Breaking News: Greg Callaghan Injured

 LOL! That is awesome.

 Once upon a brrraaappp ...... .......And they lived happy and had any bikes.

 i love you guys!

 poor greg

 I was JRA and the next thing Ya know I was OTB!

 He wasn't racing when he ate shit tho. That's like someone suing Fifa bc they got hurt while training

 Or forcing Red Bull to pay for athletes that get hurt while participating in an event they're sponsoring... funny how all of a sudden that's no longer the popular opinion but a week ago, everyone was trashing Red Bull because of it.

 They have "free" (not really because they pay higher taxes) healthcare so I would think he could care less about his medical bills.

 It's not like he'll have to pay $15,000 to get a cast on his leg like In the USA. Austria's in the eu so it's probably free...

 It is I believe.. I know in croatia it is..

 For those living in countries with universal healthcare, I heard that if you're visiting and get hurt, you're not covered because technically not a citizen or there on any work/education permits. Is that true?

 As far as I know, once you are health insured in an EU country, you are covered throughout
the Union (and Switzerland and Norway). I assume that Callahan is insured in Ireland, so he would be covered in Austria. If he were based in, say, the USA, he would not be covered in the same way that I (living in Switzerland) would not be covered by MSP in Canada if I happened to have an accident there while visiting.

 Us UK chaps just need to get a 'EHIC' (European Health Insurance Card), then our NHS will pay the medical bills in any EU country.

I dont think it covers everything because we're still supposed to get insurance if we go skiing in the alps for example. Maybe it doesnt cover a helicopter recovery.

In my experience, it did pay for two stitches in my eyebrow on a lads holiday in Greece haha!

 I don't think it covers repatriation, loss due to being out of work, or life. And yes, we pay for it in taxes, which is ideal because no one is making billions of dollars out of us, and we don't have millions of people unable to get access to healthcare, Like in Uganda, the D.R. of Congo, or the USA.

 Yes - the ultimate 3rd world country, USA

 Me too. Get well soon!

 I am sure he did wear some kneepads , just unlucky crash ?

 Even with knee pads on you can still go damage to your knees

 that's the problem with fabric knee pads... it doesn't slide on the ground, bunches up and exposes the knee. I'm looking at replacing RF Ambush with some 7 Protection.

 I switched to the POC vpd 2.0 DH long knee. Love 'em. Now I am reminded of my crashes by the scrapes on the plastic caps instead of scars on my knees.

 @eblackwell
I agree, this guy its the dark horse on enduro this year.
I hope he's back on the bike in no time.

 where's the nah from?

 Sam Hill a while back. I think it was answering "are you tempted to switch to clipless pedals for the more pedal-heavy tracks?"

 I pretty sure it was his answer to 50% of the questions the other 50% he answers "yah".

 How about "I was like brrrraaaaaaaappp", "nah" & "yas" >>>>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUITdxEa1kE

 Hope you heel in a snap for lots more brrraappp.

 you can still damage your knees with knee pads. ive done it.

 @futureMarine0313 true that! I shouldn't have jumped to the conclusion that he wasn't wearing them but I have a hard time believing you can get a hole in the knee wearing decent (key word) knee pads.

 @ryan83 Joey Schusler at Andes Pacifico last year? www.pinkbike.com/photo/10664502 Just depends on the time and what you hit.

 That's what I do everytime I go riding (sometimes on tracks I know but often not). My mum might not approve. Are you my mum and if you are, when did you move to Brazil?

 Err... what do the DH riders wear these days in terms of protection, besides knee pads and a full face? It's not like the 90's storm trooper days any more... You can get hurt doing anything, especially at their level.

 I have to agree with you

 I would have to agree as well. Everytime I go out on my bike I have to debate with myself if I should pack heavy and sweat, or go light and risk injury. On lift access days I still go full storm trooper... DH riders have track walk and practice sessions, which are both essential for getting adjusted to a course. Trackwalk especially, you miss a lot even when just cruising at a relaxed pace.

 @paul: how was it that you lost your mum? does she ride faster than you? did not meet her yet, for sure but I can bet she is being happy if she came to Brasil.

 @notphaedus: Errr.. big bikes? neck protection? very well scrutinezed, walked and practiced tracks? Else to everyone who claimed to also go ride fast downhill with friends, errr... we don't go for crowd cheers and fame and sponsors, do we?

 You are basically claiming that riding a bike fast is dangerous unless you have walked a track and practiced it a lot. Nonsense. An enduro rider is riding to win so may be pushing faster than you or I might on the same track but for the EWS and many other competitions, they have preridden the tracks, have a feel for the speed they can achieve and should ride accordingly. Some might push it further and some might crash, some might just crash because sometimes that happens when you ride a bike fast. I ride a trail bike around Whistler's network of trails, never in the bike park, because I love riding - I am constantly trying to go as fast as I can and sometimes I fall off. I wear a lid and knee pads as a compromise of comfort and protection, the knee pads are optional if the ride is of a more gentle nature. I dont consider that heading to a new trail I should reign in my speed except when my reading of the terrain makes me feel I need to, same as it would on any trail. I definitely get faster with more times down the same trail but the riding blind aspect of Enduro is one of the appeals for fans as well as competitors.

 I don't think anybody claimed that riding a bike fast is not dangerous if you've done a track walk or practiced, but what is being said is that it is less dangerous than riding fast without having done those things.

Riding is riding. There will always be risk and people will get hurt doing it. I just think that the risk somewhat elevated when riding at race pace on unknown terrain with little protection, which is common in Enduro.

And I would say that probably 90% of the people on this site like to ride fast and occasionally fall off, I do it all the time, but when I'm on a new trail I do a few extra speed checks to make sure I'm not caught off guard. Kudos to you if you don't.

 I agree I just hate that hand wringing way B1rdie phrased his opening statement - its such a health and safety, oh my we shoudlnt allow this statement.

Ride a bike as you like and make your own decisions about what and how you do it and what you chose to race or ride but to say "does not look like a good idea" to an exciting race format is akin to saying it shouldn't be alllowed in my view.

 Racing on an unknown trail is much dangerous... ride a DH trail with a 6 inch bike is much dangerous than riding with a full on DH bike... I think this is what he is trying to say and I agree

 I feel you, fractured both hands....blah

 oh damn, that sucks hard man. hope you're able to get better by summer end to get some rides in.

 Joining the "my summer just turned weak" train: Spiral fractured left little finger in 3 places. 4 pins. 8 weeks.

Viper: BOTH hands? I'm starting a "massage fund" for you.
Preston: Get moving. Keep it mobile and get back soon. Shoulder hurts like fire, but work is therapy.

Heal well, boys.

 LOL, I am pretty sure this is the train nobody wants to ride on

 Chamois time is ride time!