sb biker

Hello. I am new to the forum and new to MTB. I bought a Trek Fuel Ex7 last week and am still trying to get things down. I'm a pretty conservative rider and have been mostly at a local park (some uphill, mild single tracks) and one trip on a fire road and back down. Anyway, don't know if this is a sign of thing to come but here's my injury list for the first 8 days:
1: Massive bruise on my *ss/leg that does not hurt from falling off going up a switchback
2: Poison Oak near and above my eye from skidding off the single track turn and getting a faceful
3: and (most painful) today coming back down the fireroad my front tire got caught between two rocks, I launched over the bars and onto a boulder. Unfortunately (I think) I stuck out both hands and killed my wrists which still (12 hours later) are killing me...

I'm hoping these are mostly from my lack of skill and not a typical week. Still, it's been a lot of fun.

rbrsddn

My brother in law used to say "If you're not bleeding, you're not having fun" Just slap on some bandaids and get back out there!

Stacey

And the corillary... It's not bleeding till it hits your sock.

Sounds like you're having fun SB, except for the poison oak, that just sux.

brad06ag

I dunno, if you have a lighter shoe, blood is a b**ch to get off...

I consider falling to be part of pushing your limits. If you're not falling every now and then, you probably could try pushing harder/faster through some. My buddy thinks that falling is bad, but b/c of my attitude, I can ride just about anything he can of his freeride full squish while i'm on my all mountain hard tail.

Stacey

Blood on shoe = Badge of honor.

rodri9o

It'll get better. Skills improve with time. Keep at it.

trekboy

i know how it feels buddy i waz riding once past a pole once wen my mate rammed me. all of a sudden i fell off sidewayz absouloutly hammered my head in2 the pole and my bike crashed in2 the other guys bike making him fall off. spent the nite in the hospital.


sammy.

a2psyklnut

Guys, this isn't AIM, use real words and (as close as possible) proper spelling.

Reading that crap makes my head hurt.

Jameson

Tuck and roll. It's hard to unlearn but try avoiding the open palm bent wrist landing. It can snap that dickskinner good.

a2psyklnut

Not only that, but if you put your hand out to catch yourself, your clavical will snap like a chicken wing.

The clavical is the most broken bone in the human body (from what I've been told). It the front part of your shoulder.

When I used to race BMX, it was definately the most commonly broken bone.

Definately Tuck and Roll.

Phatman

get your wrist x-rayed. you could have broken your scaphoid bone in your wrist. When I broke mine I had no swelling, and it didn't really hurt that bad, but its a serious break due to a lack of blood flow to the area. I had to get a pin in my wrist to make it heal right.

sb biker

Actually, 2 days later now and my wrists feel fine. Got some cream for the poison oak and I'm back out on the bike and having a great time.
Thanks for the comments. It is a very hard instinct to not put your hands out...something I'll have to learn.

fubar5

Try riding with some other mountain bikers, by watching and imitating them you can really get a jump start on your riding skills.

trek1

Stay on that bike and you will have even more fun Start slow and don't second guess yourself and be confident just don't bite off more than you can chew, it will come in time. Learn how your bike handles while improving your skill, be careful but not afraid either.

Pamestique 

One of the most important skills I have learned while riding is how to fall. If I have any warning I know to tuck everything in, especially arms, and just let nature take over. I may get a bruise here and there but nothing broken that way (and yes BTDT with the fractured collarbone - I now have a plate and screws holding it together).

One side note, had a fall two weeks ago, on a very steep climb, going too slow (another thing I've learned speed is your friend), I knew I was going over, I tucked everything in and rolled to my left as I went down. I felt fine after accept I knew my elbow hit a rock. It stung alittle. Got home and cleaned it up. 2 weeks later and a trip to the doctor; turns out my elbow isn't OK. I either have some foreign body in there or have a pressure fracture so Wed. I go in and have the elbow opened up, scraped to the bone and sutured. Yikes! So I've finally, even though it makes me feel like a wienie, went out and purchased some light weight elbow pads. Better safe than sorry. To the OP, Fox makes a nice, lightweight $20 set. It's enough to give you some confidence when you tuck and roll off the bike.

Portis

Michael Baden said blood on shoe = 30 years to life.

willtsmith_nwi

General tips:

A) Wear Gloves and a Helmet.
B) Wear shin guards

1) Keep your pedals level when you're not cranking. Your you should be on your feet with bent knees in anything tricky.
2) In general keep your weight back. Learn how to use your front brake in exclusion to the rear.
3) Learn how to bunny hop.

Dewaine

How did you learn how to bunny hop?

Seriously.

Stacey

The saame way you get to Carnege Hall.

https://www.bmxbasics.org/new/bmx0703.html


Practice, practice, practice.

fubar5

I started by watching bunnies.....lol

sb biker

Thanks for the link and cool vid--I'm not sure when I'll use the hop but it can't hurt to try and get greater control and balance.

Trekbikedude

my leg has 11 rods going through it due to shattering my tibia. I hear fit rider has a badly broken leg too.

While At Rome

a few years ago, dirt jumping for the first time of the season, got a cut on my leg, wasnt big so i didnt wash it out too good. 2 weeks later i had a softball sized bulge on the front of my shin. the doc cut it open and drained about a cup of greenish yellow puss from it. 2 weeks i had a 2 inch cut open on the front of my shin constainly draining puss and blood till it finally scabbed over again.

moral of story. clean ur wounds.