crashed!

[Grog]

So I made the newbie mistake of going way to fast down an unfamiliar descent

Hey that's not just a newbie mistake. Check out the Bicycling magazine article about their journalist who tried to become a Cinglé du Ventoux. (I think it's in the last issue.)

Glad you're well and I hurt for your road rash... ouch! take care...

It will probably take you a while, once you get back on the bike, to enjoy those downhills again. But you'll see how fast you forget. (I crashed on a downhill in early July and took back descending at high speeds in August...) But I agree it's better to do it on roads you know well, although you never know what will be on the other side of curves...

Get well soon!