Foo - So I really suck at mountain biking (Somewhat gory pics inclosed)

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1493/27/32/10501042/n10501042_34316665_1507.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1493/27/32/10501042/n10501042_34316664_1265.jpg

Sorry for the blurr, it was the best my camera on macro mode could do. I count ~10 stitches.

I went for my fourth ride yesterday on some much less technical trails than I had been doing when a 1' drop-off surprised me. Went over the bars and my face met the frozen ground with more enthusiasm than I would've preferred. I dusted myself off, noticed copious amounts of blood and started turning the pedals back in what I hoped was the direction of my car. The cold air seemed to help numb things up and stop the bleeding on the way. Before they cleaned me up I looked like a zombie that just took a few bites out of someone; so aside from a big triangle of skin hanging off above my lip it was hard to tell how bad things were.

Teeth, jaws and neck are fine so it could've been much worse. Good thing I don't obsess over my appearance to start with. Face is still swollen, hard to speak/eat.

yay.

My face once got into a fight with the pavement one day while road biking.

Hope you look good with facial hair.

Sorry to hear about your get off. Glad that you did not break anything and that your bike is okay.

YOWCH! Glad it's stuff that will heal ok and not yer teeth or facial bones!

I have some spots I want to try - spots where I've seen some broken bicyclists come limping/carried out - and some badly mangle bikes; however I am not and am chomping at the bit to get in there, my mtb friends seem to have grown up and away and I don't see them anymore to make them come out and play. So I wait, grr

oh no! Hocam, glad to hear you are OK!

Ouch! Classic faceplant.

BTW, you do not suck at mountain biking. The next time something happens, yell, "First blood!" making everyone else look like a wuss.

Besides, we don't need any more roadies. Stick with it.

You don't suck at mountain biking.

You suck at face-planting. :D

ah deceleration trauma, glad you're ok for the most part...no separated shoulders, or busted clavicles . Now get back out there and jump the drop, show it's who's boss. It only got you by surprise that time, next time it's toast.

Dang, dude. Glad you're ok. I've been avoiding crashing on a mountain bike since I started. :)

Thanks all, it's not stopping me but I may or may not go out this weekend depending on how things are closing up.

I think I must have been braking when I went over the drop and the front wheel just stopped when it hit the ground. Should I have pulled up hard on the bars and landed hit rear wheel first?

Thanks all, it's not stopping me but I may or may not go out this weekend depending on how things are closing up.

I think I must have been braking when I went over the drop and the front wheel just stopped when it hit the ground. Should I have pulled up hard on the bars and landed hit rear wheel first?

yes, do a wheelie off the drop and attempt to land on both wheels at the same time. Landing any jump on the front alone almost always = fail.

You might want to wait for some more healing first, sweat and dirt into stitched areas might be a recipe for infection.

Damn dude, must've injured yourself pretty good if you didn't mention if the rig was damaged or not. Practice hucking off smaller stuff, first. Did you have enough momentum? A 2 foot jump I had no business attempting dropped me in the hospital for four days this season.

Yeah maybe I'll wait til things close before another ride.

The bike barely got scratched, it practically landed on me because I was still clipped in. Plenty of momentum, just should have pulled up on the bars.

So do you have that "I cheated death" feeling? I remember thinking that when I did a faceplant in February.

I did something similar to my face once. Sadly, instead of mountain biking, I was busy falling off of a porch at a New Year's Eve party.

I did something similar to my face once. Sadly, instead of mountain biking, I was busy falling off of a porch at a New Year's Eve party.

I was pushed out a door, planted on a sidewalk and did all sorts of damage ...

Geez, glad you didn't break anything. Hope you get better soon bro!!

heal quickly dude!
And remember, chics dig scars.

My best 'plant was busting my cheek on a handrail after a bad corner on a fast steep set of stairs in Montreal. I can feel the nerve there when I have a sinus cold now ... heal up and go git that drop!

Should I have pulled up hard on the bars and landed hit rear wheel first?


Yes! But if the drop took you by surprise, you may not have had time to react anyway. Practice by jumping off stairs. No wait, don't do that.

After a coupla busted jaws and missing teef, most zoobombers now wear full face helmets when they attempt to do stupid stuff like that. I just saw two crashes this Sept where both girls were lucky they had full face helmets on.

Hope you look good with facial hair.



What facial hair?

^^ That gray stuff around my mouth is sometimes considered facial hair.

ModoVincere is right about the chicks, one of them seemed pretty interested earlier today.

I'll get the drop eventually...

The blur + carnage makes you look like a zombie.

So do you have that "I cheated death" feeling? I remember thinking that when I did a faceplant in February.

I get that every time I ride in traffic and dodge a cab - don't need the collision to go along with it! :eek:

Heal up fast!

Meh. You guys who play chicken with cabbies are nutz.

Ouch!

Meh. You guys who play chicken with cabbies are nutz.

That's what people keep telling me ;)

Facial hair sucks, shaving is worse. You're better off without it.

When you have two black eyes, road rash on your forehead cheek nose and chin,and a permanent notch in your mustache, come see me.
But that's not bad for a first effort.
And remember, chicks dig scars.

Full face helmets is where it is at. Glad I was wearing one when I do the trails. Almost pulled a hocam myself.

When I endoed I was wearing just a regular cycle helmet. A full face helmet probably would have helped; I really took it on the chin. I had an underbite for about a week.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture004-6.jpg

The bike didn't fare so well either and ended up looking like an Escher print in the front.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture011-2.jpg

I did bend the fork back and ride it for a while, but the frame is bent as well and I picked up an old Schwinn frame to replace it.

I may have to pick up a full face helmet, if nothing else my mom would feel better.

Anyone have any tips on getting blood out of clothing? My once nice Giordana long sleeve jacket is pretty soaked and I don't want to get a new one if I don't have to.

Shout.

Meh. You guys who play chicken with cabbies are nutz.

Cabbies are pusses... :thumb:

Might as well stick some piercings in them there holes.

Stitches came out Friday and things look much better! So I decided to celebrate by more mountain biking! I hit the technical stuff this morning with a group that meets every sunday and had an awesome time. I'm still slow on the descents but I sometimes catch back up on the uphill stuff.

More pics!
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1493/27/32/10501042/n10501042_34331540_5421.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1493/27/32/10501042/n10501042_34331538_5166.jpg

Way to get back on that horse!

I'm slow on the uphills but toast most people on the downhills, even with a hardtail and 3" of travel in the front. :)

Thanks, going fast downhill always reminds me of my mom and riding horses. The horses always spook at weird things they haven't been around enough to get used to. I think I'm the same way, just need to realize I can actually roll over most of that stuff.

I punched a hole thru my upper lip back in August....don't be a ninja, was the lesson I learned.

Funny part was the hole was in the same spot I'd already "holed" on my "road bike" when I was 13....I'm 38 now.

I may have to pick up a full face helmet, if nothing else my mom would feel better.

Anyone have any tips on getting blood out of clothing? My once nice Giordana long sleeve jacket is pretty soaked and I don't want to get a new one if I don't have to.

Leave the blood in its like a metal that says you survived:thumb: