Las Vegas Blues (A tale of woe)
06-22-04, 09:11 PM
#1
Diesel Power
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Las Vegas Blues (A tale of woe)
3 weeks ago went out to LV on vacation with some friends who were there on business. Thought I’d try and get some riding in so I booked myself with a LBS who runs tours.
They pick you up at your hotel and cart you and your rental bike out to the desert. The Mustang trail to be specific. (Red Rock Canyon.) Now I’m a roady and never did any technical mtn biking. But there I was adjusted the seat height on my full suspension bike with disk brakes. After a very quick crash course on handling and technique we were off but not before my fellow tourist (Also a New Englander) squeezed the front brake lever a bit too hard and flipped off the bike gashing his knee. A quick bandage job and some instructions on braking and we were off again. About 12 miles and two falls later under 95+ degree heat (it was only 10am, but it’s a dry heat people say
.) my friend from MA had enough. He looked overheated and dehydrated. He was the smart one and went back to the van. I went on with the guide who promised a few steep climbs and then a downhill finish (only 2 more miles he said). As I ascended this one steep rock slab I forgot to shift my weight. The bike threw me like as if I was bull riding. I hit hard, very hard, but got up and finished. About two days later I couldn’t get up. I spent the next 3.5 days in my hotel room on my back. To move was to endure great pain. I had aggravated an old neck injury. The plane ride home was pure agony and almost 9 hours long (should have been 4.5 hours).
So now its 3 weeks later. I can move but can’t ride or run because of muscle spasm and pain. The meds help but not enough. I just bought a new bike before vacation . A ti frame and have been staring at it for two weeks now. It now seems I will have to also cancel my planned trip to Iowa at the end of July to do the RAGBRAI. So am I unhappy?? You bet I am!!
Moral of the story…..don’t go riding in the desert on mtn bike unless you have experience or are Gumby.
They pick you up at your hotel and cart you and your rental bike out to the desert. The Mustang trail to be specific. (Red Rock Canyon.) Now I’m a roady and never did any technical mtn biking. But there I was adjusted the seat height on my full suspension bike with disk brakes. After a very quick crash course on handling and technique we were off but not before my fellow tourist (Also a New Englander) squeezed the front brake lever a bit too hard and flipped off the bike gashing his knee. A quick bandage job and some instructions on braking and we were off again. About 12 miles and two falls later under 95+ degree heat (it was only 10am, but it’s a dry heat people say
.) my friend from MA had enough. He looked overheated and dehydrated. He was the smart one and went back to the van. I went on with the guide who promised a few steep climbs and then a downhill finish (only 2 more miles he said). As I ascended this one steep rock slab I forgot to shift my weight. The bike threw me like as if I was bull riding. I hit hard, very hard, but got up and finished. About two days later I couldn’t get up. I spent the next 3.5 days in my hotel room on my back. To move was to endure great pain. I had aggravated an old neck injury. The plane ride home was pure agony and almost 9 hours long (should have been 4.5 hours). So now its 3 weeks later. I can move but can’t ride or run because of muscle spasm and pain. The meds help but not enough. I just bought a new bike before vacation . A ti frame and have been staring at it for two weeks now. It now seems I will have to also cancel my planned trip to Iowa at the end of July to do the RAGBRAI. So am I unhappy?? You bet I am!!
Moral of the story…..don’t go riding in the desert on mtn bike unless you have experience or are Gumby.
06-22-04, 10:57 PM
#2
Will ride for food.
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At least you have a moral to your story! That part cracked me up.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, hopefully you're getting better as the days go by. I'm sure it's a slow recovery, especially because you can't ride.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, hopefully you're getting better as the days go by. I'm sure it's a slow recovery, especially because you can't ride.
06-23-04, 11:25 AM
#3
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Hey, at least you didn't lose a bunch on the slots...
