On Sunday, July 3, I was finishing a mountain bike ride when my front tire got off the singletrack and into some loose dirt at the edge of the trail. The front end washed out and I went down fairly hard. Got up and was bleeding from the knee and hurting in a few other places, but seemed otherwise OK. Went on a road ride on the 4th and to a BBQ that night, then to work on Tuesday.

It was when I tried to get out of bed on Wednesday that I noticed my right side was really hurting. Went to the doc and for x-rays. Diagnosis: two fractured ribs.

So, it's been a lot of laying in the recliner and taking pills the past three weeks. Went on a short road ride on Sunday and felt better. Tomorrow I'm going to see about going back to work. BF has been a big help in trying to pass the time these past weeks.

This stuff sure was easier to bounce back from when I was 25.

I cracked a rib a couple of years ago, as I remember it'll take a month or more before your completely up to speed. Not much else can be done, other than let time take it's course.

Ouch. Glad you're well on the road to full recovery.

The general rule on all this:

<= 25 you bounce.
25 - 40 you bounce ... back.
over 40 you find out all about the wonders of modern orthopaedics.

I feel your pain. I crashed about 2 weeks ago. I was 7 mi. into a 32 mi. ride. Nothing happened to the bike so I finished my ride. Based on a previous motorcycle accident that resulted in 3 fractured ribs I'm pretty sure I fractured one rib in this one. But, I got back on the bike a week later and things are healing well. Hope you heal quickly and without much pain. Avoid sneezing.

If you're doing real mountain biking, and you're not bleeding someplace when you're done, you didn't try hard enough. On the other hand, I've found that at my age, I injure more easily and I heal more slowly so I decided to give up mountain biking.

Anybody want a Porsche FS frame and fork?

Good to hear you're recovering well.

I used to hear this when I rode off road motorcycles, too. I couldn't disagree more. I still like you, though.

Oh, no - another one bites the dust! Broken ribs? Yikes!! Get well, quickly!! We can recover together...bring on the Vuelta a Espana!

From mountain biking experience, I would tend to agree, except for the quitting part. I have learned to accept not trying quite as hard, though. A little bleeding and soreness now and then is something I can deal with, but I'd like to stop short of broken bones and concussions.

To the OP, I hope you heal well and soon so you can get back at it.

At least you and sarals had the good sense to fall while on your bikes.
I just slipped on some stupid steps.

Get well soon. Enjoy the rest... you'll be surprised by the benefits

16 years of MTB's and the only thing I broke was helmets. Plenty of Leakage of blood and a couple of damaged muscles that made it difficult to ride home but nothing serious at all. Point was that I had spent all that time learning how to fall------ Or rather how to land.

But in 2006 and I started to want an easier time. Up on our hills and it is always hard work Gradually over the past 5 years I have turned into a roadie- but the MTB and offroad Tandem still get a good few outings each year. Only difference is That I have stopped bouncing. Falls now end with a "THUD" instead of a quick remount on the bike and away again.

Well, I thought I was going back to work today. HR told me to get a doctor's note. So I did, and they denied my request as it was not on the proper form. Back I went to the doc with more paperwork. I'm taking everything back tomorrow and telling them to call me when it's OK to come back. Bureaucrats are going to be the death of all of us.

Thanks everyone for the good vibes. It does help the recovery process.

over 50 you hear people asking you wtf are you doing ??