First MTB Ride in Almost a Year...First Trip to the E.R. in Almost a Year
05-06-07, 05:31 PM
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Aut Vincere Aut Mori
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First MTB Ride in Almost a Year...First Trip to the E.R. in Almost a Year
Sooo...
I've been out of this beloved hobby of mine for quite a while. I tore my ACL skiing in February of 2006. I then tore the other ACL when I popped the chain off my track bike in July of 2006. Since then I haven't really been on my MTB.
I have been doing a ton of road cycling, and road bike racing. I love road racing, and I love MTB riding. To that same end, I like MTB racing, and I like road riding. Essentially I prefer to get out into the woods, and push myself on the mountain bike while enjoying the solitude, scenery and focus to racing. On the road bike, I train, diet and plan my time around racing. It's cut throat, very exciting - and is really a life long hobby that I'm glad I got into. The two are my yin and yang of hobbies
The Jekyl and Hyde. Enough of my ramblings about the merits of cycling though...
I drove out to a local trail. Smith Lake, if anyone is familiar. It isn't very technical at all, save for the sand. The whole trail is on sand, but having ridden here for several years now, I'm used to riding in sand. I cleared all of the technical stuff on the "Expert" and "Intermediate" loops without any drama. My fitness is better than it ever was while I was riding off road more frequently...but my technical skills are sadly out of practice. That'll come back I suppose.
I was really enjoying the day. It was about 70 degrees and sunny with a strong breeze. Just the kind of weather that makes off road riding great. The trails were open, with as good a flow as can be expected around here. I had the iPod playing Volume II of The String Tribute to Tool and was really feeling it. The bike was in tune, and my legs were loose. The trees were green, and all was right with the world
That is of course until I reach the flat "Beginner" section of the trail, that leads back to the parking area. The trail is pancake flat, and about as non technical as sand single track gets. So, in what was perhaps a bit of overconfidence I decide to big ring it and rail through the course. As with most trails, if you go fast - it becomes technical Weaving through the trees with inches to spare on either end of my handle bars felt great.
Until...I'm going through a bit of a dirt chicane at somewhere around 20ish mph, and all of a sudden I'm ass over tea kettle. I had no idea what was going on, all I knew is that I was very worried about my knees getting hurt. Then my shoulder hit. Oh boy did my shoulder hit. I thought I'd broken my collar bone, or torn my rotator cuff. The visions of a strong race season in 2007 coming to a close were going though my head, and throwing me for a loop as I lay prostrate upon the sand staring up at the blue sky cursing my luck.
After I examined the cause of my crash (a very small root at a 45* angle to the trail) I walked for a while, and eventually got back on the bike to roll out with one arm on the bars. I was lucky when I arrived to the parking lot that another cyclist helped me put the bike back on my roof rack. I knew my arm wasn't about to go up that high. Even taking off my jersey, and putting on a t-shirt was a real pain. I knew at that point that I'd have to go to the E.R.
I drove to the E.R. and after much waiting I was x-rayed, and seen by the Doctor. Much to my relief, I've done no major damage. A clavicle strain, and minor separation requiring me only to use a sling for a week or so. I should be able to get back on my bike trainer tomorrow - and probably be back off road in a couple/three weeks. I also got some percocet (whee) if you couldn't already tell that I'm in a slightly drug addled state by the inordinate length and verbose nature of this post
I missed mountain biking, but I can't say I missed the injuries
I've been out of this beloved hobby of mine for quite a while. I tore my ACL skiing in February of 2006. I then tore the other ACL when I popped the chain off my track bike in July of 2006. Since then I haven't really been on my MTB.
