This crash changes everything 

I hope you get better

It's amazing how an experience like this can change your life. Im 41, and have 3 kids and a wife. I came up on the worst crash I'd ever seen this past summer on my favorite trail. Long story short, the guy I found had be life flighted off the mountain. He can't talk right or walk right now. I'll never forget how that sight made me feel. I changed my riding style after that day and I'll never go back. Life is short and I want to see my kids grow up!

There are plenty of videos glamorising our favourite hobby but not enough videos like this to act as cautionary tales. All the best buddy.

This is super validating. I hit my late 30’s and suddenly “lost my nerve” After a few high speed crashes and a neck injury. I felt really bad about that but I too came to a conclusion that my family came first. Now I’m ok skipping the most technical sections of trail. I’m cool with not needing to prove my “bravado” or ability to the group. You live and learn. God speed.

My wife was with a rider who sadly lost his life coming off a mtb. She kept him alive until the ambos arrived but sadly it was not enough. Certainly changed our riding, it never leaves you. Hope you continue to improve and thanks for this honest video.....

Thanks for this video. I'm also nearly 40 and getting to the skill level where I could start to look at some of these more intense jumps and trails. But instead I think I'll concentrate on what I really love about mtb, getting out in the bush and hanging out with my mates.

Mate I totalled myself four weeks ago. Chain snapped coming out of a berm while pedaling out. OTB and head first into a tree. Lucky no head injury , but broken arm , smashed ribs , cuts and there were fears my other shoulder popped out . Cut a long story short , I am 50 yo and this has really put the wind up me . I was told it will be up to 12 months before I can ride again . I have done a lot of thinking and I will def be doing more trail then enduro . Best of luck and sending love to you and your family . Mick 🤘

A cautionary tale, well told. You've given me a lot to think about.

Cor blimey dude! Yeah that's a massive change, something I'm always conscious of. At least you'll still be able to enjoy everything life has to offer.

Glad you made it. Wake-up calls are always good things. I'm 52, roadie. I recently discontinued high-speed peloton riding because my body knows it doesn't want to sustain a high-speed crash with bodies and bikes flying around. In my time of reordering my risk tolerances, I've rediscovered cyclocross which is so much fun and generally safe.

Give the jumps a miss buddy keep it safe..let the young fellas with no responsibility brake themselves..I ride past many and have no regrets.

Tis exactly why i watch Friday fails before i go riding..best wishes to you for the next chapter in the youre journey..

Just came across your vid, tks for sharing, reminds me of my wake up call crash. When I was 21 had a big crash in the blue mountains. Broke my collar bone, tore all the ligaments off my right shoulder and had shoulder drop. After a 5,000 buck op and few months recovery, lesson learnt. You are right you only have 1 body so take care of it, doesn't mean you cannot have a bit of fun but just stay well within the limits. Been 25 years since that crash and I still remind myself of it when assessing whether to ride certain parts of my local trails here. Thanks for making the video and all the best for your full recovery

49 year old father of two watching this after having had a full wrist reconstruction - final surgery today. Front wheel washout on a nothing corner before a tech section. I too am revising my approach to riding into the future. Best wishes and I hope you heal fully.

Thanks for helping me decide to slow down also. Bad crashes in my life. Three big ones in the last thee years. Broken leg. Broken Collarbone on the exact same day a year apart and smashing my face into a tree . Wife is Getting fed up of taking care of me. And watching this made me realize how selfish I am. Two kids a business. And 52 years old been riding hard since the late 90s. Thanks for sharing. And who are the idiots posting a thumbs down.

Glad you're ok Hamish. It's bittersweet to see you taking a step back from a community you've had such a huge impact on from day one and being a major role model for many riders. I hope we can all strive to embody the same spirit and energy you brought everyday to mountain biking 🤙

Just wanna say dude, you single handedly got myself and my Girlfriend into mountain biking. Whatever you choose to do with your channel we will come with you, we were both really concerned when you made your IG post and im glad you're (mostly) in one piece.

