CRASHES AND INJURIES

Up until just a couple of weeks ago, I had not had a real crash on my Mtn bike since the fall of 1993. Then I had just built my first real Mtn bike. It was based on the then new Specialized metal matrix aluminum frame and all Shimano XTR group and a Manitou fork. Sweet.

On the first ride, less than 20 yards from the parking lot I slipped into a rain rut and endoed, flipping over the bars landing in a dried briar patch. I jumped up unhurt and continued my ride on my now broken-in bicycle.

Fast forward 24 years and I’m still riding. Throughout the summer as my off-road fitness has returned I’ve picked up my pace. And I’ve noticed my downhill speeds have increased. I should have taken that observation as warning sign, instead of patting myself on the back. On a late afternoon ride down a steep rocky section on my local trails I thought for a second that I could shoot across a slippery rock face and avoid the sharp boulders lurking below in the rutted trail.

It didn’t work.

I ended up losing the front end, dropping into the rocks, and went over the bars, landing on my left arm, shoulder before rolling onto my back. The bike then landed on me. I jumped up, took an inventory and felt surprisingly good. So I rode the trail to the bottom and began to climb my way out of the canyon back to my car. I noticed it was difficult to breathe. I had bruised my ribs, and it took nearly four weeks before I felt fine again.

Then just a month or so later, I fell while trail running in Ohio. Same scenario with bruised ribs and sore shoulder. Another three weeks of recovery.

So have I learned anything from these two recent events? Maybe. I know even a minor crash or fall hurts more than it did years ago, and recovery takes longer. I also know I should not ride or run alone, but I still do. I have a hard time giving up this solitary exercise.

I’ve also learned that when that voice in your head says you are awesome because you are riding so much better, slow down immediately!

And when you have committed to becoming more fit, more disciplined in your life, don't’ give up and don’t let the injury rob you of your gains. Take time to heal, but find other ways to keep going. If I could run, I could certainly hike fast in challenging terrain. If I have to stay off my Mtn bike for a while, my road bike got a better workout.

I took it easy for a week after each fall, and once I could take deep breaths resumed a consistent schedule of running and biking.

This also proved to be rather encouraging time for me. It showed me I missed being outside running and riding. It made me realize how much this has become an essential part of my daily requirements, like eating and drinking.

And because I’ve had to suspend my off-road cycling fix by more trail running, I’ve been toying with the idea of enter a 5k or 10k off road race later in the year. Who knows where this may lead. I have no desire to participate in a mountain bike race, but a competitive run is starting to interest me.