To state the obvious, I think this is one of the best developments/areas of progress in youth sports in the past ~10 years.

To coach NICA MTB it is mandatory to take the concussion course, annually. Even to coach Y-ball rec league hoops, had to take a concussion course. They are really well put together, and worthwhile.

I've had 4 diagnosed concussions in the last 14 years, 1 from cycling, worst was from snowboarding in 2010.

I believe I also had a concussion at high school from playing rugby in mid 90s and also rugby at university, plus another possible concussion when I was knocked out after being assaulted - same year that I did my first ironman (about 2.5 months prior to my first ironman in fact). Since my last cycling concussion in 2020, I've had 2 further bike crashes, worst was a broken shoulder in 3 places last October.

I've pretty much decided I am not going to do cycling for the forseeable future as the risk and the impacts of injuries on my work and family are just too great. Particularly brain injuries. So I now do everything I can to minimise the chance of having one again. So, am just going to run mainly. Plus some zwifting, and maybe some swimming once I get enough mobility back in my shoulder to do so.

Whenever this topic comes up I can't help but think of Dave Mirra and all of the hits he probably took riding BMX for so long. I had a chance to meet and talk with him in 2014, and he was such a nice guy. Very down to earth and took the time to chat about triathlon. Sad that he took his own life.

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I often worry about what effect concussions had or will have on my life.

I've had several. One when I knocked myself out falling while ice skating when I was 11 or 12. Two more while BMX racing as a teenager. One playing lacrosse in summer league during high school. That's four by the time I turned 16. I've had two as an adult. One about 20 years ago and another about eight years ago. I had a bad bike crash in 2018 but thankfully my head never even touched the ground. Can't say the same for the rest of me or my bike but my helmet and noggin were as clean as could be.

I've had a couple of brain scans over the years and a doc has never said anything but you can't diagnose CTE while the person is alive so who really knows.

I've never had any suicidal thoughts or wild mood swings so I think I'm okay.

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Often posted by me; repeated as required

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...ost=6959505#p6959505

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

I grew up skateboarding and surfing. I’ve had a least 6 or 7 real concussions, with likely a handful of other minor ones. I had one so bad I got knocked out and had a seizure during a collision at first base when I was in 8th grade. I had another one skimboarding and trying to drive back home (oncoming headlights were going in circles). I got hit in my bike and had one of the worst concussions I’ve ever had… told my roommate the same story 3x on the way home after he picked me up.

Scary shit.

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@floathammerholdon | @partners_in_tri

Replying to you in general -- but I'm working on a piece on this topic that's more specific to triathlon and cycling.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

Have often wondered about this... We all say it is sad when someone makes the choice. On the flip side, what about the immortal final prose of Hunter?

...You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax - This won't hurt."

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http://www.researchms.org/trifest/

I suffered three major concussions in two years, in each case on a bike in a triathlon. In each case, I blacked out for a significant time, have no memory of the crash or hours thereafter, broke bones, and had blood on the brain. I was in my late 50's when they occurred. That last one was five years ago, and I'm doing wonderfully, with no apparent adverse effects (although I suspect those could come later). It is so hard to predict consequences of brain injuries - although we've made tons of progress medically as to the brain, I suspect what we know is little compared to what we don't know. Good vibes to all those with any health and injury issues.