As someone who came up mtb’ing in the 90’s I’ve always seen the bike park, big air, mostly downhill, ski lift, etc as an entirely different discipline in mtb. My mtb experience is long miles of ups and downs… very traditional xc type riding. No big air no big drops etc. I’m still fast , I’m still skilled. I don’t know how ultra high risk got mixed up with mtb culture. It’s always been risky and always will be but I’m seeing too many average riders getting injured or worse. I lost a close friend this year in a cycling accident. No car or foul play involved, simply the unfortunate and tragic result associated with the risk we all assume. Maybe I’m just old.
This is my story, too. My attempts to grow and “push myself” (which isn’t a really big deal any more) is fitness and quality techniques for cornering, switchbacks, etc. Maybe little baby jumps. I’ve also found a lot of enjoyment helping kids get better at the sport and overcome their fears and help improve their skills and just give them positive vibes. I used to do the Vancouver North Shore thing 20 years ago, and have definitely seen the impacts of the send it culture. Cool for some people, but should not define the sport.
"I don’t know how ultra high risk got mixed up with mtb culture" It's called social media. Big jumps/etc look a lot more impressive on photo/video than regular riding, despite the fact that probably 95% of mountain bikers never really leave the ground.
@@Dragonjdjdjsnwjwkwk oh my. Thanks for that. It’s been devastating. I know we’re not the first riding group to lose someone like this and sadly won’t be the last. But yeah it’s been heart breaking.
Great advice. I have had a very bad crash where my shoulder and arm will never be the same, but I'm back at it. Just trying to be super safe and taking progress very slowly.
I've been BMX dirt jumping/freeriding/and down hilling all my life. My family told me I was too old for this activity when I was in my thirties and that I should stop. When I turned fifty I had a big crash in Winterpark. I came home and sold the DH, the DJ and the dirt bike. One year later I bought them all back. That was ten Years ago. Still riding😁
The hardest skill to master in mountain biking or any extreme sport is knowing your ability, knowing when you are tired or not mentally at that point and cutting back or waking away on that day/feature/whatever. Best of luck with the recovery, stay positive.
I used to send everything….I’m 50 now and my son who I ride mostly with, is much better rider than me…..so I’ve learned to just do the ol “go arounds” or walk a bike when needed. I can’t afford to get hurt. Hang in there! Enjoy your videos!
You are the prime example of how MTB is mostly mental. It’s normal to get down while recovering, but it will only make you appreciate what you love even more. Rebuild your confidence and all else will fall in line.
I totally understand where you're coming from, Yuka. I also broke my wrist at the end of last season - it's made me rethink how I approach mtb. For me, it's the realization that I'm totally fine not going super hard and being ultra yolo. It's nice to just enjoy the trails without feeling the need to send the biggest, scariest stuff. Once that pressure was gone, things became much more comfortable and I'm getting far more confident. I hope you can find the same confidence again; but please don't stress out too much! You have a community of supporters here who are always happy to hear your thoughts
just healing from broken wrist and surgery and ditto. Going to spend spring and summer chasing kms, Altitude, and views. I figure I'll naturally and incrementally build up my psyche again. So many ways to enjoy mtbing, new goals to pursue without always having to be sending it. 😊
@Chris Mano de piedra kind of hard to be a nurse with a broken wrist! There's also that aspect of risk calculation with sports. Mortgages and bills don't pay themselves every time one gets injured and has to take 6 weeks off work.
Im the same, i broke my wrist towards the end of last season, and realized that i don't actually enjoy going to bikeparks, i just feel relieved when i get home uninjured. I cant help but want to push myself though but the thought of getting injured again kills me (the recovery time puts me out of all the other sport i enjoy) so im at a cross roads of continuing.
Thank you so much Yuka for sharing with us. I am a 71yr rider who doesn't want to go OTB again. I love riding up and down the steep mountain trails, in fact sometimes I enjoy the climb as much (more?) than the flying down. And, for me, biking is meditation. So here we are in Thailand for 2 months and I left my beloved Commencal in Oregon. SO - I bought a carbon fiber Neuron!!! Lots of XC - but much rural rock trails and terrible roads. And biking is meditation. The rhythm of the breathing and movement is almost out of body. I love mtnbiking. And I see the same in you Yuka.
