Crashed Yesterday

[goldfinch]

Bethany, you might find a dirt/gravel road with some hills and practice braking there, feathering the brakes and taking it easy on the front brake, which has more stopping power. Try keeping one finger on your brakes and as others say, and shift your weight back on the downhills. Practice braking just up to but not the point where your front wheel locks. Having you front wheel lock up can flip you off in no time. You had mentioned before having a few near misses and not being totatally comfortable on the 29'er. I think stepping back to working on skills on easy trails and dirt roads can help.

I am not a mountain bike rider. Yet. But I did ride motorcycle dirt bikes for some years.

But take lots of time to heal first!

[Becky]

A couple of good threads about braking:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=1668

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=2691

They helped me learn to correctly use my front brake, and I'm much more comfortable on descents and turns as a result.

[GLC1968]

I know nothing about mountain biking as I'm a terror when on the dirt...but I wanted to wish you a speedy recovery. It sounds like a hell of a spill!

Get better soon!

[jessmarimba]

This may be getting a little too in-depth for this thread, but I also vary the tire pressure depending on trail surfaces for better traction. But I'm not so great at avoiding crashes either its tough when you're just good enough to get yourself into major trouble.

Hope your cobwebs are fading!

[limewave]

Bethany, So glad you are alright. Take care of yourself and get some rest. A crash like that really, truly takes it out of you. Sending healing thoughts your way!

[Bethany1]

Thanks for all the well wishes. Yesterday and today have the been the first two days where I'm doing great. I'm aware of everything, don't have the "birdies" flying around my head anymore and my head has stopped hurting.

When you finally realize your house is a disaster after 6 days, your rose bush you planned on planting is dying out on the porch and you wonder why you didn't call Lenscrafters to get a new pair of glasses the same day, things are sort of back to normal. Kicking myself about not calling Lenscrafters though. My local store has to order them in and it takes a week or so.

Now the problem is that I feel great I want to go ride, clean house, and dig a hole for the rose bush, but I know my brain is still healing. Sitting around the house is killing me but I just need to be patient. I have all the time in the world to ride a bike but I only have one brain so I'll just hang out and home.

Finally got a look at my helmet yesterday. It's got a nice crack in the styrofoam. Dang thing was really expensive too so I can't go out and buy a new one. I have a cheaper Bontrager helmet so I'm not stuck. Regardless of price I'm just grateful it worked.

[OakLeaf]

A lot of helmet companies have crash replacement programs. You won't get one free, but they might give you a hefty discount. Can't hurt to ask. I think they take your crashed helmet back to analyze how it absorbed (or transmitted) the impact.

[limewave]

Reading this thread just made me pull the trigger on ordering a new helmet. I would have bought one at the LBS, but we have road construction going on b/w me and them. I'm positive a package will get here much faster than me trying to drive down there and back!