Not sure why RU-vid recommended this video to me but I'm glad it did. As someone currently dealing with a knee injury during snowboard season, it's forcing me to reassess how I can still have fun progressing my riding while staying safe. I hope you heal up quick and can find a way to still feel fulfilled while riding in a less risky way.

Shit. My friends told me you crashed but I would have never imagined it to be that bad. Don't worry about us on RU-vid, take time to recover and get back to normal. All the best wishes to you and your family and have a speedy recovery!

Thanks for sharing. 43 year old father of two here and I 100% agree. I had my first bad wreck on a jump line 6 weeks ago with a fractured shoulder. I too am done with jumps but look forward to just riding trails and getting out there again.

Good on you for making the hard call. Family first, always. Heal up quickly! All the best!

Thank you for a courageous video that should be required watching for everyone. Injury happens in an instant. Not everything can be fixed. There are more important things in life than riding. I wish you and your family the best.

Some backpacking and touring would be great to see! Can’t wait to see you back on the bike mate

Thanks for sharing your story. It's a sobering reminder for all of us. You might even save someone's life with this video.

Cautionary stories like yours need to be told more often. I had a similar fall going much slower and ended up with three cervical (neck) fractures. Fortunately, without any neurologic damage

I knew there was a reason I don’t mess with jumps. I’m happy enough’s with my 2 wheels planted. Poor bugger. Hope you’re recovering well. On the bright side, good content and strong community message. ❤️

Thanks for taking us on your tough journey - I've been falling off bikes for nearly 8 decades now and ended up in an operating theatre 3 times so far. Major offs are always a game-changer but if biking is such a large part of your identity then its finding how to adapt and keep the good bits and avoid the bad. I'm buying a new titanium hardtail to celebrate my 70th, having beaten a bout with cancer and 12 rounds with the aftershocks. Keep your chin up and enjoy family and health

Wishing you the best with your recovery. I’m 51 and have the same mentality with gravity at this point. Not that I don’t ride fast but I do focus more on keeping things close to the ground. I’ve really shifted to prioritizing fitness, climbing and longer rides. The human body doesn’t have much of a chance at some of the speeds we ride. Keep safe

I can empathise with you. I had a nasty crash three months ago. It resulted in a two night hospital stay and some minor surgery. Like you, I crashed on a section of trail that didn't scream danger. Like you, I had ridden the section of trail before without incident. My crash knocked my confidence for a few weeks. I'm sure that your crash knocked your confidence too. Best wishes for a speedy recovery from your injuries and for the recovery of the confidence that you will need to ride safely again.

I feel your decisions on riding. I ride all mountain style. I crashed a few years ago, fractured a few vertebra and seperated my spine going off a bridgedrop.. i was supposed to be paralyzed, but maracoulosly recovered , but rubber stays on the ground these days. I still ride, just less risky. It's been a few years now, and I still wake up most mornings, wiggle my toes and smile appreciating more things than not. Good luck with your recovery, I hope you have a good outcome and can continue to ride, just a little less rowdy. Remember your family. Peace..

Hamish, thank you for updating us on your condition and recovery. I didn’t watch the stack, it’s different when it’s someone you (sort of know). One things I have always admired about riding is your ability to pick yourself up after things have gone wrong. Your mindset is strong and your priorities are both loving and sound. Go easy, Hamish and best wishes to you and your family.

Glad you're ok. I also recently suffered a violent crash during Thanksgiving weekend. I thankfully came out mostly unscathed, but the moment I got ejected from my bike and flew towards the ground, my life immediately flashed before my eyes and my mind raced through all the different outcomes of what injuries I might sustain and what will happen next. Ever since then, I've really toned down the speed, and had to remember why I started to ride in the first place: freedom and adventure. I sometimes I get teased for slowing down as I was one of the fastest in the group, especially through tech. Rest well and heal. You'll be back on that bike soon. 👍🤙

I'm glad to hear someone using some common sense and knowing your limits. As a brand new Mt. biker, I'm glad to have someone give me this perspective. I shall not aspire to the level you had attained. I'm 68 and break easy.