Yeah, I was gonna say when watching her clip: she already does meditation. MTB is a type of movement meditation. When you get into that state of only being in the now, thinking about your pedal strikes and the roots in front of you, when you lose track of time and life's chores and troubles - that is meditation. It's one of the reasons I started biking. It's the same reason I do rock climbing and hiking. I'm terrible at sitting down and meditating. But I'm absolutely addicted to doing it combined with sports, losing myself in motion, being completely aware and in the moment.
Broke my radius and ulna 20 years ago. Over the bars incident. Compound fracture that needed a cut and paste from my hip. Now road cycling and gravel cycling. No more MTB.
I'm glad you are healing Yuka. Please be careful, I don't want you to get hurt :) Mountain biking can still be fun even if we don't always push ourselves to do the most difficult trails/features possible. I'm impressed by how big you have gone on the jumps but I would still watch your videos even if you were just on the slightly more mellow trails. My goal is to be able to ride when I'm in my 60's and hopefully 70's so I usually skip features of higher consequence.
You don't need to decide these things today. Just be patient, see what happens and how you feel! There's lots of cycling that doesn't involve sending huge gaps ! If you like challenges, you could do fitness goals, or distance goals, or how many days you ride in a month or a year or... well you get the point :)
I have several observations Yuka: 1. YOU are a fantastic rider! I see you riding sh!t I’d be terrified to do as a man who’s been riding for 30+ years! 2. EVERYONE needs a break, I personally take 6 weeks to 3 months off riding per year to reignite the fire but I’m still going to the gym, working on my ranch, fasting, yoga to stay in shape 3. fear is NORMAL! Just don’t ride such crazy sh!t! Figure out where your limits are and stick to them. 4. I set goals every year that are born out of my brief breaks from riding that re-inspire me.
I separated my shoulder and thought about not riding again until I realized the bike didn't do it but something I did. I learned from it and got back out there! I love MTB ❤️ 😍
The meditation clips where funny and great job getting back on the bike. Time on the bike with no expectations has worked for me in the past and like you said just having fun.
Mountain biking can be as relaxing or thrilling as you want it to be. Nothing wrong with dialing it back a notch, and just enjoying being in the woods.
Hope you and your husband are doing okay! Worries me when you and your hubby haven't posted in over a month. Hope it's just time off for the holidays 😊
I've thought about quitting too after injuries but two things brought back the joy and confidence after the worst crashes. The first one was music. I played a good fast rock song that I love while going downhill and suddenly it was like, Oh yeah.... this is awesome. I forgot all about being scared and the excitement and confidence returned. It was a while before I was 100%, but that was the beginning. The second time after injury I rode down a super fun easy flow trail behind friends. They were flying and soon I was too. It was so fun and I found myself anxious for that feeling again. Then the progression started and I was back to myself in no time. Be patient and don't listen to people who tell you not to send it. Just wait until you're comfortable and you have your confidence back. We all crash, but the riders who truly love it will always come back to it no matter what.
Your videos are so thoughtful and encouraging! I’m sure we all go through the apprehension after every crash. The last one had me in the hospital for 12 days with broken ribs and a punctured lung, but I knew I would be back on the bike as soon as I could because I love mountain biking so much. We always talk in our group about knowing that we will have a serious crash once in a while, so we have to be patient and wait to heal. Maybe I have started going a little slower and not jumping as high as I get older, but I’m still riding.
Crashing with injuries is always very difficult in the recovery process. The recovery of your mind and confidence Can be just as challenging as the healing of your body. And we've all been there. All of us who crave the rush of the big drop, the massive jump and blazing speed of the downhill know all too well that crashing is part of the sport. So we pad up and take calculated risks based on where we are with our progression and the feature that we would like to clear. My first big crash and injury resulted in a broken collarbone. I was off the bike for months. When I got back on the bike it was like the first time I'd ever ridden. I remember clearly thinking, "man, I suck." It took many weeks to regain my confidence and recover my skills. Yuka, I'm glad to see you back on the bike and glad to see that you are healing physically and mentally. I try to never forget that riding the trails on my bike is a gift. A gift that gives me much pleasure and sometimes pure joy, but also comes with risks. I'll continue to ride and push the envelop until my body refuses to let me do it anymore. So to Yuka and all those who have a true passion for this sport...enjoy!
