First crash

[indysteel]

I started mtbing a little over two years ago. In that time, I've had virtually no incidents on the trail more major than a scratched arm. I've been fortunate. Until today. DH and I went to Brown County State Park, our usual haunt and were riding a familiar trail. I was on a section that's relatively easy. Flat and fast with a few twists. I went around an easy bend and went over a couple of relatively easy roots at a decent clip. The next thing I knew, my bike sort of went sideways and I went flying face first into the dirt. My brow bone and chin seemed to sustain the worst of it, but very little of my body isn't scratched up or sore in some way. I sat there for what felt like an eternity before two young guys rode up. I stopped them and asked them to double back for my husband, which one of them kindly did, while the other stayed with me. DH finally arrived on the scene. The worst part of it is that we were more or less halfway through the loop trail when it happened. We walked part of the trail back for a while and then I finally just got back on my bike and more or less rode out without further incident--unless you count my husband's badlyl timed flat. Ugh.

Anyway, I'm back home now and doing my best to clean myself off and ice down all the various knots and bruises. I wish I could definitively figure out what I did wrong. i had more than enough momentum to carry myself over the roots and I don't remember my body position being off when I hit the roots. I'm left to ponder how to prevent it from happening again.

Catrin, if you read this, I"m probably going to have to reschedule our lunch. It might be better if I work from home tomorrow. I'm so sorry.....

[Irulan]

Don't over think it. Sometimes things just...happen... Some thing slipped under your tire, hit a root at just a slightly wrong angle..maybe there was a wet spot....

[indysteel]

Thanks for that insight, Irulan.

Goodness, I look a mess. I'm starting to get a black eye. When I hit the dirt, my sunglasses smashed into my face.

Near the end of the trail, two young, helmetless boys stopped me to ask how hard the trail is. Hmmmm, I said. "You see my face. This is what can happen out here. Do me a favor and don't ride out here without a helmet." They looked at me like I was crazy...and proceeded down the trail. :(

[Veronica]

Now you're a real mountain biker. :) It sounds like a fun place to ride. Hope you heal well and quickly.

Veronica

[tealtreak]

Hope you heal quickly! Sometimes crashes just happen....... I have had more than my share...sometimes I can pinpoint what caused and twice I have been left with...hmmm... how did that happen...? ... The fun aspect out weighs that part for me, everyone is different..... Hope you can still enjoy the trails in the future (: The fact that you are not sure how it happened is not a rare occurrence..... and while not an invitation to blindly go berserk at Whistler.... I would encourage you to kinda just forget about it and enjoy riding(: Over analysis and hesitation are not compatible with mt biking....

[Catrin]

Which trail were you riding? I am so glad you were able to get yourself off of the trail! Sometimes we just don't know what causes a crash, it can be as simple as too much dust or a bad angle over a root.

Arnica ointment helped my bruises, just take care of yourself. Lunch can certainly wait, and you get to miss the first day of the new traffic pattern tomorrow!

[thekarens]

Don't over think it. Sometimes things just...happen... Some thing slipped under your tire, hit a root at just a slightly wrong angle..maybe there was a wet spot....

This!

And all the male MTBers I know would tell you to consider it a badge of honor and great tale that, of course, expands in the telling.

[indysteel]

Oh, I'll get back out there soon enough. I'm glad I rode out and, oddly enough, I was actually riding pretty well and was still having fun. Now if only I could get all the dirt out of my chin. :rolleyes:

Thanks for all the well wishes!

[indysteel]

We were on the North Tower Loop, Catrin.

[ridebikeme]

Glad to hear that you are ok! I would tend to agree with the others, don't overthink all of this... in the dirt things simply just happen sometimes. If I tried to to 'think' about each of my falls, I'd be too tired to go back out and go for a ride:)

Heal quickly!!

[Catrin]

We were on the North Tower Loop, Catrin.

I had wondered if it was that or perhaps Green Valley. Take care of yourself and then go back to teach that trail a lesson :)

[redrhodie]

(((Indy))) Ouch! That sounds painful. I hope you've taken something like advil, and ice is your friend.

[murielalex]

Wow. Sorry that happened to you, but glad it wasn't worse. Sending you healing wishes!

[OakLeaf]

Oh yikes indy! Heal up quick! FWIW Aleve helped way more than narcotics after my last get-off...

[rocknrollgirl]

Ouchy!

Well, at least the first crash is over. I am glad that you are ok. I think always best to get back on if you are physically able and ride out. I know it is tough sometimes. It happens to all of us eventually, so I agree with the "don't over think it " advice. I have had some beauts, but I keep going back for more.

Heal up quickly and get back out there.