I have been doing a ton of road cycling, and road bike racing. I love road racing, and I love MTB riding. To that same end, I like MTB racing, and I like road riding. Essentially I prefer to get out into the woods, and push myself on the mountain bike while enjoying the solitude, scenery and focus to racing. On the road bike, I train, diet and plan my time around racing. It's cut throat, very exciting - and is really a life long hobby that I'm glad I got into. The two are my yin and yang of hobbies
The Jekyl and Hyde. Enough of my ramblings about the merits of cycling though...I drove out to a local trail. Smith Lake, if anyone is familiar. It isn't very technical at all, save for the sand. The whole trail is on sand, but having ridden here for several years now, I'm used to riding in sand. I cleared all of the technical stuff on the "Expert" and "Intermediate" loops without any drama. My fitness is better than it ever was while I was riding off road more frequently...but my technical skills are sadly out of practice. That'll come back I suppose.
I was really enjoying the day. It was about 70 degrees and sunny with a strong breeze. Just the kind of weather that makes off road riding great. The trails were open, with as good a flow as can be expected around here. I had the iPod playing Volume II of The String Tribute to Tool and was really feeling it. The bike was in tune, and my legs were loose. The trees were green, and all was right with the world
That is of course until I reach the flat "Beginner" section of the trail, that leads back to the parking area. The trail is pancake flat, and about as non technical as sand single track gets. So, in what was perhaps a bit of overconfidence I decide to big ring it and rail through the course. As with most trails, if you go fast - it becomes technical
Weaving through the trees with inches to spare on either end of my handle bars felt great.Until...I'm going through a bit of a dirt chicane at somewhere around 20ish mph, and all of a sudden I'm ass over tea kettle. I had no idea what was going on, all I knew is that I was very worried about my knees getting hurt. Then my shoulder hit. Oh boy did my shoulder hit. I thought I'd broken my collar bone, or torn my rotator cuff. The visions of a strong race season in 2007 coming to a close were going though my head, and throwing me for a loop as I lay prostrate upon the sand staring up at the blue sky cursing my luck.
After I examined the cause of my crash (a very small root at a 45* angle to the trail) I walked for a while, and eventually got back on the bike to roll out with one arm on the bars. I was lucky when I arrived to the parking lot that another cyclist helped me put the bike back on my roof rack. I knew my arm wasn't about to go up that high. Even taking off my jersey, and putting on a t-shirt was a real pain. I knew at that point that I'd have to go to the E.R.
I drove to the E.R. and after much waiting I was x-rayed, and seen by the Doctor. Much to my relief, I've done no major damage. A clavicle strain, and minor separation requiring me only to use a sling for a week or so. I should be able to get back on my bike trainer tomorrow - and probably be back off road in a couple/three weeks. I also got some percocet (whee) if you couldn't already tell that I'm in a slightly drug addled state by the inordinate length and verbose nature of this post
I missed mountain biking, but I can't say I missed the injuries
05-06-07, 05:44 PM
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Dang Snuff, that sucks. I hope the drugs are good.
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Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
05-06-07, 05:48 PM
#3
Aut Vincere Aut Mori
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Originally Posted by mtnbiker66
Dang Snuff, that sucks. I hope the drugs are good.
I'm psyched about being able to ride off road again. Hopefully I'm up to Pisgah by this fall!
05-06-07, 08:21 PM
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String Tribute to Tool? You must have fell asleep.
05-06-07, 09:45 PM
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I separated my shoulder just last Sunday, heh, it sucks. Mine wasn't as bad as yours tho I can say as I didn't get any drugs or a sling, plus I went riding today. All in all, I feel your pain!
05-06-07, 10:22 PM
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maybe it's just the dumb young kid in me, but I don't dread the injuries at all. Yeah, they'll suck when they happen, but until then, nothing to fear but fear itself!
05-07-07, 07:10 PM
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Hope you heal fast Snuff. At least you figured out what grabbed you wheel. Now you'll know what not to do. 
05-07-07, 07:47 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by Bike Lover
At least you figured out what grabbed you wheel. Now you'll know what not to do.
As for earlier post about the String Tribute to Tool being sleepy music, I have to take issue with that. It's great riding music - and looking back at my HRM I was around 135ish bpm for the duration of the ride...so I don't think it brought me down too badly