Yuka, I am glad you are mended. As a middle-aged person in this sport, I look at the "risk/reward" ratio. In my mind, if the risk involves me being out of the sport for weeks/months/a season for that little sketchy feature, I'll pass it by. That doesn't mean I am risk adverse, because all mountain biking carries risk. I just manage it. I met a guy in his late 70's on the black diamond Deadman's Ridge in the Moab Brands system and I decided my goal was to be doing that. I ride technical trails and some baby jumps, but I manage my risks with the focus being the desire on doing this for the long haul. I had a buddy who couldn't dial it back and suddenly just flat out quit. Now he watches his fish tank and squirrels in his backyard in his retirement. So sad.
I do downhill mt. biking but I take it easy. I avoid big jumps. It's like when I snowboard. No jumps. I'm just there to flow. You could still ride, just stop going big.
Well done, Yuka. It's tough to come back from a bad fall. Of course, the body needs to recover but so does the mind. It will take an amount of time for you to stop projecting the pessimism that you developed in the crash. What's great about you is that you are already getting back into the saddle. Time is your friend, Yuka, and I'm sure you have the best wishes of us all
I have badly injured myself twice doing the things I love. I broke my leg while mountain biking several years ago, and this past Spring I ruptured my ACL and tore the meniscus in my knee while ski touring. I started mountain biking again once my leg was healed, and plan to do the same with skiing. I use these sports as a tool to get out into the backcountry, which is my true love.
I'm only 22 and have had enough bike injuries to put me out of service for many months the last few years. MTB is my passion, and it scared me away from riding at any capacity. How can I continue my passion while not being worried of the risk it comes with? Well this year through lots of pedaling around I realized I can't control whether something is a passion or not. I just like being out on a bike, it doesn't matter why or where or what I'm riding, I just like being out on the bike. And while I do have the skill to ride practically anything I want, I take care of staying well within my comfort zone at all times, only pushing briefly through the year when I was having good days. I also can't control the inevitability of falling, and being accepting of it (while still riding well within safety) has helped my confidence big time in a sport where really commitment is everything. There is sooo so much you can do with a bike safely and while having fun, for me switching from DH specific riding to XC and Trail riding has been the massive turning point. I hope you have a great long winter to recalibrate your mind Yuka, 2023 will be an awesome year of riding with hopefully less pressure to do the crazy stuff and more time to do the rides you really are craving to do!
I broke my wrist going OTB when I hit an unseen log in the brush - on my wife’s bike, heading to the campsite washroom 😂 Great to see you getting “back on the horse” - and you can decide what level of risk you want to engage in for the future. You’re an inspiration to us all 😊
The thing with "Mountain biking" is, everything is about progression. Once you get past that and ride casually it is absolutely for you. Just have fun. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Mountain biking is soul cleansing. Don't give up. You got this Yuka.
Well that's the whole point of life itself. Without progression you often lose meaning. You have to have goals and feel you're achieving something from time to time, otherwise there's no point.
@@thereignofthezero225 No, you don't. You can set other goals. You can set the goal to get a good workout out of it, which might mean a trail with lots of climbing rather than big drops. You can set the goal to have a mental escape from work or other things, and just go on a ride to clear your head - this might mean a trail with more scenic views and small, rooty cruxes rather than gap jumps. You can set the goal to ride with your dog, which for me has been a true journey, focusing on obedience and being synced with her than pushing hard obstacles. The joy and meaning I get from biking with my dog is priceless. You can set the goal to increase social time with friends, and use the mtb as a means to get out there and see each other more often, maybe start a Tuesday ride tradition or similar. Or get together over a beer to service your forks or other mech stuff. There are more things to mountain biking than just pure skill progression.
@Ewik "you can set this goal, you can set that goal." Yeah.....goals = aim towards something which leads to progress/progression. It comes naturally, whether you push for it or not.
