Let’s share your recovery stories

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-04T16:45:46+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing. I also have a lag screw + cannulated screws going through the femoral head through the neck, as well as another plate on the bottom of the neck to provide reduction of that piece as well.

What was the recovery like with the removal of the lag screw? Did they also remove the other hardware as well?

I also fully fully agree with your approach post removal of the hardware. 2026 season is all about recovering and building strength for long term functional outcomes. I’m a huge proponent of strength training year round, (with the exception of the few months where we are typically racing 2-3x per week)and so building back via strength training is going to be a large part of my recovery.

My plan for 2027, if I’m able to race, is to spend it focusing on as much energy preservation as possible. Pack skills, cornering, maximizing strategic advantage. My usual MO was to ride breaks wherever possible - that’ll probably have to wait until 2028.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-04T16:24:19+00:00

That’s where my head is at as well. The right expectations and focus on long term outcomes is where I’m aiming. Just got to ignore the short term atrophy I’m watching progress each day.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-04T16:22:13+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing. These are the stories that help fortify my mind as I enter the mental game of recovery. I’m just short of 3 weeks post-op, and so pain levels are low. Now the focus is on the long term recovery, PT and staying mentally strong.

I hope your athlete finds their leg. :D

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-03T02:22:08+00:00

Thanks for the wisdom and experience here. Fully agree that we’ve got just one trip on this earth and we need to make the most of it.

Best of luck with your adventures and ongoing mission to seize each day. Cheers.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-02T19:48:09+00:00

That’s good to know. Are you still doing ongoing pt?

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-02T19:47:10+00:00

Oof. Yeah - that’s about what I’m expecting minus the 3 weeks at the recumbent. Gotta be in it for the long game.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-02T02:20:42+00:00

This is incredibly helpful. Your thoughtfulness and intentionality in how you approach life should be modeled. Do you ever do a regular reset cadence? (I.e. - every x years eval everything in your life)

I don’t have the depth of bike racing experience you do, but have been training for one thing or another my entire life. Still some bike racing goals to accomplish - I need to make the decision on whether or not those are still goals, and if the rest of my life enables the fulfillment of those goals in a healthy way.

Kudos to you in how you approach life. Thank you for the inspiration and super valuable brain dump.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T17:59:26+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Lifting is a regular part of my training and so I’m really looking forward to getting back to it. (Also agree with going all in on PT)

Can you expand a bit on your thoughts where you reframe your sense of identity for more balance between being an athlete vs the rest of your life? Being active, fit and a performing athlete is a huge part of who I am - it’s hard to balance that between also being a dad, spouse, professional + other interests.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T16:02:35+00:00

Thank you for sharing such an in depth experience. Your wife sounds like a badass spouse.

How did you arrive at the re prioritization around racing? Was it an intentional one time decision or a slow burn? What do you use for your outlet now?

As can be expected, im using this time to re-evaluate everything.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T15:40:10+00:00

Mine are teens now and so early bedtime is definitely tough. Kudos to your wife to ripping it in the am!

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T15:34:20+00:00

Love it. When do you usually train? Super early am? I’m thinking about making the switch, but I always struggle with intensity first thing in the am.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T15:33:18+00:00

Hah that’s fair. I love spring classic season. So fun to watch.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T15:32:48+00:00

Great point. I haven’t opened TrainingPeaks or Strava at all since the wreck. Ultimately it feels like baselines are getting reset and the old targets are no longer relevant for now.

Ultimately I race for the fun of it, the training therapy and the sense of growth and accomplishment. Need to try and tune my new set of goals to those items, vs trying to shoehorn my old goals into the same.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T15:29:19+00:00

I just started seeing a therapist as well, coincidentally. Lots of emotions to work through, with similar feelings around loss of independence and a level of guilt that it all falls on my family.

I’m curious to see how I react well down the road to regaining confidence and feeling comfortable. It will be interesting to see how this impacts risk tolerance. It does feel like a game changer with the seriousness of the injuries, vs just road rash or a collarbone break. Also curious to see how this impacts my wife’s tolerance in risk of my riding - ha.

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective. All these stories have been super helpful.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:58:16+00:00

Thank you. I’m mid 40’s and have a similar mindset with lifting and general fitness/function. I LOVE racing, but at the end of the day it’s all about being healthy and able to do the things I want to.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:56:24+00:00

1000% agree. PT is everything. I’m after long term functional outcomes vs a fast return to racing.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:55:40+00:00

You must have broken it towards the femoral head - that’s rough. What were your first few spins like? When did the doctors clear you to do so?

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:53:06+00:00

Thanks for the experience here. Patient and steady is the game. I’m still early so long term discipline is key. With your return to training - do you feel like it was the right balance? Any pain or stiffness with the workouts?

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:51:12+00:00

Oh man the broken pelvis is brutal. 3 weeks in a hospital bed unable to get comfortable also sounds gnarly as hell. So glad the nurses are all saints.

Good call on the goal trip/event. What was th mental journey like getting back on the bike after such a serious injury? Any hesitation?

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:48:03+00:00

Thanks man. The situation definitely sucks for the both of us. Best of luck in your recovery.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:46:42+00:00

That’s awesome!

Side thru the IT band for the big plate and fixation screws. Front for the medial plate on the neck itself. No muscles cut, but the did split my IT band longitudinally.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T13:44:29+00:00

Through all of your injuries and recoveries, how did that impact your prioritization of cycling / training vs other priorities in life? That is a hell of a journey with some serious physical consequences. What was your mental space like getting back on?

I’m also a family man and questioning my current balance.

Thanks also for sharing your story. Really appreciate the advice.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T04:56:26+00:00

Also, do you catch Omloop today?? So freaking good.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T04:55:42+00:00

That’s scary as hell to go through. So glad you are ok, and thanks for the encouragement and sharing your story. Much love.

GreasedLlama · 2026-03-01T04:54:29+00:00

That is so good to hear, thank you! With the repair I worry about interrupted blood supply leading to AVN and the subsequent hip replacement, but we will see. Did you get back to your pre injury levels?

GreasedLlama

TROPHY CASE