Riding mx with pins etc

So far from our experience it's different from Doctor to Doctor. Some are of the opinion you should not ride until the hardware is removed, some say go ahead and ride and get the hardware removed a year or 18 months down the road. Other Doctors are of the position that unless the rod or plate is causing you major problems leave it alone and return to normal activities because by removing it you risk another major surgery and the risk of a bone infection. My Son had a plate, 8 screws and a hunk of wire attached to his femur in October of 04, the Surgeon who put it in there was of the school you remove the plate in about 18 months. When we returned to Canada I got 3 other opinions and all three surgeons felt that you leave the plate alone unless necessary. FWIW my son went over the bars this August and had the bike land on his femur, bending the plate and rebreaking the femur. My personal thought is I'd like to get the hardware removed sometime in the near future.