I’m of an age were it takes a lot longer to heal, and I find I still enjoy the climb and the nature (= “mindfulness”) so have moved more to my gravel bike (with a little bit of “underbiking” for the challenge) and biking camping. Just things I don’t feel comfortable doing anymore, that said sometimes it just clicks and I find the flow and just go with it. Just be good and have fun out there.
I have been set back too by crashing injuries... time helps... it's slow, but you will be confident if you take baby steps. Good luck and stay in your comfort zone for now.
this is the fear for everyone, I got hit by a car when I was younger, terrible accident to the point where I would start shaking before I crossed the street, had a scooter that I crashed and went over the handlebars, had a road bike that I also crashed and went over the handlebars, all that stuff is years apart from each other but it really sticks in your mind. Can't live life defined by fear barriers but no reason to go looking for pain, I like to ride and try new things but if I feel like I'm too tired or not at the skill level, I don't mind noping out real quick. Glad you're getting over some of the fear and getting back into it
Nice to see you back on the bike. After my accident (Shoulder Tossy 3, RockwoodV) on 03.09. like 3 month ago, I gained 100% movement back but still biking is not possible, cannot even sleep on my shoulder. I guess I am afraid to crash,, Not sure when I am back.. I love to bike in muddy snow trails as well but not in my actual situation. After my last big crash in 2020 needed like 1 year to fix my mental barrier until I was able to bike my usual tracks (DH+Enduro) in the bikepark Wish you all the best
I'm still afraid to crash, so I tend to avoid technical trails. We have to nurture the love for MTB slowly. If we push too hard too soon, then the love will be gone forever. I hope you get better physically and mentally soon😘
I am totally with you. I broke my collar bone in half the first week of September 2022. At age 55 I am not going to ride outside till Feb 2023. Luckily I have a peloton. I was able to hike in Tucson over Thanksgiving 7 days in a row with two of the hikes being over 20 mile each. However biking outside is slowing getting accepted in my brain. I have several mountain and gravel bike races planned in 2023 starting March through July. I think by the time March rolls around I will be healed enough to mentally accept the dangers of riding outside again. However I may just ride XC, road, and gravel in 2023 and do more hiking. I had a BC mountain biking vacation scheduled for Sept 2023 but I changed the BC plans to through hiking the Grand Canyon South to North and back in two days instead. I wish you well and be safe!
Glad the recovery is going well, i had a big off early last year which put me in hospital for 3 weeks with a broken pelvis and internal bleeding. it took me the rest of the summer to recover and get back on my bike, then slowly got my confidence back, but in your early fifties you realise that maybe somethings i should be be attempting. so have accepted to know my limits and now have decided to stay within them, and i am still having fun. Jumps was the issue with the crash and also where i live there are not so many good ones to progress on, and i only get to go to a big bike park once a year, so thats also not enough time to progress. i have been watching your videos with awe seeing how you conquer all these big feature's and i guess this is also a little addiction trying to go one bigger and also good content for your channel. i have no doubt little by little you will get back to your former self, but maybe dont try to hard with some of the bigger new feature's if your only at these place's for a few days at a time, stay safe on what you know. or as someone else has said in this comments section, get some jump training and see if that helps, i know that what i should probably do the next time i am at a bike park.
I recently had my first ride back after 4 months of recovery from an injury. I felt the same way you did but it has gotten better every ride. I am so much more thankful now for my health and just glad to be able to ride easier trails again.
Way to come back Yuka. I had a similar layoff back in October 2021 due to long COVID. I couldn't train for 15 weeks so I had to start all over. It took me 9 months to get back to where I was before. Struggled thru the racing season and wound up 11th in the points but I was much stronger at the end of the season so I had something to build on. Hang in there, you'll be back in shape soon. I'm glad you decided to give MTB another try. The MTB world needs you. 😁
Brand new to the channel, just got this in my recommended. Thanks for posting this and sharing your vulnerability with us. I had a moderate to severe concussion after a bike crash when I was 18. That was nearly a decade ago and I still don't think I have my nerve 100% back. I can't do anything beyond basic trail riding without a full-face helmet on; I am fiercely defensive of my brain health, despite any confused looks I might get. I ride with my mom actually, and we've been making plans to do some clinics this coming year as a way of trying to not only build our skills but gain a greater sense of confidence. Like you said, it is absolutely a mental game.
Yuka - I am 50. You are a much much better biker than I will ever be. Your risk tolerance does change over time. I started biking 3 years ago and have had 3 bad crashes. Last week had a bad crash skiing at Sunshine Village and cracked my ribs real bad. Am seeing first hand what can happen and the long road to recovery. Do not want to break my neck. Do what makes you happy. Don't break yourself. It is not worth it. But stay frisky. One thing I like about biking is that at my age - most people don't get scared anymore.
Hi Yuka, new subscriber here! can't tell you how much i enjoy watching your videos. i used to be an avid mtb'er and still ride occasionally. i mainly ride for the exercise and not for the thrill of flying around. now i skateboard more than i ride. these sports are dangerous so remember that you don't have to always send it to have fun.wishing you the best in your recovery and Happy New Year to Eric and Yuka-san. keep the rubber side down!
MTB to me is just biking in the mountains. It's a meditation. So many ways to do this. Hell, you can do it on a track bike. Love the variety of your channel Yuka.
I'm so happy to see you're doing well again. There should be an app so people can rate their MTB skills before jumping into situations that could be life treating cause we all think we are way better than the reality. We should look for ways to solve this issue and make tools to prepare us before facing challenging obstacles. All the best and happy holidays!
I've been riding cross country for years, to me mountain biking is all about the exercise with the fun of riding a bike. I love going downhill, but it's always with care, you have to respect the bike. My father broke his arm going downhill, and I've had a concussion, in both cases it was a very silly fall which resulted in big consequences. Can't imagine the sort of injuries we'd be getting if we did some of the downhill trails I see online. After my concussion it took me a while to return to the bike, and many months went by of simply regaining confidence and strength. It's very normal to take it easy on the first stages after a crash. But in generak, take risks you are only comfortable taking, don't be afraid to say no to dangerous features, and slowly regain confidence and skills after a fall. As someone else poined out, pure downhill (full of big jumps, and drops) and cross country (way more physical and safe) are completely different types of riding. And it's the latter the one that will give you the most rewarding experience. It's fun, you exercise a lot and you get the adrenaline rush without it being nuts. Cycling should be fun, and when you are scared you are not having fun. It's about enjoying the moment, connecting with nature, having fun with the people you ride with and like with any sport, enjoy the progress in skill and physical form. The "send it" mentality will only send you to the hospital When going downhill, green and blue trails are the most fun, you can enjoy the experience and flow without the fear some black trails will give you. But again, to me downhill is only one part of the riding experience, uphill is the equally important. Good luck in the recovery Yuka, I'm sure you'll be back and appreciating the bike in a different, but safer and more rewarding way compared to before.
It's not if but when. Riding from 86' on, have been in many, many crashes. It is a passion with no cops around for this BM. Just being outdoors hearing no cars, most no people and seeing wildlife flourish. Keep your passion, oh and my GF is from Japan and she loves to watch you.
Shattered my elbow mountain biking just over a year and a half ago. Still trying to work up the courage to head back up the trails. Always on my mind that another hit on that elbow could leave me with no mobility in my arm.
Take your time you'll feel it when you're ready, for me i was off my bike about the same time as you , when i felt it i started small, riding around the block. Riding off curbs and then one day i was ready, the feeling will come back . Good riding to you.
@@willisix2554 Thank you for your kind comment. I will take it one day at a time and see where it takes me. Hopefully the feeling does indeed come back, I do miss it. Good riding to you too :)
YUKA YES, YES PLEASE CONTINUE!! WE LOVE YOU FROM CHILE!!! AS A MTB CHANNEL AS WELL HERE (TEACHING OTHERS) WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR VIDEOS FROM THIS PART OF THE WORLD!!
Just keep on being "Yuka". You are one of my favorite youtubers. I always enjoy your videos, no matter what you are doing. I just don't want to see you get seriously injured. Merry Christmas.
I broke 2 vertebra in April. I'm getting back to where I was before, but I've had some really enjoyable rides this year, and I've also learned that I can have fun even when I'm not pushing the limits. I've even found that by consciously riding slowly carefully and accurately, as my back has got better I'm actually feeling more composed and consistent, and actually feel placed to build on this and be a better rider in 2023. Just as fast, but with a healthier attitude towards those risks that I don't have to take!
the same happened to me. messed my jaw up for life and its never been the same again. ive started hiking with friends now and getting the same enjoyment without the fear
As soon as you discovered you still have love for biking your mind was already healed. But like physical injury, mental damage leaves scars to remind us to take it slowly.
