Last week I finally got to see a private consultant, some 4 and a half weeks after my accident. That’s not good is it? Actually there were a number of reasons – I did nothing for the first fortnight thinking the NHS were doing the right thing. After seeing them a second time I started to doubt, then I tried to go private but a combination of my holiday to Derbyshire and the unavailability of consultant I was recommended meant it was only last week I got to see him.

Bear in mind that until I saw the consultant I still had my arm in the sling and the NHS had told me to keep it there until I saw them at the end of August when I would start physio. Well my consultant checked me out, said the bone had healed but not to stress it, ditch the sling and start trying to move the shoulder which had lost all it’s strength and flexibility due to the prolonged inertia.

He also said he thought I had been badly advised and that it should have been pinned. Had that been done I would have had no pain because the joint would had been held properly and the shoulder would not have suffered the same amount of muscle loss. In fact, he said I’d pretty much be fine by now.

So there’s some lessons to learn for anyone who is unfortunate enough to get themselves into the same position. Insist the NHS discuss all options with you when you’re being patched up. Get your private healthcare involved as soon as you can and make sure that you’re happy with whatever course of action you decide to take. I guess I just wasn’t familiar enough with this sort of thing to work that out quicker.

Even since Thursday I’ve started to get some movement back into the shoulder although it’s pretty painful and I’m expecting to start physio pretty soon to push things forward. So I’m giving myself a target of actually riding my bike by the end of August which is two weeks time. Nothing ambitious mind, I think at least for a while that I’ll tramp the streets to build up my stamina both generally and in the shoulder as I’m expecting my first off road rides to be pretty short due to the effects of vibration.

I’m going to put some road tyres on the On-one but the question is which ones? I think the Continental Sport Contact in 1.3 looks promising but some people seem to think it’s dodgy in the wet. Then again the Maxxis Detonator Aramid in 1.25 might fit the bill?

If anyone with road riding experience out there can advise on a decent skinny that would be great…

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About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.