This story hits close to home. I'm 46 and have a fused spine. Broke my back at L5 and S1. The spinal fusion went well, unlike a lot of the stories I hear about this surgery. I still have the rods in my back, but I still ride. It's true that things have changed. There's a definite fear factor with any jump now. I can't just send things like I used to. There's a lot of brake scrubbing and casing things in my riding now and I avoid a lot more than I ever have before. I still love gravity riding and chunky gnar, but I'm super careful. In the end I'd rather die doing something I love than sitting on the couch, but that time is not now. lol. Hoping for a speedy recovery and the best possible outcome for you buddy. Mountain biking is a dangerous game. I live in Bentonville, AR and I almost always see a wreck that requires medical attention. It's part of the game. Thank you for sharing this.

I've been riding for about 30 years and most of my crashes have happened when I'm going slowly, no gyroscopic effect (spinning wheels) to help me stay upright. I have had a few high speed crashes and worst thing is time off of the bike while recovering. Good luck with your recovery and enjoy riding more carefully like the rest of us old farts!

Where you were riding is full of high-consequence features that have claimed plenty of riders before you and will continue to do so. Full credit to you for taking it on. Age and responsibilities catch up with all of us so changing your riding style a little may take away a little of the buzz but you’ll still have fun. At 55 I’ve broken more bones and visited the hospital more times due to injury in the last few years than I have over my entire life, but I’m not giving up the sport I love. I take a few more B lines and avoid some features altogether but I still have 99% of the enjoyment with my riding buddies despite being more careful. Get back on the bike when you’re ready and keep going!

Broke L1 and L2 rock climbing and years later T6 and T7 in a fall exactly like the one in the video. I rode the trail fast one day and it was fast and buff, there was a storm the next day and I rode the third day and found a washout right on the bend and did a Superman like yours. StupidLy I rode out. My realization was to wait for help and not move. I changed my riding to less extreme trails and really enjoy long trails without jumps now. Good news is it’s just as satisfying. Good luck, heal quick and enjoy your kids!

I've heard guys say "if you're not crashing you're not riding" what fools.... the best ride is a safe ride when you have a wife & children who depend on you.

I'm really thankful you are not in terrible pain. I think you've made the right decision based on those counting on you. I sure hope you get better soon. I just injured my wrist as well, did a jump, landed, and into a berm. There was snow and ice and I landed on a patch of ice, OTB, and landed on my hands to break the fall. Injured my left wrist. Like you said, not the craziest terrain but has limited me. We really don't know how much we use our wrist, teeth, eyes, back, collarbone, fingers and back, until we injure them. Hang in there man, it takes time and continue to sleep. So much healing takes place in our sleep. Greetings from a fellow youtuber in the states, happy new year. Healing wishes to you...

I'm 50 years old with the brain of a teenager , adrenaline junkie and lover of extreme sports, especially skiing and MTB. I love gravity and I'm still in the jumps learning stages , when I ride I look like Robocop with al the protection gear I have on , I didn't know about the neck brace , going to buy it asap ! Good luck with your recovery.

After wiping out and smashing my shoulder last week 40 with 2 kids, this video resonates with me. It happens so quickly. Wish you a speedy and full recovery.

Thank you for this wake-up call for the rest of us. Best of luck. Stay strong and safe.

This video kept popping up and I skipped it as I crashed last summer, head first over 20mph into a rock. Broken neck (Crushed C6,C7) shoulder and ribs I didn’t think I could watch this. I felt all your pain physically and emotionally. Surgery (plate and screws) and rehab physically I am getting ready to get back on the bike. Mentally is a different story. I’ll be following you to see your progress. Best of luck mate!

Hamish thanks for sharing, I have only watched more recent vids of yours as I sub'ed after your event not realising the impact of what you when through, and now see that perspective you have pulled it together now. Your story resonates with me, I am a fair bit older than you, but my past high risk sports have payed the price, not to your extent, but ACL, back injury etc. This was from motorcycle racing enduros and desert racing, and found myself riding MTB as a cross training, now fitness also, but now limit myself to no jumps, XC hardtail and ride within my limits. I have nothing to prove, I am still working a trade and need to support a family and a son who has a disability. Not until you care for someone you never realise how vulnerable and precious life is. Enjoy the trails and looking forward to your quality videos.

