Former national champion Dale Stetina in critical condition after Colorado accident
 

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=338498
VeloNews
Former national champion Dale Stetina in critical condition after accident

If any of you guys remember Dale Stetina, the winner of the 1979 Red Zinger Classic and the 1983 Coors Classic, he's in critical condition after hitting the pavement trying to avoid a car that crossed the center-line. Dale also has a brother, Wayne, who won the '77 Zinger and was also a national champion. His son Peter currently rides for Garmin Sharp and has signed with BMC for next year.

Hoping he gets out of this OK.

Heard this while I was watching the Vuelta on Monday morning, prayers for Dale's recovery to be complete and for his family. He is one of the guys from my generation I have looked up to since the late 70's when he and his brother were the bright young lights on the American scene. Scary accident and sounds grim with the brain stem injuries.

Bill

The latest report I heard was that he was doing better than they originally thought.

I have bicycled up the road where he was injured. A very long moderately steep grade extremely popular with Boulder (and other) bicyclers.

"Lefthand Canyon to WardThis is a classic canyon ride from Boulder. The climb itself is not all that difficult BUT there are 16 miles of climbing and the last mile is steep. Start from North Broadway and head north on highway 36. Ride about 5 miles north and make a left on Lefthand Canyon.

This is where climbing starts. At 5 miles stay left and head to Ward. You now have 11 miles of steady climbing ahead of you. There are a few short sections of somewhat steeper climbing but its all pretty steady. Make sure you are prepared for this ride because the weather can change greatly from the base of the climb to the top.

At mile 15 the road makes a hard right turn and the pavement turns upward. You now have a little over a mile to the town of Ward. This is the steepest section of road and the grade is around 11%. Once you get to Ward take a break and refuel at the Utica Street Market."

Map and pictures:

http://303cycling.com/The-Climb-to-W...der-bike-rides

Wow, I haven't heard that name in a while. I hope his recovery goes well.

My memory of Dale is that his family would come to bike races in my area driving a huge motor home and Dale would win the Junior races and Wayne would win the Senior ones. It was a given.

Yeah I was a fan of his brother first when I got into cycling. Mark Pringle and George Mount too. That's who I was rooting for the year he won the Red Zinger. Mount won the stage at Estes Park that year and Mark won the Morgul Bismark stage.

Looks like his condition has been upgraded from critical to serious now

excerpted:

Stetina, 57, was in a medically induced coma with a head injury Sunday, but family members said that by Monday evening he was able to move his arms and legs. Boulder Community Hospital spokesman Rich Sheehan confirmed Tuesday that Stetina's condition was upgraded from critical to serious.

Stetina's family has set up a Twitter account for those who want to follow his medical progress at twitter.com/dalestetina.

An update from the account Tuesday, issued at about 5 p.m., said, "So we're really positive that he'll live. No idea on brain damage level still."

Here is an old short interview with Dale in his heyday at about 1:38 followed by one with his competitor Jock Boyer and his team mate, the late Bob Cook in the Morgul Bismark stage of the 1980 Coors Classic. You'll spot other future cycling stars in this such as Steve Bauer (also Dale's team mate), and a young Davis Phinney.

Part of a legendary Indiana cycling family.

I was there to see him win in '83. He will be in our prayers.

Please keep us updated.

I was at the Nevada City Classic in 1983 and watched the Dale and Eric Heiden race. The attached pic shows Dale (Blue #4 jersey) weaving through a crash on lap #2 . Dale went on to win the race. Eric (third guy back on the left) dropped out less than halfway through with stomach problems. The guy on his back under #2 4 survived the crash. He got back on his bike and took third place. I don't remember his name. Sorry about the quality of the pic. I have it mounted and framed behind glass.
I wish Dale a speedy and full recovery.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=338620

Please keep us updated. I don't know him, but these stories always affect me.

Great photo you got there.

Dale and his brother used to beat up on Eric Heiden and the 7-11s regularly in stateside races and they did it without the sponsor money that the 7-11s enjoyed. They used to travel around the country in an old motor home towing a VW and stay at friends houses where they could just plug in an extension cord. One example where they beat the 7-11s was the $65,000 Lowenbrau Grand Prix, a 10 race criterium series from Boston to Manhattan where they came in 1st and 2nd despite the 7-11s focusing on it.

And I promise to keep up on this and let y'all know how he's coming along.
So far he's responding to Nurses command to grab her hand with both hands and raise two fingers for her. After that he's been more active, moving his arms and legs, etc.

