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.![]()
Tzvia- rollin' slow...
Specialized Ruby Expert/mens Bontrager Inform RXL
Specialized SWorks Safire/mens Bontrager Inform RL
Giant Anthem-W XT-XTR/mens Bontrager Inform RXL
Fuji Newest 3 commuter/mens Bontrager Inform RL
Novara E.T.A commuter/mens Bontrager Inform RL
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.
My third time out last night with RINEMBA and I went to do a log but the bike didn't come up and I went over the bars - first time! WHOO HOO!
Really not so bad as I thought it would be.
I can do five more miles.
Don't be so sure. I thought my crash was fun, then a few days later I had my first migraine in years. Then I didn't think it was fun at all.
Take it easy for the next couple of days. Your body may react to the impact later in ways you don't expect.
Still more reason for a massage!
It was really slowmo. I think I was going about 4 mph and I rolled into a perfect flashdancesque sitting up position amongst the pine needles and grass. I landed first on my hands (I know, you're not supposed to put them out but tell THEM that when they're feeling you going in midair) and kind of did like a little soft roll. That's why I was whooped up about it - because the fear of falling was way worse than the actual falling.
I have a small bruise on my right hand and a scratch on my thigh and a big bruise on my butt. I've been marked!
I can do five more miles.
Something happened while I was yesterday that reminded me of this thread...
I was with a friend, and she was going first down the trail. We were in a field w/tall grass, and some runners came around bend in the trail... it was the cross country team from a local college. There were no less than 15 of them in a line- all very fit and very shirtless. My friend went to move off of the trail to let them pass, but as she did, she scrubbed her tire on the edge of the trail (it's an old, kinda eroded trail, so it's more like a little singletrack ditch). She fell over right in front of them.
Hilarity ensued.