I'm in the same situation as a couple of other commenters in that I'm turning 50 this year, have 2 young kids, a wife and 3 mortgages to look after. After seeing a friend suffer a broken wrist and collar bone going over a small jump, I decided to sell my downhill bike and ride less on the roads, and more on bike paths and gravel trails on the gravel bike I bought this year. I'm glad the injury isn't more serious and you're on the road (or trail) to recovery. TBH, when we saw you content diverge from its origins to more jumps, we lost interest and thought it was a matter of time before a serious accident. When I saw your IG post, it was a little gut wrenching and so came here to see what happened. But challenges present opportunity, and as another commenter said, maybe changing to gravel, CX, bike packing and back to the original trails could be something to consider.

One thing a lot of guys do when their bodies are aging out of extreme sports is go into motorsport. Still get the same thrills and feeling of progression and flow, but let the car take the hits. I recommend drifting as a substitute sport while you recover. I've been doing it for years, and it's got that same zen.

Glad you are mostly OK with no life altering catastrophic injuries. Watching your video was a wake up call for me too. I am 64 and thinking about adding some jumping to my mountain bike riding. Not any more. Just going to dial it back a bit and ride safer. So thanks for sharing your crash as no doubt it will prevent others from having similar or worse crashes.

LW, a crash and surgery puts the wind right up you and makes you think differently, I bashed and gashed my knee just before xmas and had to have surgery, defo puts things in perspective. Respect to your other half, mine too was an absolute diamond. Look forward to future vids, whatever direction they take I'll stay tuned. All the best from the UK my friend 👍💪😎

Im so glad youre slowing down. One of my best pals Paul Knibb...Nibby was his nickname. Over the bars, crushed his neck vertebrae and was actually drowning in a puddle, face down till a following rider pulled him out, he was partially paralysed. Learnt to walk with sticks, but was in constant pain and shooting pins and needles. He took his own life 8 months later. I packed it but now have an ebike and get a buzz from climbing, which is much safer.

Heart this. This is the exact same reason i opted for long road rides vs trails.

I've always wondered whether I'm too cautious and missing out on the crazy exciting stuff I see you and other guys do. This kinda reminds me that I'm happy with what I'm doing, I'm enjoying mostly XC riding, with the occasional DH, and that's fine. I think you'll still enjoy riding, it will just be a different experience for you 👍

So heavy, I got young kids too and it’s always at the back of your mind. All the best with the recovery

I hear you mate. I’m 42, married with two kids under two years of age and about 7.5 months ago i was mountain biking at our favourite park, blasting down trails as fast as I could , like I use to ride in my early teens to 20‘s. In a split second (like your crash) my front tyre slide out (winter morning) and I went head first into (luckily) a somewhat soft bank. I sustained a bad concussion and snapped my thumb almost in half. I was fortunate to not hurt my neck / spine. The same fatherly thoughts came over me as I lay on the ground and in the medical centre, in pain and super dazed. Just like your self, I now take it easy, passing on the super technical sections and gap jumps. Family first mate, I hope you have a speedy recovery - still enjoying nature and trails and most importantly spending time with your wife, daughter and family.

I switched to the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp after my crash this summer. 6 tears in my shoulder and bicep separation lead to shoulder surgery and bicep reattachment. Instead of downhill trails and hitting corners hard I now enjoy climbing, trail riding, and riding cross country at 53. I too injured my back in the Gulf War in 91 and after this last crash I realized it is not worth risking permanent damage that can lead to not riding at all anymore. An E bike is more fun than I ever realized it could be.

Fair play mate. Really scary how a seemingly innocuous bit of trail can cause all of this. A year ago I fell off on a chill out sunday ride on a pump track. I dont think you were being reckless like myself. Ive been doing intensive physio for over a year now (up to 4hrs per day) my new limitations have changed my future indefinitely it seems. Best of luck mate keep riding man!