September 5th:
Dale's recovering from surgery. He got trach(neck breathing tube) & peg(stomach feeding tube). More comfy:no wires down mouth & throat.

12 hours ago as of 9/7 at 1:00 pac time:

Dale got to relax in lounge chair vs stuck in bed, seemed relieved. He also acknowledged to Nurse he knew he was in the hospital. Awareness!

Hard work but sat up on own power. body is very strong from neckline down. Also stuck out his tongue: more difficult task than hand gestures.

Here's to a quick recovery.

That is positive news, still a long way for Dale to fight through, he is in my prayers for the duration. Thanks much for updating us on his condition, too.

Bill

Wishing Dale the very best and speedy recovery.

His name brings back memory to realize that we are not getting any younger.

But we are still riding!

Glad to hear the good news.

I first saw them when Wayne was a last year jr. Papa Roy as he was commenly known was sitting near me at one of the SuperWeek races in Milwaukee. He was complaining because Wayne was winning the race in a solo break, but was supposed to take it easy that day.

The "motor home" was a converted bookmobile that looked like it had been painted sort of a lime green with matte house paint.

Well here's the latest as of the 12th of Sept.

Went through facial surgery and some fluid in the lungs and here are some quotes from his family starting with the latest:

"Walked almost 30ft using walker w/ minimal assistance. Kept throwing walker aside!!! answering basic yes/no verbally. 100% off ventilator."

"Yesterday was a very pessimistic morning from docs but then last nite and this am Dale is a champ again! What an emotional roller coaster."

"All fluid out of Dale's lungs, off Ventilator & heavy sedation. Active today trying 2 climb out of bed. Making strong eye contact last nite."

(end of quotes)

Sounding like this might be a long ride back home.

Dale has been recovering under sedation this weekend from surgery to repair facial fractures. Hoping for a transfer to Craig Hospital in Denver soon.

He's going to have a very long road ahead for recovery (months if he's lucky). Fortunately, Craig Hospital is excellent for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) care.

J.

Well I've got some good holiday news for '70s & '80s cycling race fans and interested bicyclers in general on Dale Stetina.

It looks like Dale is not only showing signs of improvement but he'll be released from Craig rehabilitation hospital for the holidays.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...-monday_311173

excerpted in part:

“One of the hardest parts of all this has been all the unknowns,” wrote Kate Stetina. “For now, a major two are resolved: Dad will continue in another several months of therapy post Craig at QLI, and dad will be independent, given enough time and therapy. Further unknowns include the timeframe of these things, and his final outcome. For now, I guess we will work on relinquishing control and worry about those things.”

(end of excerpt)

So good luck champ and keep up the fight.

Didn't he get a Job in the Shimano USA HQ , quite long ago? Ought to be ready to retire from there.

I believe so if memory serves (which it might not). I know his brother Wayne is Vice President of Shimano now. Dale would be somewhat younger than me now as his racing heyday was late '70s early '80s.

One of the Stetina brothers was demonstrating SIS at a Shimano tent at the Wheat Thins Criterium in Atlanta in 1985 or 1986. First time I had seen indexed shifting equipment.

Thank you for the link to the update (I don't read Velonews). A bit of optimism about his prognosis is very welcome news this holiday season.

Saw the Stetina brothers race in the late 1970s in La Vuellta in Bisbee (Arizona).
Finished one-and-two and thought they were going to cross the finish in a dead heat.
Great folks; hoping for the best outcome!

Great news about Dale, it had been a while since I had gotten an update, save a mention by a commentator during a televised race, they said he was progressing and doing well in the rehabilitation facility. Dale and his family will remain on my prayer list, hopefully the progress will continue to be good, his will and determination should serve him well during all the trials ahead. Great cycling family.

Bill

Good to hear. We all hope he has a full recovery!

Well I promised to keep y'all updated on Dale's recovery but had just plain forgotten about it until reading the results of the Amgen Tour of California today whereas his son Peter, now riding for BMC, finished in 6th place in the General Classification.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=381338

Anyway Dale is continuing his long road to recovery and has been back home since February. Sounds like he's been making good progress from a really severe, life threatening head injury.

Dale Stetina back home in Boulder, 6 months after near-fatal crash - Boulder Daily Camera

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=381337

Here's an old photo of George Mount, Dale Stetina, Steve Tilford, Bob Roll, Roy Knickman, and others riding the same Mt Diablo, as his son did this week, back in the day.

Y'all be careful out there. I'm taking to wearing my helmet even over in Idaho now where I don't have to.

Thank you. :thumb: