It's crazy, [MENTION=13284]OldsCOOL[/MENTION]. I went a year and a half, and kept it upright. Raced with the 4's, 35+4's, and 45+4's. Close, but never hit the ground. That ended almost a year to this day. I have a pretty cool plate in my collarbone, that I can see and feel. First wreck in a race. Healed, came back strong, as that allowed me to start leg strength work early, for this season. Fast forward. Racing strong, but racing greedy. Too many races, had to get my weekend fix, so 3 races a weekend, at times. Law of averages nailed me, but I still don't think it need be so prevalent.

Either way, first one scared me, but I came back pretty strong, and thought I learned a bit. This one terrified me, as my bell was rung, as well. Screws in the leg are a tangible thing, but the mind doing odd things, turned out to be another thing completely.

It can happen just riding a bike, and of course well all know this. But, throwing strong, well conditioned, and on the limit folks together, that collectively couldn't drive (or ride, as the case may be) a hot spike up a snowman's ass, is suicide. I have to throw myself in the mix, but I survived many near misses that would have taken others down. Maybe luck, maybe lots of actual time on the bike, and maybe a little knowledge. But, today's racer spends time getting strong like ox, and could give a crap about actually learning how to ride.