I never comment on social media, only just saw this 10mo video and am so sorry to hear about your accident, but bloody heck I really hear you. I'm a 51yo, 30+yr MTB rider, hubby/father, business owner/bread-winner, etc and just hit 12 months post a major work accident in the remote high country. 5hrs before help go to us, 1x chopper, 2x ambos, 2x hospitals, 2 weeks in the Alfred, 3x surgeries to date, shattered wrist, ruptured kidney, countless other injuries and issues, etc. It takes time for the injuries to heal, but it can take longer for the trauma (both the accident, things that get done in hospital and the emotional impact to my confidence, family, friends, etc). I can hear the trauma went/have been through and its normal and OK. I've found it really challenging to find that middle ground between acknowledging the severity and impact of what I went though, but also not giving it too much air and getting on with it (even now at 12 months). If I can give any belated advise from my learnings... (1) just give it time and (2) find the other joys of more gentle MTB outside the adrenaline (e.g. fitness, fresh air, nature, mates, etc). I'm riding heaps (Yarra/Plenty trails) and about to reward myself for the last year with a new bike. Glad to hear below you're going good now.

At 51 no longer do jumps or to technical trails I had my share of crashes but last one was my wake up call after 20 on the ground when I finally got up it took a little while to realize that I was lucky to be ok at least so I thought that night everything hurt that’s when I said to myself no more crazy stuff that’s for the young guys thank you for sharing this with us it is very important not to forget that this is a very dangerous sport and can put you in the wheelchair in a blink of an eye you will be fine friend it takes courage to share this video and to realize that all of us are exposed to this so for us older guys take it easy don’t be a hero

So sorry that this happened. A good alternative to jumping/getting air is trials riding. Sure you’re not getting massive air but doing an endo tail whip is one of the most satisfying things to do on a bike. I hope you have a speedy recovery man.

First time I ever watched your channel. That is a scary and though provoking story and you have a great attitude. Crashes happen so fast and never where you expect them. That balance between responsibility and pushing the limits is tough. Nothing compared to your problems but after dislocating my shoulder, I couldn't ride for 4 months or so and ZWIFT kept my mental health in check big time. Even riding one handed for the first couple of months it just kept me going and motivated me. I hope you have the same experience and wish you a speedy recovery.

Wow, that was tough to watch, wish you a full recovery. 5 yrs ago I was riding a trail I’ve ridden many times & clipped a tree at high speed landed on a root & fractured L1 badly. Was off the bike for almost 1 yr, worked extremely hard to get back on the bike with weight training & yoga. I now just ride cross country trails & no more jumping & stupid shit. I’m 58 & love riding, definitely life changing, best of luck to you!

I really appreciate you and your humble attitude/transparency with sharing this. I have lately been "drawing the line" or "knowing my limit" as of late. There's many high consequence lines that i won't even consider riding. But there's so much that I do ride that something like this could easily happen to me. This video is a solid wake up call to take a moment to consider mountain biking with safety in mind. Thank you! Hoping you heal up 100%

Currently watching this in a minerva neck brace as result of a mtb crash in Dec. I've now had 3 surgeries, 2 neck and one back with a plate in the front and rods in the back of my neck holding it in place from all the ligament damage. Very much in the same situation as yourself with the Exact same thoughts running through my mind. I thank God to still have full mobility and am very fortunate. I'll have a nice Enduro bike for sale shortly.... 😕

So much more to life than riding around in circles on an Mtb. Took me many years to realise this. Stay well

Thanks for posting. A real wake up call to many of us with Families. I started MTB again 5 weeks ago on eMTB. I used to ride a lot when younger and memory kicks in and I have already started to push myself. I already have a fused C5/C6. I am just being stupid. I will still ride but now just cruise blue trails and enjoy the scenery. What would be awesome is a series of videos on great XC and easy flowing trails in Melbourne as I don't really know where to ride. Get well soon bud. You will heal. The mental side of feeling like you're not doing what you used to as you age is the hardest to come to grips with. I still have not if I am honest.