It could be said that mtb is a form of meditation, after all, it can be classed as anything you enjoy doing. The fact you got back on your bike and back into nature is a massive win! Keep it up Yuka, best wishes. ✌🏻
Great video Yuka! Mental aspect after any crash is the hardest to overcome! Keep riding ! Tough as nails I feel sorry for any ghost that stumbles upon you in the wood😂🙏
I raced 80s and 90s, I didn’t enjoy the outdoors like you two have been doing. Crashed a few times that took me out. The worst part about it was. I stopped riding a bike for 12 years, even have a bike shop, but didn’t want to ride. Because I felt I couldn’t be where I was. Till now at 60 my Son rides and got me back into it full time this year. I wish I kept going after the first two years off, the doctor told me to do. Keep riding enjoying your adventures, maybe go around some stuff, but stay in shape. My Son is going to adventure out this year. I will be going to Whistler Mountain this next year with him and a couple others in-between. These videos and others that are on RU-vid, have made me enjoy why I started in the first place.
Hey just discovered your channel! Awesome video and I must say you are one bad ass awesome woman. After healing from your accident you rode for many kilometers in the mountain wilderness to camp by yourself in the middle of winter. That is awesome and inspires me to do a similar adventure. I too also broke my hand from a MTB crash 6 years ago. After 6 weeks of healing I got on the bike and I wasn't too scared but my skills defiantly wasn't on par as I was scared of falling again in a rock garden. Your crash was crazy though compared to mine and I can definetaly see why you were terorfied to ride again but I'm so proud that you got yourself on your bike again to ride. Keep it up and take 1 ride at a time slowly and soon you'll be back at your riding prime. I'm going to start going watching your videos 😁
I was thinking about you today. I was thinking that you haven’t posted New videos in a while. I was thinking that maybe you had a crash…. I hope you have s speedy recovery. Don’t give up, Try not to ride over your head. You are a great rider, you will get through this! Good luck Don
Yuka - There is a pretty gnarly double black trail here in Phoenix now that I rode a few times, but after a close call, I don't ride it anymore, even when my friends ask me to go ride it with them. Not worth it! There are plenty of other fun trails to ride where they're still challenging but way less risky. You probably saw Paul's video about this, and I said the same thing to him - ride whatever you want, don't ever feel pressured, and if you do, find some new riding buddies. Mountain biking is supposed to be fun, not scary.
I think this is one of my favorite videos from you. Straightforward, painfully honest, a little bit funny and of course, interesting. Curious to see where you go from here.
I introduced my 14 years old son to mountain biking last summer and now he's literally flying all around, going faster than me, taking big jumps and all that. As a rider who's suffered many injuries, I often ask myself if I shouldn't have introduced him to another sport instead... You're video illustrates really well what makes mountain biking so unique.
Kids don't have any fear yet. They will eventually be hurt and learn more, just as we all have. This sport may not be the safest, but I really like it, and I hope your kid loves it until he is 80s 😁
I had a nasty crash at Killington, and it scared me cause it was a trail I ride often. Up to that point, whenever I went to a bike park, I felt I had to push myself and constantly progress. After the crash though, my goal was just to have fun, instead of proving something to myself everytime I ride. I also don't ride much in the winter, so by the time spring roles around, I'm rejuvenated and excited again! If you love it you love it though, and nothing can really keep you off you bike for too long.
I shattered my tibial plateu in an mtb crash. 3 surgeries, 6 weeks in a wheelchair, 6 weeks with a walker, 6 weeks using a cane and multiple rehab sessions later, I got back on the bike after 8 months. Part of what drove the rehab process was the goal of riding again. Without that, settling for just "walking" would have resulted in a lesser recovery. Getting back in the woods makes me feel whole again, but it takes a while to regain the confidence to ride technical or fast sections in a relaxed state.
