yeamac 

Beautiful day here in Houston. I had planned on riding today all week long and checked out the Terry Hershey Park Hike and Bike trail thanks to BF member RdRash.

I had a lot of firsts today...

1. First time to ride this Hershey trail along the Buffalo Bayou
2. First time to fall with clipless pedals (glad I got that over with)
3. First time I realized I should bring basic first aid supplies
3. First time to consume a Gel Shot
4. First time I broke 16.0 MPH average over the duration of my ride (previous best was 15.4 average on the Braes Bayou with all the stops and starts)
5. First time I brought my digital camera attached to an Ultrapod to record part of my ride in movie mode. I recorded the final 30 min of my ride but for some reason the file is corrupted and I can't view it. Too bad because there are some wicked hills/curves in the woods (unlike the wide open, flat Braes Bayou I normally ride).


Here's more detail of the fall. One trail ended into a road and I decided at the last minute to go up a short but very steep hill onto another paved trail (it was like the side of a retaining wall with a rough but rideable pavement). I was on the big cog from cruising down a straight away and wanted to punch it down to the granny gear to go up the steep hill. I pushed the wrong shifter so nothing happened since I was already on the largest cog, and suddenly I was out of room at the foot of the steep hill. I quickly decided to try to get my foot out the left pedal. I was loosing my balance at the same time so wasn't able to get my foot at an angle to twist it out, and down I went. It was weird! I landed on my left side and since my feet were still attached to the pedals, once I hit the ground my legs kind of went up in the air and my bike came a foot or two off the ground! Like falling with skis on. The pavement was rough, but fortunately no pebbles or anything, so just a little blood coming out the cuts in my left knee and elbow. I quickly looked around to see if anyone noticed my little embarrassment, and one rider came by from behind me but kept on going so either didn't see it or allowed me to keep my pride.

I walked up the hill, used one of my gloves to wipe the blood, and then slowly rode to the end of that trail, which also ended at a road. I stopped and there decided to down my first Cliff Gel Shot. OK. And I've got a box of 23 more of these! But they do seem to give energy. (The chips I had in my left pocket were crushed from the fall. LOL)

I then hooked up my camera to the Ultrapod thinking that would have been some funny video had I been recording during the fall. After that I had a bit of a tail wind, and combined with the Gel Shot and sports drink, I finished the ride strong.

A little bruised, but ready to tackle it again sometime and increase my average speed (now that I know where I am going -- took the wrong trail a couple times, which also slowed me down some.)

austinspinner

That statement shows that you have many years of great riding ahead of you. Never say die, bruises heal, bike until death!

TrekDen

Been there, done that, on both ends of the spectrum. I usually check if they are alright, and give them the reassurring "It happens to all of us eventually"
Ride On,
Denny

Houston_Biker

Yeamac,

Thanks for sharing the details of your ride. Sorry to hear about the fall on the clipless pedals. I have been riding for a while and I still fall at times when I mentally blank out and forget to clip out.

I went on the Northwest Cyclery ride this morning in NW Houston. About 8 of us rode about 40 miles at a 23 mph average. it was a soupy, humid ride with a wind that never seemed to help us.

Looks like you're doing the MS 150 this year. Good for you. I'm doing it as well.

Best of luck and I'm sure we'll see you on the road.

Steve

RdRash

ok I got here a little late, but I am glad you enjoyed the trail. I ride there quite often and enjoy it throughly. That steep hill does kinda sneaks up on you, I am glad to hear you are ok after the fall. Truth be told ,I wiped out on the hill before too. I am trying to organize a BF-Houston ride but that won't happen til after this weekend since I am running in the Chevron Marathon on Sunday. I will keep you in the loop though. Keep riding and see you on the roads !!

GaryA

The best is when you are climbing a very steep hill and just run out of momentum and start to roll backwards. There is a really helpless feeling. I guess I should mention this has only happened to me mountian biking.