Amazing the damage a seemingly small crash can do! Good luck with your recovery and figuring out what to do for fun and thrills looking forward. This reinforces why I shudder looking at Red Bull videos. I’ve had too many crashes myself and also have three compressed discs. Decided to get into road riding and then I had a flat front tire on my road bike and went down hard on the pavement this last summer! I’m still not right from that!! Best of luck with your recovery!

Praying for your fast recovery brother. Videos like this should be out more to create awareness and caution to the riders out there. I’ve had the same accident with a half face helmet on. I’m glad that I only suffered a good bruise and punctures on my face from half cut tree that I hit my head, a lot could have happened. I’m grateful that it only came out that way. Will now use a full face helmet on trails and the right gears. Get well soon brother and God bless to you and your family! Ride safe!

Healing vibes mate, well said I broke my collarbone just before Christmas doing nothing beyond something I had already done, but yes standing up afterwards thinking about family and work being able to provide for people I love was hard to swallow knowing something was wrong in a bad way... Yes its hard to stay positive but I pray that things will heal an I will ride again but maybe not as full on as before 🤘🤘🤘 Take care an heal up mate 🙂

Wow man thanks for sharing, made me think about it if I was in your shoes. A lot of people I know have hurt them self’s more on small little jumps rather than bigger ones. Don’t underestimate any trail is my view.

Sorry to hear this news, what a horrible way to spend Christmas. It also takes courage to admit vulnerability in a public space so I'd like to say well done on being so open about your experience and your fears. I really enjoy your videos, I'll continue to tune in! Best wishes for a good recovery!

I crashed really hard when I was 18 or so. Limped for 3 months but had no lasting damage. It was but bike-life changing like your crash, though. Now, more than 20 years later, I still think of it as a blessing in disguise. Still riding happily, but I have been avoiding the most risky trails and jumps, and I now know very well why, which makes it so much easier to withstand the temptation. I might well have been dead or something like that, hadn't it been for my eye opener accident with a relatively happy ending.

I often think about the physics of this sport. I do parkour too, so i know very well that you can hurt yourself even on foot, but rolling down a hill at several times our natural running speeds, rocks and trees everywhere, some of us may even try to leave the ground... At above a normal riding speed, we're nothing else but a single use ragdoll. Even if we don't push our limits, we're waaay over our natural limits. It is fun, and one of the best things in this world, but yeah... we should be well aware of the risks at all times, so we can do what we love even when we're old and grumpy. Glad you got it relatively easy, it could've been much much worse. Get better soon, take care, and the trails are waiting for you to ride them again! :)

Hi man I am actually quite an incompetent rider and you helped me gain my confidence in riding I actually watched your video about riding in candle bark park a week later i became a more confident rider but when riding i realize i do not wear the proper equipment, in fact this is quite a coincidence my brother had an incident with a swollen finger the same time i think you would have been in the hospital, i was also at the same beach in mt martha the day before (the one from your intro) i hope you have an enjoyable and quick recovery!

Glad you're ok man, I'm just getting into mtb at nearly 40 and stories like this are exactly why I am happy riding around on the easier stuff. Stay safe.

I crashed a few years ago at bikepark Wales. Broke my pelvis and couldn't get off the mountain. Air ambulance couldn't find landing so after 1 hour, finally got off with some 4 wheel ambulance. Experience was so bad and put so much strain on my wife and kids. I ditched the bike for 5 years and only starting to ride again now. This is a stark reminder to ride responsibly and think of family when on the trail.

Riding for life is better than riding for the last moment 👍🏼 stay safe keep rolling 👌

🙏🏻 for your recovery. Love that you are putting your family first. Rewarding challenges are everywhere. 👍🏻👍🏻

So sorry to hear about your crash. This is a brilliant message for us all to ride safely. I really love your channel and what you have done to promote our great sport. I hope you fully recover.

