[BCC-Ride More] My physical condition

Mon May 4 09:46:48 PDT 2020

Mike:

Damn.  85 pieces of titanium!  Amazing you are already considering losing
the crutches!! I hope the appointment Wednesday goes well.

I am about your age (69) and my wife's name is Linda too.  My Linda has
also suggested that I am perhaps a bit too old and frail for riding, so my
response has been just to be more cautious.

She doesn't want me riding in pacelines with people I don't know, due to a
screwy paceline crash I had in 2009 where the rider immediately in front of
my slammed on her brakes in a large and fast-moving group. I shattered my
elbow as we hit the ground hard and eight bikes piled over us.  The
titanium in my left elbow has served me well! I am jumpy in pacelines as a
result of this crash (as some of the riders in BCC have seen), so I just
decided that off-the-back is better. It's hard sometimes to see someone
pass me when I know that in my prime they wouldn't have been able to, but I
get to be outside on my bike so I decided that was enough.

Best wishes, Mike.  Hopefully the worst is past and you are well on your
way to recovery.

*Greg Borchert*

*Borchert Associates  greg at glborchert.com <greg at glborchert.com>**
720-336-5818 - Direct Office (Preferred)*
*  817-424-3193 x101 - Office*
*  214-783-7599 - Mobile*

On Mon, May 4, 2020 at 9:31 AM Michael via Ridemore <
ridemore at bouldercyclingclub.org> wrote:

> Hi Greg,
>
>
>
> It’s been 8 weeks since my crash and things are going pretty well
> considering that I’m an old guy.
>
> My biggest problem is the guilt I feel for putting my family through pain
> of not knowing if I was going to make it.
>
>
>
> I love going fast, bit I evidently don’t have the skills anymore to do
> that. Linda wants me not bike any more, but I’m
>
> sure I can ride safely if I give up seeing if I can hit 50 mph.
>
>
>
> I have an appointment with my orthopedic doctor on Wednesday and I hope he
> tells me I can give up the crutches.
>
> At my last appointment with my doctor we tried to count the number of
> titanium pieces inside me and we think it’s
>
> about 85. I’m looking forward to my next trip through the airport.
>
>
>
> I have numerous calls with friends over last months and it’s amazing how
> many of us have screws and plates holding
>
> us together.
>
>
>
> Thanks Greg for your support,
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From: *Greg Borchert via Ridemore <ridemore at bouldercyclingclub.org>
> *Sent: *Tuesday, March 31, 2020 9:34 PM
> *To: *General Club discussion <ridemore at bouldercyclingclub.org>
> *Cc: *Greg Borchert <greg at glborchert.com>
> *Subject: *Re: [BCC-Ride More] My physical condition
>
>
>
> Mike:
>
>
>
> Really sorry that you had such a horrible crash. I hope you heal well and
> quickly. I will look forward to celebrating with you at your one year
> party. You have been such a wonderful example of a passionate and capable
> cyclist!
>
>
>
> Getting older is not for the faint of heart. I am glad that you remain in
> good spirits.
>
>
>
> As with you and Toby, my helmet saved my life at least once and likely
> twice. I have a metal left elbow from one crash and two big screws in my
> pelvis from another. Plus my doctor is now saying that I need to have my
> left shoulder replaced, from a crash where my shoulder hit a tree.
>
>
>
> I ride these days in some fear, as the surgeon who fixed my pelvis said
> that at my age, if I crash like that again, they might not be able to fix
> me as well. So, you get to a point where you know that every ride can be
> your last. When I am off the back or braking  on descents, it’s not because
> I can’t go faster, but because I am afraid of crashing.
>
>
>
> Best wishes for full recovery!
>
>
>
> Greg Borchert
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 31, 2020 at 8:34 PM Tobin Eshelman via Ridemore <
> ridemore at bouldercyclingclub.org> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I know the feeling. Was considerably luckier than you, Michael, escaping
> fractures entirely.   No question the helmet saved my life in 2016.
>
>
>
> Get well soon, and protect ya dome, folks.
>
>
>
> Toby
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 31, 2020 at 8:10 PM Michael via Ridemore <
> ridemore at bouldercyclingclub.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hello my fellow Boulder Cycling Club cyclists.
>
>
>
> After almost 3 weeks in various hospitals I’m finally home.
>
> I want to thank everyone for the very nice get well card. I am gong to
> frame it and keep it as a reminder as how not to ride a bike.
>
>
>
> Here’s a short version of my injuries:
>
> I broke numerous ribs on my right side. Many of the ribs had multiple
> fractures.
>
> After being transferred to Denver Health they operated on me and using a
> lot of titanium plates and screws  manage to get the pieces back in the
> fight place.
>
>
>
> The next day they operated on my hip. The hip socket had multiple
> fractures.
>
> Again using a lot more Ti plates and screws put the hip back together.
>
>
>
> After  the crash I was unconscious for some period of time and for the
> couple of days I only remember a few things.
>
>
>
> Now for the good part. My brain is working much better. I am not in pain
> most of the time and I am not taking any pain medicine.
>
>
>
> I had more x-rays today at Boulder Orthopedics and the bones appear to be
> healing nicely.
>
>
>
> I switch between using crutches and a walker to get around.
>
>
>
> A lot of the credit for the big improvement in my condition has to go to
> my incredible wife Linda
>
>
>
> My advice to all cyclists is buy the highest rated helmet you can find. I
> was wearing a Trek helmet which at the time I bought was a highly rated
> helmet and it saved my life.
>
>
>
> This accident happened on March 7th  and I’ve been thinking about having
> a “Lucky to be Alive” party in the next year; maybe next March 7th.
>
>
>
> Thank you for all of your concern and support,
>
>
>
> Mike
>
> --
>
> *Greg Borchert*
>
>
>
> *Borchert Associates  greg at glborchert.com <greg at glborchert.com>
> 720-336-5818 - Direct Office (Preferred)*
>
> *  817-424-3193 x101 - Office*
>
> *  214-783-7599 - Mobile*
>
>
>
>
>
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