[indysteel]

Yep....black eye! My first. My chin looks like Jay Leno's (but with an abrasion). I have abrasions on my cheek, brow, left hand, both forearms and my right thigh. And my right shoulder, while not dislocated (and least I don't think it is) is pretty darn sore. I'm a mess. On Oak's advice, I just took an Aleve. It might be a long night.

Oh well. I'm in decent spirits. Just glad nothing's broken. We leave for a week in Tennessee in three weeks.

[Catrin]

Youch! Maybe some gentle stretching? Sending a very gentle hug...

[ridebikeme]

Just as a warning...Tylenol is the what Dr's and hospitals recommend now, Aleve is hard on the stomach and liver.

[indysteel]

Thanks for that heads up. I doubt I'll take more than a few doses over the next 36 hours. In my experience, Tylenol is a great fever reducer but for serious pain and inflammation, not so much. I was under the impression that Tylenol could be hard on the liver as well, or is that just when it's mixed with alcohol?

I would note that the Aleve has really helped.

[Becky]

Sorry to hear this, Indy. Tegaderm works wonders for quickly healing abrasions....goodness knows I've used enough of it this season!

[indysteel]

Thanks, Becky. I'll pick some up!

[Irulan]

DH had a good one yesterday. He's been much more conservative since his big wreck in 08. Anyway, wasp bit him on our descent and while trying to swat it off he inadvertent odd a brake grab. He's banged up but not broken.

[indysteel]

Dang, Irulan! I hope he feels better soon!

[maillotpois]

Sorry that happened, but with MTB I think it's the rare person who hasn't dumped it at some point.

Ice and Advil like Red said. Supposedly pineapple helps break up bruises, but I don't know if I believe that. A pina colada couldn't hurt anyway.... :p

[spokewench]

Sorry, bout your crash - but you were overdue so now you are a real mountain biker! Congrats!

[thekarens]

When it rains it pours? I vote for the pina colada.

[indysteel]

If only it was safe to drink while on NSAIDS!

I'm doing okay today. My eye is swollen and ugly, but I got my chin cleaned up so it doesn't look so awful. My left shoulder is sore, and while some movement helps makes it feel better, it's still pretty sore. I hope it's not actually injured. If the pain doesn't improve bit by bit, I'll have to be evaluated. Miraculously, I have zero headache and I slept reasonably well.

I'm convinced at this point that my tire got wedged between two otherwise innocuous looking roots. Dumb luck I guess. And so it goes. I'll be okay. At least I've been home to watch the US Open, one of the few sporting events I like.

[Blueberry]

((((Indysteel))))) So sorry - I just saw this. I had a freak road crash a few years ago. I was riding alone - the only thing we could figure out was that my tire got wedged in a crack in the pavement. Stuff happens. Sending you speedy healing thoughts!

[SheFly]

Ouch! As others have said, when on the MTB, stuff happens. One of my worst crashes ever, I was leading a beginner group on trails I knew VERY well, riding my SS MTB. Went to take off from a re-grouping onto carriage roads, and BOOM! Hit the deck and had the biggest, baddest hematoma on my butt that you have ever seen. That was over 10 years ago :D.

Heal well, and get back out on that bike!

SheFly

[SheFly]

Ouch! As others have said, when on the MTB, stuff happens. One of my worst crashes ever, I was leading a beginner group on trails I knew VERY well, riding my SS MTB. Went to take off from a re-grouping onto carriage roads, and BOOM! Hit the deck and had the biggest, baddest hematoma on my butt that you have ever seen. That was over 10 years ago :D.

Heal well, and get back out on that bike!

SheFly

[indysteel]

You know what has me most irritated in all this. I managed to lose a glove. I gave them DH at one point and while he claims he had both of them when we got home, one them has disappeared. I loved these gloves and LG doesn't make them anymore.

But I take this as a sign that I still want to ride. I'm also encouraged that when I got back on the bike after the crash, I was relatively calm. I walked a few portions and the final hill, but I was otherwise okay. I so don't want to anxiety get the best of me. I get far too much personal satisfaction from mtbing to quit.

[SheFly]

I get far too much personal satisfaction from mtbing to quit.

ATTA GIRL!

SheFly

[Fredwina]

Get well soon. have you looked at your helmet? I noticed no one mentioned it.

[indysteel]

Th helmet looks fine, but I know better. It will be replaced. I actually don't think my helmet hit the ground as I distinctly remember sustaining the brunt of the impact along the top of my sunglasses, but I'd really rather just err on the side of caution. I have several other helmets as back up in the meantime.

I'll say this: my Tifosi sunglasses don't even have a scratch on them.

[Crankin]

Glad you are feeling better.