Doh!

[limewave]

Went mountain biking for the first time this season. Forgot the first rule of mntn biking.

Within the first 100 feet of trail I smashed my left foot into a tree stump and subsequently lost a toe nail and have a lovely bruise covering the top of my foot.

Always keep your feet at 3 and 9 when coasting.

[jobob]

Got some of my best bruises from mountain biking. :rolleyes: :D

[indigoiis]

ow! You definitely get to show that one off, as it is incidentally flip-flop season. :D

[Zen]

The nail already fell off? I thought that took a while.

[kermit]

Some of my best elbow scrapes and butt bruises are from mountain biking!

[PscyclePath]

The nail already fell off? I thought that took a while.

Depends how hard you sideswiped that tree ;-)

One of my patented moves when things get too gnarly is to grab on to a passing pine tree and hang on for dear life, and let the bike go on its errant way...

[Andrea]

Nice! I got a 3rd butt-cheek a couple of weeks ago. It's still a little yellow :D

[sundial]

One of my patented moves when things get too gnarly is to grab on to a passing pine tree and hang on for dear life, and let the bike go on its errant way...

LOL! I grabbed a sapling on the way down.

[gnat23]

Wait, what's the first rule?

-- gnat! ("You will not talk about mountain biking"?)

[Aggie_Ama]

Doh! I always forget that one and have bruised myself being a jack*ss for not remembering.

The first day I rode my new bike I forgot to treat sand like a downhill and make sure your weight is back. I sent myself over the bars and got some purty bruises to show for it. Oh and a concussion check. :rolleyes: The best bruise I have had is my entire butt cheek from falling on rock. It was black, purple and green.

Just a tiny bit accident prone.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I took a two week hiatus from mtb'ing because I didn't want bruises, scrapes, or scratches at my son's wedding yesterday. Didn't keep me off the road though!

[limewave]

The nail already fell off? I thought that took a while.

I already had a blister under it from running--the crash just sped things up a bit. But the whole toe (and the top of my foot) was purple for 4-5 days.

Last night I rode with some friends who have been riding since I March. I tried to keep up with them even though it was only my second time out this season. I hit a sand pit on a descent which fishtailed my back tire and swung my handle bars into a tree (it was a very narrow gap). I have some nice bruises and cuts today.

I'm definitely feeling the need to step up my game. I feel so far behind everyone this year.

[OakLeaf]

I feel so far behind everyone this year.

It's not like you've asked anything else demanding of your body this year. :rolleyes:

Be gentle with yourself, build up slow, it'll come back quicker than you think.

[tzvia]

When I hit sand on a descent (which is every descent here), I make sure to modulate my brakes if I use them at all. If I am using any brakes, it's the front mostly but if the rear starts to skid and make that shsss sound, I release the front brake and pick up speed. That will pull the rear end back in line, providing it's not too far gone. I keep my weight back too.

Relax, enjoy the ride. The trail isn't going anywhere. ;)

[kenyonchris]

I tend to fall into creeks. I say, don't look at creek, look at bridge. Then I look at the creek and miss the bridge and fall in. Ow! I had a huge bruise on my thigh from the last time I did that.

[indigoiis]

My third time out last night with RINEMBA and I went to do a log but the bike didn't come up and I went over the bars - first time! WHOO HOO!
Really not so bad as I thought it would be.

[redrhodie]

My third time out last night with RINEMBA and I went to do a log but the bike didn't come up and I went over the bars - first time! WHOO HOO!
Really not so bad as I thought it would be.

Don't be so sure. I thought my crash was fun, then a few days later I had my first migraine in years. Then I didn't think it was fun at all.

Take it easy for the next couple of days. Your body may react to the impact later in ways you don't expect.

Still more reason for a massage!

[indigoiis]

It was really slowmo. I think I was going about 4 mph and I rolled into a perfect flashdancesque sitting up position amongst the pine needles and grass. I landed first on my hands (I know, you're not supposed to put them out but tell THEM that when they're feeling you going in midair) and kind of did like a little soft roll. That's why I was whooped up about it - because the fear of falling was way worse than the actual falling.

I have a small bruise on my right hand and a scratch on my thigh and a big bruise on my butt. I've been marked!

[Andrea]

Something happened while I was yesterday that reminded me of this thread...

I was with a friend, and she was going first down the trail. We were in a field w/tall grass, and some runners came around bend in the trail... it was the cross country team from a local college. There were no less than 15 of them in a line- all very fit and very shirtless. My friend went to move off of the trail to let them pass, but as she did, she scrubbed her tire on the edge of the trail (it's an old, kinda eroded trail, so it's more like a little singletrack ditch). She fell over right in front of them.

Hilarity ensued.

[redrhodie]

Something happened while I was yesterday that reminded me of this thread...

I was with a friend, and she was going first down the trail. We were in a field w/tall grass, and some runners came around bend in the trail... it was the cross country team from a local college. There were no less than 15 of them in a line- all very fit and very shirtless. My friend went to move off of the trail to let them pass, but as she did, she scrubbed her tire on the edge of the trail (it's an old, kinda eroded trail, so it's more like a little singletrack ditch). She fell over right in front of them.

Hilarity ensued.

How embarrassing!

[solobiker]

I tend to fall into creeks. I say, don't look at creek, look at bridge. Then I look at the creek and miss the bridge and fall in. Ow! I had a huge bruise on my thigh from the last time I did that.

I know it is not funny, but this brought a smile to my face. I love how you describe it. That is what I do too. I actually did that while cross-country skiing. Talk about being cold:eek: And I broke my poll too! Luckily it was only about 3 miles back to the car.