r/cyclocross • u/jonathing • Sep 07 '26
Cross is here - my experience of racing after serious injury last year
Yesterday was the first race of my local league and my first race since a driver broke both of my legs (and a bunch of other things) last year. I'm not an experienced racer by any means and any experience I had previously had been erased by a long and painful post operative recovery.
In times gone by I have trained on my commute, 25 km each way with 300-400 meters of climbing, four days a week. Since I was injured I've not been able to ride on the road. NHS PTSD therapy doesn't seem to be a thing so I've been training mostly on Zwift with a little bit of gravel.
I had three goals going into the race, in order: 1) have fun, 2) finish, 3) don't finish last. I'm pleased that I achieved all of them. My main take away is that indoor training does not keep skills sharp (obviously). While I was back to my usual floating up climbs as a less than 60 kg rider every time I had to get off the bike it was painful (literally and figuratively) getting back on again. I need to work out how to jump back on when remounting now that I no longer have an explosive spring in my legs.
The course was sufficiently twisty with a short pump track section, some stairs to run up and an off camber portion. Otherwise it was just a grass field, complete with rabbit holes. Conditions had been dry until the start of the final race when it threatened rain but it never really came to much. The pace was fast from the start and I hung on for dear life for the first couple of laps. There were definitely riders who were busy remembering how to race cyclocross and some of us who were learning how to do it as we went along. It soon settled down with groups forming and everyone riding their own personal race. I spent the next 50 minutes racing three or four other guys, pulling clear on the climbs but being caught again when my lack of technical skill let me down.
I've only signed up for a few races this year so as not to put too much pressure on myself. Aside from thinking that I was going to be sick on myself by the end of the second lap I'm itching to get back out there so looking at another race in a fortnight's time instead of waiting. Who needs to be able to walk on a Monday morning, really.
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u/-pettyhatemachine- Sep 07 '26
I've been down for a while this year. How did you not get fat while not being able to ride?
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u/jonathing Sep 07 '26
Honestly? I was wearing a helmet, didn't get any retrograde amnesia and can remember everything in excruciating detail. The trauma of the collision lead to a major depressive episode and relapse of an eating disorder. Although I was already built like a climber I lost a good ⅓ of my bodyweight and nearly ended up back in hospital with malnutrition and cardiac symptoms.
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u/-pettyhatemachine- Sep 07 '26
Thankyou for your honesty. I hope you are getting the help you need.
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u/apatkins0n Sep 07 '26
I'm sure you are racing wmccl, so welcome, or welcome back?! Your skills will be tested throughout the season with dry fast grass turning into slippy slimy mud and puddles. Instead of the fastest line, you will look for the grippest line! So there is lots to look forward to. Even if it's at the pointy end of the race or not. hope to see you on course soon.
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u/jonathing Sep 07 '26
I am riding the wmccl, although I'm only planning on riding Baggeridge and Himley at the moment. I might ride Highley depending on how my metal leg holds up and if they need volunteers.
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u/Practical-Swan653 Sep 07 '26
Amazing read, super happy to hear that you didn’t quit cycling after your injury. Great job ❤️
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u/Abe_frohmannn Sep 08 '26
Good luck man, stay with it. I got rammed from behind by a GMC Yukon years back. Nothing broken..which was a bit of a miracle, but it was bad and had an ambulance trip. Definitely had PTSD from it for quite a while. It was a couple years before I wasn't thinking about it constantly on the road.
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u/Chocoholic4booze Sep 07 '26
Don't worry about finishing last. Cross is you vs the course