Another crash and feeling like an idiot!

[yellow]

And I'm thinking, "Wow, only 3 crashes on the mtn bike since August? She's doing really well!"

Suffice it to say that I crash most times I go mtn biking. To the point now where I won't ride alone and won't do anything really technical (by my definition). It really messes with your head, as you've described. There's some "line" in your brain that makes it all better once you step over it...only you can fall back behind it or have a hard time going from toes-over to whole-body-over. I hear ya girlfriend! I hope to get over my mtn biking fuzz by spring; for now I'm going to give it a rest (which I'm fine with)!

You've been there before and jumped over the line. So you know you can do it.

I have gone down twice on my commute bike since August. It's an old mtn bike with slicks on it. It doesn't ride like my road bike OR my mtn bike, which I've learned the hard way. For a while there I had to tell myself, out loud, that I couldn't take corners like I was on my road bike. Now that the weather's changed and I'm focused on running (and hopefully skiing very soon), I'm not commuting by bike either. Also giving that a rest. My head is most definitely not into riding at the moment.

You are not alone! We shall persevere and take over the planet! OK, maybe not take over the planet, but take charge of that little portion of our brain that messes with us.

[IFjane]

Emily,

I'm so sorry to hear about your crash! It was indeed a beautiful day to ride on Saturday - sunny & 70's up here in VA as well. I am thankful you don't have any more injuries than you do. Heal quickly and get back on the bike - even if it's only on a trainer for the winter!

[emily_in_nc]

I have gone down twice on my commute bike since August. It's an old mtn bike with slicks on it. It doesn't ride like my road bike OR my mtn bike, which I've learned the hard way. For a while there I had to tell myself, out loud, that I couldn't take corners like I was on my road bike. Now that the weather's changed and I'm focused on running (and hopefully skiing very soon), I'm not commuting by bike either. Also giving that a rest. My head is most definitely not into riding at the moment.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, yellow. I hate to think of others crashing too, but it does make me feel less alone. And my more experienced mtb buddies crash too, but they crash riding teeter totters or really technical stuff, I crash because I slip on wet leaves or hit a tree with my handlebars or go too slow around a tight curve. Often they're just embarrassing things like that that make me crazy.

But I'm with you on the taking some time off....it's getting to be the time of year where more often than not it's too chilly for me to be inspired to ride on the weekends. I am definitely a weather wimp! And it's too dark to ride after work now, so I've got a road bike inside on the trainer. Believe it or not, I almost crashed on that on my first trainer ride this past week too! DH had put it on the trainer and must not have cranked it down tight enough, so when I went to ride out of the saddle for the first time, it slipped out of the trainer part-way, and I started going down. Scary! Thankfully, he was on that side of me on his own bike on a trainer, so blocked me from falling down to the ground! But it just hasn't been a very stable week.

We normally hike when it's colder (and yes, sometimes I manage to trip on a rock and fall doing that too, but it's very infrequent!!), but we had such lovely warm weather yesterday that the road beckoned. Too bad I never got there! We won't get too many days like that for awhile, I suspect. I have also been running, going to the gym, and we're going to Key Largo sailing right after Thanksgiving, so that will be a pleasant change of pace. So long as I don't get hit by the boom, I will hopefully come home in one piece and not too bruised/battered.

Thanks again for all the supportive words, everyone!!!

Emily

[Jo-n-NY]

Emily....I will let you know and admit to all that I have fallen on my trainer TWICE. Yes, it is ok to laugh because I do. Like you the quick-release was not in the trainer notch correctly or too loose. So once I went into our wall unit, it actually caught me and the other was on the couch and both times my husband had to come get me out.

Don't worry, I now make sure my bike is in there good and tight. Have a Great trip to Key Largo while I am remembering to mention it now.

I will be honest to say, I that I do feel better riding on the roads than mtn biking. Only because I am slow and if we ride a single track trail and someone is coming behind I get all nervous. I am luck to have found back roads through developments to make a nice route. It is only 20 - 30 miles with one or two road having mild traffic, but it is a most enjoyable ride for me anyway and enough miles to make me happy.

~ JoAnn

[emily_in_nc]

JoAnn ~

I feel better already. Thanks for not being afraid to admit that you have fallen on your trainer too!

And yes, you do make a good point about mountain biking. I am just a beginner so do expect to fall. I'm just tired of all the bruises. After riding on the road for so many miles, it was all new to me to be falling all the time. And then when I fell yesterday on my road bike....well, it just pissed me off!

I'm too stubborn to give up, though. I'm sure I'll be back in the springtime, trying to stay upright again. Glad you're back out there after your injury and have found a nice route!

Emily

[GLC1968]

Emily -

I'm just now seeing this! I'm so sorry to hear about your fall!

Don't be too disappointed about missing out on Saturday's weather. DH and I rode about 50 miles, but the last 20, which were after about 1pm, were quite scary. The wind was super gusty all of a sudden and for the first time since I started road biking, I wanted a transporter to put me back at home immediately. I was scared! I buckled down and made it home ok, but for a few minutes, I just wanted to get off and walk.

The weather was deceiving and not as nice as you might expect. You didn't miss much! (Though it was nice to bike without a billion layers of clothing...I kept thinking I was forgetting something when we left!)

[emily_in_nc]

Emily -

I'm just now seeing this! I'm so sorry to hear about your fall!

Don't be too disappointed about missing out on Saturday's weather. DH and I rode about 50 miles, but the last 20, which were after about 1pm, were quite scary. The wind was super gusty all of a sudden and for the first time since I started road biking, I wanted a transporter to put me back at home immediately. I was scared! I buckled down and made it home ok, but for a few minutes, I just wanted to get off and walk.

The weather was deceiving and not as nice as you might expect. You didn't miss much! (Though it was nice to bike without a billion layers of clothing...I kept thinking I was forgetting something when we left!)

Well, you made me feel better!!! Back in the woods where we live, we sometimes don't notice the wind so much. But out on the open road, especially in areas with farm fields on either side, it can get pretty treacherous on windy days, I'll agree. I've been blown all over the place before. Glad you made it home safely, and thanks for your kind words.

Emily

[fatbottomedgurl]

Emily I don't know what kind of markets you have... probably not higgly piggly or winn dixie, but I shop at ralphs and they make the best ice cream EVER. It's called extreme moose tracks and it is chocolate with chocolate ribbons (not fudge but hard chocolate) and little chocolate truffle cups. The chocolate has that wonderful bittersweet-salty flavor if you know what I mean. Next time I eat it i will think of you and hope you are getting good chocolate vibes.

yvonne

ps I am going through bike withdrawal because of midterms but I get to ride tomorrow. whee!

[emily_in_nc]

Emily I don't know what kind of markets you have... probably not higgly piggly or winn dixie, but I shop at ralphs and they make the best ice cream EVER. It's called extreme moose tracks and it is chocolate with chocolate ribbons (not fudge but hard chocolate) and little chocolate truffle cups. The chocolate has that wonderful bittersweet-salty flavor if you know what I mean. Next time I eat it i will think of you and hope you are getting good chocolate vibes.

Yummmm! We don't have Ralph's here. We usually just buy Breyer's at our local grocery store. I love Ben and Jerry's, but we usually get Breyer's when it's on sale 2 for 1, so it's really hard to justify B&J's at about 4x the price. I've had Moose Tracks in some other brands, though (local ice cream shops when we travel), and it is delicious! Extreme moose tracks, now that sounds intense!

Emily