Updates from sheldon

my results are in for the Nova Scotia 2009 DH seas...

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:08:35 GMT

my results are in for the Nova Scotia 2009 DH season. check out my profile.

thanks very much to my sponsors for an awsome season.

season final race next weekend. i cant wait... and...

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:03:46 GMT

season final race next weekend. i cant wait... and yet i dont want it to end.!!

just posted my results and a little info about our...

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:13:27 GMT

just posted my results and a little info about our DH scene .

check out my new vid.

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:23:37 GMT

check out my new vid.

I am still waiting for the next event, Keppoch, An...

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:28:31 GMT

I am still waiting for the next event, Keppoch, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Sept 19-20. I cant wait
Thanks to SMX and INNERCOOLER for the new Sponsorship offers, I am looking forward to an even better season next year.

First Race Event

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:12:37 GMT

Ok so here we are after 2 events, I could not participate in the first due to the shoulder issue, however the second event was definitly a learning curve.
Day 1 Practice.
It was a hot as hell day, the humidity was waaayyy up, making it difficult to breath. Overall it was a good practice day, it gives you a chance to see the course in bright light and with no obstruction. it was a very slippery course to start with, lots of roots and wet rocks. I walked down the course eyeballing some different lines and some obstacles to avoid. This was followed by a few runs, the runs went pretty smooth but i did suffer some pain in my shoulder it was like a belt was tightening around the armpit area. this was something that bothered me for the day, but did not prevent me from riding. I was unable to really get a timed run in but i figured that i would fall in a time around 2:50: or so. I also took a helmet cam and watched that a few times in the evening. All in all it was a great practice day.
Day 2 Race
Well overnight it clouded over and poured it cleared by morning but was still misty. We got to the course and registered and tried to get 1-2 runs in before hand. It was slippery before but now it was treacherous. had a couple of good runs in .. stayed upright , mostly just trying to get the lines right. The race started around noon, it was starting to dry a bit by this time, and the course was starting to get worked in. I managed to get the final shuttel up the hill and have one last look at the course before the race. All things were GO.
My first run
Went pretty much as good as i could do i think, perhaps i could have made up an additional 7-8 seconds in dry conditions but mostly what it was is what it will be. The whole time i am thinking i cant fall due to my shoulder, so this is playing on my mind as well. i am sure this had an effect. while waiting for the shuttle back up the hill... it poured. so the track is back to a slippery mess. i was quite happy with my first run, and felt "why push it and get hurt again".
My second run
Honestly i dont think there was too many riders that had a faster 2nd time, it was super slippery. I fell twice on this run, at the top, i made it over the first drop with out any issue but at the turn at the bottom of the section i slipped on a root. then while trying to get back on the bike slipped again myself. after proceeding on through the most of the course i fell again at the bottom. there is a rooty steep section that crosses a brook, or ditch. after comming out of the ditch my front wheel got caught on a root and slid, bringing myself for a nice kiss of earth for the 2nd time.
Conclusion
I finished 13th in a field of about 23 with a time of 2:40 this was quite close to what i had speculated. It was a great weekend and i learned alot. The next race is this upcomming weekend July 11/12/09 at Middleton Nova Scotia. I have seen this course and it is going to be a fast pedally course. i am not too sure about my fitness for this type of course, however i am sure to take my all to it.

Thanks for reading
Sheldon

My First Freeride Since My Injury

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:30:32 GMT

Well i got out this evening for a short freeride since my dislocation, kelby and I went to the Bedford gun range.I have been biking all along doing some light road riding and some crusher stone trails with my xc, that is quite comfortable.

This is however, my first time on the big bike. Believe me there was nothing fast at all, very conservative, I am still extreemly tentative of alot of things, but most importantly no pain at all. My muscles are tight though they are getting a good workout from the little riding ive been doing. I was, at first concerned with my muscles just giving out, however, this did not happen at all.

I am not sure if many here know the severity of my injury. To sum it up i guess.. it was a total anterior dislocation. my shoulder was completly removed from the socket and was down and infront of my armpit. According to the GP I got off quite lucky there was no serious ligament damage or muscle damage, also the emerg doctor who reset my dislocation did it in the best mannor possable, also making sure that the ball was completly back in the socket.

All in all the physio and the GP both feel that I should have 100% recovery. I have annother physio visit on the 22 of this month and I am expecting to be cleared for the race at Keppoch the following weekend.

I stil have a long way for total recovery and i still have some discomfort, however I am totally glad this is is not going to be a perminant issue in my life.

Here is looking into the future, and thank god for safety equipment.

I May Only Miss One Event

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:41:49 GMT

well been into the doctor and had more xrays.. everything is looking great. ive not had too many issues with mobility, i am probably at about 95% there is still alot of muscle soreness. i have been out on the xc bike for some liesure riding.. just crusher stone trails. my shoulder has held up to this just fine. i am starting my physio monday june 8 2009 hopefully this will give me a better idea of how things will look in a week or 2... our local events are starting this weekend june 6-7 and the next race is 2 weeks after that.. so i should be able to get down the hill by then, i hope. ;)

Shoulder Update May 19 2009

Tue, 19 May 2009 07:40:45 GMT

update: little over 1 week old now.

all things considered i am not doing too bad i guess... ive been going without the sling quite a bit now... "shhhh" *dont tell on me.
ive been trying to keep my mobility in the elbow and a little in the shoulder. ive got suprising movement in my shoulder already, but it is extreamly weak.
i can lift it up under its own power to about chest hight, and a little over my shoulder with the help of my other arm. the joint still feels as if it is poping out though or loose feeling, under normal movements and if i lean to my right side while standing, it probably needs much more strength to keep it in.
now that it is not so tender i have been checking it out a little more and i dont seem to feel any broken bones in the area and i dont have any brusing to my shoulder at all. there doesnt seem to be any overly tender areas either. there is no ab-normal deformations either (no bumps or indents anywhere). i do,though, have a drop on my right side shoulder but that may go away with some muscle rehab.

so sitting around all weekend has got me itching to get back on the bike, not to mention the bad rash that i have under my arm from having it in the sling for almost a week straight.
x-rays and consultation next tuesday, 26th.

Right Shoulder Dislocation

Sat, 16 May 2009 10:09:14 GMT

Some bad news, as of May 10 09 ive been off the bike. Dislocated right shoulder, it happened on a practice day, on a non competitive trail.
To paint a picture.. the weather for the day was undecided, as it turned out i opted to not change out my tires, and left my wet weather tires home... while unloading at the hill it opened up and poured, it was a short burst, but enough to give things a good soaking. I got a couple session runs in then was about to go for a little more lively run when it went wrong. I noticed that my tires were totally useless in this weather, but seemed somewhat predictable, so it may be a good curve to learn incase of a similar situation on event day.
As the run progressed there was alot of slipping but as mentioned nothing out of the ordinary, however there is a sharp burm corner there is framed by a small chute between 2 trees, while entering this corner my rear wheel slid down a fairly signifigant root and sent me off line. I clipped the end of my bar off the tree and my shoulder . The 31.8 bar bent under the stress my soulder only grazed the tree and i was not aware of the signifigance of the hit untill i couldnt bring myself to a sit up with my right arm. ive recieved no other damage to myself or my bike, that i am aware of.
Fortunately my brother-inlaw and riding buddy had just arrived on the scene to get me rounded up and to a hospital. at the hospital they took some xrays before and after the relocation process. also thankfully i was sedated for the process.
Ive been told to sling my right arm for 3 weeks at which time i am slated for other xrays and a consultation with a joint specialist as well as a physio therapest. ive been trying to exercise my hand wrist and elbow to keep it mobile... this has been a huge setback for the season starts in less than a month. my team members are optomistic, and hopeful. perhaps i may get back on it within a month or so.. missing only one event this year.
Thanks again to kelby for taking me in and again sorry for putting a damper on your training day, i know you had some serious testing with setups. perhaps i can help you get that day back somewhere.

wish me a speedy recovery
sheldon

november 11 08 new bike shopping.