Believe it or not you can enjoy your riding and continue to progress while not increasing your speed! Glad you're ok, keep riding.

Thanks for sharing this dude. I'm just getting back into it, mid 30's and haven't done it for over 10 years. You've single handedly reminded me I need to be careful. I live right near the Lysterfield park and found your channel with those videos seeing what it was like. I watched it thinking holy shit he's going fast, could I ever do that? I'm putting that idea right out of my head now and just going to do at my own pace and forget how fast others go/not compare at all. Already have upper and lower back disc issues, not looking to add to it. Get well man, again thanks for sharing and being a man about it. That level of honesty is admirable.

It’s takes a strong person to put himself or herself second to what they love to do for the sake of their family and future. Cheers to you and your future.

Thanks for sharing. I don't do MTB but I commute and do road cycling. Near misses from cars, and dooring (one 1 crash) has givien me the same thought of not cycling back in 2019. I haven't overcome the fear of road cycling completely and just do many detours to ensure I don't ride on narrow paths or give myself more clearance to avoid dooring and cars where possible. With covid, many councils have installed protected bike lanes but many are incomplete or not safe... gotta be safe on ALL paths. I hope you still cycle and explore the different "safer" trails of Victoria :D

So sorry you went through this but thank you for sharing with the community. I will really take this warning and chill out myself

I’m happy that it’s looks like you are going to come out of this alright ,as we age we have to adjust the way we ride it doesn’t mean that it won’t still be fun. Your love of riding will still be there , I am much older than you and I have gone though a few of these riding adjustments and each time I change to a little less risky riding style I still find that I love the change ,because as long as it involves biking I love it. You still have a ton of fun left. It’s funny as you get older you start living for others as much as for yourself it was a true sign of maturity that the first thing that you thought of was your family, as long as you keep thinking like that you will know when the next change will be. Keep on riding and we will see you on the trails Evan Vigneau

We all get complacent with what we do forgetting just how dangerous it is. I'm glad you're still able to enjoy life with your daughter man. All the best.

So sorry to hear that this happened to you Hamish. I could only watch the crash peeking through my fingers. Your channel has been a big inspiration to me as I've taken up mountain biking over the last 18 months, and this is a sobering reminder of the risks we all take.

Hope you have a speedy recovery Hamish. Not sure about everyone else but to me it's always been your natural cinematography & story telling skills that keep me coming back to your vids, so whether you're riding gravity tracks or not doesn't make difference to how I view your channel. I also had a similar incident a few years back; was 42yo at the time riding on gravity trails > went OTB > minor neck injury > etc etc. I think of it as the "accident I needed to have", as it put into perspective a few things and made me realise I could still have lots of great rides but also take a lot less risks.

"thats the thing about crashes, they dont always happen on the gnarliest of terrain" I Received 2 days in the emergency room and a 2 inch deep hole in my thigh from riding on a footpath!

Glad you're making a recovery Hamish. I used to ride MTB when I was a teenager and at the time never thought of consequences, I was made of rubber. Then I let riding lapse but picked it up again this year. Now as a late 40's professional I fully understand where you're coming from and am always mindful of losing the ability to provide for my family. These days I'm more of a cruiser along trails; sure it's not as exhilarating, but it's still plenty fun. Thanks for allowing me to live vicariously through you and all the best with your recovery. Maybe one day we'll cross paths on the trails one day seeing as we live fairly close to one another. Anyway Hamish, I just thought I'd reach out and let you know I've thoroughly enjoyed L&W and look forward to seeing the direction your channel will take. 👍🏻

Hamish: I've been watching your channel for the last year, I'm a similar age to you (38) you have been a inspiration to me, I got into cycling 3 years ago, had a tear in my eye watching this but as mentioned it only takes 1 crash/incident for someones life to change, you can never take the human body for granted. If you get back into some sort of riding in the future you have my full support but for now rest up/stay safe mate.

