Mountain Biking - Do you have what it takes?

I just watched the story of Aron Rolston, the man who cut off his own arm to avoid death, and it got me thinking. If you do any semblance of real mountain biking, chances are that there will be times that you are away from civilization. Not NEARLY as remote as Canyonlands national park, but out there to where you might get lost if you tumble into a ravine and get trapped or any of the feak accidents that are possible in our sport. So, I must ask, are you TRULY ready for your rides? Some BS ride in some city park doesn't really count, but one that shoves you way away, where you can't get a cell phone signal, and you may be miles from civilization, are you ready for it? Just wondering.

I don't do rides remotely in that category without a friend or two.

But thn again, what I consider remote might not be for others. A few miles 'out' isn't something I consider past civilization. But if I am going somewhere new where I don't know the ride I play it safe. But I am likely not as prepared as I should be

no as i live i the middle of the bush and every 20-30km is a town and there isnt any ravines or anithing around, so im safe

Unless someone has actually been faced with a life threatening situation, I don't think anyone can honestly state "they have what it takes".

I will say this. After waking up trailside in the woods of Maine and not knowing how long I was out has made me re-think my solo rides and how aggressive I get on them. You don't have to be too far out there to get into trouble.

I don't ride solo.

i ride solo, but if im going anywhere remotely dangerous, or doing anything that i know i will probably hurt myself doing i go with a friend....

This past summer my BF & I went camping way up north past Timmins. We were camped approx in the middle of 500,000 acres of Crown Land. (hows that for remote)If was an amazing experience, we did not want to come back to civilization.
We were very prepared though. We had our emergency survival kit, cell phone, tons of gear. We know what can happen, yet, we plan on doing similar excursions next summer too!

ALWAY LET SOME ON KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING! Even if its just a ride around the block, that was his (Ralston) noose, He could have been saved tuesday night had he let someone know. I always carry a phone and extra food/water and always let friends and family know wher Im going.

what is the story of this Aron Rolston guy anyway?
i probably should know but i dont!

He was canyoneering in the park, in a small slot canyon and a boulder from above came down, wedged in between the canyon's walls, pinning his arm to the wall. He survived 6 days and 5 nights by drinking his own piss, and nibbling on some burritos, then as a last resort, he first broke his arm, then cut it off with a dull pocket knife, then had to rappell down a 65 foot cliff, then hike 7 miles out, all of this on no sleep for 5 nights, and after losing 45 pounds, and being starved and dehydrated.

i used to ride in some pretty remote areas of arizona. the dangers were very real, but i was too young and stupid to think too much about it. often times, i would be over 75 miles from anyone else. luckly nothing ever happened, but several of my friends broke bones riding by themselves. they had a hell of a time trying to hike back to the trailhead carrying their bikes. not good.

i guess another interesting question to ask would be: would you have what it takes to kill yourself if something should go wrong? or to allow yourself to die?

i've almost died twice in my life and both times i went into autopilot. it's like reacting to a hot flame, you just do whatever you have to. i couldn't imagine not trying to survive. personally i think it would be very difficult to do nothing and wait to die.

why did you almost die twice?
what happened?
unless, of course, you dont want to say about it

why did you almost die twice?
what happened?
unless, of course, you dont want to say about it

i got caught in a rip tide once and then the other time i hit my head on a diving board and knocked myself out in the pool. both water related. nothing as extreme as the guy mentioned in this thread, thankfully, but to me they were very scary episodes.

I don't ride solo.


I do... none of my friends can keep up :)

I always ride with at least one other person. I once tried going to one of my local trails alone and was too scared to do anything. I just felt kinda... strange. I didn't stick around for long and haven't gone on a solo ride since ;)