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:36:06 GMT

Well ive been looking about for a new ride for next year. ive seen some interesting cycles, some cheep, and some overly expensive, some that will do the job... and some that are over kill.... trying to find something inbetween all of these and the correct size is a difficult task. i am a pretty big dude, weighing in at a stout 245 lbs. so when shopping for a DH rig i need something that i can beat the hell outa and not worry about catastrophic failure. some of the lighter FR bikes feel as if they will snap under my weight ... and some of the DH rigs are just waaayy too much. I was talking with a local bike shop who was willing to consider offering me a sponsorship to make costs cheeper, and a big thanks to them. however ive made my cycle purchase online.

its an 06 model so i got it at a steal of a deal. this brand is not sold in my area so it will be a one and only to my knoledge, however the big draw back from this is that i really dont know what i am getting... from all i could find on this bike, i have no worries about performance from this one.

i still havent ruled out sponsorship from the LBS providing they are still open to the idea, ive not spoke with anyone further about it. ive been advised by them that they have access to these bikes, however due to price and shipping costs it would be the most exp bike they would carry... thus the reason they have not carried any in the shop. that being said... i feel confident that any parts needed could be attained locally.

stay tuned... pics and my first impressions to follow.

thanks

sheldon

Nov 1 08 Blur order recieved - first look

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:26:04 GMT

well a new month and annother day closer to winter. :(
i recieved my first sponsorship order from BLUR Optics which is affiliated with O'Neal USA. i was well pleased with the product and the service. i must give a shout out to chris honnold of O'Neal geve him a call a couple of times with a few noobie questions and he immedietly gave me the "no nonsense" answers that i needed. he definitly made my first transaction smooth as silk. thanks chris.

my goggles are the B1 goggle. plaid color, crystal clear and no wavy bits at all.. they are a little smaller than MX goggles which makes them perfect for many of the full face dh cycle helmets. also recieved a spare clear lense. i was going to order a tinted lens but many of our DH races here are in pretty dense woods and i would get better use from a clear. also recieved some tearoffs i look forward to gettin into some mud 4 sure.

my sun glasses are the anvil black/red the quality of these glasses suprised me upon first look. they are not like every other regular designer glasses. they both feel and look of great quality. no wavy or distorted portions of the lens at all either.. which is kinda suprising as the lens has quite a wrap around to them. they also dont have any blind spots at all .. which makes them perfect for driving.

on other notes... ive been looking at some new frames / bikes. the economy right now is killing the canadian dollar. last time i checked we were .77 cad to the usd. this sucks for shipping and for any cross border purchases. so with this in mind ive been trying to find something local. ive been looking at both used and new cycles. as far as a used machine, there is not too much that hasnt extended beyond used to ab-used. i was in to a local shop today talking about the devinci wilson series. they are checking on a price for an 08 model for me and will be getting back to me with some options. hopefully this will be favorable. guess i will have to wait and see..

i will be updating when i know more... thanks again for reading.
sheldon

oct 26 08

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:55:14 GMT

not much new .. been pretty cold .. just waiting for snow now. prchased a new camera last week ... canon rebel xsi. so i should be posting some better pics next year, been trying to remember how to take a half decent picture. it is all comming back a little at a time. perhaps i will post some non sport related pics later.
also placed my first order with blur optics. i am excited to see my goodies.
recieved sponsorship from ice tools as well.. looking forward to a great partnership there as i do much of my own cycle maintenance.

thanks

sheldon

october 19 08

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:02:03 GMT

went for a ride with jen today at a nearby park, we enjoyed the many colors of the changing trees. added a couple of pics for everyone to view.

reviewed sponsorship offers and accepted many. i would like to thank the sponsors very much for believing in me and supporting me in the up coming season. i will not disappoint. i can vouch for most of the current sponsors i have, as i already use and depend on their products.

looking forward to a great off season

sheldon