I think about this a lot, 34 dad two kids job that requires a sharp mind. My last big crash was caused by my dog cutting a corner and me taking a different line on one of the fastest sections of trails in the forest, front-wheel wash out ensued etc etc. I've concluded that the most dangerous trails for consequences are the fast ones. Anything that's going to cause a lot of force on your body in a crash, so high speed, man-made jumps, and exposure. I now limit my speed (if that means planning to case a tabletop be it) and allow time to brace for any unexpected events. This has led me to riding steeper techy trails, but at a slow and steady pace where a fall to the side is a topple, and an over the bars is not more than a 3ft drop. I take the same approach to my skiing, no park like I was 19, only off-piste lines. It's a different approach, more an accomplishment of achieving a plan and adapting, than sheer adrenaline of danger from airtime and speed. Very enjoyable, responsible and more mature. Things can still happen sure, but whether going biking, surfing or skiing, I think the risk to life on the drive is similar to the activity. Drive to survive and ride to survive.

Really sorry to hear Hamish. It’s hard to walk the line between safety and adventure. I admire your response to this situation. Wherever your riding takes you in the future I’m sure it’ll be fun and we will be watching! All the best with recovery.

Dude, hope you're recovering well. This is also a great reminder that all bikes are fun! Gravity riding is fantastic fun, but the most fun and meaningful experiences I've had on my bike have been bikepacking trips. I can't recommend it enough!

Your experience is so relatable! About 5 months ago I suffered the worst crash in 40 years of mountain biking. It didn’t happen on a technically difficult trail, but a high speed straightaway single track that was slightly off camber. Hidden under moon dust was a slippery root that resulted in a front wheel wash out, like hitting black ice. The result was an intensely hard slam to the ground, I came within inches of slamming my head into a tree which could have been game over. I was nauseous and felt electrical shocks in my hands. I also felt this intense fear that I was going to die. Turns out I’d fractured my pelvis in 3 places and lucked out with no concussion. Somehow I self rescued (was riding solo) and was able to make it down the hill and to my car, then drive an hour home before the pain kicked in to the point I couldn’t even stand up. I’m 90% healed up now, but still do daily physical therapy and feel soreness. When I’m back to riding eventually, I’m going to dial it back and take it easy. It was a real wake up call for me, just like your crash.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability in airing your experience.

Wow!! Dude, I felt like you were telling my story. I crashed hard December 6th. Broke helmet, broken nose, Shattered and fractured ribs and T8,T7, T6 spinal vertebrae. I couldn’t walk the first week, I couldn’t sleep laying down and had to sleep sitting. I’ve been doing good with physical therapy and better at walking, but I’ll never be the same. The pain in my spine and ribs is there and oh boy is it real! It limits me and restricts me from certain movements. I really miss working and being busy with the family. But I’m grateful I can walk and most of all to be alive! I have two teenagers to raise and need to keep up with. The support from friends and family really is a blessing and helps.

I just turned 46 in November and I had this big itch to start skateboarding again, I had a retro 80's Mark Gonzales in my basket ready to order but I kept holding back every time I was going to pull the trigger. I started seeing videos of people crashing and breaking limbs and I started rethinking my decision, my son was also like "dad are you sure", I saw a commercial of Tony Hawk breaking his finger and I was like "Ok God I think I see what you are trying to say". I have officially retired 😅, as far as mountain biking goes I'm all street I wouldn't dare ride trails because I know myself and I know would would want to go from 0 to 100 and I need all my limbs for work. I hope you have a full and complete recovery with no issues. God bless you and your family 👍

I took a leisure ride on a trail and wiped out, hitting and shattering my jaw. 13 surgeries later... nothing's the better. Be careful out there people!

I remember the crash that changed my riding forever. There was this thing called downhill mania at Snow summit. During the race I was undercut by another Rider on a turn. It set me over the berm and down the side of the Hill breaking my collarbone and separating my shoulder. My riding has never been the same. Once that fear gets put into your head it's hard to shake.

Sorry to hear your story. My ridding has never included much gravity, it's funny, since about the age of 40, I've liked all my sports on the ground, MTB, kitesurfing, snowboarding! I hear you, get well soon.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Eyes opening. All the best.