Quote:
Originally posted by Adventure Girl
Great Job!!
I used purple in honor of your bruises!
Thank you
Hey, endos happen. Do you know why? (We're supposed to learn from our mistakes). Did you hit your front brake as a panic reaction? Or did you hit a large object without lifting your front wheel? How fast were you going?
[COLOR=crimson]Pretty fast! I was coming down a hill- I was riding with the women's group I joined called the FlyGurlz- members of the team host the local chapters- and they'd been giving me tips all day. I think 4 or 5 of the team were with us.Just prior there was a really technical drop that I was afraid I couldn't make. We walked it- they rode it for me...I visualized it- and I still had to bail at the last minute. They were really supportive and said not to worry- we'd be riding this trail a lot- and I'd feel really confident after I made it. I'd been riding crappy all day- my energy level was low- I couldn't make any hills, and I could not believe this- I left my chain on the big sprocket and couldn't figure out why I wasn't climbing the hills! Nothing was going right. And I'd had to bail to boot!
Anyway - So now it's farther along the trail and we're going down a pretty big hill. And I'm feathering the brakes being a bit cautious- and I have a mantra running through my head "right brake...right brake...right brake..." ( Cause I'd grabbed with both hands when I'd bailed earlier. I didn't want this to happen again- so I actually at one point hand my left hand behind my back. )The trail got a bit rocky- so I put my left hand back on the bar... but I was getting confident- maybe a little cocky-started picking up speed- started to pedal a bit...feeling aggressive...I was looking where I wanted to go, like I'd been taught - looking up around the curve...when I looked down in front of me- and saw this honkin' big rock right in the middle of the trail - comin' right for me! Before my rational brain could react- try to go around, hop over- not that my bunny hopping skills were THAT good- or just hit the damn thing...my irrational panic stricken brain just took over- and before I could think about it- though the rational brain was screaming noooooooooooooooooooooo!
I grabbed the front brake- and I was launched. I remember thinking " Well- it's too late now". I saw the ground passing underneath me- and I also remember thinking " Am I never going to land?
When I did land- I was skidding on my upper thighs- my back must have been curved up- The pain was intense! Like a flamethrower aimed right at my legs! It hurt so much, I must have rounded my back to get the friction off my legs- and that's when my face hit the ground. Fortunately my visor on my helmet hit first, absorbing the shock and flying off..my face didn't get really carved. My arms/hands hit last- but with enough force to knock my watch off and flying about 6 feet away - parts of my hydration pack were found 9 feet away. Immediately 3 of the Gurlz who were behind me were on the scene- they knew it could be serious as soon as they saw my face - one is keeping my head still and immobilized just in case . I didn't want to move my legs- they were burning so badly- until one of the Gurlz yelled- for God's sake, move your legs! Jolted me right out of it. I raised them up, mumbling I'm okay...I'm okay....I'm glad they were there though - I knew I was riding with the best!
afterward I felt stuoid- I KNEW not to do that- but like you said- it's a learning curve- it was gonna happen eventually. And after it did- I could start to ride and have fun...I wasn't scared- if anything I was even more determined to ride well. And I did- only had problems with one hill- I was so intent on pedalling through the rocky outcrop- I was screaming Kepp pedalling! Keep pedalling! That I forgot to change gears! :rolleyes: :COLOR]
The next couple of days will be fun. At the LBS or with your biking pals you're the star. Everyone wants to look at the damage and talk about the crash.
[COLOR=crimson] Yep- I found that out! The Gurlz said I really grabbed air- one looked at me and said- well- I'll say one thing- you go large, or you go home, huh? Man- it was apparently spectacular!:COLOR]
But out in the real world (bank, grocery store, and work) uh... a big hat and sunglasses might help. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I think my face looked a little worse than yours. There was no way for me to hide the big bruise on my chin.
[COLOR=crimson] No- I can'r hide this at all! IT's really come up- I have a "green" eye- my chin and nose are really scratched up. However- I presently work in a Sports department of a retail store - and it's provoked quite a few conversations- one guy figured I'd endo'd and then next thing we were discussing the merits of hardtails vs. FS and talking the finer details of suspension forks!!!:) :COLOR]
Did you hit your head / helmet? How old is your helmet? Most "helmet authorities" suggest that you replace your helmet after a big crash even if it doesn't show any obvious damage. There may be damage or weakening inside the foam that you can't see.
[COLOR=crimson] I asked the Gurlz that same question- since they'd seen the crash . They said not to worry- I'd not hit my head/helmet- just knocked off the visor. So I figure my helmet is good - I just got it last fall. It's a good helmet- a Bell Nemesis Pro 2- but I can pick them up for about 10 bucks US from a liquidator- so I'm going to get a couple of them for the crashes that are sure to follow!:COLOR]
Glad see you're going to be ok. Get right back there and ride! Oh, and about this:
There's now crying in moutain biking!:D
[COLOR=crimson]There's just no crying in baseball! A League Of Their Own:COLOR]
: