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.

[indigoiis]

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

[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

[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. 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.

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.