cadnams

Just figured I'd share my weekend's escapade with those who might appreciate its importance.

It was only my second time out on a single track (just getting into this awesome sport) and I think I was pretending I was bullet proof. Well I proved that whilst I might be bullet proof, I still dent pretty easily.

First track of the day. Super narrow. Two large rocks in the middle of the track about 15 feet apart. I took off rock number one quite aggresively, and landed it pretty well. Took off rock number two a little more aggresively (because it was bigger) and landed it but not quite straight or balanced. That was my mistake. Heading tree-bound, with some speed, and I grabbed a handful of both brakes to save me from an ugly fate. Well, I proved that my front brake works pretty well as I sailed gracefully over the handlebars. The landing, whilst ugly, was not too bad considering my predicament. So I got up, dusted myself off, checked over the bike, and rode back up the hill to give it another crack (more successfully this time).

It was quite a liberating experience having my first crash. You know its coming, you just don't know when or how bad. Now its over I can move on to better tracks and bigger carnage. Wish me luck!


Cadnams

a2psyklnut

Sweet!

When I take beginners out for their first singletrack experience, I wait until we are at the furthest point away from the trailhead and I tell them, "You WILL fall, you WILL bleed, you WILL have fun doing so, accept it, don't worry about it, it WILL happen, it's what makes this sport exciting and challanging."

They usually always laugh, yet don't believe me. At the end of the day, everyone's crashed at least once and everyone has the biggest grin on their faces.

L8R

anthonaut

I know exactly what you mean. Although sometimes i surprise myself and manage to keep it together

Xtreme Biker

I've wrecked in some of the most unsuspecting places. Level trail, with a lateral root just small enuf to ignor, but just big enuf to stove-up my front tire.... Can you say "Endo" while still clipped-ip, and still looking off the trail. Talking about feeling stupid. "What the #### ?" is always the first thing that comes to my mind.... Weird feeling to say the least. Totally unsuspected flip....

bigchina

even though i've been off big drops, rocky descents, slippery climbs, through mud holes, all that, my worst crash was riding in a straight, flat, dry singletrack when my handlebar caught on a small branch as i was flying by. grabbed me and swung me around right into the ground, face first. had to spend too much time readjusting my whole bike from the spill. the worst crashes are always the stupidest.

khuon

My last big wreck occurred on the return from the tough stuff. Level gravel trail and going at a pretty good clip. It was getting dark but I still had my sunglasses on and was just thinking to myself, "you know... I can't really see all too well." Suddenly I see a large mound of gravel right in front of me. Apparently the park service or whomever stuck a big pile there in preparation for some trailwork the next day. I had no time and deperately tried to pop a manual without success. The front wheel simply hit, dug in and came to a stop. The rest of the bike and I did not. I went face first into the top of the mound and cracked my helmet and sunglasses. After rolling over off the other side, I could see my bike which sumersaulted over me land about 10 feet in front. The bike was no worse for wear but my face was pretty messed up from the gravel.

sm266

I had just finished a really hard road climb, and dug off into some gravel singletrack switchbacks. Since I was hurting, I just let myself bomb to make up for the climbing. A switchback snuck up on me, I grab a handful of break, my weight comes over the front tire. I endo, take the carbon fiber eastons in the back at about 15 miles an hour, and slid quite far (in my perspective.) I get up, check my helmet, and mount my bike. Notice the right handlebar hanging from the brake cable. Duct tape it back together and make it home, bloody and bruised.

Portis

My last wreck was going down hill on a trail that mysteriously had landscape timbers buried across it. THe first one probably stuck out of the ground 1". The second one probably was 2". The third............................oh crap, endo! My bike stuck like a dart in a dart board and over the top I went. Bent derailler hanger, cheese gratered leg and a lot of lost pride.

Bokkie

Bikes are inherently dangerous means of transport. They should be banned!

PeterG1185

When you wreck at first its expected and you take it well. I've been riding for 6 years now and when i wreck now it always seems worse b/c im not expecting it and usually i've made a mistake that i almost never make.

Crash Story: A few years ago we were in Vail and had just gotten done riding down the mountain in the rental bikes and we're 1 turn away from the villa. Well that one turn happened to have a ton of gravel on it and my bro took it too fast resulting in a 2.5 x 2.5" piece of skin hanging from his knee. Not enough for stitches so they had to cut it off. My worst wreck was when i was JRA towards the end of an easy ride and i hit a root and nailed my head on a tree. Lucky for me it hit on my helmet and i cracked my helmet all the way through

a2psyklnut

Forgot about the "hauling butt through the trails and ducked under a low limb and got my camelback caught and got clotheslined" incident.

That scared the bejeezus out of me, knocked the wind out of me, AND thrashed my camelback.

L8R

cadnams

Thanks for sharing that one. My favourite local track has a permanent low branch and I have been riding it without my hydration pack. But I am about to make my pack standard cycling equipment and I reckon I am at risk of this this type of crash. I must remember for next time, or else...