she got so dehydrated she needed an IV, and neither of us slept for a month. Yeah, it sucked, but we got through it.

She’s been healing nicely, and today we did her right ACL. She’s on stronger meds this time and feeling great. She just sent an update to her friends, and I thought I’d share it here. It’s a passionate, drug-induced trip to somewhere … just where, I don’t know.

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The top of Left Hand Canyon OHVA. It takes about an hour to get up there — whether I ride the long way or hike the steep way. Boulder spreads into the haze, and trails wind into the valley.

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Life here is rolling along with a big, fat capital L. When things are changing and rocking and rolling, I guess you gotta pin the sections you know, roll the sections you don’t know and — yeah, get off and walk when you have to.
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4X and BMX honchess Tara Llanes suffered a major spinal injury at last weekend’s Jeep King of the Mountains Race. Now recovering from major surgery, she’s in good spirits but currently has no feeling in her lower body.

I first met Tara back in 1993 at Mammoth. It was her first mountain bike race, and the teen BMXer placed second in pro dual slalom. She was a great rider and super cute, and John Ker from Mountain Bike Action convinced her to model with me and some guys for a cover shot. We rode along the edge of an alpine lake about 100 times, and the whole time her mom kept a close eye on all us dudes! In the almost-15-years since then, Tara has been widely regarded as a top rider and — more importantly — a quality person.

No matter how this shakes out, I’m confident Tara has what it takes to come out stronger and wiser. Now it’s time for her to really pin it.

Let’s all send her our best wishes, and maybe some cash (and donuts). Click the Keep reading >> link for more details.

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This season we set out to ride our best, be good sportsmen and have fun. When you do those things, you tend to place well. Yesterday The Fix Juniors won the 2007 Junior Gravity Team series. Winning wasn’t the goal, but it’s a nice bonus!

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Hi all. Sorry I’ve been off the back on the site action. Lots of Living with a capital L.

- Last weekend I took my 18-year-old stepdaughter Kate to college. She attends Sweet Briar, a private women’s college in Virginia. What a whirlwind of moving in, arranging stuff, finding the right computer cables, supporting her mom … I missed the G3 race at SolVista, but it was worthwhile.

- A few days at home for maximal work and minimal riding. Braaap.

- Leaving tomorrow for NorCal. Not bringing a bike. Bringing Arlette and my 14-year-old stepson Ian to meet my parents and my new little nephew. I turn 38 tomorrow. Saturday is my parents’ 39th anniversary. It’s Family with a capital F.

I lived a lot of years just doing my own thing — riding and working, and getting all of my identity from those things. It’s a different world now. Wierd sometimes. Challenging sometimes. But cool.

When I get back from NorCal, I’ll get back to riding my bike and posting on this site, then head to Keystone for the MSC finals. The Fix Jr. Team is leading the series. I didn’t get to race this year, but how cool it’ll be to see those meatballs on the podium.

Yeah, it’s a different world.

A divorce, a new 250 motocross bike, a new way of life and — yeah — improved moto cornering form.
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n.
Exemption from punishment, penalty, or harm

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My Enduro SL with Hayes Stroker brakes felt so dialed, I ripped that trail with impunity.