Yearly Archives: 2013

Dale Stetina Seriously Injured

This entry was posted in Important Life Stories on by .

I received an email a little while ago telling of a horrible accident that my friend, Dale Stetina had. Dale is the father of Garmin rider, Peter Stetina, and brother of Wayne Stetina, Shimano guy. Dale crashed while descending a canyon outside of Boulder and is in serious condition at a Boulder hospital. I contacted Wayne and he is flying out tomorrow morning to stay. Anyway, I know a bunch of you that read this are friends and acquaintances of Dale’s. I hope only the best for Dale and a speedy recovery. Email below.


Friend of Dale,

I am so sorry to be delivering you this email, but Dale’s wife Anne asked me to reach out to his good friends and fellow cyclists. Today as we descended from Ward in Left Hand Canyon, Dale was involved in a serious bicycle accident that was caused by a vehicle pulling onto the road as he descended towards it.

Dale did not hit the car, but hit the pavement, landing face first, suffering significant facial and ocular damage, and loss of responsiveness. EMTs were on the scene rapidly, he received good care. He was flown to Boulder Community Hospital in a Flight for Life helicopter. He is there now in ICU.

The CatScan diagnosis revealed Brain Stem injuries. The neurosurgeon describes the injuries as very serious. Dale is in tough shape. The future of Dale’s recovery is not known at this time, the doctors have offered no predictions. His vital signs are stable given the trauma he encountered. We are all hopeful.

Dale on the cover of Velonews after winning the Coor's Classic in 1983.

Dale on the cover of Velonews after winning the Coor’s Classic in 1983.

Dale and Wayne Stetina at the Pro Challenge a couple years ago.

Dale and Wayne Stetina at the Pro Challenge a couple years ago.

Dale, 2nd for the front, at the Nevada City Criterium. I'm out of the picture, obscured, but my team mate Andy Hampsten is there along with Chris Carmichael and a few others.
Dale, 2nd for the front, at the Nevada City Criterium. I’m obscured, but my team mate Andy Hampsten is there along with Alexi Grewal, Chris Carmichael and a few others guys I know.

Crash scene.

Crash scene.

MTB’ ing Again

This entry was posted in Racing on by .

Okay, you know how you plan to do something and then it goes a different direction. I would have bet you a ton of money that I would have been road racing over the Labor Day weekend. I knew/know that I needed the speed work to prepare properly for Chequamegon in a couple weeks. But, I got selfish and am still in Steamboat Springs riding MTB bikes. The riding the last two days has been difficult. Pretty slow, technical climbing on used trails. Today we’re driving a bit North and doing a 5 hour ride. I’m a little hesitant, but game. I fell once yesterday pretty good. Good enough that I’m super stiff today. I flipped over the bars at the bottom of a steep pitch. I sort of intentionally did this so I didn’t run into a 2 foot erosion gully. I landed pretty good, but my bad shoulder is worse once more. I think I just have to get used to it. Okay, here are some photos from yesterday. We’re getting an early start. At least early for me.

Not much blood after the fall. My upper back and shoulders took the brunt of it.

Not much blood after the fall. My upper back and shoulders took the brunt of it.

We sort of bush wacked through a marshy field. This is Katie. Kent said it was the trail, but I'm not so sure.

We sort of bush wacked through a marshy field. This is Katie. Kent said it was the trail, but I’m not so sure.

There are a ton of different terrain right around the Eriksen compound.

There are a ton of different terrain right around the Eriksen compound.

The sky is so clear in the mountains.

The sky is so clear in the mountains.

And changes so quickly.

And changes so quickly.

We rode back up the Hot Springs trail, which takes you by the Hot Springs. They are doing brisk business this weekend.

We rode back up the Hot Springs trail, which takes you by the Hot Springs. They are doing brisk business this weekend.

Kent is going to build a pole barn and we went across the street to check out a neighbors.

Kent is going to build a pole barn and we went across the street to check out a neighbors.

And once again, Katie creating. This is a squash blossom pizza. The only other time I have had squash blossom was in San Diego. They were fried. I very much doubt I would eat them raw. I must be a Colorado/California thing.

And once again, Katie creating. This is a squash blossom pizza. The only other time I have had squash blossom was in San Diego. They were fried. I very much doubt I would eat them raw. I must be a Colorado/California thing.