I broke my tibial plateau as well, no where near as bad as you. It was a mental battle and of course a physical battle. I’m still not able to complete flex my knee, now 3 months later
@@Wheelsanstuff My knee is still stiff. If I don't do exercises to increase/maintain range, it gets stiffer. May be a lifelong issue for me. Squats and seated pedaling with the seat pretty low keep it more limber. That said, the mental battle for me was coming to peace with a modified risk/reward profile. Still do "most" of the technical, difficult stuff, but I am now much more able to say "not today, I'm not comfortable with that."
Nothing like a serious injury to make you question your hobby/passion! Going for your first ride in icy and snowy conditions might have not been the best choice for your first ride 🤣 Be kind to yourself and stick with it Yuka!!
This was one of your best episodes! Fun to watch and inspiring. Stay with it. All of a sudden you'll have a breakthrough and your confidence will of completely returned. As the old saying goes you got to "get right back on the horse" soon as physically possible.
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So happy to see you back on bike. Just get some more riding done and confidence will return and the injuries will be forgotten.
I've been off the bike for a bit and my fitness has definitely gone away. It always sucks when your confidience and your skill aren't where you remember them. However, every time this happens, the journey to get back to where you were is really fun. Enjoy the ups and downs. It's part of life. Glad to see you getting better and getting out there.
I messed myself up last year on October 30th and was out of the mtb game for five months with a torn MCL and fractured tibia. Thank the maker that during them months of recovery, it was our winter season here in the PNW. My knee is now fine, kind of, but during the summer, while I was building myself back up, I also started to question myself and started to wonder if mtb still for me? The answer was hell yes🤘🏿 I'm 51 & I've been doing this sport since the early 90s & if I had stopped earlier this year, then I would just be miserable & bored now. I still push myself while out riding, but I'm doing it with a little more thought. Just like you said, think before you send & you'll l be just fine. Also, while I'm out peddling around in the woods, it's just like meditation to me. Keep going, girl 👍🏿
I'm glad you're evaluating your safety, Yuka! I've never been fond of jumping because of the risks associated with it. Please be careful with those sends, we can only be broken so much as we're older until we've done truly irreparable damage. You're a good person, we don't want to lose you from this earth sooner than natural causes would have you depart from it.
Ya meditation never helped me find my flow again for previous crashes. This past crash with a 9 month healing process, I had a hard time finding my flow again. It took a few months of riding as much as possible with adding small progressive challenges to rebuild my confidence back. Eventually I found the fun; the flow, and I was better at my skills and reading trails and features too!
After 3 accidents, I could barely do any Bunny hops, no strong pulling on the handlebar, shoulder strength was gone, hand gripping on both hands was greatly reduced. But I will progress little by little, it took 1-2 years to get back to the old stuff. It WILL come, but maybe slower than you think. Many active people reinjure themselves trying to get back too soon(Runners, MTB, weight lifters, etc). Slow progression, weights/rehab, stretching. My hand took about 1-2 years to come back. Shoulders are still weaker. Push ups hurt like hell at first. I could not do them at all for 8 months. As your body heals up, it forms new tissue to replace the torn muscles, bones and tendons. While they might be "healed" they are still very new and not strong yet. They need time to to slowly get back into it. Our minds think we can much sooner. Running I pulled my calf, A level 1 strain, I went out since it felt great 4-5 days later for a walk to help loosen up the leg. That strained those new fibers and I hobbled back with a level two strain. I then waited 3 weeks and did shorter easier walks for 2 weeks. After 4 weeks, then I'd take the longer walks, then added a few 100 meter easy running every 1 mile or so. Then I would run 200-400 meter every mile or so of a 4-6 mile walk after 5-6 more days. In another week, Ill try running 1-2 miles. 6-8 weeks I'll be back to 4 to 6 mile runs and another 1-2 more weeks, the 8 milers. And that was just a muscle strain. Pull a tendon, break a bone, it'll be longer. But main point here is to give yourself patience to heal fully and progress little by little. If you honestly want to get back to similar riding, that will be key.
