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Thread: First crash

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Central Indiana
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    First crash

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    I started mtbing a little over two years ago. In that time, I've had virtually no incidents on the trail more major than a scratched arm. I've been fortunate. Until today. DH and I went to Brown County State Park, our usual haunt and were riding a familiar trail. I was on a section that's relatively easy. Flat and fast with a few twists. I went around an easy bend and went over a couple of relatively easy roots at a decent clip. The next thing I knew, my bike sort of went sideways and I went flying face first into the dirt. My brow bone and chin seemed to sustain the worst of it, but very little of my body isn't scratched up or sore in some way. I sat there for what felt like an eternity before two young guys rode up. I stopped them and asked them to double back for my husband, which one of them kindly did, while the other stayed with me. DH finally arrived on the scene. The worst part of it is that we were more or less halfway through the loop trail when it happened. We walked part of the trail back for a while and then I finally just got back on my bike and more or less rode out without further incident--unless you count my husband's badlyl timed flat. Ugh.

    Anyway, I'm back home now and doing my best to clean myself off and ice down all the various knots and bruises. I wish I could definitively figure out what I did wrong. i had more than enough momentum to carry myself over the roots and I don't remember my body position being off when I hit the roots. I'm left to ponder how to prevent it from happening again.

    Catrin, if you read this, I"m probably going to have to reschedule our lunch. It might be better if I work from home tomorrow. I'm so sorry.....
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
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    the dry side
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    Don't over think it. Sometimes things just...happen... Some thing slipped under your tire, hit a root at just a slightly wrong angle..maybe there was a wet spot....
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
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    Thanks for that insight, Irulan.

    Goodness, I look a mess. I'm starting to get a black eye. When I hit the dirt, my sunglasses smashed into my face.

    Near the end of the trail, two young, helmetless boys stopped me to ask how hard the trail is. Hmmmm, I said. "You see my face. This is what can happen out here. Do me a favor and don't ride out here without a helmet." They looked at me like I was crazy...and proceeded down the trail.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
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    Now you're a real mountain biker. It sounds like a fun place to ride. Hope you heal well and quickly.

    Veronica
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Richmond, VA
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    329
    Hope you heal quickly! Sometimes crashes just happen....... I have had more than my share...sometimes I can pinpoint what caused and twice I have been left with...hmmm... how did that happen...? ... The fun aspect out weighs that part for me, everyone is different..... Hope you can still enjoy the trails in the future (: The fact that you are not sure how it happened is not a rare occurrence..... and while not an invitation to blindly go berserk at Whistler.... I would encourage you to kinda just forget about it and enjoy riding(: Over analysis and hesitation are not compatible with mt biking....
    Last edited by tealtreak; 09-02-2013 at 11:59 AM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889

    Re: First crash

    Which trail were you riding? I am so glad you were able to get yourself off of the trail! Sometimes we just don't know what causes a crash, it can be as simple as too much dust or a bad angle over a root.

    Arnica ointment helped my bruises, just take care of yourself. Lunch can certainly wait, and you get to miss the first day of the new traffic pattern tomorrow!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Houston
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    Re: First crash

    Quote Originally Posted by Irulan View Post
    Don't over think it. Sometimes things just...happen... Some thing slipped under your tire, hit a root at just a slightly wrong angle..maybe there was a wet spot....
    This!

    And all the male MTBers I know would tell you to consider it a badge of honor and great tale that, of course, expands in the telling.
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  8. #8
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    Sep 2006
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    Central Indiana
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    Oh, I'll get back out there soon enough. I'm glad I rode out and, oddly enough, I was actually riding pretty well and was still having fun. Now if only I could get all the dirt out of my chin.

    Thanks for all the well wishes!
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
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    We were on the North Tower Loop, Catrin.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    959
    Glad to hear that you are ok! I would tend to agree with the others, don't overthink all of this... in the dirt things simply just happen sometimes. If I tried to to 'think' about each of my falls, I'd be too tired to go back out and go for a ride

    Heal quickly!!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889

    Re: First crash

    Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
    We were on the North Tower Loop, Catrin.
    I had wondered if it was that or perhaps Green Valley. Take care of yourself and then go back to teach that trail a lesson

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Newport, RI
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    (((Indy))) Ouch! That sounds painful. I hope you've taken something like advil, and ice is your friend.
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  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Florida
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    452
    Wow. Sorry that happened to you, but glad it wasn't worse. Sending you healing wishes!
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  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
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    14,498
    Oh yikes indy! Heal up quick! FWIW Aleve helped way more than narcotics after my last get-off...
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,940
    Ouchy!

    Well, at least the first crash is over. I am glad that you are ok. I think always best to get back on if you are physically able and ride out. I know it is tough sometimes. It happens to all of us eventually, so I agree with the "don't over think it " advice. I have had some beauts, but I keep going back for more.

    Heal up quickly and get back out there.

 

 

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