I am still recovering physically and mentally from two crashes this summer. #1 (May 31), the doctor was afraid I had broken my neck, but I came away with “only” a really bad concussion (i don’t remember where/what happened at all). #2 (Aug. 19), I had a concussion, bruised ribs, and a messed-up back. I’m still having dizzy spells. I really love mtb and can’t imagine quitting, but I will have to be thinking long and hard this winter about what I’ll do next summer. Your journey is an inspiration to others like me as well!
i remembered being injured and getting a pelvic fracture as well... I also pondered quitting mountain biking... the key yuka is to ride within ur limits and not do the craziest stuff... then u will limit injuries and be able to enjoy it... Cheers
I have followed your riding for several years now and have always been massively impressed by your progression in attaining the skills you have mastered. Most of all though I have admired your ambition, determination and mental fortitude to achieve your goals !!! Give yourself the time to heal both physically but most importantly mentally...if your love of mountain biking is still within you then it will guide you through this time and allow you to enjoy the sport which we all love !!! I look forward to following your journey back to full health 😊 and enjoying your future videos ...
Don't you dare think about quitting mountain biking. Your videos are both fun to watch and inspirational. I've always admired your bravery and "go for it" approach when doing jumps. I especially like when you send a jump before Eric does. You are much braver than I ever was or will ever be. As we get older (I'll be 59 next month) we have to learn to ride smarter not harder. Learn from your experience and keep on riding. I hope to ride into my 80's. I look forward to more of your videos. LUV2CYC
i totally feel you, I had broken my shoulder by hitting the only patch of concrete slab of all the greens around and took me rest for 4 months. I still remember all the younger years that i’m riding bicycle and fall countless time on road, gravel, accident with cars, and still continued riding after sometime! Looking at friends riding photo is all the momentum I need to ride again! with wearing impact pads on my shoulder now! 😂
I broke my back, clavicle and three ribs doing a huge gap jump. I have set some permanent boundaries to stay safe. Don’t quite just except that your not 18 and major injury just isn’t worth it
I totally get you Yuka. I was at the same point about a year ago with an injury. But watching RU-vidrs like you, BKXC, Singletracksampler, Seth, or others, I often ask myself: Why are they crashing so often? They really take unnecessary risks, crash (or almost crash) at points where they clearly overestimated themselves, ride above their level. Like several times in just one ride. This never happens to me or my friends, no matter if beginner or experienced rider (ok once in a while, but then you go slower on this day). Is this because of the pressure as a RU-vidr? You have to go full send, to be successful? An idea for you Yuka: you can go more into technical riding. I mean slow, but very tricky, trialsy trails, where you need to use high mtb skills. You can progress, work on specific topics, like nose wheelies, endo drops, tight switchbacks, backwheel hops, uphill challenges, and so on. It can get dangerous as well, but its way easyer to manage the risk, as you are very slow, and you can try and try. On a big jump you cannot stop in the middle of the air and try again. 😅 there is just one mistake, and off you go…
Hey Yuka I face planted and knocked myself out and ended with 70 stiches in my face. After a few weeks of healing I managed to get back on and over time I've been able ride back at my previous ability however if I loose my nerve on something I will just walk it. It's about having fun and coming home without injury. Just take it step by step and have fun.
Oh, Yuka, you're so brave to go on a journey like that all alone! I'd never do that on my own - 37 year old crying man in some corner after watching your video...
Dang girl, you're a beast! I feel your apprehensions, I'm about 4wks out from breaking my tailbone in a bike crash, but nothing like your spill. Glad to see you're on the mend!
Keep working at it. I had to learn to climb stairs again. I eventually cud wear boots and climb stairs and I worked at it until I could walk in snow. I wanted to take my kids to play in snow but I was recovering from broken foot and no walking for almost 6 months. It was so awesome to finally go walk in the snow and sled with family. I then really pushed my endurance for biking after that
I recommend getting a QuadLock or Peak Design bike mount for your phone! I use the Quad Lock and and love it, very secure and easy to clip the phone in and out.
I think you have accomplished far too much to just walk away, Yuka. Nothing wrong with dealing with the mental hurdle of moving on after a serious crash. What will define you as a rider is when you have decided its time to get back on the saddle and prove to yourself that you have the physical AND mental fortitude to overcome yhis type of hurdle. All the best to you on the mental (and physical) road to recovery. Head up, wheels down! Cheers, Derek
